W1SLEY REPORT. 
vii 
WISLEY REPORT. 
26. Visitors. — The number of visitors to the Gardens at Wisley has been 
greater than in any previous year, although a service of motor omnibuses has not 
yet been secured. Many large parties of horticulturists from a distance and 
numerous visitors from abroad have also visited the Gardens. 
27. The Laboratory. — The Staff has lost the services of Capt. Page, who 
accepted the post of Senior Chemist at Rothamsted, and of Mr. A. T. Rudge, who 
has become Horticultural Instructor in Staffordshire. Dr. F. V. Darbishire, M.A., 
has been appointed to fill the first of these vacancies, while Mr. J. Dowson, M.A., 
lately Government Mycologist in Kenya, has been appointed Mycologist. 
Several vacancies remain in the Laboratory Staff, but the causes referred to in 
last year's report still operate, and, until it is possible to make appointments 
permanent, the Council hesitates to fill them. The future progress of horti- 
culture depends upon the scientific investigation both of plant life and of the soil, 
and of their reactions upon one another. The Council urges upon the Fellows 
the importance of placing it in a position to make the appointments necessary 
to utilize to the full the splendid possibilities of the Laboratory and Garden at 
Wisley. This can only be done by an endowment fund and by founding per- 
manent, or increasing the existing temporary, research scholarships for the 
investigation of definite problems. The Council feels that these matters concern 
all Fellows, and it commends them to their earnest consideration. 
28. The Garden. — For the first time since August 1914, the Garden staff 
has been completed by the appointment of Mr. Gosden as Rock Garden foreman. 
Much time and labour have been expended in bringing the garden back to its 
pre-war standard, but much still remains to be done. Progress has been made 
however, in many directions, the principal new developments being : the planting 
of ornamental shrubs, especially those of recent introduction from China ; addi- 
tions to the Pinetum ; the making of a frame-yard, rendered necessary by long- 
designed alterations at length undertaken in the front of the Laboratory ; the 
planting of an herbaceous border of moisture-loving plants ; and the commence- 
ment of a field garden. Except for the actual brickwork and the fitting of hot- 
water pipes this work is being carried out by the garden staff. 
29. Plant Distribution. — The number of plants distributed in 1920 was 
exceedingly large, and although, as is inevitable, it was impossible in many cases 
to send the plants actually asked for, yet, judging by the number of requests 
for plants received, and the number of appreciative letters of thanks, this branch 
of the Society's activities meets general approval. A considerable number of 
seeds collected by Mr. Forrest in China and of plants raised from them were 
included in the distribution, and it is hoped to send out many more in 1921. 
Many of these have still to be " proved " and their cultivation is, therefore, all 
the more interesting to the plant-lover. Mr. Forrest's collections of 191 9 (the 
last year of his Chinese expedition) have reached the Gardens and are being 
grown. Several novelties from the Society's Gardens have been shown at 
Vincent Square during the past two or three years, and it is hoped to distribute 
them as widely as possible as soon as stock can be raised. 
30. New Land. — Circumstances were not favourable during the year for 
taking over any of the land recently acquired at Wisley for experimental pur- 
poses and it remains let as before. 
31. Garden Trials. — Floral Trials have been resumed and those of Antir- 
rhinums and Michaelmas Daisies proved particularly attractive and instructive 
to the many amateur and professional horticulturists who came to see them. 
The trials of early peas were very useful, especially when compared with the 
trial of five years ago, while the second-early potato trial brought to light some 
promising new varieties. The greatly in creased extent of these trials and the fuller 
study our staff is now able to devote to them will, it is hoped, result in the develop- 
ment of a classification and of a better understanding of the varieties of each of 
the principal vegetables and flowers and of the names applied to them. Full 
reports will appear in the Journal, where also the overdue report on Bearded 
Irises will be published as soon as opportunity allows. 
32. Experimental Work. — Captain Page's experiments upon green-manuring 
have yielded interesting results which need confirmation and further investiga- 
