xliv Monthly Council December 12, 1906. 
whole cost of the judging would fall 
upon the Society. 
Mr. Harrison explained that all 
the expenses of judging would be met 
from outside, and that the Society 
would be put to no expense whatever. 
These offers were accepted, and a 
Committee, consisting of Sir John 
Thorold, Sir Gilbert Greenall, Sir 
Richard Cooper, and Mr. William 
Harrison was appointed to carry out 
the necessary arrangements. 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1906. 
HELD AT THE HOTEL RUSSELL. LONDON, W.C. 
MR. F. S. W. CORNWALLIS (PRESIDENT) IN THE CHAIR. 
Report of Firance Committee. 
Mr. Adeane (Chairman) said that 
the Committee laid before the Council 
that day a balance-sheet of the Derby 
Show, and they asked the Council to 
approve it. The only remark that 
he had to make was that it was 
extremely satisfactory. Financially 
it showed an actual profit to the 
Society of 2,028 /., which, together 
with the contribution of 2,000Z. from 
the ordinary funds of the Society, 
gave a gross profit of 4,028/., which 
they would ask the Council • to 
authorise them to put to the Reserve 
Fund, thereby increasing the general 
security of the Society. He thought 
they would all wish to acknowledge 
on that occasion that these results 
could not have been obtained had it 
not been for the energy and enthusi- 
asm of their Honorary Director, Sir 
Gilbert Greenall. 
Botanical and Zoological. 
Mr. Wheeler (Chairman) reported 
that a Memorandum had been received 
from the Board of Agriculture with 
reference to American gooseberry 
mildew. The Committee recom- 
mended that a Memorial be sent to 
the Board of Agriculture urging them 
to obtain power to deal with out- 
breaks of disease of plants, and to 
prohibit the importation or sale of 
diseased plants or fruits which might 
spread infection. 
This matter had been brought to 
a head by the reported outbreak of 
a disease known as American goose- 
berry mildew, and concerning which 
a circular had been received from the 
Board of Agriculture. That circular 
stated that : “ The disease, which is 
termed American owing to the 
extensive damage it has done in 
America, is of a very serious character, 
and has rendered the culture of goose- 
berries unprofitable and practically 
impossible wherever it has appeared.” 
The circular also went on to say that : 
“ During the winter the disease 
remains dormant, and will not 
spread from plant to plant. During 
this period, however, it can be con- 
veyed from one district to another in 
bushes and stocks. It is clear that 
enormous and irreparable mischief 
may be done in this way.” He might 
also add that the disease in spring and 
summer was dangerous, owing to the 
spores of this mildew flying about. 
The Board of Agriculture said that : 
<k There is at present no law dealing 
with the eradication of the pests of 
fruit trees in this country.” The 
Botanical Committee were strongly 
of opinion that there should be some 
law to enable the Board of Agri- 
culture to deal with outbreaks of this 
kind. That was the crux of the whole 
matter, to enable them to deal with 
outbreaks before the spread of a 
disease. In the present case there 
was no great danger, because the out- 
break had occurred on land in the 
occupation of an intelligent farmer, 
who was quite willing to do all he 
could to eradicate the disease, and the 
local authorities were helping him ; 
but they did not know how soon an 
outbreak might occur on a plantation 
of an unintelligent man who would 
do nothing to prevent the spread of 
the disease. The Board had power to 
deal with diseases of animals, and it 
seemed to the Botanical Committee 
that they ought to have similar powers 
