THE R.H.S. AND THE SEVERAL RAILWAY COMPANIES. 
117 
Westminster, and especially on the occasion of the Great Temple 
Show in the month of May. The Royal Horticultural Society 
has 3,500 Fellows, and it is believed that this number would be 
immensely increased (probably doubled) were the concession 
asked for to be conceded by the railway companies. The Royal 
Horticultural Society has also no less than 96 affiliated Societies, 
with a membership of probably quite 10,000 persons. Notwith¬ 
standing this, the number of Fellows and affiliated Members from 
the country attending the Drill Hall Shows rarely, if ever, 
exceeds 150 persons, while the Council is constantly in receipt 
of letters from the country Fellows of the Society intimating 
that they would gladly attend the meetings were such a con¬ 
cession as that now asked for granted by the railway companies. 
It is in consequence of repeated and persistent pressure from 
country Fellows to the above effect, that the present application 
is made. The Council are strongly of opinion that the railway 
companies would distinctly benefit by acceding to the request 
now tendered, and that a regular traffic would be created where 
one is now practically non-existent. In the case of affiliated 
Societies it might be stipulated that parties of not less than ten 
members must unite on each occasion in order to create the right 
to the concession; but this, and other matters of detail, would 
necessarily be settled in the light of the wide experience and 
practice of the railway companies in such cases. The Council 
hope that their proposal will receive the favourable consideration 
of your Board. I beg to inclose card showing the dates, &c., 
upon which the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society are 
held this present year. 
“ I beg to remain, yours faithfully, 
“ W. WILKS, 
“ Secretary B.H.S, 
“ March 8, 1898.” 
The replies were all to the same effect as the following :—■ 
“ London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway. 
“ May 12, 1893. 
“ Dear Sir,—In reply to your letter of March 8 last I beg to 
inform you that your application for cheap tickets to be issued to 
