February 14, 1834. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
127 
eD & a ged in the importation and manufacture of vegetable substances 
have most liberally contributed various illustrative series. By the 
different Government departments, by our Colonial officers and foreign 
•representatives, and by numerous private travellers also, the most im¬ 
portant services have been and continue to be rendered. Besides these 
sources of contribution must be mentioned the reinforcement of the 
fndian element in the museum, first in 1878 by the collection of forest 
produce, presented by the Government of India (consisting of 1118 speci¬ 
mens), and secondly in 1880 by the transference to Kew of the entire 
economico-botanical collections, forming part of the India Museum at 
feouth Kensington. From these about 4000'specimens were selected for 
permanent exhibition ; these are distinguished by a light blue label 
bearing the words “India Museum.” 
- A fruit-preserver writing to the Liverpool Courier upon 
Fruit Farming observes that “ Mr. Gladstone has recently stated that 
the number of acres of fruit grown in this country has only increased by 
27,000 acres in the last nineteen years, and that 24,000 out of the 27,000 
acres has been in five counties only. I have no doubt that this is quite 
true, and the counties referred to are those immediately around London- 
Other counties at a further distance from London go in for only partial 
cultivation of fruit, say Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, 
Shropshire, Cheshire, and Norfolk : but a large proportion of other 
English counties do not grow fruit to any extent as compared to the 
acreage under cultivation of other products, and I am compelled to draw 
•very large supplies from the counties immediately round London, of 
which Covent Garden and other London markets are the centre. I have 
for many years been of opinion that if the British farmers would put an 
increased portion of their soil under the cultivation of Gooseberries, 
Raspberries, Strawberries, Black Currants, Plums, and Damsons, it 
would pay much better than their present mode of working. The 
manufacture of fruit preserves is beginning to take a new position in 
this country, and is now being largely used. It is, however, incorrect 
that jam is charged from Id. to 9 d. a lb., and also that it is owing 
mainly to the energy of the French, Belgian, Dutch, German, and 
American fruit-growers. No doubt the first four countries do give a 
supply of some kinds of fruit for the manufacture of jam, principally 
Plums, but I am not aware that America sends us any fruit whatever for 
gam-making. By far the largest proportion of fruit used for the manu¬ 
facture of jam is grown in this country. My usual season’s make is 
Gooseberry, 300 tons ; Raspberry, 300 tons ; Strawberry, 200 tons ; Black 
Currant, 400 tons ; Damson, 500 tons ; Blackberry, 100 tons ; and they 
can be bought retail from any ready-money grocer at the following 
prices :—Gooseberry, 5 d. to 5 \d. per lb. ; Raspberry, Q>d. to 6^7.; Straw- 
terry, 6d. to ; Black Currant, 5§d. ; Blackberry, 5 \d. ; Plum, 4 d. 
Mr. Gladstone is therefore in error in stating that the jam consumed in 
this country is not English-made jam. I have never seen a single 
package of French, Belgian, Dutch, German, or American jam offered in 
this country.” 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Annual General Meeting of this Society was held in the conservatory 
at South Kensington on Tuesday the 12th inst., the President, Lord 
Aberdare, in the chair, and the following members of the Council were 
present:—Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Dr. R. Hogg, G. F. Wilson, 
Esq., E. G. Loder, Esq., W. Lee, Esq., W. Haughton, Esq. (Treasurer), and 
Major F. Mason (Secretary). There was a fair attendance of Fellows. 
The proceedings were commenced by the Secretary reading the announce¬ 
ment calling the meeting, the minutes of the last general meeting, and 
•the names of gentlemen proposed and duly elected as Fellows of the Society. 
Dr. Masters and Mr. Noble were then appointed scrutineers of the ballot for 
the election of officers and members of the Council for the year—namely, 
members of the Council :—The Right Hon. Viscount Enfield, Professor 
Michael Foster, F.R.S., and Frederick Du Cane Godman, F.R.S. Officers :— 
President, Lord Aberdare ; Treasurer, William Haughton ; Secretary, Major 
F. Mason ; and Auditors, John Lee, James F. West, and W. Richards. It 
was subsequently announced that these had been all duly elected. An 
alteration in one of the bye-laws to facilitate the work of the Treasurer in 
regard to signing the receipts for Fellows’ subscriptions distributed to the 
Fellows was proposed and adopted, and the annual report which follows was 
<then taken as read. 
Annual Report for 1883 
The Council congratulate the Fellows on the financial position of the 
Society, the revenue of the year having been sufficient to satisfy the debtor 
balance carried forward from the preceding one, and to give a considerable 
surplus after paying or providing for the payment of every liability to the 
Alst December last. 
The Council regret that some of their Fellows should have felt aggrieved 
fey the partial curtailment of their enjoyment of the gardens, which was 
necessitated by the holding of the Fisheries Exhibition ; but apart from the 
fact that this curtailment was unavoidable, the Council have the gratification 
<*f believing that the great majority of Fellows found ample compensation 
for any loss they suffered in this respect in the large privileges which they 
enjoyed in connection with that Exhibition. 
The Council have the pleasure of being able to announce that they have 
succeeded in arranging with the Executive Council of the International 
Health Exhibition that Fellows shall have in respect of this Exhibition the 
same privileges, except as to the opening ceremony and six evenings which 
may be reserved, as they enjoyed during the Fisheries Exhibition. 
The Council take this opportunity of recognising the spirit of friendly 
consideration for the interests of the Society which has been shown by the 
executive of each of these exhibitions, and the liberality of the Council of 
the International Health Exhibition, which enables them to present to each 
former debenture holder of the Society a ticket, giving all a Fellow’s privi¬ 
leges of admission, but not transferable, in addition to the privileges granted 
to him last year. 
In the early summer an experiment was made in the form of two evening 
meetings, which the Linnean Society very kindly allowed to be held in their 
rooms at Burlington House. 
On both occasions a large number of valuable plants were arranged in the 
library, including Orchids sent by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Mr. Lee, Messrs. 
Veitch, and others ; Rhododendrons by Mr. Mangles ; herbaceous and other 
plants by Miss Jekyll, Mr. Loder, Mr. G. Maw, Mr. T. Ware, Messrs. Barr, 
and others, as well as specimens from the Royal Gardens, Kew, and the 
Society’s gardens at Chiswick. The company assembled in the library 
some time before the reading of papers commenced showed very great 
interest in the examination of this collection of flowers. On both occasions 
the chair was taken by the President, Lord Aberdare, strongly supported by 
members of Council. 
At the first meeting on May 8th, after some appropriate introductory 
remarks by the Chairman, Dr. M. Foster, F.R.S., gave an account of the 
onocyclus groups of Irises, dwelling on the characters of their construction, 
their botanical affinities, their geographical distribution, and the proper- 
method of culture. His remarks were illustrated by means of large dia¬ 
grams, and with freshly cut blooms of Iris iberica, one of the best known of 
the group. A discussion followed, in which Sir J. Hooker, Mr. H. J. Elwes, 
and Mr. J. G. Baker took part. Mr. E. G. Loder then read a paper on hardy 
Cacti, giving an account of their affinities and distribution, and describing 
the method of culture, which in his hands has proved so successful. Dr. 
Hogg followed with an account of some Australian Apples, recently im¬ 
ported, exhibiting specimens and distributing them freely among the audience. 
The meeting was brought to a close by Dr. Foster briefly describing and 
exhibiting on behalf of Herr Max Leichtlin several new plants recently 
flowered at Baden Baden. 
At the following meeting, June 12th, the reading of papers began by 
“ Notes on Conifers,” by Dr. Masters, F.R.S., in which the author drew 
attention to the mode of growth and to other physiological features of certain 
Pines and Firs. Mr. W. Goldring followed with a paper on “ Cypripediums,” 
admirably illustrated by a very large number of choice Cypripediums in 
blooms, kindly sent by various gentlemen. The author passed in review 
some of the leading types of the genus, as well as the striking hybrids 
recently produced, and an animated discussion followed. Mr. G. Maw then 
gave an account of the genus Crocus (concerning which he, as is well known, 
is the highest authority), dwelling particularly on the light which acknow¬ 
ledge of the geographical distribution and habits of the various species and 
varieties may be made to throw upon the culture most likely to be successful. 
The experiment of these meetings may certainly be considered most 
encouraging. The audience was not only large, well filling the Linnean 
Society’s meeting-room, but included besides the gentlemen incidentally men¬ 
tioned above, many distinguished horticulturists, and several Fellows of the 
Linnean Society. Great interest was shown both in the papers read and in 
the discussions which followed, while the opportunity afforded for examin¬ 
ing and conversing about so many beautiful or rare plants helped to make 
the evenings very enjoyable, and repeated expressions were heard of the 
desire that more of such meetings might be held. 
The gardens at Chiswick have been maintained in a high state of effi¬ 
ciency, the practical work of the Society being carried on as usual. Fellows 
and their friends visited these gardens in larger numbers than during past 
years. 
The trials by the Fruit and Floral Committees comprised respectively 
Peas (of which 154 samples were tried), Potatoes in great variety, Lettuces, 
Tomatoes grown in pots and in the open ground, and Celeries among vege¬ 
tables ; and among flowers and plants, Pelargoniums, Verbenas, Sweet Peas, 
Begonias, single Dahlias, Tydeas, Gloxinias, and others. 
It is proposed that trials shall be made during the present year by the 
Fruit Committee of new varieties of Potatoes and Peas, and of the entire 
class of Cauliflower and Broccoli, which is in great confusion; and by the 
Floral Committee of new Pelargoniums, Begonias of the Rex or handsome- 
foliaged type, Ferns of the Adiantum or Maidenhair class, and Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. Fellows of the Society and other cultivators of any of these plants, 
&c., are invited to contribute for this purpose. 
Facilities were afforded to the Committees of the Pelargonium Society and 
the International Potato Society for the trials of new varieties of the objects 
submitted to these bodies respectively for cultivation. 
The success attending the novel experiment of the Apple Congress at 
Chiswick surpassed the most sanguine anticipations of the Council, such a 
display of different varieties, of which the Society’s garden contributed 260, 
having never before been seen. About 10,000persons visited the Exhibition, 
which enabled the Fruit Committee to obtain much valuable information in 
connection with the fruit exhibited. A report embodying this information 
is being prepared for publication. . 
It is contemplated, should the season prove favourable, to hold similar 
shows of other fruits. _ 
The number of plants required for distribution to Fellows continues to 
increase. During the past year 19,470 plants in pots have been sent out with 
30,000 packets of seeds, and about 5000 cuttings of .A ines and other fruit 
trees, the number of Fellows availing themselves of this privilege being 997. 
The cost of repairs during the past season shows some increase, the great 
vinery having had to be repainted and several plant pits renewed. 
There were among the Fellows during the year 135 new elections, 
147 resignations, and fifty-seven deaths, twenty-three of these deaths hiving 
been those of life Fellows. 
