130 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 16, 1882. 
the practical portion of the Society’s work was continued at Chiswick, 
and especially to the large number of seeds and plants distributed 
amongst the Fellows. 
Mr. Guedalla moved the adoption of the Report, and considered 
the Society was deeply indebted to Lord Aberdare and the Council 
for their services. The Report was then adopted unanimously. 
As the result of the ballot it was announced the gentlemen nomi¬ 
nated by the Council had been duly elected, and the proceedings then 
terminated with a hearty unanimous vote of thanks to the Chairman. 
Report of the Council to the Annual General Meeting 
of February the 14th, 1882. 
The Council have again to congratulate the Fellows on the increase 
in their numbers and in their income which the past year has shown, 
and the more so as such increase has for several years past been pro¬ 
gressive in both respects. The receipts from the Great Show again 
suffered from unfavourable weather, which marred the effect of the 
brilliant display made by the exhibitors, and seriously affected the 
attendance of the public. The loss entailed thereby upon the finances 
of the Society fortunately was small, and the evening fete, which gave 
great satisfaction to the Fellows, much more than paid its expenses. 
The promenade shows in the conservatory, which are steadily growing 
in the public favour, did not in any way interfere with the scientific 
work of the fortnightly Committee meetings, of which they were an 
extension. They have been a source of enjoyment to the Fellows and 
their friends who attended them, and have contributed large and 
attentive audiences at the interesting lectures delivered at them, some 
of which have been published in extenso in the Society’s Journal. The 
other minor shows, including those of the Auricula and Pelargonium 
Societies, maintained their usual high standard of excellence, and 
afforded much pleasure to visitors. The lawn tennis courts have been 
much used and appreciated by the Fellows resident near the South 
Kensington Gardens. 
The International Medical and Sanitary Exhibition, for the purposes 
of which the Council granted the use of a large part of the arcades of 
the Society, proved a success financially, and the Council trust has 
been useful to the nation by teaching in a visible and practical way 
the leading principles of sanitation, and the best external means of 
preventing and alleviating disease. 
The Council wish to record their sense of the cordial and pleasant 
nature of their relations with the gentlemen who represented the 
Executive Committee of this Exhibition. 
The Smoke Abatement Exhibition, which is still in progress, will, 
the Council hope, effect practical good in diminishing waste of fuel, 
and the injury to the health of the inhabitants and destruction of 
plants which smoke occasions in and around our great cities, towns, 
and manufacturing districts. 
The Council have no doubt the aid they have given to the laudable 
objects of these exhibitions will have the apprpval of the Fellows. 
The suit by the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 against tbe 
Society and the debenture holders, the position of which was fully 
explained to the Fellows in last year’s Report, came on before Mr. 
Justice Fry in June last, and was, after hearing, dismissed with costs, 
to be paid by the Commissioners to the Society and to the repre¬ 
sentative of the debenture holders. Against this judgment the Com¬ 
missioners have appealed, and the Council believe the appeal will very 
shortly come on for hearing. If the decision of Mr. Justice Fry be 
affirmed, as the Council have reasonable grounds for hoping will be 
the case, the Society will be placed in a much more advantageous 
position than it has occupied for many years. 
The scientific work of the Society has been carefully attended to 
during the year. 
The Chiswick Garden has been maintained in a high state of 
efficiency, and has enabled the Council to have much useful experi¬ 
mental work carried out there. In this work the Fellow's appear to 
take an increasing interest, and the public generally receive as authori¬ 
tative the results which have been attained. 
The Fruit Committee have had under examination 242 different sorts 
of Potatoes, and from America a number of unnamed seedlings. The 
season proving favourable for these the experiments were very 
successful, and the Committee were enabled to recommend seventeen 
varieties for the Society’s certificates on account of their improved 
quality and appearance. Some new Peas were also grown, and of 
these three kinds received certificates. There were also many minor 
varieties of vegetables which received attention. 
The kinds of Raspberries in cultivation being numerous, it has been 
thought desirable to institute a trial to ascertain their respective merits 
and character. With this view a large collection has been secured, and 
the result of the investigation will, when completed, be published in 
the Journal. Experiments will also be instituted in the coming season 
to ascertain the distinctive characters and uses of new varieties of 
Peas, Lettuce, Tomato, and Shallot. 
The Floral Committee has been mainly occupied in examining 
Begonias, of which the Society possesses one of the most complete 
collections existing, and Pelargoniums, of which many striking 
varieties -were presented by M. Lemoine of Nancy. Pompon Dahlias, 
Nasturtiums, Pentstemons, Gloxinias, Ceanothus, Neriums, and other 
miscellaneous plants have been examined. 
The crops of fruit, though below an average, nevertheless furnished 
good opportunities for pomological investigators to acquire a know¬ 
ledge of the subject, there being a collection of 2G8 varieties of Apples 
alone arranged for examination in the fruit room. The Vines in the 
great conservatory continue to supply abundant crops. 
The Tea Roses, which, in accordance with the intention announced 
in last year’s Report, have been planted in the orchard house, are 
making satisfactory progress. 
The Rockery, which was formed a few years ago, has been a great 
attraction to the Fellows and visitors. It is planted with the choicest 
rock and alpine plants, which are now well established, and has during 
the year been considerably enlarged. 
To aid in fostering a taste for hardy border flowers the Council have 
largely increased the number of those formerly in the garden. 
The applications of 942 Fellows were granted as follows—18,886 
plants, 10,644 packets of seeds, 4000 Gladiolus bulbs, 5472 Strawberry 
runners and cuttings of fruits trees : 45,002 total distribution. 
In addition to the usual choice varieties of vegetable and flower 
seeds, seed of a selected strain of Begonia will be distributed during 
the present year. 
The sales of garden produce during the year appear in the accounts. 
A large quantity of Grapes still remain, which are being disposed of. 
A requisition having been made by the Chiswick, Turnham Green 
and District Horticultural Society, of which the Duke of Devonshire 
is President, for the use of the garden in which to hold an exhibition 
the Council gave their consent, and a Show was held which was so 
numerously attended and successful that the Council hope that at 
some future time they may be encouraged to make a similar use of the 
garden. 
The Council have pleasure in acknowledging the liberal donations 
made to the Chiswick Garden, among which are—the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, 08 herbaceous plants ; the Royal Botanic Society, a specimen 
Araucaria excelsa ; Botanic Garden, Cambridge, 77 herbaceous plants ; 
Mr. T. S. Ware, 141 herbaceous plants ; G. F. Wilson, Esq., 37 herba¬ 
ceous plants ; Messrs. H. Lane & Son, a collection of Roses ; Mr. 
C. Turner, ditto ; Messrs. Paul & Son, ditto ; Messrs. J. Laing & Co., 
ditto ; Mr. J. Fraser, ditto ; Mr. C. Turner, 111 varieties of Chrysan¬ 
themums ; Mr. H. Herbst, a collection of Palms ; Baron Ferdinand von 
Mueller of Melbourne, collection of seeds. The Society is indebted to 
many Fellow's and others for liberal donations ox plants. 
Auditors’ Report. 
January 30th, 1882. 
My Lord and Gentlemen,—We have gone very carefully through 
the books of the Society, and we have compared every item with the 
vouchers produced. We find the accounts perfectly correct, and the 
books kept in a clear and thoroughly efficient manner. 
With regard to the Chiswick accounts, there is still room for improve¬ 
ment by giving every item of the ready money receipts separately, 
instead of in a lump sum monthly, over which there is no check. Mr. 
Dick has prepared a book* which will carry out this suggestion. 
We offer our congratulations on the gradually improving condition 
of the Society, the annual subscriptions of last year showing an increase 
of £213 over the previous year, and of £262 over that of 1879. The 
resignations of Fellows also show a decrease, a proof that there is a 
greater feeling of stability among them as to the prospects of the 
Society. There is also an increase of £90 in the daily admissions at 
the gates. R A _ ASPINALL. 
JOHN LEE. 
JAS. F. WEST. 
To the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society of London. 
Balance Sheet, 31st Deceher, 1881. 
Dr. 
To Sundry Creditors— £ Si a. 
1880 . *25 9 2 
1881 . 1,375 7 7 
„ Life Composition Account . 
„ Additional Debenture (C. J. Freake). 
„ Legacies received. 
„ General Revenue Account—Balance carried forward 
£ 3 . d. 
1,400 16 9 
410 0 9 
5,000 0 0 
1,887 8 9 
1,721 4 1 
£10,419 10 4 
CR. 
By Capital Expenditure 
„ Debtors, viz :— 
Annual Subscriptions outstanding 
Garden Produce. 
Sundries . 
£ s. d' 
. 7,111 0 2 
31st Dec, 1880. 1881. 
£ s. d. £ s. d. 
. 351 15 0 54 12 0 
. 20 2 9 142 18 9 
6 12 8 23 13 0 
£221 3 9 
„ Smoke Abatement Exhibition. 8 3 11 
£378 10 5 £229 7 8 607 18 1 
„ Investment—3 per cent. Consols. 1,892 11 3 
„ Cash at Bankers . 7^6 0 5 
„ Petty Cash in hand. 22 0 5 
£10,419 10 4 
We have examined the above Accounts with the Books and Vouchers, and we 
find the same correct— JOHN LEE, 
R. 
28th January, 1882. JAS. 
UC 1RAHV5 cl 11U. VUULT 
IOHN LEE, 1 
t. A. ASPINALL, 1 
rAS. F. WEST, j 
Auditors. 
# This book has been approved of, and is in use. 
