148 
JOURNAL OF HORTIGULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 14,18J5. 
that many more interested in fruit culture would do all in their power 
in this respect; he also wished to make special reference to the benefits 
derived from the different papers which were read at the show. He 
was pleased that steps had been taken towards placing judging at shows 
on a more general footing. It was very difficult to form any hard and 
fast rule, but great improvements might be made. He was sorry 
that, owing to the inclemency of the weather at the time, the conference 
on trees and shrubs held at Chiswick was altogether an unfortunate 
affair, though the papers read at that occasion were of a high order. 
In spite of this, however, the finances of the Society were in a very 
satisfactory condition, and he was sure all interested in the Society were 
pleased to see that it had emerged from the financial difficulties that once 
prevented its progress, and was now on a firm basis. In concluding his 
remarks he wished to add a few words of thanks to Mr. Wilks, the 
Secretary. He was sure that all present were delighted to see him in 
improved health, and he hoped he would soon be quite recovered. He 
also wished to thank Mr. Weathers, the Assistant Secretary, Mr. P. 
Crowley, and Mr. Barron of Chiswick for their able services. 
In some discussion that followed, in which Mr. F. Barker, Mr. Banger 
Johnson, Mr. Peter Finch, and the Kev. G. Henslow took part, suggestions 
were made that the Fruit and Floral Committees that were called 
together to go through the gardens at Chiswick and make awards should 
present their reports at the fortnightly meetings held at the Drill Hall, 
as these meetings were doing much to benefit horticulture. 
The adoption of the report was then seconded and carried unani¬ 
mously. Mr. Wilks, in a few brief words, thanked the Chairman for 
the kind words spoken about him ; and Mr. H. J. Veitch proposed a vote 
of thanks to the Chairman, which was carried with applause, after which 
the proceedings closed. 
EEPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1894-95. 
The year 1894 has again been one of steady work and progress for 
our Society. 
Nineteen fruit and floral meetings have been held in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Victoria Street, Westminster, besides the more extended 
shows at the Temple Gardens on May 23rd, 24th, and 25th ; at Chiswick 
Gardens on September 25th; and at the Crystal Palace on Sep¬ 
tember 29th, and October 1st and 2nd ; and lectures have been delivered 
at fourteen of the meetings, exclusive of those given at the conferences. 
The number of awards has been as follows :—On the recommendation of 
the Floral Committee, 71 first-class certificates against 64 in 1893, 
225 awards of merit against 201, and 3 botanical certificates against 6. 
On the recommendation of the Orchid Committee, 68 first-class certifi¬ 
cates against 39 last year, 134 awards of merit against 86, 21 botanical 
certificates against 25. On the recommendation of the Fruit and 
Vegetable Committee, 15 first-class certificates against 16, and 12 awards 
of merit against 23 last year. 
The Society’s great show held (by the continued kindness of the 
Treasurer and Benchers) in the Inner Temple Gardens, and graciously 
opened by H.R.H. the Duke of York, was a greater success than ever, 
and it is a matter of satisfaction to the Council to find that this meeting 
is now universally acknowledged to be the leading horticultural exhibi¬ 
tion of this country. The best thanks of the Society are due to all who 
kindly brought their plants for exhibition, or otherwise contributed to 
the success of this show. 
The great show of British-grown fruit held by the Society at the 
Crystal Palace on September 29th and October 1st and 2nd was of 
national importance, and as an object lesson in British fruit culture it 
stands out unrivalled. It is needless to enter into further details, as 
full particulars will be found in volume xviii. of the Journal, issued at 
the same time as this report. 
To one point, however, connected with the fruit show, the Council 
desire to draw the special attention of the Fellows and of the general 
public interested in fruit cultivation. The Society may well be proud 
of this show, but it must not be forgotten that the holding of the show 
was due to a very small number of gentlemen, who subscribed the 
£100 asked by the Council towards the prize money before they would 
consent to embark on tbe scheme. This year (1895) the Council have 
made arrangements with the Directors of the Crystal Palace to again 
hold a similar show, and they will be glad to receive offers of special 
prizes from any who are interested in British fruit culture. Donations 
towards this fund should be sent at once to the Secretarv, the Rev. 
W. Wilks. 
The Council have decided to devote the meeting of October 15th, 
1895, entirely to an exhibition of vegetables. A special schedule of the 
show will be issued in April, together with one for the Crystal Palace 
fruit show. 
The Conference on trees, held at Chiswick on September 25th, 
abounded in interesting material and in papers of the greatest use to 
landowners interested in woods and plantations, but unfortunately the 
weather was such as to make it exceedingly difficult to examine the 
multitude of specimens so kindly sent by contributors, to whom the 
beat thanks of the Society are specially due. 
The Society’s general work of scientific experiment and investigation, 
and of the practical trial of various plants, has been going on steadily 
at Chiswick, under the superintendence of Mr. Barron. Trial has been 
made of 40 varieties of Cauliflowers, 86 of Peas, 116 of Strawberries, 
55 of new varieties of Potatoes, and 67 of Tomatoes. In the floral 
department 400 varieties of Carnations and Picolees, 70 of Pinks, 78 of 
Cannas, 60 of Sweet Peas, as well as many Clematis, Campanulas, and 
Mignonette have been tried. 
The following table will show the Society’s progress in regard to 
numerical strength during the past year:— 
Deaths in 1894. 
£ 
8. 
d. 
Life Fellows .... 
. 8 , 
... 0 
0 
0 
4 Guineas . 
. 3 . 
.. 12 
12 
0 
2 „ . 
. 16 . 
.. 33 
12 
0 
1 „ 
. 14 , 
... 14 
14 
0 
41 
18 
0 
Resignations. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
2 
Guineas. 
. 24 , 
... 50 
8 
0 
1 
. 
. 93 . 
... 102 
18 
0 
122 
£153 
6 
0 
Total Loss ... 
... 163 
£214 
4 
0 
Fellows Elected 1894. 
£ s. d. 
4 guineas. 5 ... 21 0 0 
2 90 ... 189 0 0 
1 „ . 231 ... 242 11 0 
Associates . 8 ... 1 11 6 
Affiliated Societies 10 ... 11 11 0 
839 £465 18 6 
Deduct Loss. 214 4 0 
Net Increase in In¬ 
come .£251 9 6 
New Fellows, &o. 339 
Deduct Resignations and Deaths 163 
Numerical Increase . 176 
The Journal of the Society has been continued so as to enable 
Fellows at a distance to enter more fully into and reap the benefits of 
the study and work of those actively engaged at headquarters. 
Vol. xvi., parts 2 and 3, and parts 1 and 2 of vol. xvii., were issued 
during the year, and vol. xviii., containing the reports of the conferences 
on trees at Chiswick and on British fruits at the Crystal Palace, is now 
ready for issue. The Council would like to remind Fellows of two very 
valuable volumes published in 1893, of which a few copies are left, 
viz., (i) a monograph on bulbous Irises, by Professor Michael Foster, 
Joint Secretary of the Royal Society; and (ii) a complete list of 
certificates to plants, flowers. Ferns, Orchids, fruits, vegetables, &c., 
granted by the Society from the year 1859 to January, 1893. 
An examination in the principles and practice of horticulture was 
held on May Ist concurrently in different parts of the United Kingdom, 
a centre being established wherever a magistrate, or clergyman, or 
schoolmaster, or other responsible person accustomed to examinations 
would consent to superintend one on the Society’s behalf, and in 
accordanee with the rules laid down for its conduct. No limit as to 
the age, position, or previous training of the candidates was imposed, 
and the examination was open to both sexes. 126 candidates presented 
themselves for examination, and were divided into three classes. 
Eleven of the candidates gained 200 marks and more out of a possible 
300 in the first class, 37 gained between 150 and 200 marks in the 
second class, 40 gained between 100 and 150 marks in the third class, 
and 33, having failed to obtain 100 marks, were not classed. The 
names and addresses of the successful candidates, together with the 
number of marks assigned to each, will be found in the Society’s 
Journal, vol. xvii., 1894, page 67. 
In connection \\ith this examination it is satisfactory to record that 
Mr. W. N. Sands and Mr. G. F. Tinley were appointed to the two 
scholarships, value £39 a year, and tenable for two years, kindly given 
to the Society by Baron Schroder, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., and the 
Worshipful Company of Gardeners. 
It is proposed to hold a similar examination in May, 1895, and 
candidates intending to sit for it should apply to the Secretary, 
117, Victoria Street, Westminster, during March. 
In round numbers £1900 has been expended at Chiswick this year 
on the general work, and repairs and keeping up of the Gardens. The 
receipts from the Gardens by sale of surplus produce amount to £400, 
making the net cost of the Gardens £1500. 
The Council, acting in conjunction with the Lindley Trustees, have 
devoted considerable attention to the Library. All serial publications 
have been kept up to date, a large number of valuable volumes have 
been bound, and the following new books, amongst others, added to the 
library—viz,, “ The Natural History of Plants,” ” The Forester ” (sixth 
edition), “ The Diseases of Trees,” ‘‘ The Genus Masdevallia,” “ Flowers 
of the Engadine,” “The Gardens of the Sun,” “Les Orchiddes Exo- 
tiques,” “ Schneider’s Book of Choice Ferns,” “ European Ferns,” “Index 
Kewensis,” (part 3), &c. 
At the last annual meeting of the Society a wish was expressed that 
a Catalogue of the Library should be published. A fund to meet the 
expense was accordingly opened, and a sum of £80 has been received up 
to the present. The Catalogue is already partly advanced, although 
this sum will not be sufficient, but it is hoped that many Fellows, 
seeing that the matter is actually in hand, will now come forward with 
donations however small they may be. 
The hearty thanks of the Society are due to the Chiswick Board and 
to all the members of the Standing Committees—viz., the Scientific, the 
Fruit and Vegetable, the Floral, the Orchid, and the Narcissus Com¬ 
mittees, for the kind and patient attention which they have severally 
given to tkeir departments. 
The Council are of opinion that the special work for which the 
Narcissus Committee was originally appointed has, thanks to their 
labours, been so far accomplished that it will not be necessary to call 
together a separate Committee this year, but that this work may now be 
carried on by the Floral Committee, to which one or two Narcissus 
experts have been added. 
Thd best thanks of the Society are due to all those who, either at 
