XX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
public. The first day was to be limited to those who are really paying the 
expenses of the Exhibition, which, of course, would be very large. Such por¬ 
tions of the Show as may be held in the Gardens—that is, in the Society's pro¬ 
perty—would be open to the Fellows and Debenture-holders at all times, 
excepting when the plants and fruit are being arranged and judged; besides this, 
the first public day they would have free admittance to the whole Exhibition. 
Mr. Grenville having expressed his entire satisfaction at the arrangements, 
The Chairman put to the meeting the motion on the Report moved by Sir 
A. Watigh, and seconded by Mr. Blenkins, ‘ That this Report be received and 
approved of.’ 
The resolution was unanimously carried. 
Mr. Saunders then read the Report of the Auditors. 
The Chairman informed the meeting that the scrutineers had reported 
the unanimous election of the Members of the Council and Officers for the 
ensuing year, as follows:— 
The retiring Members of the Council were Mr. Blandy, Mr. Kelk, M.P., and 
Major Trevor Clarke; in their room were elected the Viscount Sandon, the 
Rt. Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., and Mr. Sigismund Rucker, F.L.S. 
The following were elected Officers:—His Grace the Duke of Buceleuch, as 
President; Mr. Geo. F. Wilson, F.R.S., as Treasurer; and Lieut.-Col. Scott, 
R.E., as Secretary. 
The Expenses Committee were Mr. Geo. F. Wilson, Lieut.-Col. Scott, R.E., 
and Mr. Henry Cole, C.B. 
The Auditors—Mr. James Nicholson, Mr. Jonathan Clark, and Mr. Robert 
Hudson—were reappointed. 
The Assistant-Secretary read a Report from Mr. Lee, stating that the 
value of the stock examined by himself and Mr. barker were at Soutli 
Kensington, 3,783 1. 11s. 6r7.; at Chiswick, 2,202/. 15s.; making a total of 
5,986/. 6s. 6eZ. 
Mr. Walcott then called attention to the cheap admissions to the public; at the 
last annual meeting it had been agreed to try them for that year; he now asked 
■what had been the success of this measure. 
Lord Henry Lennox explained that financially it had been a greater 
success than any other item that had come into the exchequer, but he hoped 
the matter would be fully discussed. 
Colonel Challoner objected to the cheap admissions—it lowered the 
character of the Gardens. He would sooner have the Gardens thrown open 
free on certain days than have so low a sum as id. charged for admission. 
Mr. Bowring, as a representative of the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 
1851, reminded the Fellows that the ground occupied by the Gardens had been 
established by the proceeds of that Exhibition—so to speak, with the shillings 
of the million—and therefore, to some extent, it might be considered the 
property of the public at large. He felt, however, much inclined to agree with 
Col. Challoner, and advocated, instead of a threepenny charge, a free day once 
a week during the dull time of the year. 
Lord Henry Lennox said that the subject had already been under the 
consideration of the Council. Understanding that some objections would 
be raised to the cheap admissions, he had come that day prepared to 
propose another alternative to the meeting. The Council felt that one way or 
another the gardens ought in the dull time of the year to be made available for 
the amusement and recreation of artizans; they were anxious to hear from the 
meeting present what was their opinion. Should, therefore, the threepenny 
admissions be continued, or should certain days in the week during the autumn 
be made free? The Council had but one object, the advancement of the 
interests of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
After some further discussion, in which several Fellov r s took part, it was 
agreed to leave the matter in the hands of the Council. 
* Mr. Smith spoke in terms of praise of the manner in which the Tuesday 
Floral Meetings had been conducted, and suggested that itwoidd be interesting 
to many of the Fellows to have occasional elementary lectures on botam\ 
Mr. Bowring proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for his conduct in 
the chair; this being unanimously carried, the meeting separated. 
