PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
cm 
expect to derive greater facilities for coming to a satisfactory conclusion than 
have hitherto been afforded. 
For the last few seasons repeated attempts have been made to investigate 
the collection of strawberries, but without effect; the plantation which existed 
in the garden having, in common with others throughout the country, suffered 
from the successive effects of late spring frosts and summer droughts, it became 
necessary to form an entirely new collection, including in it all the varieties 
that were known to exist either in this country or the continent. Through the 
liberality which always characterises the nursery trade in its relations to the 
Society, the directors have the pleasure to report that the new plantation, which 
has been formed on a newly-prepared piece of ground, now includes no less than 
286 varieties; and it is hoped that in the year 1868, should no untoward event 
arise, a rare opportunity will be afforded to the Fellows of the Society and those 
interested in the subject to study this extensive collection. 
It has been found that the old collection of apples on paradise stocks which 
occupies the borders of the orchard and kitchen garden, and which is coeval 
with the existence of the garden, is rapidly falling into decay, and although by 
certain treatment the trees might be renovated and rendered healthy and 
fruitful, the expense and labour that would be incurred in arriving at this 
result are so great that steps are being taken to gradually remove these old 
trees and to form a new collection with others of a younger and more healthy 
growth. Another and perhaps the greatest objection to the continuance of 
these trees is the fact that most of them are grafted with several distinct 
varieties, which in many instances have been double worked, and the evil 
results that arise from this circumstance, where so many applications for grafts 
are furnished to the Fellows from these trees, are in themselves sufficient 
to justify the course which the Board propose to carry out. Every care 
has been taken to preserve the full collection, and, in anticipation of the 
destruction of the old trees, scions have been taken from them and worked upon 
stocks which have now grown into handsome young trees ready to take the 
place of their predecessors. 
During the past season the plum and cherry crops have been an entire 
failure, and for all practical purposes have been productive of no useful result. 
The great uncertainty there is in securing a crop of cherries, whether from the 
damage done to the bloom by late spring frosts, or by birds when a crop has 
been obtained, has induced the Board to institute a course of experimental 
examinations by growing the trees in pots and cultivating them under protec¬ 
tion. This appears to be the only alternative where a large collection has to 
be dealt with, and w r here it is impossible to protect every individual tree when 
out of doors. The Board, therefore, propose in future to grow all new varieties 
that may be received in pots, and to add to them when young trees can be 
obtained all the old varieties in the garden, so that future experiments may be 
carried out with some reasonable prospect of success. 
Every opportunity is taken of securing the novelties which are announced, 
and it is the object of the directors to render the collection of fruits in the 
Chiswick Garden as complete as it is possible to be, so that it may become a 
centre of reference upon all subjects relating to fruits and to fruit tree culture. 
It is with much pleasure that they have to record the great liberality of 
the Bev. John Huyshe, of Clysthydon, near Exeter, who has been the success¬ 
ful originator of several valuable varieties of pear bearing his name. Among 
these varieties was one of unusual size and excellence, which has been named 
Huyshe’s Prince Consort, and the entire stock of that variety Mr. Huyshe has 
placed at the disposal of tho Society. Upwards of 100 young trees have been 
propagated of it in the garden, and these, along with 200 or 300 scions sent by 
Mr. Huyshe, have been distributed in the first ballot of this year. 
It is gratifying to see the unabated interest which the nursery trade and others 
connected with the pursuit of horticulture in the country manifest in the mainten¬ 
ance and success of the operations at the garden, as exemplified in the liberal 
donations of any novelties they may possess, and the desire that the Society 
should have an opportunity of comparing, examining, and proving the various 
