CCV1 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
the production of an entirely new race of golden-leaved Caladiums; and in the 
Pomological Department many interesting trials of varieties of fruits and vege¬ 
tables have been carried out, including one of a valuable collection of figs. 
The Fellows are referred to the Report of the Chiswick Board of Direction for 
fuller information on these subjects, and their attention is particularly called 
to the request of the Board that any Fellows of the Society who may possess 
uncommon and attractive species of hardy herbaceous perennials will aid the 
Chiswick collection of plants of this character by contributions of such as they 
can spare, or by gifts of seeds. 
6. The Council call attention to the annexed Report of the Examinations in 
Horticulture for the past year. The success of the Chiswick students is parti¬ 
cularly gratifying; and the Council have now, in compliance with the recom¬ 
mendation of the Horticultural Directors, arranged for providing a few Lectures 
and Demonstrations in aid of the practical studies of these young men, 
7. The Meetings of the Fruit and Floral Committees have been, as usual, 
very well attended during the past season, and the Council have reason to 
believe that the valuable labours of the gentlemen composing these Committees 
greatly influence the progress of Horticulture throughout the country. The 
Afternoon General Meetings, also, which follow the Committee Meetings, have 
been most successful, both as respects the appreciation of them by the Fellows 
and the subjects which have been jdiscussed. The results of the various 
Meetings and Exhibitions of the Society will appear in the forthcoming number 
of the Journal, edited by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley. 
8. The four days’ Show of June last, held in the Great Tent, was a great 
success in a Horticultural point of view. Various opinions for and against the 
continuance of a Show beyond the first or second day have been offered; but as 
yet the Council see no reason to regret that they have made the experiment, 
and they propose to repeat it this year. The Exhibition of June last w r as 
indeed continued for a whole week, the greater number of the Exhibitors 
having at once (in many cases at considerable inconvenience) acceded to the 
Council’s wish to have it kept open on the Whit-Monday. The Council have 
also added a second day to the Special Prize Show. The only other alteration 
of the last year’s programme is the breaking up of the two Spring Shows into 
three, with a slight addition to the total amount offered in prizes. The 
charming fortnight’s Show of Spring Flowers will be repeated on an increased 
scale. The Society is under great obligations to Mr. W. Paid for the spirit 
and energy he displayed in this Exhibition, which has now become so prized a 
feature of the Society’s yearly arrangements. Messrs. Lane & Son, Berkhamp- 
stead, will also make an Exhibition in the Arcades of their Plants and Flowers 
during the month of April; and Messrs. Waterer & Godfrey’s Exhibition of 
Rhododendrons, discontinued last year in consequence of the damage done by 
the severe frosts, will, the Council hope, again be counted this year among the 
attractions of the Gardens. 
9. The Council have, in former Reports, made known to the Fellows that 
the Exhibitions of the Society are no longer a source of income as for¬ 
merly, but now involve a considerable loss. Each season renders a recovery 
from this condition of things more unlikely. The expenditure on last 
year's Exhibitions was £1,727 18s. 3<f. ; the receipts only £1,402 7s. 6cl. It 
is manifest, therefore, that the Society must proceed with caution in again 
attempting any increase in their number. Nevertheless, the Council think 
very well of the proposition that has been made to them to add to their 
Programme some small Shows of special subjects, which would otherwise escape 
competition, owing to their time of flowering not coinciding with the London 
season; and they will be quite prepared to give facilities for holding such 
minor Shows as may appear to have interest for a sufficient number of culti¬ 
vators and admirers to give a probability of success. The best test of such 
interest would be a proposition on the part of Horticulturists to make 
special Shows, as has already been done by the cultivators and admirers of 
Zonal Pelargoniums. The Zonal Pelargonium Show of last season will this 
year have grown into a very important Exhibition. 
