PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ' CCvii 
10. The Committee of the International Horticultural Exhibition have gene¬ 
rously applied the whole of their remaining surplus funds to the acquisition of 
a Library, to be held in trust for the use of the Society. The only condition 
annexed is one which the Council are very glad to accede to, viz., that the 
Library, under proper restrictions, shall be open for consultation to all 
Horticulturists and Students who may wfeh to refer to it. The Trustees con¬ 
sist of three officers of the Committee and three officers of the Council, who 
are to appoint a seventh member to be President. The arrangements of the 
Board include the purchase from the Society of the Lindley Library. This 
Library, and also a collection of works the property of the Society, will 
shortly be placed in the Council Boom. 
11. In their Report, presented in the year 1866, the Council made allusion 
to the contemplated erection of the Eoyal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences, as 
likely to add an additional attraction to the gardens of the Society. During 
the past year the foundation-stone of the building was laid by Her Host 
Gracious Majesty the Queen, and its walls are now fast rising. The Council 
are making arrangements with the Provisional Committee of that undertaking, 
from which mutual advantages will be derived. These arrangements will 
include convenient access to the Hall from the Society’s Conservatory. 
12. In conclusion, the Council have pleasure in announcing that the claim 
put forward by them for the recognition of the important services to Horti¬ 
culture of the old and valued officer of the Society, Mr. Thompson, has 
resulted in a subscription which at present amounts to 360/. Some account of 
his labours, and a list of the subscribers, were given in the Proceedings of the 
Society issued last month. 
REPORT TO THE COHKCIL PROM THE CHISWICK BOARD 
OE DIRECTORS. 
Dec. 1867. 
1. The Directors have the satisfaction of reporting that the Chiswick Garden 
has been thoroughly utilised during the past season, and that the cultural 
rescdts, under the efficient superintendence of Mr. Barron, have been fully 
equal to those of former years. They would have desired to have effected some¬ 
thing more than has been found possible in regard to the keeping of certain 
portions of the garden, but the labour rate at their disposal has proved insuf¬ 
ficient- for the purpose, and they therefore recommend a slight increase of 
expenditure under this head. 
2. The experiment which has been made with reference to the employment 
of Students for the performance of a portion of the work of the garden has, 
so far, fairly answered the expectations of its promoters ; and the Directors, 
but for the outlay involved, would willingly extend it so as to offer its advan¬ 
tages to a larger number of young men anxious to use the best means of 
advancing themselves in their profession. They, however, having past 
experience in view, think it would be advantageous to provide for the entry of 
somewhat younger men than the present regulations will admit. They also 
think that a few Lectures and Demonstrations in aid of the practical studies of 
these young men, such as were originally contemplated, would now prove a 
valuable aid to them. 
3. The Directors trust that the Society may rely on a continuance of the aid 
which has been so generously and efficiently afforded to the Chiswick collection 
by those gentlemen who have obligingly contributed novelties for the various 
trial collections, since they believe that these experimental trials have more 
effectually and widely diffused a correct knowledge of the recent acquisitions 
for the Elower, Fruit, and Vegetable gardens than could have been brought 
about by any other ready means. They are highly gratified to be able to state 
that these trial collections, and the standard sorts grown for comparison with 
them, are sought for with much interest by numerous visitors at the proper 
season. 
