39G 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 18, 1888. 
solicitors, and they advised them that once possessed 
of a charter it was exceedingly difficult for a society to 
get rid of it, and a costly and troublesome proceeding 
to get it amended, and consequently that if possible it 
was desirable to go on with the present charter. No 
doubt a great deal of the charter was absolutely 
obsolete, and when they departed from South Ken¬ 
sington would refer to a state of affairs that had 
entirely ceased to exist. But he thought, in face of the 
advice they had received, they had better run on with 
the present charter as long as possible. With regard 
to the bye-laws, a considerable portion of them were 
also obsolete. With reference to the council, he should 
like to mention that they had placed their resignations 
in the hands of the Fellows, with the view of leaving 
the society at perfect liberty to make whatever selection 
they thought proper of a new council. It had been 
suggested in one quarter that as they had proceeded to 
re-nominate a certain number of their tody, their 
resignations were scarcely sincere ; but a little reflection 
and study of the bye-laws would show that this was 
not so. There was not one of them who would not 
most willingly resign his place to make way for any- 
body else, if it could be shown to be of the slightest 
advantage to the society. Some comment has been 
made on the fact that they had on the council two 
gentlemen connected with the national establishment 
at Kew. It was feared that the rest of the council 
would not be able to hold their own against them. 
Now, if the council could not hold their own against 
two of its members — whether they came from Kew 
or anywhere else—they would be unfit for their 
position. But the fact was that they had acted in 
the most perfect harmony with them, and the 
fact of the council having among them the head 
of the greatest botanical and horticultural institution 
in the world was of the greatest advantage. "With 
regard to the outside committee, the council had met 
with the greatest possible assistance from them. Out 
of the seven gentlemen proposed by that committee for 
election to the council, the council had adopted four. 
Two of the gentlemen whose resignations the Fellows 
had declined to accept would find it necessary, they 
said, to retire, and would make way for two others of 
the seven proposed by the outside committee. The 
result would be that out of the fifteen new council 
eight would be old members and seven would be new. 
The council had received many assurances that the 
persons interested in horticulture had no intention of 
deserting the society. It had unfortunately been in 
difficulties in regard to financial matters, and it would 
be absolutely necessary for the council to be provided 
with sufficient funds to carry on the work of the society, 
as they could not incur liabilities if they saw no 
prospect of being able to deal with them. But when 
matters were placed on a new footing, he believed the 
amount of support required, which was not very large, 
would be accorded. 
Mr. Geo. Deal, secretary of the Special Committee of 
the Fellows, appointed on December 13th, then read 
the following 
Repoet of the Committee. 
The committee appointed in pursuance of a resolution 
passed at a special general meeting held on December 
13th, 1887, and confirmed at the subsequent meeting 
on January 10th, 1888, deems it expedient, on the oc¬ 
casion of the annual meeting (albeit the committee has 
been only a short time in existence), to lay before you 
a report of its work and deliberations up to the present. 
The members originally nominated were Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., M.P., the president of the society, 
Baron Schroder, Professor Michael Foster and G. F. 
Wilson, members of council, Messrs. A. H. Smee, H. 
J. Pearson, H. J. Yeitch, Shirley Hibberd, George 
Paul, and Dr. Masters. 
At the first meeting of the committee, in accordance 
with the powers conferred upon it, Dr. Masters was 
elected chairman, and there were added to its number 
the following gentlemen :—Messrs. J. Woodbridge, J. 
Douglas, R. Ker, T. B. Haywood, H. Turner, Rev. W. 
Wilks, and G. Deal, the last-named gentleman being 
afterwards requested to act as secretary. Messrs. 
Herbst and Marshall were at a subsequent meeting 
added to the committee. Some gentlemen whom the 
committee would most gladly have added to its number 
were, for various reasons, unable to respond to the 
invitation sent to them. The selection of the 
members of the committee has been made with a view 
to secure as complete a representation of all sections 
and interests of the horticultural community, includiug 
representatives of the special societies, as circumstances 
permit. 
Nominations to Council. 
The next step taken was to suggest to the council the 
names of Messrs. A. H. Smee, H. J. Veitch, George 
Paul, T. B. Haywood, C. R. Scrase Dickins, J. Wood- 
bridge, and Rev. W. Wilks, to fill certain of the 
anticipated vacancies in the council at the annual 
meeting. The council at once adopted some of these 
names, and it is believed that arrangements may be 
made at the annual meeting whereby some others may 
be selected in conformity with the recommendations of 
the committee. Your committee regrets exceedingly 
that Baron Schroder, whom it had suggested to fill the 
position of treasurer, finds himself unable to undertake 
the duties of the office. 
Extraordinary Vacancies in the Council. 
The Committee begs to recommend that as two 
extraordinary vacancies in the council are anticipated 
after the election this day, such vacancies should be 
filled by the election of Messrs. T. B. Haywood and J. 
Woodbridge. 
New Premises for the Society. 
After careful consideration of the requirements of the 
society, and after an inspection of numerous premises 
by means of a sub-committee, your committee submits 
that the under-mentioned premises seem to meet the 
present requirements of the case better than any other, 
and, therefore, strongly recommend that they should 
be forthwith secured. 
Offices .—-The committee is of opinion that the first 
floor of No. Ill, Victoria Street, is well suited for the 
London head-quarters and offices of the Society, and 
for the housing of the Lindley Library in case the 
trustees consent to its being placed there." The 
premises occupy a good position, almost midway 
between the Victoria Stations and St. James’s Park 
Station on the District (Underground) Railway, and 
within a few minutes’ walk of either. The ground- 
floor of the house is occupied by the “Metropolitan 
Drinking Fountain Association,” and the upper floors 
are let out in sets of chambers. The first floor consists 
of two rooms and the usual conveniences. The smaller 
of the rooms is 16 ft. 2 ins. long by 8 ft. 6 ins. wide, and 
could be used as a clerk’s room. The larger of the 
rooms is a spacious and convenient apartment, 42 ft. 6 ins. 
long by 22 ft. 9 ins. wide. It has a coved ceiling, and 
is very lofty, being 18 ft. high, so that it is well 
adapted for the purposes of library, reading and council 
room, and for business purposes generally. 
A plan of the premises and a sketch of the larger 
room have been prepared, which will explain the 
extent of the accommodation much better than mere 
words can do. These premises are offered at a rental 
of £120 per annum, free from rates and taxes. 
Arrangements for Shows and Meetings .—Your com¬ 
mittee having in view, at this particular time, only 
the metropolitan requirements of the society, further 
submits that the Drill Hall of the London Scottish 
Rifle Volunteers is well suited for holding large exhi¬ 
bitions, smaller meetings, and for the assemblage of 
the several committees. It is situated in James Street, 
Victoria Street, within two minutes’ walk of St. 
James’s Park Station, on the District (Underground) 
Railway. It is close to the Army and Navy Stores, 
and within two or three minutes’ walk of 111, Victoria 
Street—the premises already recommended for the 
offices of the society. The hall is 135 ft. long by 72 
ft. wide, is lofty, has a fairly good light, and generally 
suitable for the purposes indicated. It has a back 
entrance which can be made use of for carrying in and 
removing exhibits, and a carriage entrance adapted for 
the arrival and departure of visitors. There is room 
available in the basement for the storage of the neces¬ 
sary tables and tressels. Your committee has insti¬ 
tuted inquiries and opened negotiations with the com¬ 
mittee of the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers, and 
now begs to recommend that the society should confirm 
the offer made by the committee to pay a rental of 
.A100 per annum, from March 25th next, in order to 
secure the use of the hall for twenty meetings during 
the year ; the rent to include the cost of storage room 
in the basement for the society’s tables and tressels, 
and, if possible, to secure the use, on show days, of the 
luncheon-room, and probably of the committee-room 
for a few hours in the morning occasionally. Proposi¬ 
tions to hold exhibitions, &c., at Chiswick and other 
localities in London and in the provinces, will form the 
subjects of future deliberation. 
The trustees of the Library are not absolutely bound by their 
deed to place the library on the society’s premises, alter its 
removal from South Kensington, though there is little doubt 
that they would do so. — M. X. M. 
New Bye-Laws and General Policy. 
The committee has under consideration the construction 
of new bye-laws intended to facilitate the carrying out of 
as complete a horticultural policy as possible—one in 
which all aspects and departments shall be considered, 
to the undue preponderance of none, but to the general 
advantage of all. A more adequate representation of 
horticultural representatives and of diverse interests in 
the council is aimed at as well as an enlarged constituency, 
especially in the provinces, by means of reduced rates of 
subscription, adequate privileges and representation on 
the governing body being secured to the subscribers of 
whatever grade. 
It is hoped that by the institution of such a policy 
the society may become the central horticultural society 
of the empire, with branches and representatives in 
every district of the country, and with committees and 
sub-committees to meet the wants of specialists and 
those interested in particular departments. 
Secretary and Manager. 
The committee urges the paramount importance of 
appointing a well-qualified paid secretary at as early a 
date as possible, the services of such an officer being, in 
its opinion, indispensable for the adequate discharge of 
the work involved in the re-organisation of the society. 
Lastly, as these and other schemes for the future 
development of the society must of necessity occupy 
some considerable time before they can be put into 
working order, your committee suggests that it should 
this day be re-appointed with full powers, and that it 
should continue to co-opeiate, in the same satisfactory 
spirit as heretofore, with the council in all matters 
relating to the welfare of the society. 
Signed on behalf of the Committee, 
Maxwell T. Masters, Chairman. 
Geo. Deal, Secretary. 
February 14 th, 1888. 
Dr. Masters, the chairman of the committee who 
presented the above report, expressed satisfaction at 
the harmony and co operation which have existed 
between it and the council, and added that the new 
policy which was indicated was substantially the same 
as that initiated by Prof. Forster and Mr. Dyer, and 
already approved by the Fellows. One great fault of 
their society had been that they had looked upon horti¬ 
culture as the plaything of the rich, or as a mere 
money-grubbing machine for the few pecuniarily 
interested in it. But horticulture had far higher aims 
than this. It had involved in it the interests of the 
country at large. The agriculture of the future would 
be to a large extent horticulture, and the society had 
got to teach agriculturists how to make a living. It 
seemed also to him that the society had not sufficiently 
considered the interests of the practical gardeners of 
the kingdom, many of whom, perhaps, could not afford 
to pay the subscription, and whom it might be well to 
admit at a lower subscription, and so endeavour to 
promote their education and welfare, and raise them in 
the social scale. It might be said this was a very fine 
scheme, but they did not expect to carry it out all at 
once. Gradual evolution and not sudden revolution 
would ultimately land them where they hoped to be. 
Personally he did not think they would be able to get 
on long without a new charter, but much might in 
the meantime be done by altering their bye-laws. 
The report of the committee was received and 
adopted, and the committee, on the proposition of Mr. 
Roupell, seconded by Mr. "Wynne, and supported by 
Mr. J. Cheal, was re-appointed. 
Some scrutineers having been previously appointed, 
and a ballot taken, it was reported that the old 
members of council already named by the Rev. "W. 
"Wilks, and also Mr. D. Morris, Mr. A. H. Smee, Mr. 
George Paul, Mr. Harry Veitch, and the Rev. W. 
"Wilks himself were elected, and the following were 
returned as officers :—presidont, Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., M.P. ; treasurer, David Morris, M.A., F.L.S. ; 
secretary, William Lee ; auditors, John Lee,* Wm. 
Richards and H. Turner. 
A resolution empowering the council to rent the 
London Scottish Volunteers Drill Hall at £100 a year, 
and the Victoria Street Offices at £120 was then passed. 
A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lang, builder, 
for assistance rendered by him to the committee in 
finding and securing these premises. 
A hearty vote of thanks was then passed to Mr. 
Haughton, Major Mason, Colonel Trevor Clarke, and 
Captain Bax, the late assistant-secretary. 
It was next resolved that the following be a new bye. 
law; —“The president may call a special general 
meeting of the society if he considers it necessary, any 
