6 
The Horticultural Improvement Society op New South Wales. 
From the 1st July, 1856, the commencement of the second year of its existence, 
to the 8th December of the same year, the date of its dissolution, the Horticultural 
Improvement Society published no record of its proceedings, this duty having 
been transferred, until all other of its business matters, to the Council of the pre¬ 
sent Society. Its first- and last published annual Report having been, up to the 
previously mentioned date, it is only necessary, in order to complete its records, to 
continue the summary of its transactions from that time until its dissolution. 
During the period indicated, the Society held two public exhibitions, name!}’, a 
Camellia show, and the general spring exhibition. The first was held on the 1 Oth and 
11th of July, in the new concert room of the Royal Hotel, and deservedly attracted 
considerable attention, not only from its being the first of its kind ever held in 
Australia; but also from its superiority and magnitude. Nearly two thousand cut 
specimens of camellia flowers were exhibited for competition, besides a considerable 
number of pot grown specimens. It was the opinion of many competent judges 
that even England (where the cultivation of this fashionable flower has arrived at 
greatest perfection) would have fallen far behind in competition with many of the 
varieties exhibited on this occasion. The exhibition, however, unfortunately failed 
in a pecuniary respect, owing entirely to the fact that the two days fixed for it 
proved, perhaps, the most inclement, of an inclement season. None but enthusiasts 
could be expected to visit it in such weather. The amount taken at the doors was 
consequently limited, and less than the mere rent of the room. The expenses, 
therefore, fell heavily upon the funds of the Society. On this occasion, no less 
than twenty-seven prizes were awarded by the judges to successful exhibitors. 
The general spring show was alike unfortunate in the weather, and consequently 
in public patronage, although full of interest and encouragement to the well wishers 
of Horticultural and Agritultural advancement and improvement in Australia. 
At this exhibition forty-seven prizes were awarded by the judges. 
During the before-mentioned interval, five monthly meetings were held, all of 
which were well attended by the members; and well supported in interest and 
usefulness, as the following list of papers read and published, will illustrate— 
1. D. Wilson, on Pillar Roses. 
2. R. Meston, on the Climatology of Australia. 
3. F. Creswick, on Sorghum saccharatum, 
4. J. Graham, on the Cultivation of Rhubarb. 
5. P. L. C. Shepherd, on the best means of eradicating Ivnot-grass— 
' Cyperus hydra. 
6. T. IV. Shepherd, on the Dotany of Norfolk Island, (1.) 
7. P. L. C. Shepherd, on Ladies’ Minature Flower Gardens. 
8. Miles, on Sorghum saccharatum. 
9. T. IV. Shepherd, on the Botany of Norfolk Island. (2.) 
10. F. Creswick, on the Cultivation of Liquorice. 
11. G. A. Bell, on the benefits to be derived from Horticultural and 
Agricultural Associations, and the establishment of a Horticul¬ 
tural and Agricultural Museum. 
12. P. L. C. Shepherd, on the best means of Eradicating Noxious Burs, 
growing in the colony. 
13. R. Meston, Prize Essay on Burs and Thistles. 
These papers, with the thirty-four others described in the annual report of the 
Society, make a total of forty-seven original essays read, and, for the most part, 
published through its instrumentality, during the year and a half of its existence, 
