February  16,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
131 
the  difficulty  of  the  work  of  the  Committees  in  decreasing  the  number  of 
medals  they  recommend.  At  the  same  time  they  feel  it  their  duty  to 
urge  upon  all  the  Committees,  and  upon  the  individual  members  thereof, 
the  necessity  of  gradually  but  continually  raising  the  standard  of  excel¬ 
lence  which  they  set  before  themselves  in  recommending  awards. 
Another  point  which  the  Council  desire  to  suggest  to  the  Committees, 
is  whether  groups  exhibited  by  the  horticultural  trade,  and  groups 
exhibited  from  amateurs’  gardens  should  bo  judged  by  exactly  the  same 
standard  of  excellence  1  Whether,  except  in  cases  of  open  competition 
for  prizes,  some  slight  favour  should  not  be  shown  to  encourage  the 
latter  1 
During  the  past  year  the  Society  has  been’  presented  with  the  dies  of 
a  very  fine  medal,  which  has  been  struck,  and  subscribed  for  by  numerous 
friends  in  memory  of  the  late  Dr.  Robert  Hogg.  The  Council  have 
decided  to  restrict  the  usd  of  this  medal  to  the  Fruit  and  Vegetable 
Committee,  with  which  Committee  Dr.  Hogg  was  so  intimately  and 
specially  connected  from  its  very  foundation  in  1S58. 
On  Tuesday,  July  5th,  the  Council  invited  all  the  members  of  the 
several  Committees  to  lunch  with  them  at  Chiswick,  and  to  examine 
the  Gardens.  An  account  of  the  proceedings  will  be  found  in  the  Journal, 
vol.  xxii.,  page  237. 
An  International  Conference  on  hybridisation  has  been  arranged  for 
July  11th  and  12th,  1899,  to  commence  with  a  luncheon  at  Chiswick,  to 
which  all  the  Committees  of  the  Society  will  be  invited,  and  to  close  with 
a  banquet  in  the  Whitehall  Rooms,  Hotel  Metropole,  in  honour  of  the 
distinguished  foreign  guests  who  are  expected  to  attend  the  Conference. 
Full  particulars  concerning  the  Conference  will  be  found  in  the  Society’s 
Book  of  Arrangements  for  the  year  1899.  Any  Fellows  desiring  to  be 
present  at  the  banquet,  and  wishing  for  tickets  for  ladies  or  gentlemen, 
should  communicate  with  the  Secretary  before  July  1st.  The  price  of 
the  tickets  will  be  2ls. 
The  Council  desire  to  draw  the  attention  of  all  Fellows  of  the  Society 
to  the  more  extended  use  which  the  Scientific  Committee  might  be  to 
them  if  they  availed  themselves  more  freely  of  their  privileges  in 
submitting  instances  of  diseases  of,  or  injurious  to  plants,  caused  by 
insects  or  otherwise.  The  Scientific  Committee  is  composed  of  gentlemen 
qualified  to  give  the  best  advice  on  all  such  subjects,  either  in  respect  to 
the  prevention  or  cure  of  disease.  The  Committee  is  also  glad  to  receive 
specimens  of  any  subjects  of  horticultural  or  botanical  interest. 
That  Fellows,  whether  near  or  at  a  distance,  may  derive  as  much 
benefit  as  possible  from  their  connection  with  the  Society,  the  Council 
last  year  appointed  Dr.  J.  Augustus  Voelcker,  M,A.,  Consulting  Chemist 
to  the  Society.  They  have  renewed  their  arrangement  with  him,  whereby 
all  Fellows  who  are  amateurs  or  bond  fide  gardeners  may  obtain  at  very 
small  cost  analyses  of  manures,  soils,  &c.,  or  advice  as  to  what  descrip¬ 
tion  of  chemical  manure  will  be  most  suitable  and  profitable  for  applica¬ 
tion  to  any  particular  soil.  The  Council  wish  again  to  draw  particular 
attention  to  the  following  points,  viz  : — 
(i.)  That  Fellows  desiring  an  analysis  must  follow  explicitly 
and  exactly  the  directions  laid  down  in  the  Book  of  Arrangements, 
1899  ;  and 
(ii.)  That  Fellows  who  are  in  any  way  commercially  interested 
in  any  artificial  manure  trade  or  horticultural  business  cannot 
claim  Dr.  Voelcker’s  assistance  as  Fellows,  but  if  they  wish  to 
consult  him  must  do  so  in  the  ordinary  way  of  business. 
The  Society’s  Great  Show  held  in  May  (by  the  continued  kindness 
of  the  Treasurer  and  Benchers)  in  the  Inner  Temple  Gardens,  was  as 
successful  as  ever,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  satisfaction  to  the  Council  to 
find  that  this  meeting  is  now  universally  acknowledged  to  be  the  leading 
horticultural  exhibition  of  this  country.  The  best  thanks  of  the  Society 
are  due  to  all  who  kindly  brought  their  plants  for  exhibition,  or  other¬ 
wise  contributed  to  the  success  of  this  Show. 
The  exhibition  of  British  grown  fruit,  held  by  the  Society  at  the 
Crystal  Palace  on  September  29th,  30th,  and  October  1st,  was,  considering 
the  very  unfavourable  season,  most  satisfactory.  Full  particulars  will  be 
found  in  vol.  xxii.,  part  4  of  the  Journal,  which  will  be  issued  in  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks. 
As  an  object  lesson  in  British  fruit  cultivation  this  annual  show 
stands  unrivalled,  and  is  of  national  importance.  The  Council  invite 
Fellows  and  their  friends  to  support  it,  for  it  cannot  be  too  widely 
known  that  the  continuance  of  the  Show  is  absolutely  dependent  on  at 
least  £100  being  raised  by  subscription  each  year  towards  the  Prize 
Fund.  The  Show  involves  the  Society  in  a  very  large  expenditure 
without  the  possibility  of  any  return.  The  Council  have  therefore 
established  the  rule  that  they  will  not  continue  it  unless  sufficient 
interest  in  it  is  taken  by  Fellows  and  their  frhnds  to  provide  £100 
towards  the  Prize  Fund.  Subscription  for  this  purpose  should  be  sent 
at  once  to  the  Secretary,  117,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  and  if  the 
list  prove  satisfactory  the  schedule  will  be  issued  in  April,  and  the 
Show  held  on  September  28th,  29th,  and  30th,  1899.  The  list  of 
subscribers  for  1898  will  be  published  in  part  4  of  vol.  xxii.,  of  the 
Society’s  Journal.  ’* 
A  deputation  was  sent  by  the  Council,  at  the  invitation  of  the  local 
authorities,  to  attend  the  Great  Summer  Show  of  the  Northumberland, 
Durham,  and  Newcastle-on-Tyne  Botanical  and  Horticultural  Society 
in  July.  Full  particulars  of  this  visit  will  be  found  in  the  Society’s 
Journal,  vol.  xxii.,  p.  cxiii.  The  Council  desire  to  record  the  very  great 
pleasure  which  this  visit  gave  them,  and  their  appreciation  of  the  great 
courtesy  and  hospitality  with  which  they  were  received. 
An  invitation  has  been  received  and  accepted  for  sending  a  small 
depntation  to  visit  a  show  of  Daffodils  and  other  early  spring  flowers 
and  produce,  to  be  held  at  Truro.on  the  21st  and  22rd  of  March,  1899,»  •  I 
The  Journal  of  the  Society  has  been  continued  so  as  to  enable  Fellows 
at  a  distance  to  enter  more  fully  into,  and  reap  the  benefits  of  the  study 
and  work  of  those  actively  engaged  at  head-quarters.  Vol.  xxi,,  part  3, 
and  parts  1,  2,  and  3  of  vol.  xxii.,  were  issued  during  the  year,  and 
vol.  xxii.,  part  4,  will  be  ready  on  April  1st. 
It  is  gratifying  to  record  that  the  inquiry  for  the  Society's  Leaflet 
on  Fruits  for  Small  Gardens,  Cottagers,  and  Farmers,  continues.  An 
entirely  new  and  enlarged  edition  has  been  published,  and  may  be 
obtained  at  the  office  at  cost  price. 
The  first  edition  of  the  Book  of  Rules  for  Judging  and  Hints  to 
Schedule  Makers  which  the  Society  drew  up  in  1896,  has  been  exhausted. 
They  have  therefore  been  revised  and  reprinted,  and  an  Appendix  on 
Point- judging  and  Point-value  has  been  issued.  Price  Is.  6d. 
An  examination  in  the  principles  and  practice  of  horticulture  was 
held  on  April  5ih,  concurrently  in  different  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom, 
a  centre  being  established  wherever  a  magistrate,  clergyman,  school¬ 
master,  or  other  responsible  person  accustomed  to  examinations  would 
consent  to  superintend  one  on  the  Society's  behalf,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  rules  laid  down  for  its  conduct.  No  limit  as  to  the  age,  position, 
or  previous  training  of  the  candidates  was  imposed.  One  hundred  and 
ninety  candidates  presented  themselves  for  examination.  The  names  and 
addresses  of  those  who  succeeded  in  satisfying  the  examiners,  together 
with  the  number  of  marks  assigned  to  each,  will  be  found  in  the  Society’s 
Journal,  vol.  xxii,,  page  94. 
It  is  proposed  to  hold  a  similar  examination  in  1S99,  on  Tuesday', 
April  11th.  Candidates  wishing  to  sit  for  the  examination  should  make 
application  during  February  to  the  Secretary,  R.H.S.  Office,  117, 
Victoria  Street,  Westminster. 
The  thanks  of  the  Society  are  due  to  all  the  members  of  the  Standing 
Committees— viz.,  the  Scientific,  the  Fruit  and  Vegetable,  the  Floral,  the 
Orchid,  and  the  Narcissus  Committees,  for  the  kind  and  patient  attention 
which  they  have  severally  given  to  their  departments. 
The  thanks  of  the  Society  are  also  due  to  all  those  who,  either  at 
home  or  abroad,  have  so  kindly  presented  plants  or  seeds  to  the 
Gardens.  A  list  of  the  donors  has  been  prepared,  and  will  be  found 
in  the  Society’s  Journal,  vol.  xxi.,  part  4,  1899,  which  will  be  issued  on 
April  Ist. 
The  Council  wish  to  express,  in  their  own  name  and  in  that  of  the 
Fellows  of  the  Society’,  their  great  indebtedness  to  all  who  have  so 
kindly  contributed,  either  by  the  exhibition  of  plants,  fruits,  flowers, 
or  vegetables,  or  by  the  reading  of  papers,  to  the  success  of  the 
fortnightly  meetings  in  the  Drill  Hall.  They’  are  glad  to  find  by  the 
increased  and  increasing  number  of  visitors  that  the  Society’s  fortnightly 
meetings  are  becoming  better  appreciated  by  the  Fellows  and  public  in 
general.  ( 
A  desire  having  been  expressed  that  the  so-called  fortnightly  meetings 
should  be  actually’  fortnightly  throughout  the  whole  year,  it  will  be  found 
by  referring  to  the  Book  of  Arrangements,  1899,  that  the  Council  have 
acceeded  to  this  request  as  far  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so,  having  regard 
to  such  obstacles  to  absolute  regularity  as  the  Temple  and  Crystal  Palace 
Shows,  and  the  occurrence  of  Bank  Ho’idays. 
The  papers  read  at  these  meetings,  which  have  been  or  will  shortly  be 
p  iblished  in  the  Journal,*  are  as  follows  :  — 
March  2-2nd.  “Soils,”  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Willis,  F.R.H.S. 
April  12th,  “  Insect  Blights  and  Blessings.”  by  Mr.  F.  Enock. 
April  26th,  “Sweet  Scented  Leaves.”  bv  Mr.  F.  W.  Biirbidge,  M.A.,  V.M.H. 
June  14th,  “  Hybrid  Orchids,”  by  Mr.  J.  O’Brien,  V.M  H.  • 
July  12ch,  “Garden  Peas,”  by  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood,  V.M.H. 
July  26th,  “Uses  of  the  Bamboos,”  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Freeman  Mitford,  C.B. 
August  9th,  “  Water  Lilies.”  by  M.  R.  Latour  Marliac. 
August  23rd,  “  Perpetual  Strawberries,”  by  M.  Henry  de  Vilmorin. 
September  7th,  “Disas,”  by  Mr.  T.  W.  Birkinshaw. 
September  20th,  “Suburban  Fruit  Growing,”  by  Mr.  W.  Roupell,  F.R.H.S. 
October  25th,  “Experimental  Horticulture,”  by  Mr  G.  Gordon,  V.M.H. 
November  22Dd.  ‘‘Garden  Manures,”  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Hall,  F.R  H.S. 
January  31st,  “The  Orchards  of  Nova  Scotia,”  by  Mr.  Cecil  Hooper,  F.R.H.S. 
Besides  these  lectures,  the  Rev.  Professor  Henslow,  V.M.H.,  has  most 
kindly  given  six  floral  demonstrations,  short  accounts  of  which  have 
appeared  in  the  Journal. 
The  following  table  will  show  the  Society’s  progress  in  regard  to 
numerical  strength  during  the  past  year  :  — 
Deaths 
IX  1898. 
Fellows  Elected  1898. 
.  £ 
P. 
d. 
£ 
8. 
d. 
Life  Fellows 
10  ... 
0 
0 
0 
4  guineas  .  5 
...  21 
0 
0 
4  guineas  . 
2  ... 
8 
8 
6 
2  „  . 115 
...  241 
10 
0 
2  „  . 
16  ... 
32 
12 
0 
1  . . 468 
...491 
8 
0 
19  ... 
19 
19 
0 
Associates  .  2 
...  1 
1 
0 
_ 
Affiliaied  Societies  17 
...  19 
10 
0 
47 
£61 
19 
0 
Commutations  ...  12 
1 
—  - 
=  £267  153.... 
1 
619 
£774 
18 
0 
Deduct  loss . 
156 
9 
0 
Resioxations. 
£  8.  d. 
4  guineas  .  0...  0  0  0 
2  „  .  18  ...  37  16  0 
1  „  .  54  ..  56  U  0 
72  £94  10  0 
Total  loss  ...  119  £156  9  0 
Net  increase  iu  income  £618  9  0 
New  Fellows,  &c.  ... 
Deduct  resignations) 
...  619 
199 
and  deaths . ) 
Numerical  increase . 
...  500 
•  Back  numbers  of  the  Journal  can  be  purchased  by  Fellows  at  reduced  rates- 
