THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 1862-1863. By ANDEEW MUREAY, Esq., F.L.S. &c. (AStilSTANT SECRKTARV TO THE ROYAL HORTICnLTDRAL SOCIETY.) WITH |(lustrati(ins mils ^Ijatograpls BY JOHN LEIGHTON, F.S.A., THOMAS SCOTT, AND C. THURSTON THOMPSON. LONDON : BRADBURY AND EVANS, 11, BOUVERIE STREET. MDCCCLXIII. BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS EXTRAORDINARY T(l THE QUEE:N, WHITEFRIARS. of THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED I t, xamxmh, mxh ixsft la%t, hxd gouj hdaxt, %i!at!) in tps Mntg Wixsism, t|iit % ^oul @f fifafeH mak ral^fr MIg; '§t, not mart ixroriJ tijan bg ffearagk, bak it stm Eljat foliil- mag sptfr t|t tmpsts roll, Stijat itr|i4 mag |fal, anl> tijat fopt| mag lontrol IDIjt smsf to jog, ia^m storm anb- gam arf o'tr. §0, to tl^c ^fmorg of t|i Mnl>, ti^f tritf, JutJ) t|£ grmt §ritta, It tfm mx loraage gaiiJ, Jwib litrnHg at ffr M tjis rfrorir laiir, SE^To bfst t|at Mnhtras, trnl|', aai) ^xtntnm Imb. Smife for MS aoJw t|£ ©arirra t^at mak; iiri on onr ig;grfss prlaniCr lus tlgt his. PREFACE. The important results wliich liave attended tlie labours of tlie Royal Horticultural Society, the cliaracter and position of its Fellows, and tlie Royal patronage it lias received, have invested it with the dignity almost of a National Institution. A work devoted to its past History and present state cannot therefore bo regarded by the pubhc as trivial or unnecessary, and must possess special interest for the FeUows themselves. The present seems to be the time, too, for the appearance of such a work ; for as in the poet's drama event is crowded upon event as the scene advances, untU, when our interest has reached its cUmax, the curtain falls upon the sacrifice of the hero, so the History of this Society has gone on increasing in interest and importance, reaching its chmax in the Presidency of the Prince Consort, and completing the parallel by the abrupt termination of his brief but brilliant career. The curtain of Fate has fallen on the hero of om" drama, and a broad and well-defined chasm, marked by his loss, separates the past History of the Society from the future. To this stage I have brought down the History which is offered to the Fellows and the pubhc in the following pages. Starting with the PEEFACB. establishment of the Society some sixty years ago, by a few gentlemen who desired to raise the practice of gardening from its then state of apathetic routine to the dignity of a science, I have traced it from its cradle in a garden not far from that now occupied by the Society at South Kensington, to the world-renowned establishment at Chiswick, and thence back to its present home. I have shown its first slow but steady progress ; the gradual extension of its aims ; the meteor-like brilliancy of its first rise. I have had to record its difficulties and decline, its recovery, and still more triumphant success under the management of Dr. Lindley ; its national usefulness ; its expeditions, explorations, and discoveries ; the more important of the new plants that have been intro- duced by its collectors ; its scientific publications, experiments, exhi- bitions, and a multitude of other labours. Again it languished, and was sick nigh unto death. I have followed it through its financial difficulties ; shown the desperate efforts made, not only by the Council, but by the Fellows, to save it, and their failure one after another: uutU, at its utmost hour of need, when nought but speedy extinction looked it in the face, the Prince Consort took it by the hand, and, as it were with a word, raised it to its feet and restored it to vigour, giving it strength and resources beyond any it had previously possessed; raised, as if by enchantment, the Arcadian Garden at South Kensington ; organised the International Exhibition of 1862, and pointed the way for the Society participating in its advantages. Of all these proceedings I have given the details. I have also had to tell of the unspeakable loss sustained by PREFACE. the Society, in common with the Nation, and to record the sustaining encouragement "vvhich tlie Queen and the Prince of Wales have con- descended to give to the Society. Here, perhaps, it might be thouglit that my subject should end; but practically it cannot be said to be complete without a record of the pro- ceedings during the year of the International Exhibition, which must be reckoned part of the Prince's work, as being the mere natural and necessary sequence of his plans and arrangements. So also an account of the com- pletion of the Memorial of 1851 was essential to wind up the history of that important Monument to our Great and Good Prince. This History, therefore, may be said to be brought down to the 10th of June, 1863. After completing the record of the History of the Society, I have devoted the rest of the work to a description of the Garden at South Kensington, with full details and illustrations of its decorations ; not only speaking of those which have been permanently placed in it, but of the more important of those which found a temporary home there during the period of the International Exhibition. The materials from which this work has been drawn are chiefly the authentic records preserved in the archives of the Society. I have thank- fully to acknowledge much valuable information received from Dr. Lindley and Sir Wentworth Dilke, regarding the past history of the Society ; PEEFACE. from Mr. Cole and Captain Fowke, as to the architectiiral statistics of the Garden ; and from Mr. Dm-ham and Mr. Godwin, relating to the Memorial of the Exhibition of 1851. To artist, printer, and publisher, thanks aKke are due. Every one has lent himself to the production of this work — a modest attempt to add a stone to the cairn raised to the memory of the Great Chief who is gone — as to a labour of love. ANDREW MUEEAY. Kensington, June 9, 1S63. CONTENTS. PAGE Sonnet, by Shirley Brooks. (Dedication). The Establishment, Early History, and Pkogress of the Society ... 1 The Presidency of the Prince Consort, and the Memorial of 1S51 . . . 45 The Society in connection with the International Exhibition, lSfi2 . . 81) The Description of the Garden, Conservatory, Statues, kc 109 Appendix 181 ILLUSTKATIONS ON WOOD. TITLE. FRONTISPIECE. Atjtogeaph of the Queen (facsimile). "Mr. Rose Presenting the first English-grown Pine-Apple to Charles the Second " 4 View of Chiswick House and Lawn 33 Autograph of the Prince Consort (facsimile) Original Design for the Memorial op 1851, by Durham 57 THE MEMORIAL OF 1851 GO Entrance to the Garden from the Council-Room 89 Group in Bronze — Mastiff and Whelps 108 The Entrance in Exhibition Road 10!) Portion of Lateran Arcade ,11'' The Amalthea of Julien 119 Cloister of San Paolo (from tlie Lateran) 123 Portion op Colonnades surrounding the Ante-Garden 125 Marochetti's Monument of Charles Albert 128 Steps Leading to Lower Terrace 130 View under Arch of East Bridge 131 The Large French Fountain, designed by Klagman 132 „ Smaller „ designed by Moreau 133 xi CONTENTS. PAGE The Garden Ahcade of the Albani Villa, Rome 136 THE CONSERVATORY 140 Marble Statue op "Spring," by Francavilla 1*2 " Summer," „ 1*3 Westmacott's Statue op " The Peri " 1*3 Monti's " Light of the Harem " 1*3 View op one op the Band-houses 155 Statuette Figure op Girl Drinking prom Shell, by Moreau . . .167 Statuette op Boy and Duck I'J^ Statue of Juno, by Moritz Geiss, (presented by the Prince Consort) . . .108 „ Ceres, „ 168 Shepherd Attacked by a Lion 1^^ Statue op Victory, by Rauch I'O 171 Statue op Husbandry l^S View op the Monument to Frederick the Great at Berlin 17G Statues of " Temperance " and " Strength," (copied from tlie Monument to Frederick .the Great) 177 Canal and Small Cascade 1'9 Vase 180 PHOTOGRAPHS. Portico op Council-Room, with Entrance into the Garden . . - to face 1 Sculpture in the Conservatory -< '''2 The Garden and the Exhibition Building, looking South-East . . „ 81) General View of the Garden, from the Exhibition Building . . „ 109 View op the Garden, looking North-West „ 117 The Council-Room (from a Drawing) ,,121 Albani Arcades, South-East Corner „ 136 The Alcove in the Conservatory „ 147 Upper Terrace and Conservatory, looking North-East „ 153 The Great Cascade „ 156 The Canal and Small Cascade ,,166 View of Upper Arcades, showing Ribbon Beds, &c „ 172 A Bird's-eye View or Plan op the Garden „ 180 xii THE ESTABLISHMENT, EAELY HISTOKY, AND PKOGRESS OF THE SOCIETY. traokiiiff a hare in the snow : the detective on the traces of a murderer ; tlie school-girl puzzling out a riddle ; Dr. Johnson on a philological hunt ; or the botanist making out the names of his plants, are all actuated by the same feehng. Tliis instinct would find ample scope in such a volume. The author would have to trace the relations between intercourse with different countries and the improvements in gardening. He would have to apportion the merit due for such improvements to the various influences which produced them, of which com- mercial enterprise and the Ecclesiastical polity in monkish times formed no mean part. He would have to show by what decrees and through what influences the horticultural taste passed from the grotesquely chpped yew figures and hedges, which found favour with our ancestors, to the more natural and simpler likings of our own day. He would have to explain the marvellous progress from the scanty garden-flora of the times, when the principal materials out of which to form a pleasure- garden of "tender herbs and pleasant flowere" consisted of "marjoram, saveiie, herbe FlueUine, buglosse, the blessed thistle," (the Carduus benedictus, or plain holy thistle of Beatrice), "Angelica, baume, aums, dizany, sorTel, strawberries, pseony, lavender, gentle, lettuce, artichoke," and so on tln-ough about a score more now-forgotten names, and our present stores, when almost all that is graceful in form or brdhant in colour in the vegetable world have been ravished from their native chmes and transported to our own shores. He would have to show how the skill, or rather the ignorance, which scarcely knew more than how to "graff" a "leather coat," has given place to the science of modem days, before which even form and ^ HORTICTTLTURAL SOCIETY. M colour have given way, and wild nature, when her features do not j)lease or satisfy the gardener, has been forced at his bidding to assume those which he desires. In showing how such changes have been brought about, he would have to give a prominent place to the influence of the Horticultural Society ; but no picture of its workings would be true unless it gave a representation of the darkness ia which the science lay before its institution. In one of the earHest accounts which we have of English ornamental gardens, that of Didymus Mountain, pub- lished at the end of the sixteenth century, the handsomest flowers he could name were jasmines, damask roses, rose campines, pinks, heartsease, gOliflowers, and carnations, — short-Kved plants of little use for decoration, as the word is now applied. An artificial chmate, created by heatmg contrivances, was unheard of, and consequently no plants from countries warmer than our own could be cultivated. Even the hardy flowers of the East, the anemone, ranunculus, and hyacinth of Spia and Persia, had not found then- way from Constantiuople to the West. By the middle of the seventeenth century, although the art of heating had begun to be practised, the paucity of plants suitable for ornamental purposes had not greatly diminished. We now hear of oranges and pine-apples, myrtles and oleanders, which must have been preserved during mnter in heated rooms. On the waU of one of the rooms of the Eoyal Horticultural Society hangs a small water-colour drawing of the time,* of which the annexed woodcut is a copy, representing Mr. Eose, His Majesty's gardener at Hampton Court, presenting the first pine- * It bears the inscription " Drawn from tlie original pictxire in the collection of the Earl of Waldegrave, at Strawberry Hill." J apple grown in this country to Charles the Second. He is rejjresented kneeling on one knee in the midst of a broad walk, holding up something very different from our modern " Queen's," to a wrmkled-looking old gentleman in a voluminous wig and a snuff- colovired coat, w'ho is attended by a couple of diminutive black and tan lapdogs. The likeness of His Majesty has been happily preserved in the woodcut. But although the invention of ^5=°"^ ' greenhouses had a most important bearing on the introduction of tender exotics, yet it afforded so httle aid to external decoration, that in 1737, when the famous Philip MUler pubhshed the first edition of his " Gardener's Dictionary," only a small number of the hardy plants now most valued for then beauty had found their way into gardens. We did not even possess the rhododendron and azalea of America, the parents of the most stiikmg of all early flowers, and neither fuchsias nor China-roses had been heard of. A general taste, however, for ornamental gardening had sprung up, and the ^ HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ^ vegetation of distant countries was beginning to attract atten- tion. Travellers sent tome seeds to their friends, and merchants foreign plants as precious gifts. The great body of gardeners was ceasing to consist of mere labourers. About the middle of the eighteenth century the Botanic Garden at Kew was formed, and conservatories buUt in it by Sir WUliam Chambers. Hither flowed all the acquisitions of the day, and herein was collected aU that was most rare in the eyes of botanists. The Governments of the day aided it by defraying the expenses of collectors of plants in foreign countries. Experienced men were sent specially to China, to Ceylon, to Australia, to Brazil, and voyages of discovery were accompanied by competent gardeners, whose duty it was to forward everything to Kew. With sucli support the place acquired great celebrity; enormous materials were deposited there, and for a century it has been regarded as the richest garden in the world. The example thus set found followers in every direction, and public taste was so directed towards ornamental gardening that, by the beginning of the present century, a well-furnished pleasm-e-ground became as indispensable an article of luxury as a drawing-room ; and what was called a collection of greenhouse plants was to be found attached to every village mansion. Unfortunately, however, skill in cultivating plants by no means accompanied ardour in collecting them. Horticulture was not yet a science. Its state at the beginning of the present century has been thus described by Dr. Lindley : " What was good in cultivation did not extend beyond the fmit and kitchen-garden, which was scantily supplied with varieties scarcely now remembered, except in the case of a few fr'uits and esculents little susceptible of change. ^ THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL^ Flower-gardens, shruljberies, and plantations contained little that tad not been in them for a century and more. Marshall, whose book on gardening had passed through five editions by the year 1813, has even at the last date few trees among his Ust beyond such as are natives of Europe, or as form the commonest vege- tation of the United States ; and his annual and perennial flowers have long since been confined to Botanic Gardens, with the exception of cockscombs, balsams, some convolvuh, hoUy- hooks, stocks, mignonette, Chinese pinks and a small number of other common species." In reality the hardy unprotected garden had been less cared for than the hothouse, its exotic contents having been the chief objects of solicitude. It was to remedy this unsatisfactory state of things that the Horticultm-al Society was founded. At the beginning of this century, Mr, Thomas Andrew Knight, a Herefordshire country gentleman, had already become known as a distinguished vegetable physiologist in consequence of various original communications to the Royal Society. His favourite science had grown out of his love for natural history, and especially for those branches of gardening which related to fruit-trees and esculent vegetables. He lived in a perry and cider country, where he found the produce diminishing yearly from neglect and the unskiLfid management of orchard-trees. This seems to have led him to attempt the creation of a Society whose object should be the improvement of Horticulture in aU its branches. Sir Joseph Banks heartily approved of the plan ; and the scope and aim of the Society, as well as the call for it, cannot be better stated than in the address delivered by Mr. Knight to the Society in April, 1805. Speaking of t m M mat. r M U i ^ 1 > -"S^^ HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. the need there was of some stimulus to Horticulture, he made the following observations : — " Societies for the improvement of domestic animals, and of Agriculture in all its branches, have been estabhshed with success in almost every district of the British Empu-e. Horticulture alone appears to have been neglected, and left to the common gardener, who generally pursues the duU routine of his predecessor ; and, if he deviates from it, rarely possesses a sufficient share of science and information to enable him to deviate with success. " In training waU-trees there is much in the modern practice which appears defective and irrational : no attention whatever is paid to the form which the species or variety naturaUy assumes, and be its growth upright or pendent, it is constrained to take precisely the same form on the wall. " The construction of forcing houses appears also to bo gene- rally very defective, and two are rarely constmctecl alike, though intended for the same purposes ; probably not a single building of this kind has yet been erected, in which the greatest possible quantity of space has been obtained, and of light and heat admitted, propoi-tionate to the capital expended. It may even be questioned whether a single hot-bed has ever been made in the most advantageous form ; and the proper api^lication of glass, where artificial heat is not employed, is certainly very iU understood." With reference to the proceedings of the gentlemen who founded the Society, he added : — " In the execution of their plan, the Committee feel that the Society has many difficulties to encounter, and, they fear, some prejudices to contend with ; but they have long been convinced, r t! ii yy o Wm K9 ^^^^ m m '^^^ '^^^^ 0^ ™^ EOYAL r 1 as individuals, and their aggregate observations liave tended f I only to increase their conviction, that there scarce exists a single species of esculent plant or fruit, which (relative to the use of ^ man) has yet attained its utmost state of perfection ; nor any 1^ branch of practical Horticultm-e which is not still susceptible of [p ^ ; essential improvement. L| y ^ " The establishment of a National Society for the improve- 1 ment of Horticulture has, therefore, long been wanted ; and if such an institution meet with a degree of support proportionate ■ 9) ^° ^^^^ importance of its object ; if it proceed with cautious m W circumspection to publish well ascertained facts only, to detect R m the errors of ignorance, and to expose the misrepresentations of im fraud; the advantages which the public may ultimately derive MjS from the estabUshment -ndll probably exceed the most sanguine hopes of its founders." The result has shown that these words were prophetic. \M '^^^ ^ II 1 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. It was on the 7th of March, 1804, in a room in the house of Mr. Hatchard, the eminent bookseller in Piccadilly, that the Society was first organised. On that occasion there were present, Mr. Charles Greville, Sir Joseph Banks, Mr. Eichard Anthony Salisbury a distinguished botanist of the day, Messrs. W. T. Aiton and W. Forsyth two of the then royal gardeners, Mr. James Dickson an experienced practical gardener, and Mr. John Wedgwood at whose suggestion it appears that the meeting was called and who afterwards became the first Treasurer. It was resolved that the objects of the new Society should be " to collect every information respecting the culture and treat- ment of all plants and trees, as weU culinaiy as ornamental ; " "to foster and encourage every branch of Horticulture, and all the arts connected with it ; " and " that it shall be considered within the intention of the Society to give premiums for improve- ments in Horticultm-e, wherever it should be judged expedient to do so." Each of the gentlemen present at this first meeting paid one guinea towards defraying preliminary expenses, and were called founders, to whom was afterwards added Mr. J. Hawkins, who had been accidentally absent. It was further agreed that each founder should name, at the next meeting, three other gentlemen for election as Oeiginal Members. A week afterwards this was carried into effect ; and thus was founded the Hoi-ticultiu-al Society of London, an association destined to accomplish most important improvements in the art, as weU as science, of gardening, to embellish the country with a vegetation of exquisite beauty before unheard of, to clothe our plantations witli trees whose ornamental appearance is only : equalled by their sterling value, to create by its encourage- ment new races of flowers, fruits, and even esculents, and to substitute for the glass houses of that day, in which plants could scarcely maintain a languid existence, structures calculated to ensure a richness of growth, greater even than that of the i exuberant vegetation of the tropics. The list of original members included the names of all who in those days were most distinguished for their knowledge of Horticulture. Its affans from the first have been managed by a Council, composed of a President, Treasurer, Secretary, knd 12 members, a portion of whom are changed each year. From among the i3ther Members of Council the President now appoints four Vice-Presidents. The total number of members elected in the year 1804 appears from the register to have been ninety-one. The Earl of Dartmouth was the first President ; Mr. John Wedgwood, the first Treasurer ; and the Eeverend Mr. Cleeve, the first Secretary, soon replaced by Mr. E. A. Salisbury. In 1805 the meetings were transferred to the house of the Linnean Society, in Gerrard Street, Soho ; the Horticultural Society paying 26/. 5*. a year rent, and engaguig Mr. Price, the clerk of the Linnean Society, to act as their clerk also, at a salary of 20^. per annum. During the year it appears that the number of new members amounted to twenty-nine ; but the early records of the Society are extremely meagre, and show little until the year 1806. Judging from the scanty records which have been preserved, 111 tliere would seem to have been little activity in the early proceedings of the Society ; and the number of new members fell off accordingly. In 1806 there were but seventeen elections ; in 1807 they fell to ten ; and in 1808 were only eight. On the I7th of April, 1809, the charter of the Society was signed by King George the Third, from which time forwards, the Society has existed as a coepoeate body, with all the legal powers and jiiivileges attaching to such an institution. In 1810, the first number of the Horticultural Transactions made its appearance, a pubhcation which ultimately extended to ten. 4to volumes, replete with Horticultural information both theoretical and practical of the highest value, and from which writers on gardening subjects have not failed to extract a large part of their knowledge. The cost of pubhshing these deservedly celebrated volumes had in 1830 amounted to 25,250/. ; and they were not finally discontmued until the year 1848. The year 1811 was ushered in by the election, on the 1st of January, of the late Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight as President, vice the Earl of Dartmouth deceased ; an event which had great influence on the future destiny of the Society ; for Mr. Kjiight held his office for twenty-seven years, during all which time his uniivalled knowledge and active mind were directed incessantly towards promoting the true interests of Horticulture and especially of this Corporation. At this time, however, the mighty war in which all Euroj)e was engaged pressed heavily on peaceful occupations, and Horticulture seems to have shared fully in the general adversity. In 1809 the number of elections had been fourteen; in -i-^v^ THE BOOK OF THE EOYAl"~M^ ^ = ^a ci — 1810, seventeen; and in 1811 only eleven. The records of the four succeeding years present the following facts ; — Balance in favour of the Elections during Society at Anniversary. tile year, 1812 ^ 9 18 . . . 17 1813 168 5 1 .... 19 1814 57 7 5 .... 26 1815 258 16 6 . . . . 27 In the year 1816 (March 5) the first bye-laws were passed, and the afiairs of the Society reduced to better order than seems previously to have existed. The Transactions were issued as rapidly as funds could be procured, the official management of the Corporation was assimilated to that of a pubhc ofiice, and annual balance-sheets began to be issued. On the first of May of that year the Society had 1000/. in the 3 per cents. ; its income was .903/., its expenditure 717/., and there was an outstanding balance in its favour of above 500/., exclusive of 186/. at the banker's. By May, 1818, the prosperity of the Society had much increased. Its income was 1791/., its expen- diture 1719/., its funded property was 1400/., and its floating property, beyond its debts, was estimated at above 3000/. additional. The number of elections had been fifty-nme in 1816, seventy-three in 1817, and the same number in 1818. This prosperous state of afi'airs led to the establishment of an Experimental Garden at Kensington in the end of 1818, and of an auxiliary nursery or hospital garden at Ealing ; and in the year 1820 to the purchase at a cost of 4200/. of the house No. 21, Eegent Street, where for forty years thereafter the business of the Society was conducted. The annual subscription, which had before been 2/. 2s., was about this time raised to 31. 3s. HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. Simultaneously tte elections rapidly increased, taving risen from 73 in 1818 to 220 in 1819, 297 in 1820, and in 1821 to 328, the largest number ever added to the Society in any one year previous to its removal to South Kensington ; never- theless on the 6th of February, 1820, the admission fee had been raised from 3/. 3s. to 5l. 5s. On the 21st of March, 1822, the Society obtained a lease of the present Garden at Chiswick, from the Duke of Devonshire, on terms which were then considered favourable. Its extent was 33 acres, and the rent 3001. a year, with a power of renewal for ever upon a fine of 450Z. every thirty years. The experience of the first thirty years, however, was not such as to induce the Council to take advantage of this power of renewal, and they contented themselves with obtaining a renewed lease for an additional period of thnty years, so that its natural termination is now upon the 29th of September, 1881, the Society, however, having power to relinquish possession at any time upon one year's notice. About this time the Society lost its first protector and friend. Sir Joseph Banks. By a subscription among a few members of the Society, an excellent portrait of Sir Joseph, from the pencil of Mr. Phillips, was placed in the meeting-room of the Society, and still remains in possession of the Society. From it has been copied the centre figure in the woodcut at the head of this chapter. Upon taking possession of the ground at Chiswick, the old garden at Kensington and its auxUiaiy at Eahng were relin- quished, and the new Garden established. Shortly after the peace in 1815, the attention of the Society began to be turned to obtaining valuable foreign plants from f'^Wm '^^'^ '^00^ OF THE EOYAL^^f^ extra-European countries, a system by wliich the Society lias confeiTed inestimable benefits upon these kingdoms. In the accounts of 1819 and 1820, appears for the first time a charge of 108/. 18.S. 9c?. under the head of foreign importations. The Society's minute-books show that a distribution of imported seeds took place in the spring of 1818, and that the formation of a collection of fruit-trees had even then commenced. Plants had also begun to arrive from China, where Mr. John Eeeves, then a most zealous correspondent, and long a liighly esteemed Fellow of the Society, had charged himself with the labour of shipping plants for England, and of causing drawings to be prepared under his own inspection. These di-awings were eventually collected iiito a unicjue series of volumes of authentic representations of Chinese Vegetation. Importations from China in those days were attended by difficulties now imfelt : the true principle of constructing plant-cases was unknown ; and it frequently happened not only that plants perished from the dryness to which they were exposed, but that the chests in which they were packed were unavoidably heaved overboard whUe the ships that carried them were labouring round the Cape of Good Hope. Perseverance and money, aided by the zealous co- operation of the East India Company's ofiicers, overcame these difficulties, and the many varieties of Camellias, Indian Azaleas, Chinese Pfeonies, Eoses, Chrysanthemums, &c., introduced by the Society, are constant reminders of their well-directed energies. Not the least important of these acquisitions was the Glycine (or Wistaria) Sinensis, of which the first living plant (still growing in the Society's Garden at Chiswick) was sent by Mr. Eeeves and arrived in 1818. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. M Assistance has at all times, ■when required, been cordially extended to the Society by the various departments of Govern- ment. On the arrival of one of these Chinese consignments, the Lords of the Treasury directed that all plants, seeds, &c., sent to the Society from foreign countries, should be allowed to pass the Custom House free from duty. Welcome and liberal although the consignments of their correspondents were, the Society saw the importance of opening up new ground, and by exploring countries previously unvisited make an effort to obtain plants of greater interest and novelty than could be got through their correspondents residing in par- tially known districts. They resolved to send abroad collectors at their own cost. At first, as might be expected, their attempts in this direction were feeble and hesitating, but Avith success their scope expanded until they produced results which have affected the appearance of all England. Nowhere can a day's ride now be taken where the landscape is not beautified by some of the introductions of the Horticultural Society. The first collector sent abroad was Mr. George Don, and the Lords of the Admiralty, on the recommendation of the Society, furnished him with a passage on board one of H.M. vessels, which was to touch on the West African coast. South America, and the West Indies ; in order that he might prosecute botanical researches for the benefit of the Society at the places visited. They also gave Mr. John Forbes a passage on board a vessel which was boimd for East Africa, and which was to touch in passing at Lisbon and the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Forbes was landed at the mouth of the Zambezi, since so celebrated by Livmgstone's exertions, then nearly wholly unknown ; but unfor- tunately lie soon died while going up tlie river, not, however, before he had enriched his country with several new and interesting plants. Afterwards Mr. John Potts, on the recommendation of the Society, was sent out to China and the East Indies by the East India Company. His health not standing the climate, he returned to this country, but only to die. Mr. John Dampier Parks was next sent to China. He received much assistance from Mr. Eeeves, and his mission proved viseful. In 1823, Mr. David Douglas was engaged on the recom- mendation of Professor Hooker of Glasgow, now Sir William Jackson Hooker, of Kew. It was at first intended to despatch Douglas to colleot in ChUi, but the disturbed state of the country there at that time caused this idea to be abandoned, and not to lose his services he was sent, as a temporary employment, to North America instead, to collect fruit-trees for the Garden at Chiswick. In this he was very successful, having been very cordially received by the fruit-cultivators in North America, who for the most part liberally supplied him with every variety he wished, and enabled a very correct estimate to be made of the fruit-trees cultivated in America, and a comparison instituted with those of our own country. In 1824 he was sent to explore the Oregon territory and the Eiver Columbia, the Hudson's Bay Company, as always, lending their hberal and powerful aid where it could be of service, and here he continued until the year 1830. Mr. Douglas's explora- tions here were undoubtedly the most useful and profitable, as well as successful, of any undertaken by the Society. The country was new and contained a vast number of unknown HOETICULTUllAL SOCIETY. plants. Few countries possess such a number of species witMn restricted spaces as North West America ; and the enormous growth and great beauty of many of the trees, especially the Pines, in that quarter, gave an interest and attraction to his introductions beyond those of ordinary discoveries. The climate of Oregon, too, was similar to our own, and consequently the new plants introduced were hardy. To attempt to particularise Douglas's discoveries in North West America would require a book for itself. It wUl be sufficient to remind the reader of a few of the most important. Among trees it is to Douglas that this country owes PiNUS Lambeetiana, whose stupendous dimensions almost ecpial those of Wellingtonia gigantea and Taxodium sempervirens ; P. insignis, the green foliage of which is perhaps the most pleasing and refreshing to the eye of any of the fir tribe ; P. ponderosa ; P. contoeta ; P. sabiniana, remarkable for its great hooked cones, nearly as large as a child's head ; P. monticola ; Picea beacteata ; P. nobilis, perhaps the loveliest of the silver firs, if not of all the conifers ; P. AMABiLis ; P. GEANDis ; Abies Menziesii ; and last, the best of them all, which by happy fortune has been named after Douglas himself, A. Dotjglasii, a tree whose beauty and value is now universally known and recognised. Among numerous shrubs the Mansanita, the Ceanothi, the red-floweiing and other Eibes, and various of the laurel family, may be mentioned, and amongst the more lowly the Calochorti, Cyclobothras,'''' Broditeas, CoUo- !L?f ?. * Several Calochorti and Cyclobotlirie were sent liome by Douglas, but unfortu- nately were not reared to x^erfection. Even yet their treatment appears not generally understood, as notwithstanding their beauty, and that they are by no means rare in California, they are still seldom to be met with in this country. mias, Gilias, Gaillardias, Clarkias, Godetias, Colliusias, Lupines, Escholtzias, the musky Mimulus, numerous Pentstemons, and many otter universal favourites in the Flower Garden. Nor was this the sole or oliief work done by the Society at this period. Between 1823 and 1830 its progress in works of permanent utility was continual and rapid. Series of experi- ments were instituted as to the best modes of cultivation, and collections made of many of the most important flowers and vegetables. In the year 1823, no fewer than twelve hundred varieties of Eoses existed in the Garden : and this assemblage as well as the importations from China, may be assumed to have led to that elimination of bad sorts, and general improve- ment of the Eose, which has rendered the modern Eose-garden a scene of perpetual enjoyment, instead of a summer display which only lasted for a month or six weeks. An investiga- tion of the value of the numerous foreign fruits and esculents had been undertaken after the conclusion of peace, and the confusion that existed among their names had been reduced to considerable order, as is shown hy various papers printed in the Transactions, and by the Catalogue of fruits grown at Chiswick, the first edition of which appeared in 1826, and an improved edition of which is now (1863) in course of publication in the MontUy Proceedings of the Society. That system of heating glass structures by hot water, instead of by flues or expensive applications of steam, to which modern gar- deners owe so much of their success, although it did not originate in the Garden, was first systematically applied there in the face of great opposition from those who objected to the introduction of a method to which they were unaccustomed ; HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. and tlie rapidity with wliicli it gained public favour must certainly be ascribed in a great degree to the proofs which the Garden furnished of its perfect suitability to cultivation. The importance of regulating the moisture of the atmosphere of glass-houses, never attended to systematically by the older gardeners, but which has become one of the corner-stones of successful Horticulture, was first demonstrated in the Garden, after having been pointed out by Daniell in the Society's Transactions. Nor covdd the Committee have failed to recog- nise the solid though less manifest advantage to the country which had begun to arise from the careful registration of meteorological facts in the Garden. With instruments of the best construction, procured and placed under the advice of the late Professor Daniell and the present Major-General Sabine, a series of daUy observations of the barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, rain-gauge, &c., was commenced on the 1st of May, 1825, and has been continued to the present time; and there does not exist in this country so long, exact, unbroken, and trustworthy a record of the climate of London as the Meteorological Journal of the Society. Simultaneously with obtaining the ground at Cliiswick, the admission fee had been again raised from 51. 5s. to Gl. 6s., and the annual subscription from 3^. 3s. to 4/. As., and at the same time, with a view to defray the cost of the new Garden, a voluntary subscription was opened, which ultimately reached the sum of 7275/. 2s., an amount which, surprising as it seems, was yet by no means equal to what the more sanguine members of the Society anticipated, and still less equal to what the veritable expenses of the new Garden demanded. It is indeed very much to be questioned whether the under- taking so large and costly an establishment with no more surplus revenue than 1800/. (and this may be assumed to have been the Society's utmost means after the old Garden at Kensington and its auxiliary at Eahng had been relinquished), was acceptable to the Fellows generally ; for although the resignations do not appear to have been much more numerous than usual, yet there zbcis a greater mimber, and the very significant fact was observed, that the amount of elections during the first year of holding the Garden fell from 328 to 209, making a difference against the Society of 119 ; which was equal to nearly 500/. a year. Unfortunately the falling off in elections did not terminate in 1823 ; on the contrary, not only did the annual balance of elections over resignations steadily diminish by the numbers 285, 311, 189, 176, 155, 100, 38, 36, between 1821 and 1828, but it proved to be annually against the Society from 1829 to 1833 to the extent of 22, 110, 155, 56, 20. This no doubt arose from several causes, the more important of which were the following ; — In the year 1826 it became known that a considerable sum of money belonging to the Corporation had been misappro- priated by an officer who had absconded, leaving the Society a large loser by his defalcation. This created distrast, and immediately reduced the elections, which had been 126 in the previous year, to 88. Further, it had hitherto been the practice to hold an anni- versary dinner annually in London, at which the Fellows met and cemented by moderate conviviality the friendship begun " HOETICULTUBAL SOCIET^^^^^f^ ^ _ 1 N mm IB ^ [L J It j T tlirougli a community of pursuits or a congeniality of tastes. In tte year 1827 it was resolved to discontinue these dinners, and to substitute for them Fetes or public breakfasts in the Garden. These assemblages were unprofitable, and produced dissatisfaction among the Fellows, who complained that the power of introducing visitors, originally confided in a great degree to Lady Patronesses instead of to themselves, was afterwards surrounded by needless limitations, and that the legitimate uses of the Garden were postponed to fashionable meetings, which, however brilliant, had no connection \vith Horticulture, and did not even recruit the finances of the Corporation. On the first of these occasions the price of Fellows' and Ladies' tickets was 11. Is., that of Gentlemen's not Fellows of the Society ll. lis. 6(1., until the last day, when they became 21. 2s. Afterwards the price was fixed at 11. Is. in all cases except for tickets purchased on the last day, for which 21. 2s. was strh charged. The first Fete was held on June 23rd, 1827. It was attended by 2843 persons; gave rise to a law-suit between the Council and the purveyor ; and produced a profit of 504/. 3^. Id., of which however 213/. 13s. 6d. was afterwards consumed in legal proceedings. The second Fete occurred on June 21st, 1828 : it was attended by 4193 persons, produced a sross sum of 4760/. 3s. &d., and a loss estimated at 139/. 7*. Id. The third Fete took place on June 27th, 1829. Tickets are reported to have been sold to the amount of 5185/. 85. dd. The expenses were 5162/. 12^., and the balance in favour of the Society, 22/. 16s. did. The fourth and last j)ublic breakfast was on June 23rd, 1831 ; on which occasion the t ^^^^ 1 A f IB 4 balance in favour of the Society was finally ascertained to be 115/. 12.S. It can hardly be said that these experiments were altogether unsuccessful, for although at the time they certainly were so, if viewed merely as financial speculations, yet they shed a lustre over the Society of which it feels the benefit to the pre- sent day. In consequence, however, of the want of pecuniary success attending them, they were abandoned, and replaced by the Garden UxJdbitions, wliich from that time forward have formed a prominent feature in the history of the Society. It is chiefly to Dr. Lindley that the Society and the world owe the idea of these exhibitions, which not only proved a source of profit and renown to the Society, but have been the means of dehghting and improving thousands who have thronged its exhibitions, and those of the numerous societies all over the world which have followed its example. By the year 1826 the heavy charges incurred in the forma- tion of the Garden had begun to affect seriously the pecuniary resources of the Corporation. The large revenue derived from the sale of the Horticultural Transactions began to fall off, annual receipts of other kinds had not increased in proportion to the Garden expenditure, and the floating debt had acquired such formidable dimensions that the Councils ceased to lay before the Anniversary Meetings any account of debts and liabilities after May, 1826. In addition to these sources of embarrassment, dif- ferences arose between some Fellows of the Society and the then Secretary, Mr. Sabine, which finally led to the appointment, on the 2nd of February, 1830, of a Committee of Enqtjiby, which was authorised to investigate " the income and expenditure, the debts and assets, and tlie past and present management of the Society." This Committee reported that the debts of the Society amounted to 19,750/., (they eventually proved to amount to about 500/. more, or 20,243/.) of which 14,200/. were on bond, and they did not estimate the property of the Society higher than 16,500/., exclusive of the annual subscriptions about to fall clue. They found that the cost of the formation and annual expense of the Garden for the eight years from 1822 to 1830 had exceeded the amount of all separate subscriptions and sources of Garden Ecvenue, of whatever kind, by the large sum of nearly 29,000/. They strongly condemned the practice of keeping the Society at large in ignorance of its financial position, which they found to have prevailed from October, 1824, and expressed an unfavourable opinion of the manner in which the Society had been otherwise conducted. But the Committee also stated " that notwithstanding they have felt themselves obhged to animadvert upon various instances of mismanage- ment of the affairs of the Society, yet it is in evidence before tliem that many objects of the Society have been substantially fulfilled ; that the foreign missions for collecting plants, and more especially that of Mr. Douglas, have been eminently bene- ficial ; that the Transactions contain a body of valuable infor- mation upon various subjects of Horticultural interest, and have been published and distributed to the members without exhaust- ing in any material degree the funds of the Society ; that on the merits of the orchard, as an important and useful experiment, there is not the smallest doubt. The Committee are sensible that these results could not have been attained witliout con- tinued exertion and superintendence, and they are satisfied that whatever errors may have been committed, have arisen from mistaken judgment, rather than from any want of zeal in promoting the objects and the success of the Horticultural Society." Nor could the Committee have said less in favour of the management, when it appeared in evidence before them that a large part of the debt had been incurred upon the faith of a promise made by Government in May, 1825, but not fulfilled, that 5000/. should be given to the Corporation in aid of their funds ; that 16,464/. had been sunk in permanent works in the Garden ; that 5737/. had been expended upon procuring plants, &c., from abroad for distribution among the Fellows ; that more than 880/. worth of medals had been given as encouragement to Horticultural skill, and that the costly Transactions had been distributed gratuitously to the Fellows, during a period of twenty years, without the funds of the Corporation having furnished more than about 4000/. for the purpose. The Eeport of the Committee of Enquiry led to the resigna- tion of the Secretary, and to a large loss of Fellows, no fewer than 429 withdrawals having been sent in between May 1, 1829, and May 1, 18.32, a circumstance which is not, however, to be wholly ascribed to dissatisfaction, but which was in a great measure caused by a groundless fear of personal liabihty for the debts of the Society, a fear which would not have existed had those who quitted the Society reflected that no personal habOity attaches to the members of a body corporate, which the Society is. Unpromising as this state of things undoubtedly was, the Committee of Enquiry had avowed their opinion that " under 'A 1 ^ pi p ^^^^ y more economical arrangements, and a system of management more efficiently controlled and more generally acceptable to the FeUows, the affairs of the Corporation might be retrieved, and public approbation secured for the future ;" and on the 1st of May, 1830, the Council was reconstructed, the whole system of management revised, Mr. Bentham appointed Secretary, and Dr. Lindley — who had, since 1822, filled the office of Assistant- Secretary — was brought into more prominent usefulness." His great talents and inexhaustible energy soon made themselves felt, redeemed the Society from its difficulties, and led to a career of success which has indissolubly united his name with that of the Society and Horticulture. A fete was tried in 1831, from which no advantage was derived. In 1832 three Special Floral Exhibitions took place in Eegent Street, which, although sufficient to show that great horti- cultural skill existed in the country, and that a numerous atten- dance on such Exhibitions might be calculated upon, yet were unp)roductive of financial advantage, a circumstance ascribed to the smaUness of the house in Eegent Street in which they were held. It was therefore resolved to transfer them in 1833 to the Garden, giving Fellows free admission, charging a mode- rate price for tickets, and divesting the meetings of the peculiar experiment was successful ; the Exhibitions were popuLar ; the * Dr. Liudley was appointed. Assistant-Secretary on the 22nd of Feb., 1822. On the nth of Nov., 1826, he was appointed by the Council to the double office of Assistant-Secretary in London aiad Assistant- Secretaiy at the Garden. On the 23rd of April, 1830, tlie two offices were merged into one. On the 7th of March, 1838, the name of Assistant-Secretary was altered to that of Vice-Secretary ; and on the 2nd of March, 1858, he was elected Member of Council, and Secretary. E 41 M i t] i T THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL number of elections began to increase. Since that time tlie Garden Exhibitions have produced an important part of the annual income of the Society. The largest sum carried to account, prior to 1862, was m 1844-5, when it reached 3024/. With such means at command the incumbrances of the Society could have been readUy liquidated, had there been no other purpose to gain than that of j^aying off liabilities. But it was obvious to each successive Council that, however necessary to the welfare of the Society extrication from debt might be, they were entrusted with the management of the Society for other purposes. A part of the debt dated as far back as 1824 ; the whole of it was incurred before 1830 ; and it seemed unjust to the Fellows elected since that time to apply the funds sup- pKed by them to no other purpose than the discharge of debts, to contracting which they had in no way been parties. Nor could the various Councils avoid feeling that progress was indispensable to the existence of the Corporation, and that to cUsoontinue the improvement and encouragement of Horticultirre would be virtually to abandon the purposes for which alone the Society was incorporated. They therefore endeavoured to combine, as far as possible, the liquidation of the Society's liabilities with a vigorous prosecution of the objects declared in the charter. Hence, in the years which elapsed between 1830 and 1855 nearly 11,000/. was expended in works of permanent utUity in the Garden ; and more than 7000/. in the introduction of rare plants and seeds by collectors and correspondents abroad ; notwithstanding which the debts were gradually reduced to 5000/. bonded, and 3800/. floating. In the course of this time the high character of the Society was also sustained, not ■26 '<>" 1 .:ul\\\ 1 ,| il ml ! >4^ 1 Ml \ HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. I only by tlic publication of Transactions, Journals, and a greatly improved edition of tlie Catalogue of Fruits, and by preserving the Garden at Chiswick in efficiency, but also by a most liberal distributidii of medals and pecuniary rewards for meritorious productions, under wliicli head alone 19,224^. had been exj)ended since 1830; by an enormous distribution of seeds, plants, &c., amounting to almost a million and a half, and by an impulse given to Horticulture, to which there is no parallel. In May, 1838, the Society sustained a severe loss in the death of Mr. Knight, who for a period of twenty-seven years had filled the office of President, with equal honour to himself and advantage to the Society. He was re-elected as usual at the annual meeting on the 1st of May, but before another month had passed ho was no more. It is difficult to estimate the amount of good done to Horticulture by Mr. Knight. The impetus and support he gave to tliis Society was not the least. In all its scientific work, from its origin until his decease, he was the chief mover. His residence at some distance from London obliged him to leave much of the financial and business details to the management of others ; but whatever concerned Horti- culture or any of its branches received his fullest attention. He published numerous valuable treatises and papers in the Society's Transactions and elsewhere. He was a zealous supporter of the scientific expeditions to foreign countries ; the last of these undertaken before his death was the dispatch of Mr. Theodor Hartweg to America, where he consumed seven years in examin- ing the Flora of Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru, and afterwards to Cahfornia, where two years more were passed. Although several circumstances greatly diminished the value of the resvdts of THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL this collector's operations, esjjecially tlie blockade of the Mexican coast by a French squadron, and the consequent detention of the chests forwarded by him at Tampico, until their contents had perished, yet upon the whole the country was a very great gainer. It is to the first of these expeditions that we owe, among; other things, the whole race of Achimenes now so commonly cultivated, several Lupines, some fine Berberries, Habrothamni, and Oestrums, many beautiful species of Fuchsia, and various Coniferous trees, among others Pinus Gordoniana, P. Hartwegii, P. Loudoniana, P. macrophyUa, P. Orizabffi, P. Wincesteriana, together with a multitude of Orchidaceous plants of distinguished brUliancy. The expedition to California was far less advantageous ; nevertheless, oven from it proceeded some species of considerable interest, among which iEscuIus californica, Limnanthes alba and rosea, many beautiful kinds of Ceanothus, Calocantlms occidentalis, Zatischneria californica, some Lepto- siphons, and several valuable Coniferous trees, such as Pinus Benthamiana, P. Devoniana, &c., may be more particularly mentioned. Although undertaken subsequent to Mr. Knight's death, it was to the same spirit and the same epoch that we owe the first scientific expedition into the interior of China. At the close of the war with that country in 1842, when it was for the first time thrown open to other nations, the Council, believing- that an extensive field of botanical and horticultural treasures lay unexplored and unknown in the northern parts of the empire, resolved to send out Mr. Fortune, then the superintendent of the hothouse department in the garden at Cliiswick, on a mission to explore them. HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. Several cases of living plants likely to prove useful to the inhabitants were sent out under Mr. Fortune's charge, as well as a large q^^antity of vegetable and flower seeds, the greater part of which arrived in good order, and have proved of permanent benefit to the iiiliabitants around the northern ports of China. . Mr. Fortune's operations were equally beneficial to this country. ' ^\ M To them we owe some fine varieties of Prunus and Viburnum, Sprrsea pranifolia. Gardenia Fortuniana, Anemone japonica, Chusan palm, Abies Koempferi, Pinus Bungeana, Campanula nobUis, Berberis Fortuni, Buddlea Lindleyana, the white variety of Glycine sinensis. Daphne Foi-tuni, Citrus japonica, Weigela rosea, Jasminum nudiflonim, Forsythia viridissima, Cryptomeria japonica, and the charming rosy Dielytra spectabilis. Nor must we forget many interesting varieties of Azaleas and Eoses, with Moutans of colours (dark p)urple, lilac, and deep red) not previously known. The small Chrysanthemum, which he named the " Chusan daisy," and which has become the parent of the new race called pompones, was also the product of this expedition. Many of Mr. Fortune's discoveries on this occasion were made in the green-tea districts of China. During his researches he had an opportunity of making himself acquainted with the cultivation and manufacture of tea, and many other matters relating to the horticulture and agriculture of the Chinese, and he published an account of these in a personal narrative of his travels.* The knowledge he had thus acquired, shortly after- wards led to his being employed by the East India Company to / SI carry out their attempts to establish that branch of industry in * " Three Years' Wanderings in Cliina. " g^^^THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL their North-Western Provinces, tlie sueocss of which is now matter of history — so that the influence of the Society's opera- tions extended far beyond their own sphere — they not only did good themselves, but were the cause of others doing so likewise. All this was effected, notwithstanding very considerable dis- appointments in the realisation of funds which ought to have been available for the purposes of the Society. From the very beginning there had been a difficulty in obtaining payment of subscriptions. As early as 1806 the evU was sensibly felt; at a later period, in 1815, no less than lOOOZ. was claimable from Fellows who neglected to fulfil their obligations ; and it appears that between 1824 and 1855 no less a sum than 12,879/. 12^. from this source had been abandoned as irrecoverable. Up to the year 1851-2, a pretty steady reduction of debt, sometimes large, sometimes small, continued to take place ; but the tide then began to turn. For the next three years the debt gradually increased, chiefly from the faffing ofi' in the number of admission fees and the diminution in the receipts from Exhibitions. In fact, the Society had been sustained by its Exhibitions for some years previously. Its yearly income and expenditure had been on an average above 7000/., but its regular income from annual subscriptions did not exceed 3000/., and allowing 2000/. a year for the cost of the Exhibitions, there remamed an excess of expenditure over mcome amounting to 2000/. So long as the Exhibitions prospered and made good this return, all went well. But if any check were given to these, if even for a single year the revenue drawn from them should fad, the consequences must be serious. Such a reverse seems never to have been HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. calculated on, but sooner or later it was certain to come, — and ' in 1855 tke blow came. Her Majesty, accompanied by H.E.H. the Prince Consort, was, by her presence, wont to give eclat to the opening fetes of the season. On this year an important launch at "Woolwich, at which it was known that Her Majesty was to be present, was unfortunately fixed for the same day as the opening fete of the Society. The Crystal Palace was opened by Her Majesty in close proximity to the day of the second fete ; and although she was present at the third, and a large concourse of visitors attended, still the expenses of the Society had always shown, that when the two first meetings did not consume tickets, there was no probability of the deficiency being made good at the third. The resu.lt was a reduction of about 1300/. on that year's income ; this serious increase to the debt of the Society (for a reduction of income without a corresponding reduction of expenditure was necessarily an increase to the debt), immediately led to a grave examination into the position of the Society, the result of which was a general reduction of the establishment. Almost every source of expenditure suffered curtailment. The pubhcation of the Journal was suspended, and a temporary reduction of 100/. a year in the rent of the Chiswick Garden was obtained from the liberality of His Grace the Duke of Devon- shire. A valuation of the property of the Society was obtained from professional men, and it appearing from it that there was a balance of 15,000/. in favour of the Society, the Council resolved to give the question of Exhibitions a fair trial, and see whether their last year's failure, in a pecuniary point of view, was only a temporary accident, or a symptom of their attraction being on the wane, and of that source of income being no longer to be pi i ^ ^"rHsljOOK OF THE ROYAL depended upon. They also introduced Meetings at the House in Kegent Street, and made every effort to make them as attractive in their way as the great assemblages at the Garden. With this view they increased largely the number of medals and other awards bestowed on these occasions, and invited the production of every valuable subject connected with gardens, which might be either remarkable for novelty or intrinsic excellence. Much interest was added to these collections or exhibitions by expla- natory lecturettes (as they were called) which were given by Dr. Lindley. These still dwell gratefully in the memory of those who listened to them, and their cessation forms one of the most frequently expressed regrets of the laudatores temporis adi. The Duke of Devonshire, who had been elected President on the death of Mr. Knight, lent his powerful aid. On the occa- sions of the great meetings at Chiswick he threw open the adjoining grounds of Chiswick to the Society and their visitors, and the promenades on its charming lawns and under its ancient cedars drew thousands of the world of fashion to these privileged fetes. The trial, however, was only partially successful. The house in Eegent Street was amply supplied with valuable specimens of horticultural skill, and a large number of visitors availed themselves of the opportunity to examine them. Other efforts were made in various directions. Changes were made in the meetings at the Garden, both as regards arrangement and the rewards to be conferred. But matters were not restored. For many years the Exhibitions at the Garden were accom- panied by such constant fine weather that precautions against rain seemed needless. From 1833 to 1843, a period of eleven ^Horticultural soci ety. years, only two aftemoons out of tliirty-tliree were wet, and of these one was very slightly so. In 1845 and 1846 every day was fine ; tut after tliat time a change seemed to have taken r ^^^^^^^ place in the weather in May, June, and July, and out of nine meetings in 1847, 1848, and 1849, five were more or less stormy. The inconvenience and discomfort arising from wet weather to great assemblages of people drawn together for enjoy- ment in the oj)en air can scarcely be exaggerated, — no amount of 11 protection by way of tents can render them bearable ; and of those unhappy occasions when Jupiter Pluvius reigned supreme many a miserable anecdote might be related. On one of these occasions, before the practice of giving the so-called breakfast- fetes had been abandoned, the day turned out unpropitious. Large numbers of tickets had been disposed of, which had cost A not only 21. 2-s. a head, but also much expense of interest among the exclusive Lady Patronesses who dispensed them. The tickets were thus too valuable to be thro^vn away, and the majority of their holders braved the bad weather in the hope of its clearing up. On the part of the Society nothing had been omitted to malce the entertainment worthy of itself and the expected guests. Ample tents and temporary wooden buildings had been erected, and all the resources of Messrs. Gunter brought into play to provide the feast. Gorgeous plate, fine china, and sparkling crystal, combined with the most delicate viands and high-priced wines to charm the eye and tempt the palate. What the morning promised — (a wet day) — the noon fulfilled, and the weather settled into confirmed rain ; and as the hours wore on, it grew worse and worse, and the rain fell heavier and heavier. StiU the possessors of the much-prized tickets made their appearance. Carriage after carriage deposited its fair and gaUy-dressed freight at the gates,'"' whence ushered into the tents they endeavoured to drown the splashing of the rain on the roof by the loud harmony of military bands, and to forget their discomfort in the enjoyments of the table. Many and strange were the scenes that passed : the tents were open in front, and the driving rain came pelting in — the canvas roof soon distilled drops or streams at many places — the ladies as they sat or stood found the water invading their shoes ; the ingenuity of the gentlemen came to the rescue — some of the ladies were placed on the table — the dishes were emptied of * The cavalry made a good harvest ou this day. They lent their long heavy military cloaks to the ladies, to protect them on their passage from their carriages to the tents, at 2s. 6d. e.icli. 8*1)'' HOETICULTUEAL SOOIETi'. their cold fowls and tongues and hams, and the ladies stood or sat on the dishes, the "viands being placed on the bare table ; and the mixture of crossness, good-humour, and fun was inde- scribable. The cold and wet demanded support, and the supply of champagne was liberal, so that, notwithstanding the frightful weather, the company became gay and merry. Little they knew the anxiety and trouble the officials had been put to, to procure them even such qualified enjoyment without iaterrviption. The entertainment had scarcely commenced when news was brought to Dr. Lindley, that the torrents of rain had so soaked and sapped the earth, that the pillars or supports of the temporary buildings forming the rear of the tents were beginning to yield, and that there was danger that the whole fabric might give way, and bury the company in its wet embrace. Dr. Lindley, with his usual fertility of resource, instantly sent into the streets, pot-houses, barns, and smithies of Chiswiok and Turnham Green, wherever men in a ramy day most do congregate. " Hire," said he, " every man you can get ; don't stand upon the price ; give them one shilling an hour, two shillings, five shiUings, whatever they rec[uire, but hire them instantly, and send them in at once." As the men came, they were posted in clumps around every piQar and support to hold them up, while the unconscious guests revelled within. As the day wore on, matters became worse. It was only by main force that the buUdmgs were sustained. Still the entertamment ran its course. At last it came to a close, and the visitors began to take their departure. As they went the weather began to clear, and at six o'clock the rain ceased. The guests paused in their departure, and determined on a fresh effort at enjoyment. The musicians, who had retired THE BOOK OF THE BOYAL to obtain their own refreshment, were recalled from the jaublic- houses to which they had retreated, in order to enable the guests to terminate the fete with dancing ; and on. the wet and splashy grass dancing was for some short time kept np. This, however, soon ceased — dancing in soaked boots and shoes'" on wet grass not being an amusement capable of long enjoyment — and at last the day's entertainment came to an end. No sooner had the last visitor taken his departure, and the men been released from their long and laborious duty, than the posts and pegs at the back of the tents and buildings slowly yielded, ploughing through the muddy puddle in which they stood, and the whole fabric gave way with a crash, burying in one undistinguishable inin the tables, and the dinuer-service, wines, and viands under their wet and heavy folds. "What are we to do, Sirl" cried the panic-stricken servants. " Let them lie until Monday," was the rejjly ; and so they did, and longer than Monday. It was a fortnight afterwards before the purveyors got all the articles, overwhelmed on that night, removed. And it is noteworthy and to the credit of the Society's servants, that although the whole appareil of the feast — broken crystal, and viands — lay mixed with valuable plate for so many days, not a single article was lost. The spoons and forks were recovered by raking them out of the mud, and not one was missing. Such accidents as this, or even the risk of such misfortunes, rendered the Council, when they saw that the seasons or their * There is a tradition that a bushel of wet shoes and stockings was picked up in tlie Garden and neighbourhood next day, probably thrown from the carriage windows after the owners had obtained fresh supplies from the Chiswick shops on leaving. ^^^^ 1 A WW \\im¥> p > HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY, .^^f^ luck in tliem seemed to have clianged, anxious to find some place ia whicli their meetings miglit be held nearer London. Years, however, passed by without any suitable place being found; and it was not until 1854 that they at last turned their eyes to the estate of Gore House, which belonged to Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, who oblig- ingly placed the grounds and house at the disposal of the Society for the meeting in May, 1855. All their efforts, however, did not change the course of events. The tide had turned, and contiaued to ebb. The Exhibitions were admirable Horticrdtural displays ; — indeed it is to be noted that they had gone on year after year improving, imtU. now, when no longer profitable, they surpassed anything hitherto seen ; but mstead of yielding their old profit of 2000/., they feU even below the previous years' descent, and left a loss of 276/., which of course only represented a small portion of the iQcrease of debt, most of the old sources of outgoing, although confined, being stUl ia operation. The actual increase of debt on this year was 1250/. The Council, finding that matters had apparently taken so VJ.CL/J.U.CLLI y Cu \M\J W JJ. VV Ck}± KJ. i i i i r.i .i;H )i i j lJ.J.cliU-0 JLlUJi. C VjtU. CX LU. CoLJ.lJ-L(XLCi3 \JL their resources, and arrived at so discouraging a conclusion, that a considerable proportion of them, and of a committee of Fellows whom they had appointed to advise with them, expressed their opiuion that the Garden must be rehnquished, the property ia it realised, and the Society pass away into the things that had been. The existence of this noble Society, which had done so much good, and which it is to be hoped wlU long live to do more, hung ujoon a thread. Fortunately, the less desponding rl jj^^i II ffl THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL element preponderated in the Council, but so strong was the impression against its recovery that a circular letter was sent to every Fellow, stating that the Council had arrived at the con- clusion that the Garden exhibitions would not be profitable in future, and jjroposing to revert to the system followed in 1821, when the Society was in its most flourishing state, at which time its operations were confined to the encouragement of horticul- ture by rewards, and the pubhcation of its Transactions ; to exhibitions in London ; to the distribution of seeds, &c., obtauied from its correspondents ; and to the maintenance of a small and inexpensive garden. Special meetings of the Society were held to consider the state of matters, and much and keen discussion ensued as to the propriety of retaining the Garden at Chiswick. Some were for terminating the lease of Chiswick as soon as its conditions would permit, seRing the property of the Society, and carrying it on by smaller exhibitions in London. Others were for selling off everything at once, paying ofi^ the value of the Life Compo- sitions, and winding up the Corporation. Others again suggested removing the Gardens to the Crystal Palace grounds, and making some mutually beneficial arrangement with that body. But the majority resolved to make another effort to preserve the Garden at Chiswick, which by many was thought tantamount to the Society itself, — the two at that time being sujjposed to be like Siamese twins, indissolubly linked together. An appeal to the Fellows and the public for subscriptions for this purpose was resolved upon. This was liberally responded to, although not quite to the extent required or expected. 3267/. was subscribed by 181 individuals, and to show the light in which the Society HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. was looked on by the general public, it may be mentioned that sixteen of these subscribers were not Fellows, and one of them, Heineich Beheens (let his name be honoured), a German gentleman, subscribed no less a sum than 100/. The subscrip- tion was considered so far satisfactory that the relinquishment of the Garden at Chiswick was at least postponed for another year. Meantime the establishment was still further reduced ; the collector in Mexico was recalled ; the culture of stove plants was abandoned, and the plants themselves were sold, bringing about 569/. The Herbaria of the Society, consisting of the original species sent home by the Society's collectors, and which formed the types of many of the plants newly introduced by them, and described by Dr. Lindley and others, were sold for 253/. This was a sacrifice greater in appearance than reaUty ; the Society not being a Botanical Society, they were seldom consulted, and it was perhaps better that they should be, as they were, secured to Science in the great national collections of the kingdom. Fortified by the amount of the subscriptions, and the encou- ragement received from various quarters, the Council received power from a General Meeting " to take such measures for the reorganisation of the Society as they might consider ad\'isable, even though those measures should involve the relinquishment of the Garden at Chiswick, and the realisation of the property or any part of the property therein." Under this authority the Council made various alterations in the rates of subsciiption and privileges of the Fellows, reducing the former and increasing the latter. They made an apphcation, which turned out unsuccessful, to Government for apartments rent-free in Burlington House or elsewhere ; and they took steps to seU the fine house in Eegent Street, which had been purchased in 1820, and in which aU the meetings and general business of the Society had ever since been held and transacted. They appointed a new officer (Mr. McEwen) as sole Superin- tendent of the Garden, at a liberal salary, and set agoing ex- tensive alterations and improvements in the Garden itself. A renewed attempt to revive the Exhibitions at the Garden in a modified form was also made, and the experiment was limited to one meeting, early in June, for flowers and Horticultural implements ; and in order to diminish the risks attendant upon unfavourable weather, the Exhibition was extended over two days, so that, if the first day should be wet, the second might stUl be available. The privilege which in former times had been occasionally enjoyed by visitors to the Exhibitions, of access to the beautiful grounds of Chiswick House adjoining the Society's Gardens, was on both of these occasions again hberaUy conferred by his Grace the Duke of Devonshu^e. A great Exhibition of Fruit was also held in London in the month of October, to which kitchen-garden produce was made admissible. Unfortu- nately, neither the June Meetings at Chismck nor the Fruit Show in London proved remunerative, notwithstanding their attractions, which were everything that could be wished. The alterations and imjjrovements which had been made in the Gardens at Chiswick, with the view of making them more resorted to by the Fellows, were not found to answer their purpose. The practical result of the expenditure upon these alterations and on the Exhibitions was, that in the course of the two years 1836-7 and 1857-8 the whole of the 3000/. subscribed to relieve tlie Society from its embarrassments liad been swallowed up, and the debt of tlie Society remained pre- cisely where it was before the appeal to the FeUows and the public had been made. Notwithstanding this, and notTOth- standing the failure of the Exhibitions in a pecuniary point of view, the Council in 1858, believing such meetings to be essential to the prosperity of the Society, and perhaps misled by an acces- sion of 300 new FeUows during the past year (1857), resolved to continue them ; and having found what seemed a suitable place for holding them, in St. James's Hall, a new bmlding in Picca- dilly, they held three great Meetings there in 1858, which again resulted in a further loss of uj^ wards of 500^., notwithstanding the patronage and presence of Her Majesty and H. R. H. the Prince Consort. The influx of new Fellows did not continue during the year 1858. At the anniversary on 1st of May, 1857, the total number of Fellows of all classes, augmented by the additions of the previous year, amounted to 978 ; on 1st May, 1858, they only amounted to 985, the deaths and resignations having all but neutralised the addition of 62 new FeUows. The debt had now again risen to nearly 10,000/., and the CouncU felt that matters had reached a crisis when half measures would no longer be of service. Whether wisely or not, the steps they took were those of brave men, looking their calamities boldly in the face, and, without shrinking, using such means as were in their power (however distasteful) to meet them. Their first step now was to provide for the most pressing claims. This was done by the interposition of their personal security and liberal advances by way of loan by the wealthiest or most zealous of the Council. M. THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL~^,^ ff-fc ^ .^^ ==^ i?4 Nothing more could be clone in the way of reduction of expen- diture. They had abeady reduced the Society's establishment to its lowest workiilg point. Dr. Eoyle, who had for seven years fiUed the honorary office of Secretary, having died in 1857, Dr. Lindley had resigned the paid office of Vice-Secretary, which he had filled with so much distinction since 1830, and been elected to the Honorary (unpaid) office of Secretary in Dr. Eoyle's place'. The Vice-Secretaryship was not filled up. Their next step was, therefore, to realise the property of the Society, so far as this could be done, without stopping its action. The house in Eegent Street, which had been the focus of Horticulture for so many years, was disposed of for 3000/. ; and in place of it a small office was taken in Trafalgar Square, consisting of one room and lobby or aute-room, at a rent of 80/. a-year ; and to crown all, the magnificent library, which had been growing during a period of forty years, until it was now one of the finest Botanical libraries in the world, and which, moreover, contained a multitude of oiiginal and typical drawings, was brought to the hammer and dispersed beyond recall. Alas ! how short-sighted are we aU ! Could the Council but have foreseen what two short months were to bring forth, they might have 'spared themselves this rmnecessary sacrifice. And yet, even now, when we know all, although unnecessary, at least it cannot be called a useless sacrifice. It, and the liberahty of the Members of Council, cleared the way for the plans winch followed. They paid the debts and restored the credit of the Society, and so removed difficulties in the way of the subse- quent arrangements which would otherwise have been hard to overcome. Be this as it may, within two months of the date J -^^^ HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ^Mi^ ■-~ — — =i-cr^= --yyi{^^^ M H ff 1 of tte Eeport in wMcli the Council announced these acts of despairing energy, another special Meeting of the Society was called (held on the 7th of July, 1859), at which propositions were made which wholly altered the aspect of affairs, speedUy restored the Society to more than its former vigour, witMn two years reared the beautiful Arcadian Garden at Sou.th Kensing- ^ ton, and ojoened to it a career of extended usefulness, surpassing, j we may hope, even the brilliant success of the old Society. To this we must devote another chapter, ljut, before leaving the history of this epoch, we may be allowed briefly to sum up the work done during it by the Society, and the benefits conferred by it, not on this country alone, but on mankind in general. We cannot do so better than by quoting the words of the Council in their Eeport on 1st of May, 1857: — "For more than half a century, the Society has endeavoured to pursue the path traced out by its Charter. It has minutely examined the equalities, and reduced to order the names, of fruit-trees and of esculent plants ; it has directed the attention of scientific as j well as of practical men to the improvement of the arts of cultivation ; it has introduced at much cost great numbers of exotic plants to decorate om* gardens ; it has published many volumes fiHed with important treatises upon almost every subject in which the gardener is interested ; it has formed a very extensive garden and orchard, in which have been collected I from time to time numerous plants, valuable for their utUity or beauty ; it has given a great impetus to cultivation by its public exhibitions of garden j^roduce ; it has been a school from which have sprung some of the most distinguished gardeners of the present century ; and it has given away to its Fellows 43 1 ;! 1 N THE PRESIDENCY OF THE PRINCE CONSORT, AND THE MEMORIAL OF 18 51. ^1 uniiiiiiMiiiiniiH[U||Mi||[|aiiHiiMimiim - i J ,i iM ! i ip " To temper tof^etlier these opposite elements in one consistent work recj^uires mncli tlioncflit, deep reflection, r sagacious, powerful and combining mind." — Bitkke. THE montli of Jnnnnry, 1858, died His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, long the kind and considerate land- lord, as well as the noble President, of the Society. On the 2nd of March, in the same year, His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, having most graciously consented to accept the office, was rmanimously elected President. i f li i .i BB!i ! ^ iiiii 1^1 triiifl BUuilHU|||U||WUHyniiMlRiriiiiinii iji iellii tiuiHlMimimHnmimiiMiiillnlnnril iir His Royal Highness accepted tliis position, not as a mere complimentary sinecure, but with, the fuU and avowed intention of personally performing its duties, and the Society soon felt the benefit of the new hand at the helm. He speedily perceived the danger of the course on which the Society had latterly been drifting. Time after time had the Council declared that they must revert to the simple and inexpensive mode of action which had proved so successful at the most prosperous epoch of the Society, 1821-22; and no later than their Eeport in 1859, pubhshed immediately after His Eoyal Highness's election, but written before it, we find them laying down the following as then- course of futm'e action, viz. : divesting the Chiswick Garden of its ornamental character, and reducing it to one of mere utility, abandoning the Exhibitions there, and quitting the house in Eegent Street, hiiing a mere ofiice for business, substituting Exhibitions in St. James's HaU for meetings at the Garden and Eegent Street, and jjroviding ballots for plants, and more extensive distributions than formerly both of plants and seeds. These were the paUiatives relied on, previous to His Eoyal Highness taking his place at the head of the Council Board. Very different is the language in the Eeport issued twelve months later. " Great retrenchment in a pubhc body was not a course to be permanently adopted. It coidd only be effected by inaction. The income at the disposal of the Council was placed in their hands for the purpose of actively promoting the interests of the Fellows, and was not likely to be maintained unless that purpose, which was incompatible with excessive economy, was fulfilled. _ " Tlie Council, tlierefore, while reducing expenditure in every direction as a temporary expedient, anxiously occupied themselves with the task of discovering in what way the income of the Society might be so increased as to enable them again to venture upon measures more conducive to its general interests. A Garden accessible without trouble or expense, in which the progress of Horticulture should be shown, not merely by what it might itself contain, but by the results of the advancing skill of others exhibited within it, was clearly indispensable. The time had passed when montlily meetings in a small room in a London street wordd satisfy the expecta- tions of the public. It was necessary to exhibit gardenmg on a great scale, and on its own ground. The Garden at Chiswick was no longer able to supply that want. Inaccessibility, according to modern notions, and original faults of construction, had rendered it useless for exhibition purposes, and a large annual pecuniary loss. Nevertheless the principal income of the Society, from the year 1832, had been derived from Chiswick, either directly or indirectly, and the Council felt persuaded that if some other garden, more favourably placed, and constructed with all the advantages of modem skill, cordd be obtained, the utility and prosperity of the Society would rise higher than ever." This was the far-sighted view taken of their position by His Eoyal Highness ; and it so happened that another body (Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851), whom His Eoyal Highness equally represented, had an interest which directly harmonised with, and as it were dovetailed into that of the Horticultural Society. The latter required for their shows and promenades a Garden not wholly in the to^vn, and yet not Biiiggii^ m m all M THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL iliBli laaS ' 1 1 1 III iiiiuiinnnninmmii inm nu mum miiuiuiiiiiuiiiijni n i beyond the limits of London; the former, viz., Her Majesty's Commissioners, were actually at the same moment contemplating the appropriation of the central part of their land at South Kensington as a Garden, to be surrounded by Itahan arcades, — a purpose the relations of which will be better understood hereafter, when the Prince's noble and statesman-like objects are further developed. His Eoyal Highness's position, as head of both bodies, rendered the negotiation easy ; and at a meeting held at Buckingham Palace on the 27th of June, the Prince amrounced to the Council that Her Majesty's Commissioners were ready to grant a lease of 20 acres at Kensington Gore upon certain conditions, the more important of which were the following : — The Commissioners to expend 50,000/. upon a highly deco- rated Italian Arcade, and certain costly earthworks recpiired as the foundation of a Garden. The Commissioners to claim no rent until the expenses of the Society — which include interest upon money borrowed — shall have been defrayed ; all income beyond such expenses to be apportioned in the manner following ; that is to say, interest to be paid by the Society on the 50,000/. borrowed by the Commissioners, and then, as rent, one moiety of any surplus that may have arisen during each year. The Society to lay out a sum equal to that of the Com- missioners in the formation of the Garden, one feature of which would be a Conservatory of considerable extent. The Commissioners to grant the Society a lease of the land for 31 years. The amount of annual expenditure, and the mode of general JmMiBHnnniMllInnmiHinni^nriTnTmmiinWlllllllM m m. iiililliiiiii VilSllllfri ""iiilliJ management to be determined by a joint Committee consisting of Six Members, of wliom Tlu-ee shall be named by the Com- missioners. It was not intended to make the Conservatory a hothouse, but merely to adapt it for such plants as grow in greenhouses, and only require shelter from severe weather. It was further intended that statuary, at some time or other, should be placed in suitable parts of the Garden ; but it was not a necessary part of the plan, and was only to be executed as opportunity and means presented themselves. These conditions were afterwards considerably modified ui detail, but the principle on which they were founded has never been departed from. A Special Meeting of the Society was then held on the 7tli of July, for the purpose of determining whether they would authorise the Council to proceed with this plan. After hearing its details, inspecting the designs which had been prepared by order of the Eoyal Commissioners, and fuUy discussing the principal terms proposed by them, the meeting unanimously m general terms approved of the plan, and autho- rised the Council to proceed with their negotiations with the Commissioners. This essential point having been settled, an announcement was then made, that so great was the interest taken by the Queen and the Prince Consort in the general scheme, that Her Majesty, entirely approvmg of the plan proposed by the Council, was most graciously pleased to signify Her Eoyal intention of subscribing the sum of 1000/. towards the fund which must be raised for canying it out, and of causing various branches of m i\\mm III m m mm tlie Eoyal Family to be elected as Life Members of the Society ; at the same time His Eoyal Highness authorised the meeting to be informed that he also was prepared to subscribe the sum of 500^. in aid of the measure, and to provide a further sum of 1000/. by taking ten of the debentures of 100/. each, which the Society proposed to issue. It was at the same time announced that Her Eoyal Higlmess the Priacess Frederick Wniiam, Princess Eoyal of England, proposed to join the Society as a Life Member. These munificent contributions were gratefully acknowledged by every one present, and the noble chairman of the meeting was requested to convey to Her Majesty, to His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort, and to Her Eoyal Highness the Princess Eoyal, the most respectful thanks of the Society. As to the mode of raising 50,000/., the Council recommended the issue of debentures bearing interest at 5 per cent., to be redeemed as means should become available. They also proposed to keep up the experimental part of Chiswick Garden, and as much more of that Garden as might be requu-ed to furnish decorative plants for the new Garden at South Kensington. The Council having renewed their correspondence with the Eoyal Commissioners, for the purpose of obtaining a reconsidera- tion of certain points which, in the opinion of the meeting, demanded some alteration, a second General Meeting was held on the 20th of July. The Council then explained what progress had been made in the negotiations. The Commissioners had agreed to add to the arrangements with the Society stipulations to the following effect : — Upon the Society giving two years' ■ill! ill ii;: notice previous to tlie expiration of the lease, it was to be renewed for a further period of 31 years ujDon the same con- ditions as to rent, &c., as those already proposed. The Commis- sioners were, however, to reserve to themselves a power to decline to renew the lease, in which case they were to be bound to take upon themselves the responsibUity of any Debentures that might be outstanding at the expiration of 31 years, to cmy extent not exceeding a maximum of 20,000/. But the Com- missioners rec|uired the Society to devote in each year not less than 50 per cent, of their surplus balance to paying off out- standing Debentures. And in the event of the Society being unable for any five consecutive years to pay interest on the 50,000/. to be borrowed by the Commissioners, then the Com- missioners were to have the right of re-entry without any payment of compensation. On this occasion the two following resolutions closed the dehberations of the Society : — " That tliis meeting approves of the steps ah'eatly taken by the Council, authorises the negotiations with the Royal Commissioners to be continued, and empowers the Council to proceed to raise the sum required for the construction of a Garden at Kensington Gore, and if the money sliall be obtained, to complete the arrangements." *' That the Council be instructed not to accept the clause about re-entry in case of failing to pay interest for five years, and that in the event of the Conimis- -sioners cancelling the lease, an equitable adjustment of mutrial interests be made." Further negotiations terminated in an agreement being come to by both parties, embodying the chief points above noticed. The clause objected to was modified to the effect that in the event of the Commissioners cancelling the lease after five years' non-pajauent of rent, an equitable adjustment of mutual interests m 1 should be made. A copy of tlie deed of agreement will be fomid in tbe Appendix. The fmids required were raised with the greatest ease ; the donations amounted to 18C7/. 12s. Six hundred new Fellows immediately joined, and, altogether, within twelve months, 13,000/. was obtained from Life Memberships. The Council had merely to intimate their desire to borrow 40,000/. on 100/. debentures, bearing 5 per cent, interest, and conferring the privilege of one admission to the Gardens, when the whole of the debentures were immediately taken iip. So soon as it had been ascertamed that the requisite funds could be provided, the assistance of Capt. Francis Fowke, E.E., Mr. W. A. Nesfield, and Mr. Sydney Smirke, R.A., three gentle- men, each of the highest talent in his own department (engi- neering, landscape gardening, and architecture), was secured to assist in designing and constructing the garden. Many meetings of the Council and of the Commission, at which His Royal Highness presided, were held with these gentlemen, and the plans which have been since carried out were gradually arrived at ; not, however, without many trials, many variations, and many alterations ; for it is one of the pecuharities of all the works of embellishment in the Garden, that nothing has been finally executed until, by previous modelling (often of the size of nature) and altering and amendmg, a satisfactory result was arrived at. Were such precautions more generally adopted, many an expensive blot, which now disfigures our public build- ings, would have been saved by the timely expenditure of a few- pounds. The actual execution of the greatest part of the work was 52 n ilLL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. B iiiii] contracted for by Mr. Kelk, and tlie superintendence of the whole was entrusted to a Works Committee, composed of Mr. Henry Cole, C.B. ; Mr. Kichard Eedgrave, E.A. ; and Captain Fowke, the chief officers of the Department of Science and Art, South Kensington. After the project had been once finally resolved on, it was pushed forward with great rapidity. Between July, 1869, when the idea was first broached, and June, 1861, the date at which it was fixed that the Garden should be opened, the arrange- ments betwixt the Society and the Commissioners had all to be completed, the necessary funds raised, the plans of the Garden and arcades adjusted, and the work contracted for and executed. The first sod was turned on Monday, the 12th of December, 1859, and the first brick of the buildings was laid (below the present Council-room) by Mr. (now Sir Wentworth) Dilke on Friday, the 30th of March, 1860, in presence of the Council and a small body of those interested. The earthworks were greatly retarded by an excessively wet summer; and it was not until October, 1860, that the buUdings were commenced. These were thrown greatly behind by a winter almost imprecedented for the duration and severity of its frost, and by an unhappy strike of the work- men in spring. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the works proceeded with a rapidity which surprised even those engaged upon them. Dm-mg their progress, as during the preparation of the plans, the supervision of the Prince was constant. His frequent visits to the ground stimulated every one — Council, officials. w 'lllliliai THE BOOK _0F THE ROYAL Jillillil niJ 3 contractors, and workmen — to tteir utmost exertions. The Queen took scarcely less interest in it, and, disregarding phy- sical difficulties, went over the works with His Eoyal Highness, in their rawest and most unfinished condition. By the greatest exertions, the principal portion of the works was so far advanced as to allow the Council to fulfil their promise to open the Garden on the 5th of June. No sooner had the Garden begun to assume something of this aspect of advancement, than His Eoyal Highness turned his attention to its decoration and embellishment. He himself presented various objects to the Garden ; amongst them were the Juno and Ceres now standing on the upper end of the central basin, and the small terra cotta statuettes placed at the entrance and exit of the Maze. It was he, too, who recom- mended the purchase of the two Victories of Eauch, perhaps the finest (certainly the most effective) objects of art in the Garden. Indirectly, too, but not less certainly, does the Society owe one of the great features of the Garden to His Eoyal Highness's connection with it, viz. — the Memorial of the Exhibition of 1851. Shortly after th-C close of tlie Exliibition of 1851, tind. while the admu'ation excited by the talents shown by His Eoyal TTi frlin OQC! m Tf a AVI (Tl Tl 1^"! DTI TTl H Jl fl TTll Til Cl'f'T'fl'fl HTl "WH ^tl TTPClh Xllgnneoo ill l Lo Ul Ig HidLiUll cLULI tlLllliillilb 111 Oi W uo a VllX JLi ciSll in the minds of the public, a subscription was set on foot by a number of his admirers for the erection of a Memorial of the Exhibition, to be surmounted by a statue of His Eoyal Highness. This had scarcely commenced when its promoters received intimation from His Eoyal Highness that he disap- proved of a Memorial being erected to him during his lifetime. 54 ft & Mliili: HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The promoters of the Memorial then asked His Koyal High- ness's permission to substitute a statue of Her Majesty, — or some emblematic figure, such as Britannia, — for his own, on the Memorial. This received His Eoyal Highness's approval and support ; and as soon as that was known, subscriptions flowed in, and a sum of 52121., since increased by interest to upwards of 6000/., was received. It was only when it came to be applied that difficulties arose : What was the Memorial to be 1 — Who was to execute it 1 — How should he be selected ?— were aU questions on which great variety of opinion prevailed. Some recommended that Marochetti's statue of Eichard Coeur de Lion, which had formed one of the striljing objects in the Exhibition of 1851, should be erected as the permanent Memorial of it. Others objected to this, that the circumstance of a work having been exhibited in the Building was an insufficient reason for selecting it as a monument, and that Eichard Coeur de Lion had nothing else to do with it ; others maintained that there was no living British artist com- petent to produce a first-class work — as one intended for a Memorial of the Exhibition ought to be — an imputation which, of course, was deeply resented by another class. In the strife which ensued, the object itself was lost sight of ; the frailties of human nature interfered to obstruct it ; men who had taken a zealous part in forwarding the scheme, hesitated to expose themselves to misintei-pretation ; — no satisfactory solution of the difficulty presented itself, and in the midst of the tumult the project itself went quietly to sleep. So it rested for three years, when some of the promoters began again to move. The money had been collected, 6000/. reposed in the coffers of the Bank, ^ „ 1 IMS 222^ OF ™e Mli^lll^iilii^ m and in 1855 a fresh, effort was determined to be made to carry tlu'ougli the undertaking. Various meetings of the Subscribers were summoned and held, and in June, 1856, the Eev. Dr. Booth (who soon afterwards resigned) and Mr. George Godwin, at the request of the Committee of Subscribers, consented to act as Honorary Secretaries, and an Executive Committee was named to endeavour to cany out tlie original design. One by one various obstacles, which successively presented themselves, were removed, and the then Chief Commissioner of Her Majesty's Works, now Lord Llanover, undertook, so soon as a design should be submitted to him, to decide whether a site in Hyde Park could be given for it. It was then resolved that both the design and execution of the Memorial should be thrown open to public competition, and, to stop the mouths of aU cavillers against the talent of this country, that the invitation to compete should be widely circulated in foreign countries. Advertisements and a circular were accordingly issued, inviting artists of all nations to submit designs under certain stipulations ; and these were translated and published in foreign journals. In rejjly, twenty-two models and twenty-seven drawings were sent in. With the permission of the Conunittee of Privy Council, these were exhibited to the public, during five weeks, at the Museum of the Department of Art at South Kensington. The Execu- tive Committee then called in the assistance of three artistic advisers, each eminent in his o^ivn profession, Mr. Tite, M.P. (an arcMtect), Mr. Westmacott, E.A. (a sculptor), and Mr. Maclise, E.A. (a painter), to assist them in coming to a decision on the merits of the various designs. To them, along with Earl de Grey and Kipou (then Lord Goderioh), Lord Monteagle, and 56 1 m ' ''''ilijiilSl!^^ ""^"iMM 1^ mt aiif THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL m iPlI iiiniilli llliiiiiKuuiy 11 mim] inuiiuuiuMih Hyde Park for its erection ; but "would willingly decide on any fresh design that might be submitted to Mm. Under these circumstances the Committee looked about for some other course, and, an impression prevailing that an obeliscal design would be more favourably received, invited one of the com- petitors who had submitted an obelisk, Mr. John Bell, to co-operate with Mr. Durham, in order that a design including that feature might be laid before the Chief Commissioner. Each sculptor prepared a design. Mr. Durham's was chosen, and submitted to the Chief Commissioner, who then was the Honourable Mr. Fitzroy, since deceased ; and after various interviews, letters, and long consideration, the Committee were informed, on the part of the Chief Commissioner, that, inasmuch as aU permanent structures within the limits of the Park were in his o]3inion undesirable, he could not grant the permission they sought. Wliilst these negotiations were going on, the determination to form the Horticultural Garden at South Kensington, on part of the land belonging to the Eoyal Commissioners, had been arrived at. The connection of H.E.H. the Prince Consort with the Horticultural Society, and the fact that the site of the Garden belonged to the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, suggested that Garden as a suitable site, and the CouncU readUy agreed to receive it, as well as to provide a suitable base or pedestal for it. The Garden was consequently laid out with special reference to this object. Mr. Durham's design, however, although the proposed alteration was abandoned, was afterwards considerably modified. From the drawing above given it will be seen that in it Hi mi II iihniiiiiiiiiiiiiuminiMnRlnMkiiinnnnniiiH^^ iiiniiiiiiDiiiiiillRiinNinrn HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. """^"""TmHHHH^^^illlllllC!!!' tlie subject "was tlms treated : — the Exhibition having taken its origin in Great Britain, and having been contribnted to by all nations, the design emblematised these facts by representing Britannia sujjported by the four quarters of the world. It had a rusticated base, from which sprung a single octagonal shaft of granite, surmounted by Britannia, and at the four angles of the base were seated the four statues. This was to have been produced for 6000/., being all the money at the disposal of the Committee. At the suggestion of H.E.H. the Prince Consort, a change, immensely to the advantage of the monument, but involving an additional expense of 800/., was made ujDon the design ; eight granite columns were placed at the angles of the pediment, and eight additional pilasters were added. The centre shaft of the monument was, as abeady said, originally an octagon ; by the advice and under the direction of Sydney Smirke, R.A., it was converted into a round shaft. The Eoyal Horticultural Society agreed to defray a portion of the expenses attending the erection of the Memorial. As finally adjusted and executed, the under base is quadran- gular, and taken from angle to angle forms a square of 22 feet ; at each angle it contains large bronze copies of the Medals distributed at the Exhibition of 1851. The sides of the quadrangle are cut out by a curve which sweeps in, and are inlaid with red polished granite panels. Upon this base, which is about 5 ft. high, the figures are seated : — Africa is represented by a Negress, over whose limbs is thrown a cloak of African manufacture. Asia is represented by an Indian princess, decorated with jewels, bracelets, amulets, ilBPiliii i n. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ilii cashmeres, muslin, and embroidery, all executed in tlie most elaborate detail. The head-dress is of pearls and feathers. America is resting her hand upon an axe, suggestive of clearing forests and making way for civilisation, the other hand holds the primitive bow and arrow of the Indian; her head is deco- rated with stars and rice, in allusion to the United States, both Southern and Northern ; and her mantle bears a clasp with a lion's head (from a design l)y the Prince Consort), indicative of the British possessions. Europe, with features of the Caucasian type, is the more matronly figure ; she is clothed in ample drapery, and bears a mural crown on her forehead ; the left hand is outstretched, holding a wreath resting upon a nidder ; on the right arm she bears a sheathed sword, bound with laurel, indicating that Europe was at peace in 1851. The piUars and pilasters are all monoliths, and the grey stones from the Cheosewring quarry, Cornwall, with polished centres, which bear the inscriptions, are the finest which have yet been produced ; the red granite pillars are from Aberdeen. Nothing but granite and bronze has been used in the con- struction of the Memorial. The second base commences the circular form of the central shaft, against which are seated the four statues just described, and from which spring the columns and pilasters. The centre panelling of this base is polished all round, producing a second colour in the grey granite. The central shaft is composed of beautiful polished grey granite, the stones composing it being of unusual size ; the four spaces between the pilasters and columns contain the inscriptions, which are as follows, viz. : — on the iiiBPiBPIilP IS* I Mli iillll' tiuuMlilMlliuumjui^ ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION. ORIGIIfALLT DTTEIfDED OSLY TO COMMEMOEATE THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1861, sow DEDICATED ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF THE GREAT AUTHOR OF THAT UITDEKTAKUTG, THE GOOD PEINCE, TO TraCOSE PAIt-SEEHCG AND OOMPEEHENSIVB PHILASTTHROPY ITS FIRST COHCEPTION" "WAS DUE ; AKD TO "TOOSE CLEAR JUDGMENT AND UNTIRING EXERTIONS IN DIRECTING ITS EXECUTION THE WORLD IS INDEBTED FOE ITS UNPRECEDENTED STTCCESS. ALBERT FEAJSTOIS AUGUSTUS CHARLES EMANUEL, THE PRINCE CONSORT, BORN AUGUST 26Tn, 1819. DIED DECEMBER 14th, 18C1. " He was a man — take him for all in all — We shall not look upon Ms like again." SCULPTOR— JOSEPH DURHAM. EXECUTIVE COMMICTEE: THOMAS CHALLIS, ALDERMAN, THE LORD MAYOR, 1851, CHAIRM.4X. FRANCIS BESTNOCH. T. B. BBANDBBTH GIBBS. GEORGE GODWIN (hON. SEC.). PETER GRAHAM. , CARTER HALL. Id Bronze capitals, approacliing the Corintliian order, designed Ly Sydney Smirke, E.A., surmount tie pillars and pilasters. The columns support a frieze bearing (in letters five inches liigh) the following inscriptions, upon a third line of polished " Let all the nations of the Earth be gathered together, and let the people be assembled." — Isaiah xliii. 9. " I will remember the works of the Lord, surely I will remember the wonders of old." — P.SALM Ixxvii. 2. Upon this rests a red polished granite pedestal to support the figure on the top. In the original design, tlie statue, as already mentioned, was to be an emblematic figure of Britannia; by desire of the Committee this was altered into a figure of Her Majesty. Mr. Durham accordingly executed a statue of Her Majesty. The model was tried on a scaflblding erected for the purpose, of the jsroper height, and received the approval of H.R.H. the Prince Consort. To see tins statue was one of the last visits tlie Prince paid to the Gardens, or the metropohs. Wlidst being executed in bronze, tlie lamentable death of H.E.H. changed the position of matters. The objection which had been taken by himself to his own statue being placed on the Memorial no longer existed. Her Majesty and H.E.H. the Prince of Wales were the first to feel that the statue of the Prince Consort ought to be the one to fill that place, and under this feeling, the Prince of Wales at once proposed that this should be done, m the affecting letter from him to the Council and the Memorial Committee, afterwards quoted. The proposed change was at once agreed to. Mr. Durham was employed to model the statue. Beyond his own personal in *™ II hiiiimiiiiiiiiiilllllimHlll^llhwi.iiii™HllWlllllll^^ liirriiiriiiiriii iliiiin»riiinMillliiir iniutn* [finnmiRinUlMinimnmMinniinilllhlnwim ) gOBTIglMUgAIi SOCIETY. ' SSfflilSiif % knowledge of His Eoyal Highness, he received every assistance from those who were most familiar with the deceased Prince's form and features. The Queen herself gave Hm valuable suggestions — advised the alteration of the right arm, for instance, from an unwonted into an attitude habitual to the Prince, and otherwise contributed to its successful completion. The statue is of bronze, 10 feet high, and by the Queen's command is represented in the costume of the Great Master of the Bath. The dress was modelled from the real robe, and great attention has been paid in this, as in every other part of the Statue, to have all the orders and decorations formed with absolute accuracy. But to return to the history of the Society rmdcr the administration of His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort. An early step taken by His Eoyal Highness was the nomination of a Fine Arts Committee ; and the Council, who heartily con- curred in his views, appointed the following gentlemen to be that Committee, viz. : — the Earl of Ducie ; the Earl of Gilford ; Lord Llanover ; Sir Coutts Lindsay, Bart. ; Sir C. Wentworth Dilke, Bart. ; Mr. Henry T. Hope ; Mr. Sydney Smii-ke ; Mr. Westmacott, E.A.; and subsequently the Duke of Buccleueh and Captain Fowke. This Committee met for the first time on the 13th of May, 1861, when the course to be followed regarding the decorations of the Garden formed the subject of consideration. The brief and unconnected memoranda of a Minute Book can iH supply the eloquent language in which His Eoyal Highness explained his views to the Committee ; but meagre as such a record necessarily is, it is the best which can now be had. 'iiiilSi!! THE BOOK OF THE EOYAE J' l|'||fH^^^ m m ft Hi m and at least it has the advantage of acciiracy, — the Minutes of the proceedings of that day, before being engrossed, having been sent in draft to His Royal Highness for approval, and having received his own signature. The following is an extract from the Minute referred to : — "His Eoyal Highness then explained the principles which he thought should guide the Society in the decoration of the Garden. Viewed merely as a decorative question, there was ample scope for the display of three different styles of orna- mentation, besides architectural and horticultural embelUshment. These were — 1. Great groups of statuary, which might be distributed in effective positions. In relation to this subject His Eoyal Highness mentioned that a fine group executed in marble had recently been disinterred from the remains of one of the dismantled Eoyal Lodges which had been erected by King George IV., and Her Majesty the Queen might perhaps present it to the Society."' 2. Individual statues ; and, 3. Minor ornamentation, such as busts, vases, tazzas, baskets, &c. Each of these required different conditions and modes of treatment, for all of which ample provision existed in the Garden. " Viewed in a more extended light, and with special refer- ence to the influence which the efforts now making by this Society may have in encouraging artists and fostering a taste for Art among the people, this Garden also possesses singular advantages. Hitherto there has been no place in the metropohs, or even in Britain, where the sculptor or statuary could expose the creations of his genius in model, with such accompaniments * This has since been done. It is the Venus and Satyr and Nymph, by Fraucavilla, now placed in the easteni refreshment pavilion. OS P i ^ ~ IE 511 iHjljU^*iiiiiuuiiuinD^Ug|g|^|^MBnruiiiiiiui |'(|||||' liiliiSliu HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. of place and scenery as would give tliem fair play. Huddled in confined studios, no just conception could be formed of the effect whicli the larger models would have when placed in the conditions for which they were intended. Were such a place as this garden open to artists for the exhibition of then models, they could be seen under such conditions as would enable their faults to be detected and remedied ; their applicability for their intended positions ascertained ; their beauties to be seen and appreciated ; and the encouragement of the Fellows and the pubhc better secured. These advantages would of themselves be a sufiScient inducement to the artist not only to send the models which are aheady lumbering his studio but also to execute others, and would thus give an impetus to this branch of art of which the want of such opportunity of exhibition has hitherto retarded the development in this country. " The recent discoveries and improvements in the material in which such ornamentation may be executed is another element which must largely foster its advancement. Terra- cotta, cast-iron, plaster, cement are aU materials which may now be used with success, yet which a few years ago would have been condemned as utterly unfit for the j)urpose. The mode in which these facilities for exhibition should be given to artists and their co-operation secured, would be for the consideration of this Committee. An undertaking by the Society to expend a considerable sum in the purchase of the best objects exhibited might be one mode of attracting su- perior talent ; other modes would suggest themselves, and many, both artists and manufacturers, would no doubt be very glad to embrace the opportunity afforded them, with no other m la SI nil THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL 1111= inducement than the publicity and chance of sale given to their works." After some discussion, the Committee unanimously adopted the principles laid down by His Eoyal Highness ; and the terms on which articles of garden decoration may be lent to and wlU be accepted by the Society, were adjusted. Thereafter, with the view of carrying out the suggestions of His Eoyal Highness, the principal sculj)tors ui London were invited to attend a meeting in the CouncU-room of the Society. His Eoyal Highness informed them of the plan proposed for the exhibition of sculpture, to which, after a short deliberation, the sculptors present returned a reply couched in the following terms : — "The undersigned sculptors beg to thank the Committee of the Fine Arts of the Eoyal Horticultural Society for the invitation to attend this meeting, and to express their deep sense of the honour conferred upon them by His Eoyal Highness the President for the flattering manner in which His Eoyal Highness has been pleased to receive them as a body of artists, and to explain to them the plans proposed for the exhibition and occasional purchase of sculpture in connection with the decoration of the gardens. They desire to record their entire concm-rence with the sentiments expressed by His Eoyal Highness the Pre- sident, and whUe they acknowledge with gratitude the interest shown by the Prince Consort in the advancement of sculpture, they beg to be allowed to take the matter into their further consideration, the subject being of such magnitude as to require more mature dehberation than the present opportunity will admit of.— E. H. BaUey, E.A.; J. H. Foley, E.A.; P. MacDoweU, E.A.; ■i^ii^iiliii I .—JllninBiflnunniiiMiiMHttifii^^ '"Ijii;;! JlnlllU '[inrmMlNlllillllllininiiiiHiHiinMtnHllinHNiiiniiil IL I IPil 1 ft =:zzz __ _ Baron Marochetti, E.A.; W. Calder MarshaU, E.A. ; H. Weekes, E.A.; George G-. Adams; Charles Bacon; William Behnes; John Bell; Edward Davis; F. Davis; William Davis; Joseph Durham; Thomas Earle; J. Edwards; J. FeUx; John Hancock; J. Edward Jones; John G. Lough; Henry LiefchiLd; M. C. Miller; Alex- ander Munro; W. G. Mchol ; Matthew Noble; E. G. Physick; E. G. Papworth ; Edward B. Stephens ; William Theed ; John Thomas ; Thomas Thornycroft ; Frederick Thrupp ; P. Westma- cott ; W. F. Woodington ; Thomas Woolner." Before the result of such further deUberation was matured, His Eoyal Highness was no more, and after his death the project was for a short time delayed. It was one of a hundred instances which have occurred since the Prince's death, where the want of his influence was immediately felt. The Council, however, anxious to cany out the Prince's plans, have endeavoured to follow the path indicated by him. They offered a sum of 500/. to be expended in the purchase of one or more objects of Statuary which might be sent for exhibition in the Garden before the 1st of May, 1863. They also resolved to hold a General Exhiljition of Sculpture in fur- therance of the scheme. The all-engrossing deraands u]3on the time of every one connected with the Society during the year of the International Exhibition prevented anything being done sooner; but early in 1863 the Council opened a communication with the Sculptors Institute, with the view of inviting their co-operation. Their advances were met with cordiality, and the Sculptors' Institute consented to accept the laborious and respon- sible duty of superintending the Exhibition. To it also the most emuient men in their profession have liberally contributed, 71 L 2 Ml IS i Hi HI m m fSplipipi^ L . — — ■ — — II and an exhibition has taken place, the chief regret concerning which is that he in -whose genius it originated is not here to see and reward the result by his ajjprobation. How much light do these cursory and unconnected notices cast upon His Eoyal Highness's views and objects. To the thoughtless spectator the patronage of the Queen and the Prince Consort given to the Eoyal Horticultural Society may I seem the whim of the day or the toy of the hour. He was in no way more specially interested in Horticulture than in any other liberal pursuit. But these details show that he had a deeper object than the promotion of Horticulture, or the creation of a beautiful garden. We see from them that he was using, unobtrusively and silently, the Society as an influence for the good and advancement of the people — by its facilities trd extending a fostering and helping hand to Horticulture and Art on the one hand ; and preparing facilities for obtaining for the mass of the people, on the other, at some future period, an occasional access to the humanising influences of these sister Sciences. He felt that he was in advance of the people, and that the tastes which ho wished to foster were yet to form ; therefore, while anxious to encourage them, he left the Council and Commissioners free and unhampered, both as to extent of |p~ the facilities to be offered to the general public, and the time Bj when they should be given. ^S* By his judicious support and management he brought the vast influence of the aristocracy to bear in support of this noble enterprise, many no doubt aiding him unwittingly and in ignorance of his object, but others appreciating it, and "vvillingly fe l lendiiic; their aid to it. pa m ii :}Blllliillii!Blri^^ iiliiii ill But it is now sufficiently known that His Eoyal Higiness's benevolent and pMantliropic plan took a wider and more extended range than even this combination of objects displays. His opinion was, that the proper site for the Great National Collections of Art and Science in the National GaUery, the British Museum, the Schools of Art, &c., which were compelled from pure want of space to look for a new shelter, was some- where in this neighbourhood, and it is not to be doubted that His Eoyal Highness had planned out a magnificent cpadrangle of public buddings containing the National Collection of objects of Science and of Art of every kind, and embracing in their midst the splendid Garden of the Horticultural Society, to which the student and the amateur might retire to refresh themselves, when fatigued with their labours. The whole tenor of his arrangements, from the purchase of the estate held by the Commissioners of the Great Exhibition to the present time, indicates such a liberal and well-digested scheme. The very laying out of the propei-ty ; the splendid roads formed around it ; the resolute abstinence from leasing any part of the quadrangle for ordinary budding purposes, from which so large a money return might have been obtained ; the sacrifice of so great a portion of it for the Garden in the midst, at so doubtful a return as that stipulated for from the Horticultural Society ; the careful stipulations by which the Garden should revert to the Commissioners, if, for a certain period (five years), it should be so unremunerative as to leave no rent to be paid to the Commissioners ; the terms on which the lower part of the Garden was let to the Commissioners of the International Exhibition of 1862; the encouragement given to the artists i liU! THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL iiH lluiuiiiuimiwiiiRlnflllRlHni m above referred to, and the suggestion for the occasional admis- sion of the pubhc on easy terms, are, without doubt, all parts of one great whole, to forward which he was skOfully availing himself of the interests of the Commissioners of 1851, of those of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, and of those of the Com- missioners of the Exhibition of 1862. The pyramid which His Eoyal Highness was raising had for its apex the happiness and improvement of the people, and rested on the advantages to be drawn from free access to the works oi Art and Science ; and although his project was spread over the space of half-a-century to come, and Providence has withdrawn him from a share in the work, there is eveiy reason to hope that many now living will yet witness its completion. One thing which especiaUy demands admiration in these arrangements of His Eoyal Highness is the happy way in which he has known how to combine the diverse and even conflicting interests of different bodies so as to direct them all to one end, and at the same time to make the desired course the most advantageous and prosperous for each and all. At the same time that the arrangements already noticed were in progress, the Society had been rapidly advancing in other respects. In February, 18 GO, the Fruit and Floral Committees had been re-constructed. Special paid Secretaries (Dr. Eobert Hogg and Mr. Thomas Moore, each distinguished in Ms own department — Dr. Hogg for a knowledge of fruit, and Mr. Moore for that of flowers) had been appointed to them respectively, and they had entered on their duties with zeal and vigour. The Horticultural world recognised the efforts making to advance the science, and have met them half way. New Miiiiriii lir rill uiiiiiiiii»i»iuii wmiiiiiiMiiiiiii |H[||H||nimyUIIUHIIIMMBMIllinilllMIUllimni ^^ iiaMfflW fiiBiiuimiiiiiiai!^ Ii itiririh III iiiri iriiiiiijiFiiiiirniinNlinniiiiiiiiMniiMilmllllmHlinin nii i n ii ih^ih iiliiii: HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. plants and fruits are freely sent tliem to adjudicate upon, and the value of different kinds of fruits and of florists' flowers are decided upon with, authority, by growing them at Chiswick, and obtaining upon them the verdict of these Committees, which are composed, not solely of Fellows of the Society, but of the most competent men that can be fomid, whether within or without its precincts. The results of their dehberations appear in the " Proceedings of the Society," the publication of wliicli was now resumed, and much valuable matter, clearing up the synonymy of nurserjonen and seedsmen's names, and authoritatively settling the merit of rival kinds, is to be found in its pages. Her Majesty also graciously signified her Eoyal pleasure that the Society should henceforth be designated the Eoyal Horticultural Society. Fellows crowded in. No less than 1500 new members joined the Society before His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort had occupied the Presidential chair for two years. The Press had pronounced favourably of the phcenix rising from her ashes. The debentures were anxiously sought for ; and a new Charter, enlarging the privileges of the Society, and confirming its engagements with the Commissioners, was obtained. A copy of this -will be found in the Appendix. The expense of the works, however, had exceeded the estimates. A large portion of the means wliich enabled the Society to expend more than it originally contemplated was no doubt derived from borrowed money, the Society having borrowed first 40,000/., and then an additional sum of 10,000/. on debentures at an interest of 5 per cent., and one admission to the Garden for every 100/. lent, a rate of interest, however, which the improvement in the value of the security soon ^11 ii t iii i i iB !l ICill I PjiiPlill) ™E J^OOK OF THE EOYAL ]" IB enabled the Society to get redviced to 4 per cent. But tlie large remaining sum of 20,000/. had been wholly drawn from the subscriptions of the new Fellows. The new Garden was opened on Wednesday, the 5th of J une. It was opened by His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort, and from that circumstance, and the sad bereavement which soon followed, everything connected mth the event possesses a melancholy interest. It had been Her Most Gracious Majesty's original intention to have honoured the Society by opening it herself in state, and planting in it a tree, but the immediately preceding death of Her Majesty's lamented mother. Her Eoyal Highness the Duchess of Kent, rendered this impossible. ! Early in the morning of that day, however, Her Most ; Gracious Majesty, in strictest privacy, accompanied by the 1 Prince Consort and the King of the Belgians, honoured the \ Society with her presence in the grounds, insjjecting the col- lections of flowers and fruit. At a later hour Her Majesty the Queen of the French, and His Eoyal Highness the Due de Nemours, were also admitted to a private view. At one o'clock the gates were thrown open to an eager throng. At this time the appearance of the Garden was most striking. The great Conservatory glowed with the briUiant colours of Azaleas, Orchids, Eoses, and a multitude of other flowers, reheved by superb groups of Ferns, and aU manner of parti-coloured or gracefuUy fashioned exotics, among which were exquisite specimens of the goldsmith's art in the form of vases, statu.ettes, and racing cups. Beneath the long colonnades, in endless profusion, extending many hundred feet, on either side were ranged superb masses of Pelargoniums and innumerable &\ m m & fiiiijBiiStii*^^^^ plpplpj I I groups of other ornamental plants. Towards one end of the colonnade that leads to the entrance, fruit, the admu'ation of the spectator and the pride of the gardener, was piled in skilfuUy-arranged confusion. On the other side of the Garden, under the corresponding colonnade, stood an extraordinary and very brihiant assemblage of flowers and fruit prepared for table decoration. Soon after one o'clock, military bands made their appearance at their allotted stations, and the grounds rapidly filled. At four o'clock the main doors of the entrance-haU were closed to the public ; the gentlemen intended to take part in the formal ceremony of opening the Garden collected at their respective stations preparatory to forming a procession ; their Eoyal High- nesses the Princess Mary and the Duke of Cambridge arrived ; and punctually at half-past four His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort, with all the junior members of the Eoyal Family, the Count of Flanders, Prince Louis of Hesse, and their respective suites, entered the hall. Immediately afterwards the procession formed and moved into the Garden, along a line kept by the 1st Middlesex Volunteer Engmeers. The procession was composed of the Coimcil, the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, the Contractors and others who had been interested in the execution, or occupied in the construction, of the Garden, and closed by His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort and the Eoyal Family, the Duchess of Cambridge, with the Duke and Princess Mary, His Eoyal Highness the Comte de Flandres, and His Eoyal Highness Prince Louis of Hesse, and their respective suites. On the appearance of His Eoyal Highness in front of the M|HW^Mg)iyillllNWI>l|^WH||||||BIII THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL Tnil !nlll I'Fil hlcii Couuoil-room, at tlie top of the steps leading to the Garden, the Band of the Volunteer Engineers played one verse of " God save the Queen," the Eoyal party pausing on the landing during the time. The same Band then played the " Cobourg March " as the Eoycil party jDassed on until it reached the Second Terrace, when the Band on the West Terrace took up the March, and the procession moved up the centre avenue to the Conservatory. Here the procession halted in a space kept clear l)y police ; the Eoyal party ascended the steps, and Dr. Lindley, the Secretary of the Society, read an address, briefly glancing over the past history of the Society, and its improved condition under His Royal Highness's auspices, and congratulating him on the success which had attended the undertakmg. To tins His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort made the following gracious reply, viz. : — "I thank you for the Address which you have just presented to me. " While you have expressed your deep regret at being deprived, on this occasion, of the presence of the Queen, I am enabled and empowered to assure you that Her Majesty, on her part, also sincerely regrets her inability to mark by her presence the interest she takes m your proceedmgs, and her desire for your success. " You have addressed me in my double capacity of President of your Society, and also of the Eoyal Commissioners of 1851. In either of these capacities, I cannot but be gratified by the scene now before me. "Having shared, to some extent, in your labours and anxieties, I am happy to be aide to congratulate you on what PiiliiiBi^^ HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. liMliillM lias been effected in so incredibly sbort a time, effected notwith- standing the difficulties to which you have aUuded, and which appeared at times almost to forbid hope of success. " That which, last year, was still a vague conception, is, to-day, a reality : and, I trust, wUl be accepted as a valuable attempt, at least, to re-unite the Science and Art of Gardening to the sister Arts of Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting. " This union existed in the best periods of Art, when the same feeling pervaded and the same principles regulated them aD. ; and if the misuse and misapj^hcation of these principles in later times have forced again upon us the simple study and imitation of nature, individual arts have suffered by theii' disjunction, and the time seems now arrived when they may once more combine, without the danger of being cramped by pedantic and arbitrary rules of taste. "The Commissioners of 1851, whose mission it is to encourage the arts and sciences, as applied to productive industry, gladly welcome your Society as one of the first of those bodies, devoted to the promotion of special branches of these arts and sciences, that has avaOed itself of the enlarged means of development offered by the Commissioners on their estate. They are glad to find in your present success, and in the generous support of the public, the confirmation of then- behef that in securiag space on winch, in unison with each other, and with a systematic interchange of mutual assistance, separate societies and departments might attain to a degree of usefulness which their present confinement and isolation must materially lessen, the Commissioners had correctly appreciated the great want of the day, and the requirements of the public, for whose benefit alone they sliould work, and by whose assistance alone they can hope to prosj)er. " We already see, to the south, rising as it were by magic, the comraencement of a noble work entirely the result of the voluntary efforts of that public ; and this Garden, itself the o£fsj)ring of the Great Exhibition of 1851, will hardly be completed ere that Exhibition shall have been rivalled, and, I trust, even surpassed, by the beauty and success of that which we hope next year to witness. " This Garden will then ojoen an additional source of enjoyment to the thousands who may be expected to crowd the new Crystal Palace of Industry. Nay, we may hope that it will, at no distant day, form the inner court of a vast quadrangle of public buUdings, rendered easily accessible by the broad roads which will surround them ; — buildings where Science and Art may find space for development, with that air and light which are elsewhere well-nigh banished from this overgrown metropolis. " If the works before us are stiU incomplete, this must not be attributed entirely to the short space of time allowed for their execution, or to the exhaustion of the funds set apart for them. It results also, in great measure, from a well-considered purpose, on the part of the Society and the Commissioners, rather to present the public with a framework, to be gradually filled up, as individual taste, controlled and harmonised by the general superintendence of the authorities, might direct, than at once to display a complete creation, which, however attractive for the moment, woidd ];)all upon us and grow stale by habit. i I iital HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. " Unrivalled opportunities are here offered for the display of works of Art, and for the erection of monuments as tribiites to great men and pubhc benefactors. The Memorial of the Exhibition of 1851, the result of private subscriptions, will ha the first received in these grounds, and, adorned with a statue of the Queen, will soon rise in the centre of the Garden. " May your efforts meet with public approbation. May that approbation give you all the support required, not only further to ornament these Gardens, but also to carry out, even on a larger scale than during the last forty-eight years, the useful objects for which you are incorporated." Immediately aftenvards, the Bishop of London, who was attended by the Archdeacon of Middlesex and his Chaplain, offered up suitable prayers for a blessing on the undertaking. The Prince Consort then stepped forward, and in a loud voice declared the Garden to be Opened, amidst the cheers of the surrounding spectators. The procession next proceeded to a point near the north- east corner of the Arcades, where a tree was to be planted by the Prince Consort, in commemoration of the occasion. A fine WelRngtonia gigantea, the gift of Messrs. Veitch, had been selected for the purpose. Dr. Lindley, in the " Gardeners' Chronicle" of the week, thus describes the scene: "Surrounded by the Council and other members of the procession, His Royal Highness, having received a spade from a bystander, threw some shovelfulls of earth over the roots for himself and the Princesses, his daughters. The Princes acted for themselves, not the least skilful among them being Prince Arthur, who handled the spade with a vigour that showed him to have used well the yii,;:;; llfiiii: m 1 tihumfiTTE i i i iii THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL i l iiii l 51' 1- m IE experience gained in his owa little garden at Osborne. Not less activity was displayed by tlieir Eoyal Higbnesses the Princess Mary and the Duke of Cambridge, the latter of whom performed his work in a manner worthy of a stout Engineer. Those who had the good fortune to witness this charming little scene "will not soon forget it." The tree planted, the Eoyal party made the tour of the Exliibition tables, and, before quitting the Garden, tlie members of it inscribed their names on illuminated pages prepared for the purpose, — the Prince of Wales on one page ; the Princesses Alice, Helena, and Louisa, aird Prince Arthur, on another ; the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Mary, and the Duke, on a third. A fourth page, for the Prince of Hesse and Count of Flanders, was signed by their Eoyal Highnesses afterwards. Three weeks after the opening. Her Most Gracious Majesty, miudfid. of the expectations she had held out, that she would plant a tree in the Garden, came at an early hour (9 o'clock) on Monday morning, the 24th of June, 1861, and planted another fine Wellinfftonia gigantea, opposite to that planted by the Prince Consort. The trees of Her Majesty and the Prince Consort are carefully protected, and indicated by suitable inscrij^tions. Subsequently to this, a Eose Show was held, in July, which was honoured by the attendance of many Eoyal and noble personages, including various members of our own Eoyal FamUy, and the whole of the Ex-Eoyal Family of France, who inscribed their names on an illuminated page. In September, a Daliha Show was held ; and in November, a splendid Fruit and Chrysanthemum Show. The j)ecuniary result of the whole shows of the season was a profit of 1347/., after paying expenses. His Eoyal Highness was at Balmoral when the September Show was held, but periodical reports of all that was going on were regularly furnished to him. The scheme for the year 1862 was then in preparation, and he studied it in aU its parts. Immediately after his return from Scotland, his first visits were to the Garden. . He was there on the morning of the November Show, and j^assed some hours in the adjustment of various points relating to the statuary and architectural embellishments of the Garden, which had been executed or were in progress since his last visit. One thing which had been executed was the pedestals of the small statues at the Maze ; these he wished to be slightly altered, and their position moved a few feet. Another matter which did not please his critical eye was the border of the red panels on the low revetement walls beside the canals. The design had heen .submitted to him, but when he saw the work done it did not please him. On the occasion in question, he gave instructions to the Assistant-Secretary to have it altered, and replaced by another in " Greek Keys," at his own expense. Several designs were sent to him, and that which was chosen, and is now placed as a border to the panels, is the same as surrounds this page. It was the last order he gave to the officers of the Society : he selected it on Satiu-day, the 29th of November, and was taken ill on the 30tli; and the design has been used as a mourning border for this chapter, in melancholy remem- brance of his latest command. On the 14th of December, His Royal Highness breathed his last. A nation's grief accompanied Mm to his tomlj, and, the instinct of a people's justice, has HI 1 liiiiiii iSiililH I ! i i •r{J Si if* M SI I& M ,4! IMJOOK OF THE EOYAL | ilipBllI already placed him among tlic sovereigns of this country under the title of "ALBERT THE GOOD." The loss to the Society and to the Garden is beyond expression. It is not alone the deprivation of his great power and influence which they sustain — Her Majesty's goodness may replace these ; but what cannot be replaced are his personal qualities — his great abilities — his sound judgment — his Avise guidance — and, though last, not least, the personal interest and delight which he took in the work which was growing under his hands. It is needless to say that every wish or opinion indicated by His Eoyal Highness during his lifetime is treasured as sacred, and accepted as a law beyond criticism or appeal. The more extended and distant schemes, depending upon the future p)rosperity of the Society and of the Commissioners of 1851, must bide the result of time ; but most of the smaller works which he contemplated have already been executed ; and, as means arise, all will be so. OLicn Liivitti iiiciirLh oi le^diLi loi 1 1 lb n ml 1 loiy ULib leeoiy cxp)ress the deep devotion which is felt by all who had been admitted to personal intercourse with him. There is every reason to believe that the sentiment contained in a letter addressed to the CouncU by a lady immediately after His Royal Highness's death is not exaggerated : " Many would freely and willingly have laid down their own hves, had it been possible by doing so to shield our Queen from this overwhelming sorrow, and our country from this grievous and irreparable loss." 84 -sal # m m Hillaiilife! .iffllBi.illBi.iff^ Such encouragement and support as this disastrous calamity permitted were not wanting to tlie Society. One of tlie first, if not the very first act of a public nature directed hy the Queen after Her Eoyal Consort's death, was to assure it of her support. This she did in a letter dated 24th December, 18G], addi-essed by Sir Charles Phipps to Mr. Dilke, now Sir C. Wentworth Dilke, Bart., one of the Vice-Presidents, in the following terms : — " The Queen has directed me to infomi you that it is Her Majesty's wish that the Horticultural Gardens should be considered as under her peculiar and personal patronage and protection. " The only consolation that Her Majesty can hope to find for the rest of her life, under her bitter and hopeless bereavement, is to endeavour to carry out the wishes and intentions of her beloved Husband. " The Queen well knows the deep interest that he took in this under- taking, and would wish to have periodical reports sent to Her Majesty of the progress and proceedings of the Society." Immediately following upon this (only four days after) the communication already referred to in speaking of the Memorial was received from H.E.H. the Prince of Wales himself It was an autograph letter, addressed to the Council, and was in the foUomng terms : — irrriTfflliTfflilwniflllinliinllliiiiiBM 1 IS .1. iiiii THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL iliir' m H 3 Osborne, December 28, 1861. Gentlemen, — Prostrated with overwhelming grief, and able, at present, to turn her thoughts but to one object, the Queen, my Mother, has con- stantly in her mind the anxious desire of doing honour to the memory of Him, whose good and glorious character tlie whole Nation in its sorrow so justly appreciates. Actuated by this constantly recurring wish, the Queen has commanded me to recall to your recollection that Her Majesty had been pleased to assent to a proposal to place a Statue of herself upon the Memorial of the Great Exhibition of 1851, which it was intended to erect in the New Horticultural Gardens. The characteristic modesty and self-denial of my deeply lamented Father had induced him to interpose to prevent his own Statue from filling that position which properly belonged to it, upon a Memorial to that gi'eat under- taking which sprung from the thought of his enlightened mind, and was carried through to a termination of tinexampled success by his unceasing superintendence. It would however now, Her Majesty directs me to say, be most hurtful to her feelings w'ere any other Statue to surmount this Memorial, but that of the great, good Prince, my dearly beloved Father, to whose honour it is in reality raised. The Queen, therefore, would anxiously desire that, instead of her Statue, that of her beloved Husband should stand upon this Memorial. Anxious, however humbly, to testify my respectful and heartfelt affection for the best of fathers, and the gi'atitude and devotion of my sorrowing heart, I have sought, and have with thankfulness obtained, the permission of the Queen my Mother to offer the feeble tribute of the admiration and love of a bereaved sou, by presenting the Statue thus proposed to be placed in the Gardens under your Management. I remain, Gentlemen, Yours, To THE Council of the Hokticultuhal Society. ALBERT EDWARD. I IBlliBBiiililliliiilBliif ill til pip! ''f HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. }[ liiSljS To this the Council immediately replied, tliat under the lamentable and afflicting circumstances in which the Council were placed, by the irreparable loss which they, in common mth the nation, had sustained by the decease of their late President, the gracious offer of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales should be accepted ; but at the same time that he should be assured that they contemplated the loss of Her Majesty's Statue with very deep regret. A similar letter was addressed by His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales to the members of the Memorial Committee, who also at once expressed their acquiescence in His Eoyal Highness's proposal. The steps taken to carry His Eoyal High- ness's wishes into effect have been already related. Nor was even this all. A further and most touching demonstration of the Queen's purposes in behalf of the Society occurred when the Annual Meeting for the election of Council and Office-bearers took place in February. At that Meeting it falls upon the Fellows to elect their President and Office- bearers. Had Providence not removed their late President, it would have been the privilege of that Meeting again to elect him. In consec|uence of his decease, however, it became the duty of the CouncU to consider whom they should recommend to the Society for election in his place ; and they deemed it becoming to endeavour to ascertain Her Majesty's wishes on the subject. With feelings of the deepest gratitude they learned that, had it been compatible with her high position. Her Majesty would herself have condescended to fiU the office. This not being possible, Her Majesty was pleased to recommend the Duke of Buccleuch to the Council, as the person whom, sr Jill •=11 =1 m , E BiiiSii liilliiaiiii! llB ilJBB THE SOCIETY IN CONNECTION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1862. HISTOKY of the Royal Horticul- liS^ tural Society in the year 1862 is indissolubly united with that of the Great International Exhibition. The position of the Garden, a charming and attractive spot surrounded on three sides by the Exhibition buildings, naturally suggested the idea that some arrangement ought to be made for securing its privileges to the Visitors to the Exhi- lition, and at the same time directing into the coffers of THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL NJ the Society a portion of tlie stream of wealth which was expected to flow tlirough the Exhibition. The Covxncil, in deaUng witli this matter, had always to keep in mind that, however vigorous and prosperous the Society might appear to be, it was still but a convalescent : its health was restored, but its stamina were not confirmed. The new Garden and Establishments could only be maintained at a very large cost, to which the subscrijjtions of the Fellows as yet were inadequate. It therefore became, not a matter of choice, but of necessity, to supplement the subscriptions of the Fellows by contributions levied from without. For these reasons the Council resolved to treat this as an exceptional year, and to give the public access to the Garden at a cheap rate during the period of the Exhibition, reserving one day in the week (Sunday) absolutely for the Fellows' own use, and making the charge for admission on Fridays and Saturdays so high as practically to come to the same thing. It was also thought that, as many of the visitors to the Exhibition would wish, if they could, to avail themselves of a quiet entrance to it through the Garden, particidarly on occasions when crowds were expected, some arrangement should be come to with the Commissioners of the Exhibition for giving mutual access to it and the Garden. A general arrangement was in consequence made with them by which the two bodies agreed that there should be mutual entrances between the Garden and the Exhi- bition (there were three at first, and latterly four) ; that persons visiting both the Garden and the Exhibition should be charged for the Garden only half the price which was charged for their admission if they did not visit the Exhibition ; and HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. mi tliat season tickets, admitting both to the Exhibition and the Garden during the continuance of the Exliibition, sliould be issued. The price of the Exhibition season ticket was three guineas, and it was resolved to make the price of that admitting both to tire Exhibition and the Garden five guineas, being an additional charge of two guineas for the Garden, of which sum the Horticultural Society was to receive 30*., the Com- missioners retaining 12s. in consideration of other facihties given, and of taking the whole cost and trouble of issuing the tickets, as well as that of the entrances between the Garden and the Exhibition. The price of the single ticket after the month of May (during which they were higher) was fixed at 5s. on Saturdays, 2.?. 6c?. on Fridays, and Is. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, or Gd. if the visitor entered from the Exhibition. The practical efl'ect of these charges for admission was that on the first four days of the week the visitors to the Exliibition could obtain admission to the Garden for sixpence ; and the statistics of the year showed that, keeping the season tickets out of view, the average amount drawn from the sixpenny days was four times that drawn from the 2s. 6d., and five times that drawn from the 5s. days. For this year also an additional access was obtained to the Garden. The access hitherto had been only by the entrance in Exhibition Eoad at the Council Eoom and Offices. The Society now obtained from the Commissioners of 1851 an access for the season from Kensington Gore through the vacant space behind the Conservatory ; a curved carriage-way was accordingly there formed, with a covered footway and entrance leading by 1^ THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL an inclined jAanc directly into the Garden on the east side of the Conservatory. At this ejjocli too, a change, consequent upon the great increase of Fellows and the crowds which it was anticijjated might at times throng the entrance, was made in the manner of admission to the Garden. Hitherto the Fellows had entered the Garden without voucher or ticket of any kind : as masters they entered their own house, merely inscribing their names in a book at the entrance. To save them the troulile of doing so, they were now furnished with a personal ticket, the production of which dispensed with the necessity of signing. This was found to be a convenience and ease to the Fellows themselves, as well as greatly to facilitate the rap)id admission of the public. Another change was, substituting a yearly card for the ivory tickets which formerly used to be given to the four-guinea subscribers as a transferable voucher entitling its bearer to admission whether a Fellow or not. To have called in and renewed the ivories year by year would have cost a sum which might be much better othei'wise employed ; consequently this was never done, and there was thus very little check upon them. The ivories of Fellows long since deceased, or who had not paid their subscriptions for years, or which had been lost or stolen, were occasionally found to have fallen into the hands of the dangerous classes, and although now and then such a ticket was impounded, yet for one whose improper use was detected, many must have passed unnoticed. On crowded days the attendants had not time to examine each ivory and see if its number had been stopped, and it was precisely on those occa- sions that there was most chance of their being used, and most HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. N danger from tlie presence of their pseudo-owners. A yearly- card issued in the beginning of tlie year to all the Life Fellows, and to the Subscribers as they pay their subscriptions, has remedied this evil. Feeling that this was a time when the Society should appear to the best advantage, the Council took means to secure Exhi- bitions of unusual excellence, by offering prizes of such a number and value as would be sure to produce competition. A total sum of 2156/. (afterwards somewhat increased) was devoted to this purpose, and individual prizes as high as 10/., 15/., and 20/., were offered. The number of the Shows also was made greater than usual ; there were five minor Shows : one for Camelhas and Hyacinths, one for Azaleas, a Eose Show, a Show of Autumn Flowers, and a Chrysanthemum Show (added afterwards) ; and besides these there were three Great Shows and an International Fruit Show, — the latter a new feature in the Society's arrangements, which not only proved singularly suc- cessful as a Show, but promises to lead to ulterior results of commercial importance and national benefit. Arrangements were also made by which, during the whole period of the Exhibition, one or two military bands should perform in the Garden every afternoon. But the Great Exhibition affected the Garden and the Society in other more direct and material ways than its financial prospects. For more than six months in the previous year had the dia of workmen erecting that stupendous stracture resounded on three sides of the Garden. Gradually the rising walls overshadowed a part of it and seemed to dwarf the rest. By the original agreement with the Commissioners of the THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL NJfe Exhibition of 1851, the right of placing stalls for the sale of flowers, and similar objects, in the Southern or Lateran Arcades had been reserved to the Commissioners, the interest of the Society in tliem being limited to a right of promenade along them and on their roof ; the intention being that a continuous walk should extend all round the Gardens on the top of the arcades. The experience of the walk on the top of the Upper or Albani Arcades has shown, however, that such a promenade was not greatly prized, few people going up except to show the view to their friends and then descend again. Wlien the Exhibition Building was being planned, a recom- mendation was made by their architects to the Commissioners of 1851 to erect an upper story on the top of the Southern Arcades (to be used as refreshment-rooms during the Exhibition). This of course could not be done without the consent of the Council, but on application being made it was granted, and the Commissioners of 1851 succeeded in making an arrangement with the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1862 by which this story was to remain their own property after the close of the Exhibition. To this arrangement is due the fajade which now furnishes a happy termination to the lower part of the Garden. To the International Exhibition also the Society next owed the offer for exhibition in the Garden of a variety of works of art which had either been refused by the Commissioners of 1862 or were too large to be contained in the building. As may be sup- posed, the Council were not ambitious of converting the Garden into a refuge for the destitute ; and therefore, although they did not pin their faith on the judgment of the Commissioners HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. and their advisers, and all offers were fairly and impartially considered by tlieir own Fine Arts Committee, still its having been rejected by the Commissioners did not by any means increase the chance of any work being accepted for the Garden. In point of fact there was no instance where an object rejected by the Commissioners on the score of quality found its way into the Garden. It was not so with those which were rejected for want of space : of these some were rejected, but more accepted ; the most prominent of which were two French fountains ; both of the same material — iron, painted bronze ; new in design and construction, having been prepared expressly for competi- tion at the International Exhibition, and, although not quite of the same dimensions, sufficiently near in size and character to allow of their being jjlaced in juxtaposition to each other, one on each side of the central walk between the two lower terraces, without destroying the symmetry of the Garden. The circumstance of two large fountains having been offered for exhibition in the Garden tempted the Council into accepting both, and so almost necessitated their being thus treated as a pair. Had only one been offered or only one accepted, it would have been placed in the central plot of the ground called the Ante-Garden, — a spot which had been laid down for a large fountain in the original plan. Where they were actually placed, two small basins had been projected ; but the place for the fountain was in the centre of the Ante-Garden. When these were first offered to the Council for exhibition in the Garden, the offer was accompanied with a condition that the Society should be at the expense of erecting and working them. On inquiry, it was found, in the first place, that a sum of THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL nearly 1500Z. would be required for tlie erection ; and in the next place, that the existing machinery for working the cascade was inadequate for working the fountains, so that considerable addi- tional expense would be required for that purpose. The Council therefore replied that they would be happy to give space to the fountains, provided the Society were put to no expense for erecting or working them. These terms were accepted, and the Fellows enjoyed the privilege and use of these beautiful fountains without having been put to any expense beyond that of furnishing the supply of water with which to work them ; that water was pumped over and over again, and, with an occasional replenishment, lasted the whole season through. The Society also agreed to give space to Baron Marochetti for the exhibition of the original model of the monument and statue of Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, erected in Turin. Nmnerous other works of art, such as bronzes, bronze- painted iron casts, and vases — some copied from the antique, others new works by living artists — were sent for exhibition in the Garden ; and by the time that the Great Exhibition opened, the Gardens were tolerably well supj)lied with ai^tistic decorations. On the 1st of May the Exhibition opened, and crowds besieged its doors ; the Fellows and five-guinea ticket-holders, however, not only on that day but throughout the season, had an easy and pleasant access to the building through the Garden without pressure or annoyance. The charge for admission to the Exhibition had been made higher for the month of May than during the following months, and the Council of the Society had followed the example of the ♦ HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. Commissioners, and made the charge for admission to the Garden also higher ; but the month of May was cokT. and wet, offering few inducements to promenade in the Garden in the open air, and tlie attractions inside the building were too many to leave the visitors time or inclination to go elsewhere. The month of May, as regarded receipts from the public taken at the doors, was consequently a failure : the ordinary daily receipts scarcely paid the exjsense of the Bands ; stiU the Society had announced to the public that there would be music every day during the continuance of the Exhibition, and with scrupulous fideUty their promise was redeemed. When the weather was bad the Band took refuge in the Conservatory, when it was good they played in the Bandhouses, or occasionally in other parts of the Garden. Nothing had cost the Council more thought and trouble than the place and mode of holding the Great Shows. The Spring Shows were held in the Council Eoom and adjoining arcades, but larger space was of course required for the Great Shows. In the previous year these had been held m the Conservatory, but this was only a temporary expedient ; the Conservatory had become so well furnished with fine plants, chiefly gifts from the Fellows themselves, that it was now a show in itself. Independently of the trouble, waste of time, and risk to the plants, there was something of absurdity in clearing away one excellent show merely to make room for another. The place originally designed for the Shows was the lower part of the Ante-Garden, and it had been laid down in grass and left nearly without trees or decorations, on purpose to be free for this use. After much consideration, it was resolved that the Shows should be held, under tents, in that space. This was THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL NJ accordingly now prepared — on tlie west side for the American Show (which was to open on the 1st of June), and on the east side for the regular Shows of the Society. The ground was lowered in the centre of these spots, and prepared for their respective purposes : beds of peat-earth were put into the one for growing Kalmias and Eliododendrons, and grassy banks were made to serve as stages for plants in the other. Two enormous tents, of such lofty and airy proportions as would rival that of the fairy Pari-Banou, were provided, and by much exertion were erected in time for the Shows. On the 21st of May the first Great Show was held, and, notwithstanding that the weather was indifferent, its success was complete. There are Fellows of the Society stiU living who remember the first small attempts at holding Flower Shows, — who have watched their rise and progress until they have reached their present magnificence, and have been present at all the greatest, either in Britam or on the Continent. Such of these as were present at the Show on the 21st of May, 1862, emphatically expressed their opinion that as a show it was the finest they had ever seen. The tent was constructed without subdivisions, so that it allowed its whole extent to be seen in one view without interruption, and diffused such a subdued light as showed the flowers to the best advantage, it seeming to be accepted as an axiom by Horticulturists, that flowers never show to such advantage as under canvas. Those who saw this Show, therefore, may congratulate themselves on having seen the finest example of a Flower Show which has ever been held, or probably ever will be held. As often happens, so in this instance did vaulting ambition o'erleap itself ; the J Mr * HORTIOTILTUEAL SOCIETY. tents were too large, the expanse of canvas too wide for ordinary precautions to sustain ; tliere was more canvas in one of tliese tents tlian in all the sails of a line-of-battle ship. The Garden too, altliough it looks cosy and sheltered, is at times the very temple of iEolus, the wind rushing down from the Exhibition Building into the corners where the tents stood, with the fury of a tornado. Such was the case in the month of June. April and May had passed without the usual heavy gales which foUow the equinox ; these came in the middle of Jime, and after two or three days' tempestuous weather the tents began to give way. That over the Great Show ground, having at that time nothing below it, was easily and early lowered, and suffered little damage. The tent over the American Show was in a very different position. The cultivation of Ehododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, &c., has for a very long time been one of the sjaecialties of Messrs. Waterer and Godfrey, nurserymen at Woking. Their nursery dates back for about a century, and contains the original plants of some of these shrubs first brought to this country. They have many acres covered with plants of these kinds so large that they may more properly be called trees than shrubs. These nursery- men undertook to fill the space of ground set apart for them in the Society's Garden with a continuous and successive display of American plants during the period when they are in flower, and in fulfilment of this undertaking they had planted a large number of fine specimens of rare and valuable hardy Ehododendrons, Azaleas, and Kalmias. These came into flower about the 1st of June, and formed what was called the American Show. WhUst it was at its very best the gale came, the immense expanse of canvas THE BOOK OF THE EOTAL began to swell and heave, ominous fla^jpings and thunderings gave the alarm, and at last, first in one jjlace and then in another, the sheets of canvas tore from ridge to eave. It was no slight emergency. It would be difficult to state the value of the plants which were now at hazard, many of them plants of a size which could not be replaced, and others species or varieties which were unique and not to be purchased ; and a few minutes' flapping of the heavy canvas would soon beat them into shreds. The President, His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, happened at the time to be in the neighbouring Exhibition Building, a hasty summons brought him and Sir Wentworth Dilke to the spot, and they both, like good men and true, lent their manual assistance in holding down and furKng the rebellious canvas. Ere long the assistance of Captain Maynard and his practised crew of sailors was got from the neighbouring building, and m an incredibly short space of time the huge thundering sheets of canvas were, as if by magic, stilled, rolled tightly wp, and the whole roof struck. Here was seen the danger and hazard of tents for shows. — Next day Avas seen their use, and the necessity of covering for an American show. It had been said, why protect hardy plants 1 A few minutes' want of protection answered this question. As the fierce blast tore and eddied boisterously through the banks of Rhododendrons, the glowino- bloom which covered every plant hke a sheet was stripped ruth- lessly from the branches, — flowers, buds, leaves, and twigs were tossed into the air and swept furiously away, or were beaten down to the wet ground by the heavy gusts of dashing rain. Fortunately much less actual mischief was done to the plants themselves than could have been expected, but the Show was 100 HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. brought to a premature termination, and it became apparent that it would not do to trust to tents for holding the remainder of the Shows. Had such an accident happened to the Great Show tent when crowded with valuable plants, the consequences might have been ruinous ; it was therefore resolved not to risk holding them in these tents, which had thus from their size or con- struction proved unfitted or unable to sustain the strain that might be brought upon them. Their collapse also brought to a termination much good wrath and indignation which was being poured out upon them by some of the newspapers of the day. The great unsightly canvas structures, rising 36 feet high, acted like a screen to shut out all view of the Garden from the upper windows of the refreshment rooms in the southern arcades, and the visitors naively complained that they were thus prevented obtaining a gratuitous view of the Garden from these windows. The gales of June brought this topic of the hour to an end. The Second and Third Great Shows were held in the Conservatory and arcades. As already mentioned, the Council had taken effectual means to secure Exhibitions which should do the Society credit in the eyes of the numerous visitors from abroad, and on every occasion throughout the year the number of exhibitors, and the beauty of the plants exhibited, bore ample testimony to the success of the measures of the Council. An interesting feature in them was that introduced by Sir Wentworth Dilke in the previous year, and now repeated by him, viz., the offer of prizes for the decoration of the dinner-table with fruit and flowers. Similar prizes were now offered by other Fellows for the decoration of THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL the drawing-room ; and the competition for these prizes excited a great deal of interest. At the second Great Show, when Sir Wentworth DiLke's prizes for dinner-table decoration were com- peted for, there were forty-six Exhibitors, each showing three vases or other vessels filled mth flowers and fruit (many of the vessels being of magnificent plate, in themselves worthy of a prize), and the public took so much interest in the competition that it was difficult to get near the tables to see the articles exhibited. The Great Shows in June and July gave large returns, but the promenades in the month of June (although at the cheapest price) were still rmproductive, and it was not rmtil after the 11th of July that a favourable change took place. That day, however, presented a combination of circrmistances, of which the Council successfully availed themselves to improve the position of matters. The Commissioners of 1862 had applied to them for per- mission to hold their great ceremonial, on the occasion of announcing the awards of their Juries, in the Society's Garden on the 11th of July. Tliis the Comicil readily granted. It does not fall within the scope of this work to give an account of the proceedings on that day. That properly belongs to the history of the Exhibition. The Society's share in it was limited to the loan of the Garden for the day to the Commissioners, under reservation of the rights of their own Fellows. This stipulation secured to them the right to be present at the whole of the ceremonial, whether in the Exhibition or in the Garden ; the two places were merged into one for the day. A magnificent dais and throne of colossal altitude, covered with crimson velvet A HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 11^ 3!9 and bearing golden stars and decorations, were erected on tlie base on which, the Memorial of 1851 now stands, then an empty spot over the cascade. To this, steps led up on either side ; and here the chief feature and most important part of the ceremonial took place. The great dignitaries of our own and foreign countries met in the Consei-vatory. Here a crowd of those who have earned a j^lace in the history of their country gathered together. Here rival statesmen and politi- cians assembled with but one object, — Lord Palmerston and Mr. DisraeU met without difference of opinion, — the leaders in Science and Art recognised by their presence the importance of the occasion, and the special International Eepresentatives its ■universal and wide -spread interest. His Highness the Pasha of Egypt, as representative of Turkey, held a little court, or impromptu levee, every one apparently being anxious to pay their homage to a mind so far in advance of his country. Advantage was taken of the opportunity to secure the signature of this enhghtened ruler on one of the illumitiated pages on which the autographs of distinguished Visitors or Fellows are preserved. The occasion being sudden, no page had been pre- pared, but he promised to sign it if it could be got ready before he left England. The page was got ready in time, but no more than time : he signed it standing on the deck of his yacht, holding the page with one hand and the pen with the other, while preparations were making to set sail. The painting and decoration of the page jsleased him. It was a well-executed painting, representing the pyi-amids and desert of Egypt — and he asked that a cojjy should be made for him. This was done ; but before it reached him he was no more. Tlie presence of the ^9 ^^^^ yi ™^ ^^^^ '■'^^ EOTAL 1^ ^^^S ^^^l Prince of Carignan, representing Italy ; the Cotmt of Apponyi, H| representing Austria ; M. Thouvenel, France ; and numerous other Foreign Eepresentatives, added to the interest and «^ splendour of the scene. From the Conservatory the procession passed down to the dais, where H.E.H. the Duke of Cambridge took his place on the tlu'one, as Her Majesty's Eepresentative, to receive and distribute the awards to Committees representing the By Exhibitors of the United Kingdom, and to the Commissioners of 1 the Colonies and Dependencies. Around him stood the sjaecial 1 Eepresentatives of Foreign Countries, who were to receive and I distribute the awards to the Foreign Commissioners. At this W) 1 station the ceremonies commenced, and to it, after making the Sot tour of the Garden and the Exhibition BuUding, the procession M t retu.rned. All that passed was distinctly visible from the greater ^ 1 part of the Garden ; the day was magnificent, and the Garden W 1 was, for the first time since its opening, fairly filled, no less a M 1 number than 44,000 having been counted. S§ 1 No jsecuniary benefit accrued to the Society from this day's 1 SjW proceedings, but it placed them in the position of having con- ' ferred a favour for which some return might fairly be asked. ^N'^ ilie Commissioners, in kliuLl)' recompense oi LhaL accommodaLion, 1 ^ 1 gave them thereafter gratuitously every facihty for advertising I B'j, their bands and shows by placards in the Exhibition Building, 1 and what was of still more importance, accorded (on payment Iji^ 1 of a moderate fine) the privilege to visitors of re-entering the Exhibition from the Garden without repayment. 1 h|| The usual cessation of visitors which takes place after the 1 'IPI'i close of July, when the London world of fashion goes out £r of town, did not take place this year, large numbers having 1 •■ S m yjj HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. i continued to flock into the Garden on the cheap days in August, September, and October. In the latter month took place the most important Show for the practical advancement of that science to which the Horticultural Society is devoted : — the Great International Fruit Show. It has often been observed that when the time is ripe for the development of an idea, it occurs simultaneously to many minds. This seems to have been the case with International congresses or exhibitions of fruit in 1862. At the same time that the Horticultural Society were planning their Great Exhibition of Fruit on the 8th of October, the federated societies of Belgium were convening a similar congress to be held at Namur in September, and an exhibition at Vienna on the 4th of October was in hke manner organised by the Austrians. The Horticultural Society exerted itself to assist the Pomological Congress at Namur, and that body in return equally contri- buted to the success of the International Fruit Show at London. This was the first International Horticultural Show held in this country, and consequently many points which should have been attended to may have been overlooked, and it may reasonably be expected that the next meeting of the same kind will greatly excel this Show both in beauty and in importance. But that lies in. the future : so far as the past is concerned only one opinion prevails; the great pageant of the year was the ceremony of the 11th of Jiily, but the great Im-ticuUural event of the year was the October International Fruit Show. This reflected more credit on the Society than all the rest of their undertakings during the year ; it had a more liberal and comprehensive object. That this was thought to be the case by those best qualified to judge, may be inferred from the interest taken in it and support THE BOOK OP THE ROYAL NJ given to it by Earl Eussell and tlie Foreign Office. Appreciating as a statesman its national importance and the advantages wliicli might be expected to flow from it, Earl Eussell lent the influence of the Foreign Office in support of the invitations to contribute, which were dispersed all over the world. The letters addressed to the various British Consuls were sent under cover of the seal of the Foreign Office, and backed by a special recommendation from Earl Eussell. The effijct of these recommendations was, that from almost every district where contributions were possible they were made. Our limits will not permit of our giving a detailed account of the show, but we may mention that scarcely a country in Europe was unrepresented : Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Hamburg, Hanover, Prussia, Eussia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain, aU sent collections, some of very large extent ; Syria, Egypt, Tunis, Algiers, India, Australia, Guiana, Jamaica, Venezuela, the United States, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunsmck, Newfoundland, British Columbia, Vancouver Island, aU contributed. An immense collection of fruits, roots, vegetables, and cereals, was thus brought together. Gourds were made a special feature, rather from the curiosity and interest attached to them as bizarre and queer-looking objects, than for any practical advantage derivable from them ; but the chief merit of the exhibition consisted in the oppoi'tunity afforded for the comparison of a multitude of specimens of vegetable products brought from every quarter of the globe ; and the means thus obtained for ascertaining the names given to the same kind in different countries. The benefits derived from this concourse are as yet only beginning to be realised ; but it has led to a correspondence HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. it 11 between distant countries on the subject of their horticultural products, and has initiated the mutual introduction of varieties previously unknown to them. By the 1st of November the Exhibition was at an end ; its busy crowds no longer blocked up the ways, the foot passengers could again venture to cross the neighbouring streets without the risk of being annihilated by ponderous omnibuses packed high with their living freight, and the Garden subsided into its normal condition of elegant and aristocratic quiet. The Council of the Horticultural Society could now take breath to count their gains and reckon up the cost. The total receipts during the year had been upwards of 30,000/., but large though they were, they did not leave so great a balance as might have been anticipated ; the expenses themselves had been correspondingly heavy, — the taxes, interest on debentures, and rent to the Commissioners, ate up a very large sum. The balance which remained, however, enabled the Council to make very considerable improvements in the Garden, to finish various minor matters which had been standing over, and to execute some costly planting which had been greatly needed. A good deal of money was also expended in the purchase of objects of art, and upon this head the Council received an unexpected aid. When the fountains were in daily operation, many FeUows of the Society pressed upon the Council to make an effort to purchase them ; but, on inquiry, they found that this was beyond the means of the Society. 60001. was at fijst asked for the large fountain, and 4000/. for the smaller one ; and it appeared further that a yearly expenditure of a considerable amount would be needed to work them. Although, therefore. THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL their purcliase with the Society's funds was out of the question, it was thought that it might be effected by subscrijition. To this proposal the Council readily lent their aid, first by receiving general subscriptions, and afterwards more particularly by in- viting from the Fellows subscriptions limited to one guinea each. The amount of 800^. was thus obtained ; but such a sum was inadequate, even for the purchase of one of the fountains, not- withstanding that their price had been subsequently reduced by one half. Under these circumstances, the Council suggested to the Subscribers that they might allow their subscriptions to be applied to the purchase of bronzes and other works of art ; a suggestion which was adopted by a considerable number of them, and which placed a sum at the disposal of the Council sufficient to enable them to purchase about a dozen of the best bronzes which had been exhibited. THE DESCEIPTION OF THE GAEDEN, CONSEEVATOEY, STATUES, &c. THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL i m 3 mil connected with the Great Exhibition of 1851, whose crystal home stood not many hundred yards off — not to speak of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, the Serpentine, Eotten Row, and the South Kensington Museum, all lending an interest to the locality ; the Garden itseK is classic ground. At the south-west corner, near where the present entrance and council-room are erected, formerly stood Hale House, commonly called " Cromwell House," where OUver CromweU is supposed to have resided. The house and premises were sur- rounded by a wall and clievaiix-de-frise, and battlements, re- sembhng a fortified place, and contained many old-fashioned arrangements, not without their anecdotes, whether vero or hen trovato. Amongst others, a recess, formed by a curve of the chimney, was pointed out as a place of concealment which had been used by the Protector himself. The land to the south of the lower Arcades, upon which the Exhibition Budding of 1862 is now built, and extending as far as the Brompton Almshouses, was formerly the site of CromweU Gardens, a favourite place of public resort. Mr. Hughes, who built the Surrey Theatre, used to exhibit here his feats of horsemanship in the open an-. Adjoining this spot was an ancient well-known public-house and garden, kno-mi by the name of the " Hoop and Toy." The greatest part of the ground now occupied by the Garden, however, possesses a more direct interest to the Horticultural Society, as being the site of the first nursery of any extent in the kingdom. Previous to the middle of the I7th century almost the whole of the fruit and forest trees planted in this country were obtained from Holland and Flanders ; and those nurseries 1^ ■which did exist were of small extent, and were confined chiefly to the cultivation of what were called " greens," such as Phillyreas, Alaternus, &c. These " greens " were kept in houses or sheds during the winter, whence the origin of the word greenhouse. It was in the year 1681 that the Brompton Park Nursery was entered upon as a great commercial speculation. It con- sisted of upwards of 100 acres, and occupied the whole of the ground between the Kensington Eoad on the north, and the Old Brompton Eoad on the south. On the east it was bounded by the grounds of Kingston House, and on the west by those of Cromwell House and the Gloucester Eoad, then called Hog-mire Lane. The nursery was established by four enterprising gar- deners under the firm of Lukar, Field, Cooke, and London. Lukar was gardener to the Queen Dowager at Somerset House in the Strand ; Field held a similar situation under the Earl of Bedford at Bedford House, also in the Strand ; Cooke was gardener to the Earl of Essex at Cashiobury ; and London to the Bishop of London at FuDiam. Of Lukar and Field nothing more is known than that they died about the year 1686. Cooke was the author of an excellent practical work whic-h may be consulted with profit even by gardeners of the present day ; it is entitled " The Manner of Eaising, Ordering, and Improving Forest and Fruit Trees," &c., 4to, 1679. He was the son of a Lincolnshire farmer, and being brought ujd as a gardener, he served the Earl of Essex in that capacity from 1660 to 1681, when he joined in the formation of the Brompton Park Nursery. Eveljm speaks of him in his Diary as " skilful in the mechanical parts of gardening, not ignorant of mathematics, and somewhat of an adept in astrology." m ♦ THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL London was originally a pupil of Eose, already mentioned as gardener to Charles II., and by whom he was sent to France for improvement. He was placed under De Quintinye at Versailles (whose "Instructions pour les Jardins Fmitiers et Potagers" he and Wise afterwards translated and abridged, under the title of " The Complete Gardener "), and on his return was appointed gardener to the Bishop of London at Fulham. Here he remained until he too joined in "that great undertaking of Brompton Park," as Evelyn calls it. At the Eevolution of 1688 lie was made superintendent of all the Eoyal gardens (at a salary of £200 a year) and a page of the back-stairs to Queen Maiy, " and it was particularly observed that he assisted at the Eevolution in carrying the then Princess Anne to Nottingham from the fury of the Papists." Cooke having, in 1689, disposed of his interest in the undertaking to Henry Wise, also a pupil of Eose, the Eoyal gardener, a partnership was formed by them under the name of London and Wise, which afterwards became closely identified with the gardening and garden literature of their clay. During the period the nursery was under their direction, they were engaged in aU the great horticultural vmdertakiugs of the time, and their establishment became a school in which were trained men who gave a form and substance to the practical gardening of this country. Among these were their foreman, Leonard Meager, the author of "The English Gardener," 4to, 16^0 (the first work that has any pretension to practical knowledge of the subject), and Stephen Switzer, also their foreman, and successor to Meager, and who may justly be called the father of modern o-ardening. Of the great works on which London and Wise were . — - . 1 ♦ HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. N 1 engaged, may be mentioned those for the Duchess of Beaufort at Badminton, Lord Weymouth at Longleat, Sir Eichard Child at Wanstead, and the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim, of which Switzer says, "This stujDendous work, begun and most part finished in three years' time, may be reckoned amongst the greatest of these two gentlemen's undertakings." While Wise attended to home duties, London was engaged principally in the country, and to what extent may be judged from Switzer : " It will perhaps be hardly believed, in time to come, that this one person actually saw and gave directions once or twice a year iu most of the noblemen's and gentlemen's gardens in England. And since it was common for him to ride fifty or sixty miles a clay, he made his northern circuit in five or six weeks, and sometimes less, and his western in as little time. As for the south and east, they were but three or four days' work for him ; most times twice a year visiting all the country seats, conversing with gentlemen, and forwarding the business of gar- dening in such a degree as is ahnost impossible to describe. In the meantime his colleague managed matters nearer home with a dexterity and care equal to his character, and in truth they have deserved so much of the world that 'tis but common justice to transmit their memory to ages to come." In speaking of the Brompton Park Nursery, Evelyn says : Of all that I have hitherto seen, either at home or abroad, or found by reading many books published on the subject, pretend- ing to speak of nurseries and j)lantations for store and variety ; directions for the designing (or, as they term it), the skilful making, plotting, lapng out, and disposing of a ground to the best advantage ; in a word, for whatsoever wore desiraljle for the 118 THE BOOK OP THE EOYAL I — furniture of sucli a ground with the most excellent and warrant- able fruit (I say warrantable, because it is j>articularly due to their honest industry, and so rarely to be met with elsewhere), and other accessories to gardens of all denominations, as in that vast, ample collection which I have lately seen and well con- sidered at Brompton Park, near Kensington ; the veiy sight of which alone gives an idea of something that is greater than I can well express without an enumeration of particulars ; and of the exceeding industry, method, and address of those wdio have undertaken and cultivated it for public use, I mean Mr. George London (chief gardener to their Majesties), and his associate Mr. Henry Wise. " As for the nursery part, in voucher, and to make good what I have said on that pai-ticular, one needs no more than to take a walk to Brompton Park (upon a fair morning) to behold and admire what a magazine these industrious men have provided fit for age and choice in their several classes, and all within one enclosure ; such an assemblage I believe as is nowhere else to be met with in this kingdom, nor in any other that I know of" In 1714 the nursery passed into the possession of Smith and Carpenter ; the latter of whom was author of an edition of the " Eetired Gardener," a work which was originally a translation by London and Wise of Liger's " Jardinier Solitaire." It then passed into the hands of a succession of nurserymen, the chief of whom were Gray and Wear, by some members of whose families, or partners, it was held from 1756 to 1852, when it was in the hands of John Adams, the successor of Gray, Adams, and Hogg. Various portions of the grounds had been disposed of, from time to time, as the suburlDan residences became general in the HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. TV' N neiglibourliood, but up to the last the nursery maintained its reputation for the cultivation of fruit-trees, of which alone there was an extent covering forty-five acres of ground, when the nursery was relinquished to Her Majesty's Commissioners of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Near the centre of the Gardens, running from north to south, was situated the Old Gore Lane which led from Brompton to Kensington. Alongside the Kensington highway, stretching backwards to the nurseries, stood various villas, which had been the residence of persons of greater or less celebrity. Amongst these was Grove House, the residence of the Hon. Mr. Wliitbread, celebrated for the part he took in the jJohtics of his day. Nearly in the centre of the space behind the Conservatory stood Gore House, formerly the abode of Wilberforce (famous in the annals of Evangelism and the Slave-trade), subsequently the residence of the Countess of Blessington ; next to which was the house of a scarcely less distinguished person — Count d'Orsay. Lady Blessington's grounds extended back as far as the great basin, and the large chestnut-tree behind the cascade stood in the paddock at the bottom of her garden. It was a favourite resort of the Countess, and many a noble and renowned visitor has reclined beneath its shade. The place afterwards acquired another kind of celebrity, or rather notoriety. It was in it that M. Soyer erected his eating-house for all nations during the Great Exhibition of 1851, and those who visited it in that year may remember his Baronial HaU and Symposium, with a variety of other devices contrived by that ingenious gentleman. The accompanying Map will enable the reader to understand THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL the details of the Garden which now occupies these grounds. It is situated on a gentle slope inclining to the south. Its shape is that of a jDarallelogram, with its angles rounded at the northern end, and it is between 700 and 800 feet broad, by more than 1200 feet long. This area has been formed into three principal levels, broken by subordinate terraced levels, connected by slopes, and reached by flights of steps. The whole is surrounded by Arcades, opening towards the Garden ; they are about 25 feet wide and 20 feet in height. Those at the south, middle, and north are aU different, and are commonly distinguished as the Lateran, the Milanese, and the Albani Arcades, from the buildings to which their styles may respectively be referred. Tlie Lateraii Arcades form tlie southern limit of the Garden, and the southernmost portion of each side. They may be at once recognised by the terra-cotta columns which give tlieni their cliaracteristic features. On the east and west sides of the Garden stand the Milanese or Middle Arcades. In the centre of the upper end is a large Conservatory, constructed of glass and iron, and surrounded by a verandah, extending on each side of wliicli are the Albani or Upper Arcades, forming tlie northern boundary of the Garden. The broad walk passing up the middle of the Garden ex- tends from the portico of tlie International Exhibition Building at the extreme south, and conducts the visitor to the highest levels and to the Conservatory at the north. When it approaches the second terrace, it separates to the right and left, embracing a highly decorated compartment of flowers, about 125 feet in diameter, behind whicli is a quadrangular basin of water, into which falls a cascade of large dimensions. Other paths, inter- secting the main walk, and leading to the various parts of the Garden, terminate also in a broad walk, wliich runs in front of the surrounding arcades. On each side of the central walk, on the first terrace, are two large triangular ribbon beds of flowers and coloured gravel, displaying various patterns. Two tastefuUy constructed band- houses stand on the upper terrace. The quadrangular space south of the lowest terrace, sur- rounded on the three other sides by the Lateran Arcades and the Exhibition Bunding, is called the Ante-Garden, and a broad walk runs from the Eastern or principal Entrance to the opposite V.' side, where a Western Entrance, not yet completed, is designed, crossing in its way the long broad middle walk. The Ante-Garden is thus divided into four plots of about equal size. Those on the south-east and south-west are shghtly excavated, so as to have somewhat the form of an amphi- theatre. The former of these is set apart for Ehododendrons and American plants, and the latter was constructed for the Great Shows. The plot on the north-east is planted with Limes, Tulip-trees, and Deodars ; that on the north-west contains the Maze. At the crossing of the two walks in the Ante-Garden stood, during the year 1862, the equestrian statue of Charles Albert, by Marochetti ; and a little to the north of it, on each side of the walk, the two French fountains already mentioned, the smaller of which has been since removed to Mr. Drax's park at Olantigh Towers, in Kent. At right angles with the northern termination of the Lateran Arcades, are the lower terrace waUs, which form the lower termination of the first terrace. Towards the end of these walls there is a bridge on each side, under which a view of the upper part of the Garden may be had, enhvened by two long canals or pieces of water. A sloping glacis is made on one side of each of these to display examples of box embroidery and coloured gravel. A flight of steps, with a handsome balustrade, leads up from the middle of the Garden (which is throughout lower than the sides), over the bridge, to the level of the terrace above. The canals are interrupted by two small fountains and basins on a platform, at a liigher level, from which steps with piers HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. and balustrades lead to the canals. Along the main walks, and on the terraces and steps, are placed bronze statues. The Amalthea of JuHen (time of Louis XV.), and the Baigneuse d'Allegxain, from the original ia the Louvre, are ranged on each side of the main walk, with copies of Moreau's statues of Winter, Ceres, Pomona, and Flora, the originals of which are at Osborne. In front of the Conserva- tory, and immediately over the Cascade, stands the Memorial of the Exhibition of 1851, with colossal figures of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America at the cor- ners, and surmounted by a statue of H.E.H. the late Prince Consort, all executed by Mr. Durham. ♦ V ♦V ENTRANCE. " Exchange the centre of a thousand trades, For clumps, and lawns, and temples, and cascades, " — Cowper. The present Eastern, or temporary Entrance, as it is called, is nearly at the bottom of Exhibition Eoad, on the right hand going south. In front, and for some distance on each side, the footpath is protected by an awning. The entrance or 1^8 '♦'♦I ♦V Vestibule itself is constructed of wood, and is decorated in front with medallions, on wliicli are inscribed tlie names of Jussieu, DecandoUe, Tournefoi-t, Linnseus, and Eay. On entering the doors, the chief point worthy of notice in the Entrance Hall is the laminated ribs on which the roof is supported. The extreme slightness and thinness of these, composed of three j^lanks of wood, varying in thickness from three-quarters of an inch to an inch and a half, seem quite inadequate to the weight placed vipon them ; and had the visitor seen them swaying and bending when in the course of erection, he might with greater reason have doubted their strength. But they are so placed that all the weight rests on each plank on its perpendicular axis ; and they have been tested and found able to bear a weight many times more than that they are called upon to bear. These I'ibs possess another interest, as being the first examples of this plan that have been tried. Originally designed by Captain Fowke for this Entrance Hall, the principle has since been apphed to the erection of the immense central roof of the Great Exhibition BuUding, as well as of the light and airy roofs of both Annexes. Facing the entrance are three arched doorways, closed by Clark's revolving shutters. These have been adopted, as serving either for a wall or a door, as may be needed. On ordinary occasions they remain up ; on fete days, when the Council- room is turned into a passage into the Garden, they are drawn down. When they are not opened, the visitor passes to the right or left. The view through the Council-room, as seen on fete days, when the three revolving shutters, doors, or walls of the Board-room are lowered, and three corresponding openings on the opposite side of the Council-room are in like manner opened, is shown in the accompanying photograpli. The Council-room was designed by Capt. Fowke. It is entered (except when the large shutters are opened) from the passage on the right, after passing through the Vestibule or Entrance Hall. It is 60 feet long by 40 feet wide, and 30 feet high ; a portion of tins space, however, is occupied by architec- tural details. Its sides are formed by columns and pilasters of Roman Doric, surmounted by a cornice, from which semicircular arches take their source. Three of these arches, on the east and west sides respectively, furnish the openings already mentioned, which are used as entrances when required, forming a passage into the Garden through the colonnades ; a fourth arch occupies the centre of the north end, and another the south. The four angles are cut off and fitted with large mirrors, on each side of which are niches for statues ; and above, in each corner, are three window-like openings, left to aid in ventilation, and fitted with ornamental u'on castings. The ceding consists of horizontal lights of ground glass, tlu'ough which gas pendants descend. The floor is paved with Minton's encaustic tiles, and the heating is effected by hot-water pipes, which are carried beneath the floor in channels covered with ornamental gratings. Standing on easels are some frames, containing illuminated pages bearing the signatures of various Eoyal personages who have been Fellows of the Society, or have visited its Garden. The illuminated paintings, for the most part, consist of fruits and flowers, bearing some allusion to the person whose signature they surround — or are used to suggest some sentiment, such as those which the Italians call concetti. The illustration on the page bearing the Queen's signature is the Victoria Begia. A wreath composed of all the known species of Coburgia surrounds the signature of His late Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort. Bending over that of Her Majesty Queen Charlotte are two Strelitzias, bearing allusion to her birthplace (Mecklenburg- Strelitz). Oranges are the emblem used for the King of the Netherlands ; apples (iucluding the Siberian Crab) for the Em- peror of Eussia ; Austrian violets for the Empress Maria Louisa ; the Pyramids for His Highness the Viceroy of Egypt, &c., &c. Among the concetti are the signatures of H.R.H. the Princess Alice (now of Hesse) and of the Princesses Helena and Louisa, each in the centre of a bloom of heartsease. A few table-cases, containing models of fruits and specimens of Conifers and other plants, stand around the room, which is used as a reading-room ; and, besides the table on which the Journals of the day and Horticultural publications lie, another table is set apart for the display of any novelties in fruit or flowers which may be sent for exhibition, it sometimes happening that inte- resting specimens may come to perfection between, the meetings of the Fruit and Floral Committees, which would not otherwise be made known to the Fellows. LATERAN AECADES. " Refreshing change, where now the blazing sun ? By short transition we have lost his glare, And stepped at once into a cooler clime." — Cowper. The portion of the Arcades or Colonnades embracing the Ante-Garden or southern portion of the Garden was designed by Captain Fowke. It is Byzantine in its tone, and is avowedly an adaptation from the Basilica of St. John Lateran at Eome, and the portions so adapted are referred with doubt to the years 1100 or 1200.* To assist the reader in determining the value and amount of inspiration derived from its Itahan prototyjie, we have given the following woodcut of the pillars of one of the cloisters of the Lateran (that of San Paolo), to contrast with the view (p. 125) of a portion of the colonnades around the Ante-Garden at South Kensington. * " The Lateran was the palace of the Popes from the time of Constantine to the period of the return of the Holy See from Avignon (] 377), when Gregory XI. transferred the papal residence to the Vatican. It owes its name to the Basilica occupying the site of the house of the senator Plaiitius Laterantis, who is men- tioned by Tacitus as having been implicated in the conspiracy of Piso, for which he was put to death by Nero. In the 4th century the Basilica was founded by Constantine (at the instigation of St. Sylvester), and it is said that Constantine assisted with his own hands to dig the foundation." — Murvaifs Handbook. 123 11 :: Few will deny the happiness of the adajjtation of this Italian style, or the success with which it has been worked into the general plan of the colonnades surrounding the Garden. The arches are supported on slight double terra-cotta columns of fanciful designs, with capitals and cornices to match, com- bining general effect with beauty and elegance in detail. Mr. Sykes, of the Department of Science and Art, South Kensington, furnished the models for these, and they have been cast in terra-cotta with the combined smoothness of stone and the sharpness of metal. The whole of these, as well as of the capitals of the columns of the Albani or Upper Arcades, were executed by Messrs. Blanchard, of Blackfriars Eoad. The deeply encased windows, as we may call the apertures between the double row of spiral columns, are glazed ; the glass being placed between the inner row of columns in a groove left in them for the purpose. Those first executed were glazed with less expensive glass than plate ; but the size and weight of the upper panes, which rest without panels on the lower ones, were found to be so great as to crack them. Plate glass, which is stronger, had therefore to be employed in all those subsequently glazed. The top pane is to be formed of slips of glass placed like the shutters of Venetian bhnds, so as to act as ventilators. The chief portion of these southern arcades was used, in 1862, as refreshment rooms for the International Exhibition. The entire extent of the southern arcades is 1687 feet — viz., the portion on the eastern side is 233 feet to the right or north of the portico of the Council-room, and 233 feet to the left of that portico. The dimensions on the western side are the same. The southern face occupies 719 feet, after deducting the space in the centre which forms the entrance from the Great Exhibition — a space which extends to 36 feet. The breadth of the arcade throughout is 27 feet ; its height 20 feet. The arches of wliich the colonnade is composed are clustered into groups of three, the dividing space between each group being 2 feet 3 inches in width. Each of the small arches or windows has its sides formed of the double terra-cotta columns above mentioned ; their base is 23 feet below the frieze above, and each of the arches is 4 feet 2 inches wide, 13 feet in height to the crown, and 11 feet to the spring. A portion of the terra-cotta columns is divided by a band into two, the remainder into four parts by three smaller bands, the length of each shaft being 9 feet, and the height of each capital, ^1 mi including an abacus of Portland stone, 1 foot 6 inches, making the height of the whole pUlar 1 feet 6 inches. The thickness of the shaft is 8 inches. There are in all 203 arches, and 80 piers. The waU is composed of red and yellow brick, and is sur- mounted by a frieze, as yet plain and unornamented, but which is intended at some future time to be richly decorated with fresco painting or majolica. Above the frieze, a cornice finishes the effect for the present, but hereafter the wall on the east and west portions of the Garden will be surmounted by a balustrade, in the same fashion as that on the top of the portico of the CouncU-room, the middle entrance from the Exhibition, and the western entrance. The piers of the balustrades, which will be placed at distances of 18 feet, are to bear statues or large vases. The whole south fajade — except the central portion, which has a mezzanine interjjosed — is divided iuto two floors. The front is divided into five faces, in different Unes of advance. By subdividing the centre mass into three sections, variety and relief of design have been obtained. The middle of the front is occupied by the entrance from the Exhibition Building to the Garden, through tlu-ee 10 -feet ornamented brick arch- ways, supported by coujjled stone columns ; these are im- mediately opposite the southern entrance, from which point one unbroken vista is obtained across the whole Garden up to the Cascade and Conservatory at the north end. The elevation of the five divisions of the fagade (70 feet high) presents three levels — the terra-cotta arcades — the shallow mezzanine (interrupting the architectural arches) — and the upper refreshment rooms. On each side of the centre are the tripled I . li p ^4f I k4 ? ornamental brick arclies, on terra-cotta columns, separated by pilasters ; tlie upper lights are similarly arranged, and the whole is surrounded by a panelled frieze of appropriate design, with openings for ventilation. Over this is seen the roof, of a good pitch, extending back to the Exhibition Building. The two corresponding recesses, right and left of the centre, are thrown back 25 feet, and extend in an unbroken line for 200 feet, haying a height of 60 feet. The level of the upper floor here corresponds with that of the centre mezzanine ; and the lighting, both above and below, is effected by eleven sets of tripled arches, similar to those in the centre division. At each end of these recesses are the returns into the Garden; and in the 50 feet which completes the length, is an entrance archway, 10 feet wide, on the far side of which the tripled-arched light is repeated. The treatment of the whole fagade is effective ; much diver- sity is obtained by the arrangement of the masses ; general uniformity is successfully sought, and every part harmonises with the adjoining arcades. In the centre of the Ante-Garden, exactly in front of the southern entrance from the Exhibition Building, was placed, during the period of the Exhibition, the original model of Maro- chetti's monument of King Charles Albert of Sardinia. The place where it stood was originally intended to be occupied by a fountain, and a vacant space had been left for that purpose, which was happily appropriated to the reception of this monu- ment when it was offered to the Society for exhibition. The monument of which it was the model was inaugurated at Turin in July, 1861. It was paid for by public subscription and by the Italian Government. The upper part is executed in red granite from Baveno, on the Lago Maggiore ; the grey and lower part is formed of granite from Messrs. Freeman's quarry at Penryn, ui Cornwall. Tlie king, Charles Albert, is on horseback, starting for the Italian crusade. On the foui sides of the pedestal are allegorical statues, of Faith, holding the crown of thorns, the Statute, Justice, and Jurisprudence. On 128 tie base are four bas-reliefs, representing tbe Passage of the Ticino ; the Battle of Goito ; the Abdication of Charles Albert in favour of his son, Victor Emmanuel ; and his Death at Oporto. At the four corners of the jjedestal are four statues of Piedmontese soldiers, artillery, cavahy, infantry, and Bersaglieri The monument was only lent for the period of the Great Exhi- Ijition, and has since been removed. SOUTHERN TERRACE. " The terrace wall, with honeysuckle twined And bashful clematis, whose virgin white Veils with its clustered hair the stone behind." — Smedley, At right angles to the upper end of the Lateran Arcades run the southern terrace walls. Each wall, both that on the east side and that on the west side of the Garden, extends, parallel to the southern boundary, into the Garden for 14.5 feet, then turns at a right angle up the Garden for a few feet, where it meets the bridge, and passing it, leads to steps by which access to the higher ground of this terrace is obtained. The wall itself is built of red and yellow brick, in alternate bands of about a foot and a half in depth, and is surmounted by a cornice and handsome balustrade. In each waD. are four blind arches facing the south, and one after turning the angle. Seats have been fitted into these blind arches or recesses. Between each pair of arches is ;i pilaster, to which the cornice corresponds, and which is carried up into a pier in the balustrade, on which stands a marble vase. A border of flowers is placed against each interval between the arches, and flowering and odoriferous creepers are trained up the wall. In each of the intervals are three occH, or round niches, in the wall, about one foot deep and three feet across, for the reception of l)usts ; these are fitted with a terra-cotta hning and run, and are backed by a pale blue colour, which was selected by H.E.H. the Prince Consort shortly before his death. A broad walk runs along the base of the walls, turning up to the canals, under the bridge abeady mentioned. "When the angle of the wall is reached, and the visitor turns his face northwards, he has, under the bridge, which faces him, a favourable view of the Garden upwards. His eye is first caught by a tranquil stretch of water in an oblong canal, straight before him, into which, at the upper end, tumbles a miniature cascade. Beyond that he sees a fountain playmg on a higher level, — still further off, one of the band-houses, somewhat in the J pagoda style, backed by the beautiful colonnade of the Albani Arcades, which again is backed (at least on the eastern side of the Garden) by the verdure of a mass of trees growing behind the arcade, and beyond the bounds of the Society's premises. On the other side of the bridge the terrace wall terminates, but is taken up by a low revetment or retaining wall, of yellow brick, divided by piers into five spaces. In each of these spaces is placed a comfortable seat, and on the tops of the piers are placed beautiful marble tazzas, of a form selected by the Prince Consort, and made for the Society at Carrara. The in- termediate spaces or panels have the wall faced up with a tesselated work, composed of Minton's red tiles, which were placed here for the purpose of relieving the eye from the oppression caused by the glare of the yellow brick, the gravel of the walks themselves being of the same hue, and fatiguing the eye from its too great preponderance. The edging of the red panels is the design of black reheved by yeUow and white Greek keys, to which we have already alluded as the last object selected for the Garden by H.E.H. the Prince Consort before his death. 1m 1 Two of the most conspicuous objects in the Garden durmg the year 1862 were the French fountains, which were placed on HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. each side of the middle walk, in a hne with the southern terrace walls. The larger of them was constructed by M. Durenne, and was designed by Klagman, a French artist, from whose designs many of the iron and bronze castings shown by M. Durenne in the Exhibition were executed. It was intended for a much more extensive position than coukl be given to it in the Garden. As it was, the outer basin, which (to corresf)ond with the dimensions of the gigantic sea-horses disporting themselves in it) should have been a small lake, was cabined, cribbed, and confined witliin the smaUest possible dimensions, so as to be symmetrical with its neighbour and kept within the space which could be afforded it. The spirited colossal sea-horses and the elaborate richness of the figures forming the central group have been much admired. THE BOOK OF THE EOTAL N) The other fountain, the work of Messrs. Barbezat, was smaller in proportions, less ambitious in design, and better suited to the dimensions of the Garden. It was designed by M. Moreau, another French artist, not less celebrated than M. Klagman. The water display of the fountains in 1862 was rarely seen to fuU advantage ; it was worked by the steam power used for the machinery in the Western Annexe of the Exhibition, the claims upon which were so overpowering that the fountains could seldom procure an adequate supply of steam, and when they did, it was only for a very limited period. MILANESE ARCADES. " Not distant far, a length of colonnade Invites us. Monument of ancient taste ! — Our fathers knew the value of a screen From sultry suns." — Cowpek. The central or MUanese Arcades are on a higher level than the southern arcades, and access is had to them under cover by steps leading from the southern or lower colonnade. Their style is borrowed from examples of Milanese brickwork of the fifteenth century, and they were designed by Mr. Sydney Smirke, E.A. They are 630 feet long, 20 feet high, and 24 feet wide. They consist of a series of arches (39 in number, on each side of the Garden) 10 feet 9 inches ^vidc, 12 feet 6 inches in height to the spring of the arch, and 1 7 feet 8 inches to the crown of the arch. The arches are separated from each other by pUasters of red brick, with capitals of Portland stone, which, with the exception of one or two, cut as examples, are yet unhewn ; and, shrouded within the solid stone, no one can say what 1^1 1 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. pa lovely, grotesque, or striking idea may be evoked by tie chisel of the sculptor, perhaps long after the fertile brains and critical eyes of those who planned it have ceased to work. As akeady mentioned, throughout the works constructed in this Garden, the admirable plan has been adopted, wherever it could possibly be done, of having the effect of everytliing which has been executed previously tried, not only by a model, but by a full-sized model of the work. The models or full-sized paintings of these arches stiU remain on a blank waU behind the Kensington Museum, and show the steps by which they gradually advanced from the first germ to their present beautiful proportions. At the top, centre, and bottom of each of these central arcades are three arches, separated from each other by wider piers, furnishing four spaces, in each of which is a niche for the reception of a statue. The spandrils between the arches contain a round recess intended to contain a medallion in majolica or other ware, and the spandxUs and frieze are intended to be decorated in the same manner, or by frescoes or tUes. The cornice is finished off much as in the southern arcades, and will, when completed, be like it. It is intended that the floor of these arcades shall be laid with tiles, or asphalte, of different patterns, disposed in such a manner as to form a harmonious whole. It was originally intended that the back waU and roof should be embellished with frescoes, and the roof ornamented with designs in panel, but it is not improbable that some modification may be made in this design. I THE BOOK OF THE EOTAL ALBANI ARCADES. " Type of the antique Rome, ricli reliquary Of lofty contemplation left to time By buiied centuries of pomp and power." — PoE. The nortiern, upper, or Albani Arcades, are also the work of Mr. Smirke, and have been designed in the style of the arcade of the ViUa Albani, near Eome.* .tea. The accompanying woodcut, taken from a photograph (part of a series of views of Rome which have been suspended on the walls of the arcades), shows the coffee-house (as it is called) of the Albani Villa. It consists of a semicircular portico, supported * " Tlie Albani Villa is situated not quite lialf a mile beyond tbe Porta Salaro. It was built by Cardinal Alessandro Albani about the middle of last century ; but altbough comparatively so modern in date, it may be looked upon as a genuine antique. The Cardinal was not only a man of refined taste, but a deeply-read antiquary. The villa was designed by liimself, and the execution also may be said to be his, for although entrusted to Carlo Marchionni, his own superinten- dence extended to the minutest details. Before he commenced it he had accu- mulated an immense collection of ancient sculx^ture and other objects of the fine arts ; and one of the objects he proposed to himself in constructing this villa was to provide a suitable place for their exhibition. Hence the harmony between the architecture of the villa and the decorations which it contains, or whicli surround it, has resulted in a work of exquisite design. The porticoes, the halls, the columns, and the statues, may all not only be relied on as of pure antique Roman style, but are also distributed and proportioned as an artist of the Empire would have done in its purest epoch of art." — Murray^s Handbook. 'Hi ♦ HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. by columns of granite, forming an arcade, in wliicli are arranged statues, busts, and other works of art. The engraving gives a general idea of the style of these buildings, and may suggest the origin of some of the arrangements in the Royal Horti- cultural Garden. The casino, or vUla, of the family of the Sachetti, at Eome, is quite in the same style, and may possibly also have contributed somewhat to the ideas introduced into the Garden at South Kensington.'" The ai'cade is semicircular, 600 feet long, 26 feet wide, and 22 feet in height, and embraces in its centre the Conservatory. The arches are 10 feet 7 inches wide, 18 feet 9 inches to the crown of the arch, and 13 feet 6 inches to its spring ; the pillars on each side are 1 foot 1 inch in thickness, the pilaster or pier between them is 2 feet in breadth, and is finished by a capital executed in terra-cotta. There are 38 arches, 42 pilasters, and 42 shields. The decorations of the frieze and spandrils have been com- pleted on one arch, to show the style of decoration which is intended to be followed. Each pilaster has a shield over it, also executed in terra-cotta, and containing an impressed and painted or gilded figure of some one of the natural orders of plants, with its name below it. On the occasion of the opening of the Society's Great Show, on the 5th of June, 1861, and on some of the subsequent Flower Shows, the whole extent of the Albani Arcades has been crowded * It was built from the plans of Pietro Barettini, of Crotona, and may be cited as an extreme example of the Inxnriant richness of embellishment of the high Italian School. 137 I' THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL with a blaze of bright-coloured flowers, producing an effect which once seen can never be forgotten. The roof of these arcades has been constructed of a perma- nent character, at a very heavy expense. Being entirely open to the weather both above and below, as well as intended to be used for a promenade, not only great strength, but power of resisting the weather was required ; hence the mode of roofing known as a Fox and Barrett floor has been adopted. This con- trivance consists of a floor of which the beams are of iron, formed not unlike the rails of a railway, with a projecting ledge on each side. These are placed, as bearers, from the front wall to the back wall, and rows of wooden fillets are laid between them side by side, their ends resting on the ledges. A concrete compound of gravel and mortar is then spread over it, covering the beams and fillets to the clej)th of nearly a foot. The whole hardens into one homogeneous mass, and the fillets below may decay or be taken out without the slightest danger ; indeed, in cases where it is desired to take tmusual precautions against fire, the fillets are purposely taken out after the concrete above has set. On the concrete being thoroughly hardened and dry, it is covered with asphalte, as in the arcade in question. There are various kinds and qualities of asphalte ; the kind here used is what is known as SeyseU asphalte. Access is obtained to the roof of these arcades either through the Conservatory up the stairs leading to its gallery, or by wooden stairs at the back, at the respective extremities on each side. The view from the top is beau.tiful and extensive ; the Garden itself lies stretched like a map at the feet of the spectator ; and in the distance, unless on unfavourable days, when the smoke ♦ HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. of the City forbids, the towers of the Sydenham Crystal Palace and the woody district which lies around them can be clearly seen. At the termiaation of each wing of the Albani Arcades are spaces, over which pavilions were proposed to be erected. The right to these spaces was reserved to themselves by the Com- missioners of 1851. They are now used for the sale of refresh- ments. In the eastern arcade, over which it was at one time contemplated that a pavilion for the Queen's use might be buUt, is placed a marble group consisting of Venus with a Faun and a Nymph. This is the work of FrancavUla, a Fleming, a pupil of Giovanni di Bologna. Its date is about 1576. The female in the middle is about nine feet high, and from having at her feet two dolphins, may be assumed to be intended for V enus. She ajajDcars to be protecting her nymph from the attack of the Faun. This and the two statu.es now standing in the ConseiTatory on each side of the stairs leading to the gallery were purchased by King George IV. for one of the lodges at A^'indsor. After his death the group disappeared, having been buried under a heap of rubbish, whence it was disinterred only a few years ago, in making some alterations near the lodge. Some alterations on it were made by Mr. Thorneycroft, the artist, by orders of H.E.H. the Prince Consort, and it has now been placed by Her Majesty in the Society's Garden. Jets of water have been made to spout from the nostrils of the dolphins, 1 marble cup to receive the water has been added by Her Majesty, and the whole has been surrounded by imitation rock- work planted with Ferns. HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. m CONSERVATOEY. '* Who loves a garden, loves a greenhouse too : Unconscious of a less propitious clime, There blooms exotic beauty, wai-m and snug "While the winds whistle and the snows descend." — CowPER. The Conservatory is 270 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 75 feet high, and although the arcade in an altered form continues to run round by the back, it is not seen from without, and the building has the appearance of being wholly composed of glass and iron. As already mentioned, it is placed in the middle of the northern or Albani Ai'cades ; in fact, these arcades continue their course through the Conservatory, merely descending in the middle by broad flights of steps on each side, to give access to the top from below. The arcade thus forms the lower part of the back of the Conservatory, and the body of the building projects in front of it. The walls, the sides, and the roof, are of glass, resting on slender iron pillars and framework ; the long main pillars are 40 feet in height, additional length being obtained where required by fittmg and fastening pillar above pillar. Along the back wall of the building, and below the gallery above, runs a corridor of arches of brick, enlivened with diamond-shaped pieces of white marble. This is a favourite place for a pleasant view of the company and flowers in the centre of the building, as is also the gallery above it. In the middle this corridor is interrupted by a broad flight of steps leading up to a dais, or raised landing-place, from each side of which rise the flights of steps leading to the galleries and top of the arcade. THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL On the pier or pedestal on each, side of these broad steps are the two marble statues by Francavilla before mentioned. Nothing is known of what they were intended for more than may be gathered from the appearance of the statues themselves. The one on the right hand, from having his foot on a cherub puffing out primroses, may be safely assumed to represent the month of March, or Spring. The other seems to be one of those hermaphrodite jjroductions which were common in the age when it was produced. From its holding fruits and vegetables in its hand, it has been assumed to be an emblem of Harvest, as the other is supposed to be of Spring ; but these are mere con- jectures, wliich may be adopted as being suitable emblems for HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Nl Horticulture. The statues in themsehes are good, and add much to the beauty of the Conservatory. Other works of art, such as vases and statues, which have been lent or presented to the Society, are placed in the Conservatory. One of these is the lovely statue of The Peri at the Gate of Eden, executed by Mr. Sherwood Westmacott, which was shown in the Great Exhibition, and is now lent by Mr. Westmacott for a time to the Society. Another similarly circumstanced, The Light of the Harem, executed by Monti, and belonging to Major Lyon, has been also lent for a time by its j)roprietor. A cast of a Cjuaint statue of Linnseus, in his Lapland dress, presented by the artist who executed it (Mr. J. L. Tupper) is also placed in the Conservatory. THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL nj At the top of the steps, on the landing-iolace, or dais, leading to the galleries, an ornamental tesselated pavement has been laid down by Messrs. Minton, Hollins, & Co. The work is a combination, or rather is the modern imitation of two kinds of mosaic art — one known as Alexandrine work (opus Alexandrinmii), and the other as tesselated work {opus tesselatum). The latter was perhaps the earliest of any known mosaic, and consisted of small cubes of marble sawn or worked by hand into such simple geometrical forms, as when combined, would form a figvu'e equally geometrical, but of course characterised by greater intricacy. Many very fine specimens of opus tesselatum have been found in this country. The other, or opus Alewan- drinum, was a kind of mosaic introduced after the time of Constantine, and was used as a pavement in all the rich Italian churches for nearly a thousand years. It was constructed by chasing channels in wliite marble slabs, and filling them in with dark reddish-purple poiphyiy, or green serpentine. There is a very interesting specimen of this in Westminster Abbey referred to the year 1260 ; and one, probably still earlier and more purely Itahan in style, in Canterbury Cathedral. Various attempts have been made to imitate these tesselated pavements, by inlaying stone with coloured cements, and by combining different coloured cements ; but it was not until about thuty years ago that the plan was hit upon which has since been carried out with so much success. It is to the late Mr. Hemy T. Hope, of the Deepdene, formerly one of the Council of the Society, that Mr. Digby Wyatt, in a paper on the subject read to the Society of Arts in 1847, accords the chief honour of having given the impulse which has led to such beautiful HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. results. It was an elaborate Venetian scagliola, constructed for Mm by Mr. Blashfield, at the Deepdene, -which, by the admi- ration it received from men of taste, attracted attention to the subject, and paved the way for the greater improvements wliich followed. Great advances both in the manufacture of the tesserse and the encaustic tiles have since taken place. The latter were made into forms of clay of about six inches square, into the surface of which, while still in a soft state, metal dies were pressed, upon which a pattern was worked in relief ; the ornament being thus indented, the intaglio or indentation was filled up with different coloured clays whilst in a liquid or " shp " state. The tile was then baked and covered with a vitreous glaze, at once enhancing and protecting the colour of the material. The great difficrilty which was experienced arose from the different kinds of clay not amalgamating so as to contract eqvially in the oven. The Messrs. Minton took out the first patent for the manufacture of these tiles ; and, by long- continued perseverance and costly experiments, they at last succeeded in conquering this difficulty, and producing the tiles as they are now manufactured. The manufacture of tesserse, or the plain tiles, has also struggled through many difficulties towards perfection. The first improvement was to place compact and weU-manipulated clay in a machine from which it was compelled by great pressure to exude through a small horizontal aperture, where it was cut into lengths as it appeared. The plan adopted by Messrs. Minton for the manufacture of tesserse, such as those in this pavement, was discovered in 1840, by Mr. Frosser, of THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL Birmingliam. " He found," to quote the words of Mr. Ward, in a paper in Mr. Blashfield's work on mosaic floors, " that if the material of porcelain (a mixture of flint and fine clay) be reduced to a dry powder, and in that state subjected to strong pressure between steel dies, the powder is compressed into about a fourth of its bulk, and is converted into a compact substance of extraordinary hardness and density, much loss porous and much harder than the common porcelain uncompressed and baked in the furnace." Messrs. Minton & Co. apply hydrauhc pressure to this part of the manufacture, under wluch, at every stroke of the press, the powdered clay is converted into a solid tile. The design of the pavement in the Conservatory is the work of Mr. Harry Green, formerly a student in the Department of Science and Art, and now attached as artist to Messrs. Mmton & Co.'s establishment. It is not of any particular school or period, but is derived from the Pompeian, Early Italian, and Eenaissance art. The white, green, and red tesselation has considerable resemblance to an elaborate slab now placed in front of the high altar in the church of Santa Maria in Transtevere at Kome, and the same colouring and general effect may be met with ia most of the churches in Italy which contain any pavement of this character. This class of manufacture has now reached such perfection, and has so much character of its own, that it can scarcely perhaps be treated as an imitation, at least to the extent of estimating its worth by the nearness of its approach to the material imitated. The materials used by the Eomans to produce the difierent colours were these : — a slightly clouded yellow Sienna marble gave the light buff ground ; morsels of n m 1^ HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Nl it mi porphyry, the purple tints ; serpentine, or verde antique, the green ; black and white marbles, black and white ; and lapis lazuli, the blue. In the tUe, the colours are produced as follows : — The buff and red colours are native Staffordshire clays ; blue is produced by a mixture of wliite clays stained with oxide of cobalt ; white is a mixture of white clays procured from Devonshire and Cornwall ; chocolate is the red Staffordshire clay stained with manganese. Green is produced by staining the white clays with oxide of chrome. The alcove behind the dais is one of the most charming parts of the Conservatory. The front is composed of a double row of terra-cotta pillars, like those of the Lateran Arcades ; and the Appold pump and smaU engine, situated behind, and below, are screened off from the Conservatory by a partition, on one side of which a door admits those who wish to examine them to a smaU gallery, whence they may be seen at work. Above these terra-cotta piUars is a recess, in which are placed a number of exotics, and some creeping and pendent trailing plants, which hang down in front. Along the back wall, ascending the stairs, creepers also grow trained upon trellises ; and trailing plants depend from cofbels on the wall of the corridor. Pendent baskets filled with flowers are frec[uent throughout the building. Many beautiful and interesting plants are placed in the Conservatory, most of them being donations from the Fellows themselves. There is a good collection of the different kinds of Orange-trees, two of the finest of which were presented by the Earl of Aberdeen. There are several very fine specimens of the Norfolk Island Pine, the largest of which were presented THE BOOK OP THE ROYAL by the Baroness Eotlischild. Also a Rhododendron arboreum, 1 5 feet high ; Tree Ferns presented by Sh Daniel Cooper ; fine Palms and a magnificent Eugenia myrtifolia, from the Duke of WeUington ; many large specimens of rare plants from Mr. Blandy ; and other rarities too numerous to mention. Nor are the contents of the Conservatory confined to beautiful flowers and fine specimens ; some pleasing or instructive objects are always to be found there — sometimes Horticultural or Botanical, at others touching on some kindred branch of Natural History, or more or less du-ectly connected with Art, but always in harmony with the building and its objects. In the Conservatory was to be seen last year (1862) the rare spectacle (in this country) of an American Aloe in flower. Mr. Nash, of Bury House, Edmonton, had two specimens of the required age for flowering (not a hundred years old — the period popularly assigned to it, whence the name " Century Plant," commonly apphed to it in America — but half that age) ; one had flowered in his own garden the previous year, and he presented the other to the Society for the gratification of the Fellows and visitors to the Garden. "Without its being made absolutely a speciality, there are always a good many specimens of plants of economic interest in the Conservatory — such as the Cotton-plant, the Camphor-tree, the India-rubber-tree, Tea-tree, Coffee-tree, the Coco-plant of Peru, the Bamboo, the Locpiat, the Cafire Bread-tree, the Hog Plum, &c. There are also many succulent plants, which are the more valuable that now-a-days they have gone out of fashion and almost out of cultivation, except in the National collections and in those of two or three scientific enthusiasts, to the liberahty of one of whom (Mr. Wilson Saunders) the Society owes the fine collection it possesses. The want of attention now paid to these curious vegetable forms is the more surprising, that their strange and bizarre appearance strikes the eye of the ignorant, as much as their associations (redolent of the air of the desert) affect the mind of the instructed. Amongst the objects not strictly horticultural, which from time to time have been exlubited in the Conservatory, may be noticed specimens of the beautiful caterpillars of Bombyx Cynthia, feeding and spinning their silken cocoons on the leaves of the Ailantlms glandulosa, sent by Lady Dorothy Nevill witli the view of encouraging that new branch of industry ; specimens of the Cactus covered with the cochineal-insect ; and tree-frogs, which were for a time kept in Fern cases, from which, however, a number latterly escaped, and have established an independent colony in the Conservatory, and their loud but not unpleasant croaking may now be often heard in the summer evenings high amongst the leaves of the trees and creepers. Of the works of Ai-t which decorate the Conservatory, we have abeady spoken ; and the Exhibition of Sculpture, forming whilst we write, is an additional illustration of the various attractions of which that building is the centre. A series of semicircular tables, for plants, which have been put up along its front walls, is worthy of notice. These are an improvement upon the old plan of long narrow tables placed against the wall ; having the advantage of permitting a number of visitors to assemble round them and examine their contents at one time. They are made of iron, and are so constructed that boxes of earth can be placed beneath, in the middle next. tlie wall, in which climbing plants may grow and creep up behind the tables, space being left for this purpose. The margin of each table is fitted with a handsome fringe or edging of wire, worked into a sort of ledge, expanding both upwards and downwards, looking like filagree work. Within this are placed the pots, the interspaces as well as the outer edging being fiUed with Lycopods and green Moss. The heating of the Conservatory has been executed upon the most approved principles of modern science. Since 1851 a considerable change has taken place in the plans commonly adopted for this purpose. It was then thought that the mere introduction beneath the floor of a number of pipes duly charged with hot water, with a grating in the floor for the ascent of the heated air, was sufiicient to raise the tempera- ture of the apartment to any desirable degree. It was believed that air, being heated, would ascend of itself, and that when the hot-water pipes were once laid down, all that was necessary had been done. It is now admitted that, unless there are some means of introducing a certain regulated quantity of cool air beneath the pipes, more than half their effectiveness wiU be wasted. The first idea would naturally be to briug cold air from the outside of the building, but on reflection it will be seen that this would not only supply the place of the ascending hot air, but also chiU the house as much as the hot air heats it. What is wanted, therefore, is air only so much cooler than that affected by the pipes as to cause it to ascend, and the air most suited for this is the atmosphere of the building itself. The application of this fact to practice requires, if not scientific skill, at least some expe- rience ; and a good accidental illustration of the consequences of MM ♦ \ not attending to it may often be seen in buildings, sucli as churches, where there is a succession of galleries, the whole floors usually forming series of natural gratings, and the descent and ascent of cool and heated air going on continuously : but from the absence of some contrivance to secure the application of the atmospheric air to the hot-water j)ipes, the cool air descends only to the first series of pipes, and an immense waste of power is of course the result. The system of heating the Houses of Parhament was found defective from this circumstance, the cool air being brought at once from the outside instead of from another part of the buildings ; hence the succession of hot and cold draughts, which were found so unbearable in winter and so disagreeable at all seasons. In the system at present adopted by the Eoyal Horticultural Society, provision is made not only for heating, but also for circulating the atmospheric air throughout the building, and conducting it beneath the hot-water pipes. Channels for the introduction of cold air from the exterior of the building, when necessary, are also provided; but these channels are fitted with registered ventilators, so as to allow the supply of fresh air to be regulated, and to admit only a limited supply during inclement weather, as well as to prevent draughts. The hot-water apparatus erected in the Conservatory is in- tended to accompHsh a twofold object, namely, to warm the building efficiently, and to promote a thorough and satisfactory ventilation. By means of boilers, circulating castings, ventilating grates, air-passages, and valves, the heating and ventilating are made in a great measure self-acting. '♦'♦ii The boilers are of upright tubular construction, and connected with similar hollow furnace-bars, through which the whole of the water passes previous to entering the boiler. The water is thus made to pass beneath the fire, and so to secure the benefit of that heat which ordinarily descends into the ash-pit and is wasted. Each of these boilers contains 76 tubes, and exposes a heating surface of about 400 superficial feet to the immediate action of the fire ; hence, by applying a simple formula (one foot of boiler surface acted on by the fire being capable of heating about 35 feet of 4-in. pipe) we find that each of these boilers is capable of heating not loss than 14,000 feet. The boilers, placed in their respective positions, are connected at the top by circulating castings. These castings are fitted with two metal valves, 6 inches in diameter ; so that by the regulation of the valves the water can be shut oS from one boiler while the other is worliing the apparatus, as, for instance, during repairs or other alterations. Nor is this the only precaution adopted : two separate mains, of large diameter, are brought from the boilers into the Conservatory. These also are each fitted with additional valves, in order to render the whole doubly secure. Thus, if any portion of the apparatus were to become dis- arranged, half the quantity only of the pipes might be heated, and half the water witlidrawn. The galleries of the Conservatory are heated on a somewhat difierent principle. Here there were no means of placing pipes below the floor, and an unsightly barrier of pipes four deep, one above the other, running round the gallery, is avoided by adopting tubular coils, which are treated as pedestals, and used as stands for ornamental objects. A small boiler of similar con- struction to the others is specially used for the purpose of heating these. It is fixed in the same stoke-hole, and close to those before described, but in no way connected with them. There is a main piipe leading from the top of the boiler, along the passage at the back, and beneath the gallery floor. This main is at equidistant points intercepted by the inseiliion of an extra-stout junction casting, which is employed for the purpose of comiectiag the ornamental pedestals fixed above the floor-line. The quantity of piping in the Conservatory is about 9000 feet, in addition to various connections. The hot-water pipes beneath the ground-floor run in groups of 6, 8, and 10 respectively, in trenches varying from 2 feet to 3 feet wide, by about the same depth. On the level of the floor is a series of ornamental cast-iron gratings, through which the heated air ascends. These con-espoiid to the gratings in other parts of the floor, through which the cooler air descends, and is conducted beneath each separate set of pipes. The gratings communicate directly with the circulating air-drains, and by this means the entire appa- ratus is kept in working order. No dust, efliuvium, or oilensive vapour is generated by this apparatus : it produces perfect ventilation with uniform heat throughout the budding, and for horticultural and other pur- poses it is commendable for its economy, its cleanliness, and its durability. The heating of the Conservatory has been executed by Messrs. "Weeks, of Chelsea, with whom several of the devices above mentioned originated. i TIPPER TERRACE AND BAND-HOUSES. " And music too— dear music ! — that can touch, Beyond all else, the soul that loves it much." — MooiiE. The Upper Terrace, in front of the Conservatory and AJbani Arcades, is chiefly occupied by a broad flat grass lawn, partially planted with Lime-trees, which are growing well, and are rapidly transforming "those naked acres to a sheltering grove." In the midst of them pieces of sculpture have been effectively placed — and during the Exhibition of Sculpture the upper walk will be similarly adorned. Towards each side, a Band-house is placed. The appearance of these is somewhat Chinese, an effect probably due to the sharp spike, the rounded top, the open filagree surrounding it, and the broad flat brim. They are not unlike similar structures erected for the same purpose at Brussels and other places on the Con- tinent. The ceding is quite flat, like the somiding-board of a pulpit, and without any rim, so as to allow the free escape of the sound. It is supported on iron piUars, the open ironwork at the to23 of which gives the efiect of capitals, and harmonises with the open filagree work above. The floor on which the musicians stand has beneath it a retiring-room for their use. The iron pillars are 1.5 feet 6 inches high, and the flat ceiling is 38 feet in diameter. The roimded roof is 12 feet high aijd 25 feet in diameter; and the extreme height to the top of the spike from the ground is 46 feet. There is an immense amount of work in the roof, strong sup- ports being needed to provide against its being carried away by storms of wind. They have been painted and gilded in different styles under the direction of Captain Fowke and Mr. Sykes. The effect, so far as regards the music itself, has also been successful ; the roof acts thorouglily as a sounding-board, and distributes the music far, and distinctly, over the Garden. The grassy terrace between the two band-houses is a favourite resort of the visitors, whose rich and varied dresses form a gay and brilliant parterre of beauty, as they vibrate between or cluster round them on the adjacent slopes. THE WATER DISPLAY. ** Smooth to the shelving brink a copious flood Rolls fair and placid ; where collected all, In one impetuous torrent down the steep It thimdering shoots." — Thomson. The position of the Great Cascade and its Basin has been ah'eady pointed out ; these are undoubtedly the finest and most attractive features of the Garden. A plunge of water issuing from a low-browed archway, and expanding itself from shelf to shelf, tumbling into the basin with the volume and the dash of a Highland stream, furnishes a strong natural source of attraction, especially in the warm days of summer. The water is drawn from an Artesian well, which has been sunk behind the Great Conservatory, and which can supply almost any amount of water. Its history is this : — Wlien the plan of the Garden was first settled, and ponds, basins, canals, cascade, and fountains were resolved upon, the question stiU remained, how the vast amount of water rec[uired for these purposes was to be supplied. It was a matter which had been purposely left open. It was known that, at the worst, it could be had for a certain price from a Water Company ; and, relying on this, the works were commenced. ^Vlien these became so far advanced that it was necessary to determine the plan which should be adopted, — whether a large yearly rent should be paid permanently for water, or whether it would not be more econo- mical to expend a larger sum at first in sinking an Artesian well, which would ever after give the necessary supply at a compara- tively trifling yearly expenditure, — it was found that there could be no Cjuestion as to which was the most exjjedient course. if it were certain, 1st, that tlie Artesian well could be sunk for the sum at which it was estimated ; 2nd, that after it was finished it would produce the requisite quantity of water; and, 3rd, that the water so obtained would be suitable for the purposes of the Garden (for it is not the water from every Artesian well that is so). The calculated payment to the Water Comjaany, with aU economy in the use of the water, wovdd exceed three times the interest on the money which it was reckoned would be required to sink the Artesian well. But the sinking of Artesian wells is proverbially a lottery : some unexpected impe- diment may double or quadruple the estimated expense ; or, after boring until the funds have been exhausted, the attempt has to be given up in despair ; or, supposing the attempt to be successful, the supply of water may be insufficient, or, under con- stant demand, may gradually diminish ; or, yet again, supposing the water to be reached, and to be sufficient in quantity, its quality may be tinsuitcd for the purposes for which it is wanted, from its containing saline and mineral ingredients. These risks seemed so formidable that the Council might perhaps have declined encountering them, had not Messrs. Easton, Amos, and Sons, their hydraulic engineers, relieved them from theii' embaiTassment by undertaking to sink the well on the principle of "no cure no pay." These gentlemen were so confident of success, that they not only undei-took to sink the well for the estimated price, but also guaranteed a supply of 75 gallons of water per minute. This determined the Council to undertake the work. Supposing it successful, the great volume of water which they recpiired for their cascade, basins, and fountains — which formed by far the greatest part of what they would have had. to procure from the Water Company — would be supplied ; and even although this water should turn out to be unfitted for gardening purjDoses, and it should be found necessary to obtain what was required for gardening from a Water Com- i pany, a large saving would stiU be effected by getting the main su|)ply from the Artesian well. The work has now been completed, the well bored ; and the decision of the Council, as well as the confidence of the engineers, has been justified by the result. Not only has the well been sunk at the estimated cost, and water procured at the expected depth, but it has been found of the purest and softest quaUty, and in such abundance that, instead of supplying merely from 100,000 to 110,000 gallons in the 24 hours (the quantity stipulated for), it could readily supply a million gallons in that time if larger pumps and more powerful engines were employed. The total depth sunk and bored is 401 feet — a well having been sunk to the depth of 226 feet, and a bore thereafter carried down 175 feet farther. j The accompanying woodcut shows the nature and depth of ! the geological formations through which the well passed. For the sake of contrast, a similar cut of the Artesian well which | supphes the Trafalgar Square fountains, the Palaces, and Pubhc \ Ofiices, is placed alongside of it. The latter sketch, so far as the strata and their depths are concerned, very well rejjresents the usual relations of these as found in numerous other Artesian weUs which have been sunk in the London basin. It will be seen that the strata at the spot bored by the Society difi'er some- what from the others — ^the London clay, especially, being found of much greater thickness than is usually the case. It would appear as if, in ancient days, the spot over which Kensington Gore now 15S stands, had been one of the deep parts of the basin in which the London clay was being deposited. The two wells, however (that of Trafalgar Square and that of the Society), correspond in one point which is of excessively rare occurrence, wholly beyond provision, and a pure matter of chance : out of numerous wells bored by Messrs. Easton, Amos, & Sons, for instance, these two are the only instances in whieh it has occurred. Whilst boring through the chalk, in both cases, the instrument came upon a fissure and dropped down a space of several feet. To understand the significance of this, it is necessary to remember that the manner in which the water in the chalk finds its way to the surface, or into the sea, is through such fissures. An example of its issuing at the surface from them may be seen in the river Wandle, which takes its rise at Carshalton, near Croydon, pouring out through such fissures a river ready made. An instance of its falling into the sea out of such fissures may be seen at low water near Brighton, where a succession of vertical fissures, from the narrowest chink to 6 inches wide, occurring at varying dis- tances from each other, pours out an immense quantity of fresh water. Such fissures act as the main channels by which the water in the chalk finds its way to the sea. When a well sunk into the chalk does not fall upon one of these, it is dependent for water on what may percolate through the surrounding chalk into the well ; but if it light upon a fissure, its sujjply is drawn from a stream itself, and of course will depend upon the size of the stream how far it may be exhaustible. The quantity of water percolating through the chalk, however', is so great, that for aU ordinary purj)ose.s, any well sunk for some depth in it is sufficient, if a very large supply is not wanted; the only draw- HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. Lacks on such a well being that it may be lowered by viiiusual or continuous pumping so as to require some time to refill, and that in course of time the standing-point of the water gradually sinks. A well which has dropped upon a fissure, on the other hand, may apparently be pumped incessantly without lowering- its standing-point. It draws its supjalies from a running stream, as it were, and as fast as the well-water is pumped out other water flows in. This remark, however, only applies to the standing-point when it has once been found ; for after the well is opened and first tried there is always a falling, from the effects of pumping, until the proper level is reached. In the Trafalgar Square well, which was sunk in 1844, the punqaing of 100 gallons a minute for 48 hours lowered its surface 4 feet, and it has ever since maintained the same standing-level, varying only with the reason. The Society's weU has only been lowered IG inches by the same amount of pumping. The supply from the Society's well may, therefore, be fauly reckoned to be many times larger than that from the Trafalgar Square well, which previously was the largest in London. It will also be obsei-ved, that the standing-level of the Society's well is, in point of flict, actually considerably higher than that of the well in Trafalgar Scjuare. This may perhaps be accounted for by the greater number of other Artesian wells sunk to the eastward of the latter, and possibly also by its being nearer to the outlet of the water. The Society's well may therefore be regarded as the finest in the me- tropolis ; and could it be utUised it would — on the same rates as those charged by the Water Companies, viz. 6t/. per 1000 gallons, and allowing for larger engines to work it — yield a gross yearly return of 7500/., or above 5500/. net profit. The water is pumped up from the Artesian well by a small engine in the back part of the Conservator}'^, which draws about 100 gallons in a minute, and empties it into the system of pipes or arteries by which all the basins and canals are con- nected together. Close beside the Artesian well, and also in the Conservatory, a powerful Appold pump is placed, connecting the two ends of these pipes together. When the whole of the pipes and basins are full, the Appold pump is set in" motion. One condition of its doing its duty is, that these pipes and canals be full of water, as the pump has to set it in circulation, and, of course, unless they are fuU that cannot be done. The principle of circulation is similar to that in our own* bodies. One great aorta leads down to the reservoir, in the base of the Memorial of the Exhibition of 1851, on each of the four sides of which there is a broad low arch, within which the water pours from the reservoir, forming four falls, facing respectively each quarter of the compass, North, East, West, and South. Issuing thus, in a mysterious way, under and within the arch- way, it is received by a basin which communicates with all these falls, and conducts the water to the front, where it pours itself in a fine sheet into a second large cup or basin, over the lip of which it falls in a stiU larger sheet into the great basin itself. The water in it flows over into pipes on each side — like the arteries leading to the limbs in the body — ^which pipes lead to the small basins between the canals. After receiving an ad- dition there from the jets (worked separately and independently by the small engine), it overflows into a reservoir behind each basin, from which it again flows into a pipe emptying itself by a cascade into the canals. At the other end of these it over- flows into another reservoir, wlience it is conducted in pipes back to a great culvert, the position of which may be known by a broad iron pLate in the walk facing the Memorial on the soutli side of Mr. Nesfield's circular composition of gTavel-beds in front of the great basm. This large culvert — up which a man might walk, and which, to continue the comparison of circulation, may be likened to the vena cava — receives all the water on its return from the four canals, and conveys it back to the Appold pump. That pump connects, or stands between, the two ends of the pipes, as the lieai-t does between the veins and arteries, and, like it, draws the circulating fluid out of the one and throws it into the other. It does so by the excessively rapid revolution of a fan, which wliirls the water round, exhausting it from the one pipe and forcing it into the other. By this means the whole of tlie garden waterworks are set in motion at once ; and 5000 gallons are passed through the pump every minute. In two hours time it would exhaust the whole water in the canal and basins, which it takes the small engine four days and four nights constant working to fiU. The ordinary purpose for which the Appold pump is used is merely to draw water out of one ptipe ; the forcing it into the other pipes is an additional appHcation of the pump to another use. The Appold pump is the work of one of those mechanical geniuses of whom England has produced more than any other nation. It is rather more than twelve years since, that Mr. Ap>pold, on a visit to Cornwall, saw the steam cylinders which were being prepared there for the purpose of draining the Haarlem lake in Holland. These central steam cyHnders, 12 feet in diameter, were to work several pumps around. One set i of these pumps was to raise 250,000 gallons in a minute, and to discliarge the contents only ten times in a minute. The waste of material and power struck him as excessive, and on the spur of the moment he declared that, with the fan working in Mr. Sim's neighbouring foundry at Eedruth, he would under- take to pump up more water than could be done by all that immense apparatus in preparation. His friends disputed the possibility of its being so applied. He thought over it, and convinced himself that it could be done. He explained his views to some of his engineering friends. They disputed them, and would not be convinced. Stimulated by this opposition and incredulity, he completed his plans, read a paper on the subject at the meeting of the British Association in Birmingham, and exhibited his pump in operation at the Exhibition in 1851. Had Mr. Appold chosen to patent his discovery he might have realised a large fortune from it, but, with characteristic liberality, he presented it to the nation. The beauty and simphcity, power and economy, of the contrivance have carried all before it, and pumps on this principle are now gradually spreading over the whole world.* * Mr. Appold's mechanical genius applies itself with equal success to the most trifling household contrivance as to the most important plans of engineering. The Society profited from this in a trifle — which, however, may be repeated, in illustration of the readiness and fertility of his resources. On one occasion when he visited the Garden, one of the large panes of plate-glass in the heavy front doors at the entrance had just been broken. The day had been stormy, and the wind catching one of the doors, which had been left open by a visitor, slammed it to with such violence that the glass-pane was shattered in pieces. The same misfortune had happened before, and the precautions taken to prevent its recurrence having proved insufficient, Mr. Appold found the officers l>U2zling over the problem of how to prevent an open door slamming-to. He at once .solved the problem for them. A bellows, inside a box, was placed over i ♦ U4 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The central basin is well stocked witli large carp and gold- fish. Her Majesty most kindly supplied forty-four fine carp from Virginia Water : a few of the largest, weighing from 8lbs. to lOlbs., must be of great age (perhaps not less than 100 years old), and have become grey and hoar with years. Some have spawned, and the basin literally swarms with young fish. They are fed daily between three and four o'clock, there not yet being a sufficiency of other food in these mudless waters. As yet, the mode of feeding practised at Fontainebleau has not been adopted. For many years, as narrated in a periodical of the day, the petting of the carp there has been a favourite pastime. Maids of honour and other ladies reheve the enntii of court-life by watching and feeding these fish from the windows of the palace, the walls of which are washed on one side by the lake ; and now-a-days there are women who make a business of selling bread to visitors for the latter purpose. But they would have Uttle amusement for their money if they threw in ordi- nary bread. Big carp have an enormous appetite ; soft penny rolls, being mere mouthfuls, disappear with ostrichdike celerity. So, to prevent the immediate disappeai'ance of these honnes louches, bread in the form of large balls is baked until it becomes as hard as biscuit, and with these balls the carp are regaled. When one is cast upon the water, it gives an idea of the enor- mous carp population of the lake. As soon as the bread touches the surface it is surroimded by hundreds of these fish, which dart the door, to the top of which was fastened a peg placed upright and so arranged that, when the door was heing closed-to, the peg pressed against the bellows, and meeting with resistance offered by the air within, absolutely prevented any violence whatever in the shutting-to. THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL from all parts of the lake to tlie object of attraction. Then, conscious, apparently, of their inability to crush the extremely hard balls, the carp combine with wonderful unanimity to guide the bread to that part of the lake bounded by the wall, and when there commence to butt at it, until, by repeated blows and the softening effect of the water, the ball is made to yield and open. Then is to be seen another curious sight. While shoals of carp have been pounding away at the bread-ball, pre- paring it for eating, some dozen monsters hover about, apparently indifferent to what is passing near them. But no sooner is the bread ready for swallowing, than one among these giants, pro- bably the tyrant of the lake, rushing to the prize, cleaving his way through the swarm of smaller carp, and shouldering them to the right and left, seizes the bread with open jaws, between which it quickly disappears.* Parallel to the Milanese Arcades, on each side of the Garden, arc two oblong canals at a lower level than the surroundina: ground. Their continuity is interrupted by a platform higher than their level, but a little lower than that of these arcades, and a small basin on the platform on each side supplies a cascade, which (on the same plan as that of the large cascade) flows out of a semicircular arch. A flat slab rests on the stonework over * By-and-by similar scenes may be seen in the basin in tlie Horticultural Garden. The fish, during the summer of 1862, had become sufficiently familiar to appear regularly at the dinner hour at the spot where their food is distributed. During the following winter they disappeared, doubtless into the darkest and warmest of the culvei-ts ; but with the warm days of spring they have again appeared, leaping and throwing themselves out of the water. " Nor undeliglited by the boundless Spring Are the broad monsters of the foaming deep ; From the deep ooze and gelid cavern roused, They flounce and tumble in unwieldy joy." — Thomson. 166 1 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT, tlie cascade, on wliicli small bronze statues are placed, these is a fine work called Atalanta, by Pradier (ce- lebrated for Ms female figures), and the other, ex- ecuted by Moreau, a figure of a girl drinking from a shell. A few steps lead down on each side to the canals, and a similar flight leads up to the terrace on Is „ „ the north end. The balus- trades on the sides of these steps give various coignes of vantage, which have been skilfully taken advantage of for placing a few vases or statuettes, such as that of the Boy and Duck. The small central basins, which form a part of the general water- works of the Garden, are placed at a slightly higher IcA'el, between the two long canals on each side, and are furnished with one or two jets, which, although trifling in themselves, add motion and life to the scene. On each side, to the right and left of the small basins, are two statues in prominent positions, and on lofty pedestals. Mr /I THE BOOK OP THE ROYAL STATUES. Immediately over tlie Great Cascade is erected the Me- morial of 1851, the detaUs of which have Ijeen already given. On each side of it, looking south over the basin, are placed two zinc-bronzed statues (executed by Moritz Geiss, of Berlin, a celebrated manufacturer in zinc and bronze), which were pre- sented to the Society by H.E.H. the Prince Consort. The one is an antique statue of Ceres, the other a companion statue of Juno. HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. Behind tlie Memorial and large Chestnut-tree, and shaded by its boughs, stood, during the Exhibition year, a colossal statue of Mile a prey to the Lion when caught by the cleft tree which he had vainly essayed to rend asunder. This was a copy of the original by Puget, an artist of the reign of Louis XIV., of such eminence as to have received from some the name of the French Michael Angelo. The work was considered of the highest merit; too much so, perhaps, many of the Fellows of the Society considering the expression of suffering in the strong man's face and attitude too painfully exact to be an agreeable object. It was, therefore, not one of those bronzes which the Fine Arts Committee sought to retain. Since its removal, its place has been supplied by a work by Eauch, somewhat in the same gcm'c, cast in zinc-bronze by Moritz Geiss, a Shepherd attacked by a young Lion, a work riot less artistic and skilful in expression than the Milo, but less pain- ful; the shepherd hero having a chance for his life, and being effectively aided by his dog. The two statues beside the western small basin are by THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL Kaucli. This celebrated German sculptor was employed by the late King of Bavaria to execute six statues of Victory, in different attitudes, for the hall of the Walhalla at Eatisbon, where they are now placed ; no easy task, as may be imagined. The fertility of the artist's genius, however, proved equal to the demand made upon it, and six statues, of great beauty, and varied in attitude, were executed by liim. With a liberality seldom practised by those who purchase works of fine art for themselves, His Majesty the King of Bavaria allowed casts of these statues to be taken; and the Society, at the recom- mendation of H.E.H. the Prince Consort, p)urcliased two of them, cast in zinc- bronze, by Moritz Geiss. They are nine feet high, and have been placed be- hind the central basin on the west side instead of on the east side (which would have been preferred), on account of the protection the arcade on that side affords against the western blast, to which the half- expanded wings of the Victories offer rather too much hold. They occupy a very effective position, their wings breaking the even out- lines of the tops of the arcades, which form the horizon from almost any point of view 'wliicli the spectator can select. When these statues were being placed upon their pedestals, we accidentally overheard the re- marks of the workmen employed in the work, and the criticism of one of them struck us as re- markably good : — "I like that one best ; she is coming heartily forward, as if there was no doubt about it ; the other one is hold- ing her wreath half back, as if she had not quite made up her mind." The statues beside the small basin on the east side are copies in zinc-bronze from the originals, of the well-known statues of Urania (in the Louvre), and the Venus ^ d'Arles. I RIBBON BEDS AND COLOURED GRAVELS. ' ' And what a wilderness of flowers ! It seem'd as tliongli from all the bowers And fah'est fields of all the year, The mingled spoil were gathered here." — Moore. There are a good many (some think too many) examples of coloured gravel and ribbon beds in the Garden. In the first place, we have four beds composed entirely of coloured gravels and Box, mthout any intermixture of bedding- THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL 1^ out plants. They lie on tte sloping glacis stretching up from the side of each of the four canals, and are designed so as to represent natural objects, such as the Rose, the Thistle, the Shamrock, and the Leek. The gravels of which they are composed are as foUow, viz. : — White Derbyshire spar, for the white. Blue John, or purple fluor fspav, for the purple. "Welsh slate, for the pale blue. Pounded red brick, for the red. Pounded ycUow brick, for the yellow. Mixtures of the two last, for a lighter red or a darker yellow. Fragments of coloured glass, uniform or mixed, for various other colours, which are less HberaUy distributed. In addition to these, besides other small plots, mainly used as coloured walks or frames in which plants are set, there are seven large compartments in which the coloured gravel beds or paths form only portions of the compartments, and are intended to relieve their barrenness of flowers in winter, and combine with them in summer. To our taste the best of these are four beds, two on each side, on the level in front of the MUanese Arcades. These are traced in a continuous geometrical design, as a twisted ribbon or succession of circles, similar to designs, if not the same, as seen executed in marble on the floors of some of the churches in Italy. The three larger composite beds are, — a circular one to the south of the central basin, and a triangular one on each side of the middle walk. These are enclosed in an edging of artificial • HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. stone, and consist of an elaborate complication of design, iu which coloured gravels, Box, and bedding-out plants aU [)ear a part. The effect of this circular bed is much diminished from the want of any point of view from which to see it : being large and flat, only a part of it can be well seen at a time. The triangular compartments have both champions and oj)ponents. The point on which greatest unanimity exists is the effect of the oblong beds which form what may be called the outer frame. In 1861 the arrangement was admkable ; the bed- ding-out j)lants, to which the result was due, consisted of a wide centre of the Scarlet Crystal Palace Geranium, enclosed iu a broad purple margin of Verbena vio- lacea, which again was surrounded by a narrower fringe of Orange Crystal Palace Tropteolum. In 1862 the effect was less strikinff, but more chaste ; the fringe was composed of one of the Silver-leaved Geraniums instead of the brilliant Orange Tropseolum. The central design of these trian- gular beds has been less appreciated, probably from being less accessible to the eye. In spring these various beds are gay with Tuhps, Crocuses, and other spring flowers ; and as each successive year comes round they may be expected to become more gaUy and artisti- cally decorated, as the wants and the capabilities of the Garden become laetter known by experience. THE BOOK OF THE EOTAL Nl The flowers which have chiefly been used for the ribbon beds in the summer season arc : — ^Vhite Verbena, for the wlrite. Verbena violacea, for the purple. Crystal Palace Geranium, for the red-scarlet. Tropseolum Crystal Palace Gem, for the orange-scarlet. Calceolaria, for the yellow. Lobelia elegans, var. Lobbii, for the blue. Yellow Calceolaria surrounding Scarlet Geranium, and backed by the dull purple foliage of tlie Amarantlius melanchoUcus ruber, is also a frequent composition. Small beds, composed entirely of Yew, Holly, Skimmia japonica, or similar plants, and surrounded by a margin of the Golden Yew, are scattered over the Garden. Vases and Statues also are placed amongst the smaller beds. THE MAZE. " Where jmths within themselves encircled lie, With various windings to deceive the eye ; Such was the work, so intricate the place, That scarce the workman all its turns could trace." — Dr.YDEX. In the north-east compartment of the Ante- Garden has been laid out one of those relics of ancient horticultural skill which have almost passed into desuetude, called a Maze. These leafy stractures are of great antiquity. Ever since the days of the Minotaur they have formed an occasional divertissement in gardens, and the works of old writers on gardening contain A. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. exhibited in the International Exhibition, but space was denied it. The species whieli lias f)roduced it is Eucalyptus viminalis, or the White Swamp Gum. There are two other most amazing logs placed in the Ante-Garden as seats, also from Tasmania : — One, 90 feet in length by 18 inches in breadth, and 6 inches deep, was cut from the Eucalyptus glohulus, or Blue Gum of Tasmania; the other, 80 feet long by 18 inches broad, and 7 inches in height, is from the Eucalyptus gigantens, the Stringy Bark of that colony. THE BOOK OF THE EOTAL mnbraculiferd) is one of tlie most wonderful and majestic of the Palm tribe. Its stem sometimes reaches 100 feet in height, standing like a slender piUar, from the top of which expands on every side a crown of the largest leaves which any jjlant is known to produce, and which in their native country are much appreciated for their delightful shade. They are fan- shaped ; and each of them, when laid on the ground, will form a semicircle of 1 6 feet in diameter, and cover an area of nearly 200 superficial feet. From this crown springs an immense and lofty spike of flowers, which rises in a delicate, airy, pyramidal form. The bursting of the flower from its spatlie, or sheath, is accompanied by a loud exjslosion. The tree, however, is rarely to be seen in bloom, for it blows ljut once in its whole life, and, having flowered, dies. Each floret takes ujjwards of fourteen months to form and grow into ripe fmit, and the spike of flowers proceeds so leisui'ely in pei'fecting the whole crop, that it occupies thirty years in the process ; and when the last floret has ran its course, the tree itself dies. Another interesting object is placed in the western middle arcade — viz., a spar from one of the Gum-trees of Tasmania, 230 feet long. It has been cut to about half a foot square ; and although the small diameter to which it has been reduced gives a rather inadequate idea of the tree in situ, still it is an admirable specimen of these lofty New Holland Gum-trees, or Eucalypti, and wiU in a measure impress upon the mind what a tree 230 feet in length really looks like. Unfortunately, however, it is not in one piece, and thus loses some of its value ; but the pieces are aU numbered, and fitted into each other, and its authenticity is uudoul^ted. It was sent to be HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The pedestals are instructive, showing, as they do, what may be done with very plain and modest materials properly applied ; and they harmonise well with the statues. The shaft is of red brick, and the base and capitals are of white Portland stone. The jiedestals as well as the statues are due to H.E.H. the Prince Consort, he having not only suggested the idea of the pedestals, but corrected and modified their various proportions. In the centre of the Maze is placed a very pretty terra- cotta statue of Galatea, presented to the Society by Messrs. Minton & Co. A number of other interesting objects is to be seen in the Garden. Among these may be specially mentioned the stem with the leaves of a Talipot Palm, from Ceylon, which is at pre- sent lying in the Western Milanese Arcade. This Palm (Coryplia m THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL H.E.H. the Crown Princess of Prussia. They represent Tnitli and Justice, Temperance and Strength, each in sitting posture. Truth is represented looking into a mirror ; Justice with her I m hand on the book of the law ; Temperance holding a bridle ; and Strength leaning on a club. The two first are placed at the western entrance of the Maze, the two latter at the eastern. A. HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. descriptions and figures of many different kinds. Few ancient examples, however, now remain ; the best known is that at Hampton Court. The secret to find the centre is pretty much the same in them all — viz., to keep to a particular side, never leaving the hedge on that side. One side leads wong, and the other leads right. In the present Maze, if we enter by the western entrance and keopi to the left, in a single turn we find our way out again. If, undiscouraged by this, we pass the first turn, and again lean to the left, we soon meet the same fate. But if from the very first we hold unchangingly to the right, after treading many a winding, we reach the centre. If we enter by the eastern entrance, in like manner we have to keep to the left, and reach the centre by a stUl shorter route. This route is about 874 feet in length, the longest route about 1080. The total length of the ways is 1550 feet. The outer part of the hedges composing the Maze is of Holly, chiefly brought from Chiswick ; the rest is of Hornbeam, its rapid growth and close foliage in summer rendering it most suitable for the purpose. Four beautiful female statues, executed in terra-cotta, — copies of those executed by Eauch for the monument to Frederick the Great in Berlin, — are placed on pedestals, one at each of the entrances to the Maze. They form a subordinate part of the great monument from which they are taken, being seated at the corners of the upper entablature. The position of these small figures in the original monument may readUy be recognised in the accompanying engraving. They were presented to the Society by H.E.H. the Prince Consort, and are understood to have been selected for him by Ir-- I. — COREESPONDENCE BETWEEN MR. WEDGWOOD AND SIR' JOSEPH BANKS, RELATIVE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Deae Sie, ETnuEIA, June 29, 1801. I HAVE been turning my attention to the fomiation of a Horticultural Society, and have drawn up such heads as haye appeared to me necessary for the first formation of the Society. It would be proper to add a preamble, just stating the ideas of the first founders of the Society, and intimating that we wish to clash with no society at present instituted whose plans are different fi'om ours. By this means we shall give no offence to any party. By not binding ourselves to publish annually we shall not be obliged to expose ourselves to the world in an imperfect state by publishing papers not worth making public. "When you have read the enclosed, I shall be happy to have your opinion on it. I exjrect to be in London about the middle of July, and I hope you will have so settled your plans that you will be able to give me yom- company at Coote when I leave tow the middle of August. I mention it to you now, that you may have time to arrange your affairs, that I may not be disappointed again. "WTien you come again, I hope you will make some stay with me. There is now a fine opportunity to try any experiments on trees, but nobody to do it. My stay is so uncertain that I have not begun to do anything, for I could nothing effectually, as I must do every individual thing with my mvn hands. My dii-ection now is Etruria, Staffordshire. Believe me ever Yours Truly, JOHN WEDGWOOD. P.S. If you should see Sir Joseph Banks, will you be so good as to ask him APPENDIX. his opinion of the plan, and learn how far we might have a chance of having his patronage of the scheme. W. FOKSYTH, Esq., Royal Gardens, Kensington. That a Society be formed to be called " The Horticultural Society." That the object of this Society shall be to collect every information respecting the cultui'e and treatment of all plants and trees, as well culinaiy as ornamental. That every new member shall be balloted after a Society of original members has been formed, and that every such member at his admission shall pay one guinea besides his annual subscription. That a certain number of honorary members may be elected, who shall be admitted to the sittings of the Society without paying any subscriptions ; that two black balls be sufficient to reject such honorary candidate. That the Society shall fi-om time to time publish a volirme of papers of the same size and form as the Transactions of the Adelplii Society, and that each member shall be entitled to a copy, but no honorary member unless he has furnished a paper judged worthy of publication. That the Society shall annually choose a President, four Vice-Presidents, a Committee of Inspection, and a Secretary. That the Committee shall have the power of selecting the papers for publication, and that no paper shall be published before it has been read at a sitting of the Society. That no paper shall be published which does not treat of horticultural subjects. That it shall be considered within the intention of this Society to give premiums for improvements in horticulture, whenever it shall be judged expedient so to do. gjj^ SoKO Square, Juhj 31, 1801. I EETTJEN with this, Mr. Wedgwood's letter, and his plan for an Horticultural Society. I approve veiy much of the idea : I know of no trade that conceals so many valuable branches of knowledge as that of a gardener, and few subjects where the public will be more benefited by the disclosures which such a society will immediately occasion. I shall be flattered if the gentlemen who are to arrange the plan do me the honour to set me down as an original member. I am. Sir, Your very Humble Servant, JOHN WEDGWOOD. W. Forsyth, Esq., Royal Gardens, Kensington. ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. II.— LIST OF ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. The Marquess of Exeter. , , Blandford. Stafford. The Earl of Dartmouth. Coventry. „ Powis. Lord Cawdor. , , Seaforth. The Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. Sir Robert Preston, Bart. Dr. Jas. Edw. Smith. Lettsom. , , Anderson. Sim.s. The Eight Hon. Chas. Greville. The Hon. E. F. Greville. The Eev. John Grove Spurgeon. John Lloyd. Messrs. "W". T. Alton. J. T. Aiton. James Anderson. John Bell. "Wm. Corhett. Geo. Caswall. Samuel Pepys Cockrell. James Dickson. P. Delafield. Wm. Forsyth. Wm. Forsyth, Jun. Thos. Forsyth. Messrs. George Grif&ths. , , John Himneman. John Hall. ,, A. H. Hawortli. George Hibbert. John Hawkins. Thos. Andrew Knight. ,, Witshed Keen. ,, A. B. Lambert. Wm. Meyers. Alex. Malcolm. Chas. Miller. John Maitland. John Leigh Philips. John Passingliam. ,, Wm. Price. Thos. Poole. William Eashleigh, William Radley. E. A. Salisbury. , , William Salisbury. „ Geo. Sedley. ,, Harry Stoe. ,, James Stephens. ,, Dawson Turner. ,, John Trevelyan. Wm. Vaughan. ,, James Vere. John Wedgwood. The names of Lord Seaforth and Thos. Andrew Knight are not mentioned in the minutes of March 28, from which this list is taken ; but it would appear from an entry on April 11, that it had been intended to include them. c c 2 APPENDIX. III.-LIST OF OFFICE-BEARERS AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL SINCE THE FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY. Vico- Prcsidcnis. 1804— 5. J'2ai-1 of Dartinoutli, President. Kt. Hon. Sii- Jos. Banks, Bavt., K.B. James Dickson, Rt. Hon. Chas. Greville, Richard Anthony Salisbury, James Sims, M.D., John "Wedgwood, Treasurer, Rev. Alexander Cleeve, Secretary. Win. Townsend Aiton. Sir Wra. Blizzard. Rt. Hon. Isaac Corry. "VVm. Forsyth. Sir Christopher Hawkins, Bart. John Hawkins. Thomas Hoy. Lord Middleton. Charles Miller. William Meyers. WUliam Price. John Trevelyan. James Vere. 1805— 6. Earl of Dartmouth, President. Rt. Hon. Sir Jos. Banks, Bart., K.B., James Dickson, Rt. Hon. Chas. Greville, I Vice- Rich. Anthony Salisbm'y, Seereiary, {Presidents. James Sims, M.D., John Wedgwood, Treasurer, Wm, Townsend Aiton. George Caswell. Wm. Forsyth, John Hawkins. Aylmer Bourke Lambert. Charles Miller. H. Ronalds. Sir Wm. Blizzard. Earl of Coventry. Sir Chris. Hawkins. Thomas Hoy. William Meyers. William. Price. John Trevelyan. 1806—7. Earl of Dartmouth, President. Rt. Hon. Sir Jos. Banks, Bart., K.B., James Dickson, Rt. Hon. Chas. Greville, Treasurer, Rich. Anthony Salisbury, Secretary, James Sims, M.D,, John Wedgwood, W. T. Aiton. George Caswell. Wm. Forsyth. Thomas Hoy. Charles Miller, Earl Powis. Wm. Price. Vice- Presidents. James Ander.son, Earl of Coventry. Sir Chris. Hawkins. T. Andrew Knight. William Minier. H. Ronalds. 1807—8. Earl of Dartmouth, K.G., President. Et. Hon. Sir Jos. Banks, Bart., K.B.," James Dickson, Rt. Hon. Chas. Greville, Treasurer, I Viee- Rich. Anthony Salisbury, Secretary, i Presidents. James Sims, M.D., John Wedgwood, J W. T. Aiton. William Corbett. William Forsyth. A. H. Haworth. T. A. Knight. William Minier. W. Smith. 1808- Earl of Dartmouth, President. Rt. Hon. Sir Jos. Banks, Bart., K.B ., James Dickson, Rt. Hon. Chas. Greville, Treasurer} Ricli. Anthony Salisbury, Secretary, James Sims, M.D,, John Wedgwood, James Anderson, John Elliot. Sir Chris. Hawkins, Thomas Hoy. Charles Miller. Earl Powis. D. P. Watts. -9. Vice- Presidents. W. T. Aiton, George Caswell. Thomas Hoy. Charles Miller. Earl Powis, William Smith, D. P. Watts. Marquis of Blandford. John Elliot, T. A. Knight. William Minier. Lord Selsey. John Trevelyan. Bishop of Winchester. Vice-Presidents. 1809—10. Earl of Dartmouth, President. James Dickson, Rt. Hon. Charles Greville, Charles Miller, John Elliot, Treasurer. Richard Anthony Salisbury, Seeretary. W. T. Aiton. Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. T. Hoy. Thomas Andrew Knight, Earl Powis. Lord Selsey. William Smith. John Trevelyan, Bishop of Winchester. 1S4 OFFICE-BEARERS AND MEMBERS OP COUNCIL. 1810—11. 1813—14. Ejirl of Dartniontli, Pvcsidciit, Thomas Andrew Knight, President. James Dickson, ~\ Rt. Hon. Sir Jos. Banks, Bart., \ Sir Chris. Hawkins, Bai't. , I / Vice- Presidents. Charles Miller, James Dickson, i Vice- Sir Chris. Hawkins, Bart., ( Presidents. John Elliot, Treasurer, J John Elliot, Treasurer, J Eichard Anthony Salisbury, Secretary. Eichard Anthony Salisbury, Secretary. W. T. Aitou. George Anderson. Et. Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. William Anderson. Right Hon. Lord Dnndas. Anthony Carlisle- H . Griniston. John Cresswell, T. Hoy. Right Hon. Lord Dundas. W^illiam Minior. Eoger Pettiward. Lord Selsey. Thomas Reynolds. AVilliam Smith. Bishop of AVinehester. Joseph Sabine. Roger Wilbraham. 1811—12. 1814—10. Thomas Andrew Ivni^^^ht President Thomas Andrew Knight, President. James Dickson, 1 James Dickson, j Sir Cliris. Hawkins Bavt. I , ' ' / Vice-Presidents. Cliarlcs JMuier, 1 John Elliot, Treasurer, 1 ) Vice-Preside7its. Joseph Sabine, John Elliot, Treasurer, ^ Eoger Wilbraham, J Eicliard Anthony Salisbniy, Secvetari/. Richard Anthony Salisbury, Secretary. Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. George Anderson. John Bell. William Anderson. EiiJ"ht Hon. Lord Dundas. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. H d'lmston. A. Carlisle. T. Hoy. John Cresswell. Eo^er Petti ward J. Ll.Uill.a^ V^UilC William Smith, John jMaher. Thomas Reynolds. Bishop of Winchester. George Henry Noehden. Roger Pettiward. 1812—13. 1815—16. Thomas Andrew Knight, Prcsiilent. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Et. Hon. Sir Jos. Banks, Bart., "] James Dickson, | James Dickson, \ Vice- Sir Chris. Hawkins, Bart., [ Presidents. Joseph Sabine, 1 ^ , ) Vice-Presidents. Eoger Wilbraham, John Elliot, Treasurer, j John Elliot, Treasurer, J Richard Anthony Salisbnry, Secretary. Eichard Anthony Salisbury, Secretary, George Anderson, William Anderson. John Bell. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., K.B. Eight Hon. I,ord Dundas. Anthony Carlisle. H. Gi-imston. John Cresswell. T. Hoy. William Dickinson. Eoger Pettiward. Joseph Kirk. Thomas Eeynolds. John ilaher. Joseph Sabine. Roger Wiibniliam. Eoger Pettiward. Tliomas Eeynolds. isa APPENDIX. Vice-Presidents. Vice-Presidents. 1816— 17. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. John Cresswell, ] James Dickson, Jolm Elliot, Treasurer, Roger "Wilbraliam, > Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Thomas Hare, Assistant-Secretary. George Anderson. William Anderson. John Braddick. Right Hon. Lord Dundas. Joseph Kirke. Roger Pettiward. Thomas Reynolds. Richard Anthony Salisbury . 1817— 18. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. John Cresswell, \ James Dickson, John Elliot, Treasurer, Roger Wiihraham, / Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Thomas Hare, Assistant-Secretary. George Henry Koehden, Vice-Secretary. John Braddick. Joseph Kirke. Wilham Malcolm. George, Earl of Mountnorris. Roger Pettiward. Thomas Reynolds. Alexander Seton. 1818— 19. Thomas Andrew Knight, President, John Cresswell, -i James Dickson, John Elliot, Treasurer, Roger AVilbraham, J Joseph Sabine, Secretary, Thomas Hare, Vice- Secretary, August, 1819.* Geo. Henry Noehden, 7we-5cc. , May, 1819.* John Braddick. Alex. MacLeay, "William ]\rEileolm. Sir O. Moseley. Earl of Mount I>f orris. Hugh Ronalds. Richard Anthony Salisbury. Alexander Seton. • Dr. Noehden resigned ITtli August, in consequence of going ahroad, and Mr. MacLeay was elected member of Couocil in his place, and Mr. Hare to flll the office of Vice-Secretarj-. Vice-Presidents. Vice-Presidents. Vice-Presidents. 1819— 20. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. John Cresswell, James Dickson, John Elliot, Treasitrer, Roger Wilbraham, > Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Thomas Hare, Vice-Secretary. Alexander MacLeay. William Malcolm. John Motteux. George Henry No ehden, elected 18 Jan., 1820. Thomas Reynolds.* Hugh Ronalds. Richard Anthony Salisbury. Claude Scott. Alexander Seton. • Replaced, on hia death, by George Henry Noehden. 1820— 21. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. James Dickson, ■] John Elliot, Treasurer, John Motteux, Roger Wiihraham, J Joseph Sabine, Secretary. George Henry Ifoehden, Vice-Secretary. Edward Barnard. John Cresswell. Thomas Hare. George Loddiges. Sir Charles Long. Alexander MacLeay. William Malcolm. Claude Scott. 1821— 22. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. James Dickson, ■) Jolm Elliot, Treasurer, Claude Scott, Roger Wiihraham, J Joseph Sabine, Secretary. George Henry Noehden, Vice- Secretary. Edward Barnard. George Loddiges. Sir Charles Long. Alexander MacLeay. John Motteux, Richard Anthony Salisbury. Alexander Seton. John Walker. Vice-Presidents. OFFICE-BEAEEES AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. 1822— 23. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. James Dickson, John Elliot, Treasurer, Alexander MacLeay, Sir Claude Scott, Joseph Sabine, Secretary, Edward Barnard, Vice-Secretary. The Earl of Aberdeen. William Griffin. Robert Heniy Jenkinson. George Henry Noeiiden. Hugh Ronalds. Richard Anthony Salisbury. Alexander Seton. John Walker, 1823— 24. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. The Earl of Aberdeen, John Elliot, Treasurer, Alexander MacLeay, John Walker, Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Edward Barnard, Vice-Secretary. Samuel Brookes. Alexander Henderson. Charles Holford. Robert Henry Jenkinson. Joseph Kirke. Hugh Ronalds. Sir Claude Scott. Alexander Seton. 1824— 25. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. The Earl of Aberdeen, John Elliot, Treasurer, Robert Henry Jenkinson, John Walker, and after his death Alexander MacLeay, Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Edward Barnard, Vice- Secretary. Samuel Brookes. Henry Moreton Dyer. Alexander Hendei-son, M.D, Charles Holford. Joseph Ku'ke. George Loddiges. Richard Anthony Salisbury. Sir Claude Scott. 187 Vice-Presidents. Vice-Presidents. Vice- Presidents. 1825— 26. Tliomas Andrew Knight, President. The Earl of Aberdeen, John Elliot, Treasurer, Alexander Henderson, M. D., Robert Henry Jenkinson, Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Edward Barnard, Vice- Secretary. The Duke of Bedford. Samuel Brookes. Charles Holford. George Loddiges. Richard Anthony Salisbmy. Sir Claude Scott. Alexander Seton. James Young. 1826— 27. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Duke of Bedford, John EUiot, Treasurer, Alexander Henderson, M.D., Robeii: Henry Jenkinson, Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Edward Barnard, Vice- Secretary. Earl of Aberdeen. William Thomas Brande. John Lee. George Loddiges. Sir Claude Scott. Alexander Seton. Comte de Vandes. James Young. 1827— 28. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. John Elliot, Treasurer^ Alexander Henderson, M.D., Robert Henry Jenkinson, Sir Claude Scott, Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Edward Barnard. Duke of Bedford. Henry Moreton Dyer. Right Hon. William Huskisson. John Lee. William Malcolm. Alexander Seton. Comte de Vandes. James Young. Vice-Presidents Vice-Presidents. Vice - Prt'.'i ide, ii fs: APPENDIX. son, M.D., [ kinson, J Vice-Presidents. 1828— 29. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Hemy Moreton Dyer, John Elliot, Treasurer,^ Alexander Henderson, Rohert Henry Jenkinson, Joseph Sabine, Secretary. Edward Barnard. John Lee. George Loddiges. William Malcolm. Roger Pettiward. The Marquess of Salisbury. Sir Claude Scott. Alexander Seton. Comte de Vandes. • Replaced, on his rpsigrnation. Dee. 9th, 1828, in consequence of ill-healtli, by Mr. U. H. Jenkinson, as Treasurer. 1829— 30. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Henry Moretou Dyer, "l Alexander Henderson, M.D., ) Vice- Presidents E. H. Jenkinson,+ Treasurer^) Joseph Sabine, Secretary. + Edward Barnard. Earl of Dartmouth. Thomas Hoblyn. John Lee, George Loddiges. William Malcolm. Roger Pettiward. 1" Comte de Vandes. f Nicholas Aylward Vigors. John Wood, M.P.+ t Resigned March 16th, and replaced on April 6th by— George Bentham, Richard Bllgh, The Earl of Carnarvon, Peter Grant, and Waiiam Hams on. 1830— 31. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Edward Barnard, Earl of Carnarvon, i „ -j < \ Vice- Presidents. Henry Moreton Dyer, Alexander Henderson, M.D., , Alexander Seton, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Richard Bligh. Peter Grant. William Hanison. John Alexander Henderson. Thomas Hill. John Lee. Geoi'ge Loddiges. l^icholas Aylward Vigors. Vice-Presidents. Vice-Presidents. 1831— 32. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Edward Barnard, The Earl of Carnarvon, Henry Moreton Dyer, Alexander Henderson, J\LD., J Alexander Seton, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Richard Bligh. N. W. Ridley Colboriie, M.D. James Gooden, Peter Grant. John Alexander Henderson. Thomas Hill. George Loddiges, Earl of Powis. 1832— 33. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Edward Barnard, "] The Earl of Carnarvon,* Henry Moreton Dyer, Alexander Henderson, M,D., J Alexander Seton, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Richai-d Bligh. Richard Chandler. Major-General Thomas Bligh St. George. James Gooden. Peter Grant. Thomas Hill. Aylmer Bourke Lambert. George Loddiges. • Died during the year. 1833— 34. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Edward Barnard, \ Henry Moreton Dyer, ) Vice-Presidents. Alexander Henderson, M.D., J Alexander Seton, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Dr. Bostock. Hasler Capron. Richard Chandler. Earl Fitzwilliam. Major-General Thomas Bligh St. George. James Gooden. Peter Grant. Joseph Kirke. Aylmer Bourke Lambert. 183 OFFICE-BEARERS AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. 1834— 35. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Edward Barnard, ) Heniy Moreton Dyer, ) Vice-Presidents. Alexander Henderson, M.D., J Alexander Seton, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Charles Barclay. Dr. Bostock. Hasler Capron. Richard Chandler. Major-General Thomas Bligli St. George. Josepli Kirke. Aylmer Bourke Lambert. George Loddigcs. R. H. Solly. 1835— 36. Thomas Andrew Knight, President. Edward Barnard, Henry Moreton Dyer, \ Vice-Presidents. Alexander Henderson, M.D., J Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Charles Barclay. Dr. Bostock. Charles Brown. Hasler Capron, James Robert Gowen. Joseph Kirke. Aylmer Bourke Lambert. George Loddiges. R. H. Solly. 183G— 37. Thomas Andrew Kniglit, President. Edward Barnard, ] Henry Moreton Dyer, ) Vice-Presidents. Alexander Henderson, M.D., J Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Dr. Bostotk, Hasler Capron, now Hollist. James Robert Gowen. John Alexander Henderson. Charles Holford. Joseph Kirke. George Loddiges. E. H. Solly. Sir Henry M'illock. 1837—38. Tliomas Andrew Knight, President. Edward Barnard, Henry Moreton Dyer, ) Vice-Presidents. Alexander Henderson, M.D., J Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Duke of Devonshire. James Robert Gowen. John Alexander Henderson. Charles Holford. Lancelot Holland. George Loildiges. Hon. AV". F. Strangways. R. H. Solly. Sir Henry Willock. Presidents. Vice-Prcsiden fs. 1838— 39. T. A. Knight,* The Duke of Devonshire, Edward Barnard, Henry Moreton Dyer, Alexander Henderson, M. D., George Loddiges, Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Henry Bevan. Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, Bart. John Alexander Henderson. Charles Holfoi'd. Lancelot Holland. Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart. Hon. W. E. Strangways. ■ Died May lltli, 1838, and replaced by the Duke of Devonshire. 1839— 40. Duke of Devonshii-e, President. Edward Barnard, \ Henry Moreton Dyer, Alexander Henderson, M.D. George Loddiges, ) Thomas Etlgar, Treasurer. George Bentham, Secretary. Henry Bevan. Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, Bart. James Robert Gowen. Thomas Harris. Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart. E. W. Pendarves. R. H. Solly. Vice-Presidents. APPENDIX. 1 Vice-Presidents. 1840— 41. Duke of Devonshire, President. Henry Moretou Dyer, ') Alexander Henderson, M.D., Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., George I^oddiges, J Thomas Edgar, Trecmcrcr. George Bentham, Secretary. Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, Bart. Edward Forster. James Robert Gowen. Thomas Harris. E. W. Pendarves. John Rogers, Juu. R. H. Solly. "William Henry Fox Talbot. 1841— 42. Duke of Devonshire, President. Henry Moreton Dyer,* R. H. Solly, Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., ) Vice-Presidents. George Loddiges, Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart., Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. Alexander Henderson, M.D., Secretary. Edward Barnard. George Bentham. Earl of Dartmouth, Edward Forster. James Robert Gowen. E. W. Pendarves. "William Haseldine Pepys. John Rogers. Vice-Presidents. * Died durinff tlie year, and replaced aa Vice-President byE,. H. Solly, aiid as member of Council by the Earl of Diirtniouth. 1842—43. Duke of Devonshire, President. Sir Charles Lemon, Bart, "1 George Loddiges, Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart., R. H. Solly, J Thomas Edgar, Trectsurer. Alexander Henderson, M.D., Secretary. R. W. Barchard. Edward Barnard. Earl of Dartmouth. James Robert Gowen. Sir "William J. Hooker- Earl of Ilchcster. "William Haseldine Pepys. John Rogers. 1843— 44. Duke of Devonshire, President. The Earl of Auckland, ^ Sir Philip de M. G. Egerton, Bart., Vice- Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., f Presifknts. Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart. J Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. Alexander Henderson, M.D., Secretary. R. "W. Barchard. Edward Barnard. Earl of Dartmouth. Robert Hutton, Earl of Ilchester. George Loddiges. "William Haseldine Pepys. R. H. Solly. 1844— 45. Duke of Devonshire, President. Earl of Auckland, Sir Philip de M. G. Egerton, Bart., I Vice- Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., Presidents. Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart., ^ Thomas Edgar, Trcasitrcr. Alexander Henderson, M.D., Secretary. R. "W. Barchard. Robert Hutton. George Loddiges. Sir William Middleton. "William Haseldine Pepys. LoT'd Prudhoe. Sigismund Rucker, Jun. R. H. Solly. Bart., 1 1845—4(5. Duke of Devonshire, President. Earl of Auckland, "i R. W. Barchard, [ Vi,:c- Sir Philip de M. G. Egerton, Bart. , [ Presidents. Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., J Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. James Robert Gowen, Secretary. Robert Hutton. George Loddiges. Sir "William Middleton. "William Haseldine Pepys. Henry Pownall. Lord Prudhoe. Sigismund Rucker, Jun. C. B. AYarner. OFFICE-BEARERS AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. 1846—47. 1849 — 50. Duke of Devonsliire, President. Duke of Devonshire, President. Earl of Auckland, Lord Ashburton, ] R. W. Barehard, Vice- Sir Philip de M. G. Egerton, Bart., 1 Vice- Sir Philip de M. G.Egerton, Bart., / Presidenis. Sir Charles Lemon, Bart, [ Presidents. Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., J Duke of Northumberland, ' Thomas Edgar, Treasit/r&r. Robert Hutton, Treasurer. James Robert Gowen, Secretary. James Robert Gowen, Secretary. Colonel Edward Baker. John Jackson Blandy. Frederick George Cox. Colonel Challoner. Robert Hutton. Dr. Daniel. Sir 'Williara Middleton. J. E. Denison. Henry Pownall. Sigismund Kucker, Jun. R. W. Eyles. Sir George Staunton. C. B. Warner. Dr. Jackson. W. W. Salmon. Bishop of Winchester. 1847—48. Duke of Devonshire, President. J-O JU i ■ Earl of Auckland, Duke of Devonshire, President. R. W. Barchard,* ] Vicc- Lord Ashburton, Sir Philip de M. G.Egerton, Bart., f Presidents. J. E. Denison, Vice- Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., Duke of Northumberland, / Presidents. Thomas Edgar, Treasurer. Bishop of Winchester, J James Robert Gowen, Secretary. James Robert Gowen, Treasurer. Colonel Edward Baker. Dr. Daniel, Secretary. John Jackson Blandy. J. Barchard. E. G. Cox.t R. W. Eyles. John Jackson Blandy. Robert H^^tton. Duke of Northumberland. Colonel Challoner. W. W. Salmon. R. H. Solly. R. b. Holtora. Sir George Staimton. C. B. Warner. Robert Hutton. * Died Feb. 1B48, and replaced by W. W. Salmon. Dr. Jackson, + Died June. 1&47, and replaced by R H. Solly. W. W. Salmon. James Morgan Strachaii. 1848—49. Duke of Devonshire, President, 1851—52. Lord Ashburton, Duke of Devonshire, President. Earl of Auckland, % Lord Ashburton, -\ J. J. Blandy, Viec-P residents. SirPhilipdeM. G.Egerton, Bart., 1 Vicc- Sir Charles Leraon, Bart., Duke of Northumberland, [ Presidents. Duke of Northumberland, . Bishop of Winchester, J Robert Hutton, Treasitrer. James Robert Gowen, Treasurer. James Robert Gowen, Secretary. Dr. Royle, Seeretai-y. Dr. Daniel. John Barchard. J. E. Denison. John Jackson Blandy. Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egcrton, Bart. Colonel Challoner. R. W. Eyles. Robert Hutton. W. W. Salmon. J. 3. Schi'oder. Dr. Jackson. Sir George Stamiton. C. 3. Warner. Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. % Died Jan. 18*9, and replaced by I^rd Asbburton. W. W. Salmon. James Morgan Strachan. 191 ^11 APPENDIX. 1852—53. 1855—56. Duke of Devonsliive, President, Duke of Devonshire, President. Lord Aslibiirton, ^ Sir Philip de M. G. Egerton, Bart, Sir Philip cle M. G. Egertou, Bart., [ Vice- Duke of Northumberland, [ Vicc<- Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., ( Presidents. Sir Samuel Morton Peto, Bart., [ Presidents. James Morgan Strachan, J Right Hun. Laurence Sidivan,* J James Robert Gowen, Treasurer. Dr. Jackson, Treasurer, f Dr. Royle, Secretary. Dr. Royle, Secretary. John Jackson Blandy. John Jackson Blandy. Colonel Challoner. Colonel Challoner. James Gadesden. James Robert Gowen.* R. S. Holford. Rev. W. B. L. Hawkins. Robert Hutton. Robert Hutton. Sir Joseph Paxton. James Morgan Strachan.* Dr. Jackson, OH 1 euei 1 oie, nait. G. Rushout. AV. W. Salmon. * Resijfned Feb. 185G, and replaced by the Rev. Levison Vernon Harcourt, James Veitcli, Jun., John Spencer. + Replaced on his death by Mr. William Wilson Saunders, who was elected August 14th, la^o. 1853—54, Duke of Devonshire, President. Sir riiilip de M. G. Ej^erton, Bart., ^ Rohert Hutton, Vicc- Duke of Northumberland, I Presidents. James Morgan Strachaii, J James Robert Gowen, Treasurer. Dr. Royle, Secretary. John Jackson Blandy. Colonel Challoner. James Gadesden. R. S. Holford. Dr. Jackson. Sir Peter Pole, Bart. 185G— 57. Duke of Devonshire, President. John Jackson Blandy, ^ Rev. Levison Vernon Harcourt, 1 Yice- Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P., [ Presidents. Sir Samuel Morton Peto, Bart., J W. Wilson Saunders, Treasurer. Dr. Royle, Secretary. H. G. Bohn. Colonel Challoner. Rev. W. B. L. Hawkins. John Lee. Conrad Loddiges. Sigisinund Rucker. John Spencer. James Veitch, Jun. George Rushout. Rt. Hon. Laurence Sulivan. 1857—58. 1854 — 55. Duke of Devonshire, President. Sir Philip de M. G. Egerton, Bart. , ^ Robert Hutton, 1 Vice- James Morgan Strachan, / Presidents. Right Hon. Laurence Sulivan, J James Robert Gowen, Treasurer, Dr. Royle, Secretary. John Jackson Blandy. Colonel Challoner. General Fox. James Gadesden. Rev. W. L. Hawkins. Dr. Jackson. George Rushout. J. C. Whiteman. H.R.H. the Prince Consort,) „ V Presidents. Duke of Devonshire, + J John Jackson Blandy, ^ Charles Wentworth Dilke, 1 Vice- Rev. Levison A^'ernon Harcom't, [ Presidents. Bishop of Winchester, ) W. WUson Saunders, Treasurer. Dr. Royle, Secretary. § H. G. Bohn. Colonel Challoner. John Lee. Conrad Loddiges. Sigismund Kucker. J. R. Scott. John Spencer. James Veitch, Jun. % Replaced on his death by H.R.H. the Prince Consort, who was elected March 2iid, 1^58. 5 Replaced on his death by Dr.Lindley, who was elected March 2nd, 18o8. 19-2 I \ OFFICE-BEARERS AND 1858— 59. H.R.H. The Prince Consort, President. John Jaclisoii Blandy, '\ Charles Wentworth Dilke, I Vice- Eev. Levison Vernon Harcourt, f Presidents. Sir John W. Ramsden, Bart., J "W. Wilson Saunders, Treasurer. Dr. Lindley, Secretary. H. G. Bohn. Colonel Clialloner. Robert Glcndinuing. S. H. Godson. John Lee. J. R. Scott. John Spencer. James Veitch, Jun. 1859— GO. H.R.H. The Prince Consort, President. John Jackson Blandy, ^ Charles Wentworth Dilke, I Vicc- Earl of Ducie, [ Presidents. Rev. Levison Vernon Harcourt, J W. Wilson Saunders, Tremv/rer. Dr. Lindley, Secretary. H. G. Bohn. Colonel Challoner. Earl of Dncie. Charles Edmonds. Professor Henfrey. John Lee. J. R. Scott. James Veitch, Jun. May, 18G0, to Feb. 1862. H.R.H. The Prince Consort, President.* John Jackson Blandy, Sir Wentworth Dilke, Bart, Earl of Ducie, Rev. Levison Vernon Harcourt, + The Bishop of Winchester, ' Died Dec. Hth, 1861, and not replaced until next annivci-sary meeting, Feb. 11th, 18(12. + Replaced on his death by the Bishop of Winchester, who was elected Sept. 1th, IbtiO. Vice- Presidents. Vice-Presidents. Mat, 1860, to Feb. 1862 {continued). W. Wilson Saunders, Treaswrer. Dr. Lindley, Secretary. John Clutton. Charles Edmonds. S. H. Godson. Henry T. Hope. John Lee. Henry Pownall. James Veitch, Jun. Robert Wrench. 18G2. Duke of Buccleuch, President. John Jackson Blandy, Sir Wentworth Dilke, Bart., Earl of Ducie, Bishop of Winchester, ) W. Wilson Saunders, Treasurer. Dr. Lindley, Secretary. John Clutton. R. Cooper. John Fleming. S. H. Godson. John Lee. Henry Pownall. Earl Somers. James Veitch, Jun. 1863. Duke of Buccleuch, President. John Jackson Blandy, "1 Sir Wentworth Dilke, Bart. , I Earl of Ducie, Dr. Lindley, J John Clutton, Treasure'. W. Wilson Saunders, Secretary. Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart. R. Cooper. Rev. Joshua Dix. John Fleming. S. H. Godson. John Kelk. John Lee. James Veitch. Vice-Presidents. 193 I Y.— ORIGINAL CHARTER OF THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. object of the Society. Incorpora- tion. Power to purcbiiae Goods and Lauds. To sue and be sued. Gboege the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these presents shall come. Greeting : Whereas several of our loving Subjects are desh-ons of forming a Society for the Improvement of Horticulture in all its branches, ornamental as well as useful, and having subscribed considerable sums of money for that purpose, have humbly besought us to grant imto them and such other persons as shall be approved and elected as hereinafter is mentioned, Our Eoyal Charter of Incoi'poration for the pm-poses aforesaid : Know Ye, that We, beiiig desirous to promote such improvement, have, of our especial grace, cei'tain knowledge, and mere motion. Given and Granted, and we do hereby Give and Grant, that Our Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Cousin and Counsellor George Earl of Dartmouth, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Our Eight Trusty and Wellbeloved Cousin and Coun- sellor Edward Earl Powis, our Eight Reverend and Wellbeloved Father in God Brownlow Lord Bishop of Winchester, Our Eight Trusty and Well- beloved John Lord Selsey, Our Eight Trusty and Wellbeloved Counsellor Charles Greville, Our Eight Trusty and Wellbeloved Counsellor Sir Joseph Banks, Baronet and Knight of the Most Honom'able Order of the Bath, Our Trusty and Wellbeloved William Townsend Aiton, John Elliot, Thomas Andrew Knight, Charles Miller, Eichard Anthony Salisbmy, and John Trevelyan, Esquires, and James Dickson, Thomas Hoy, and William Smith, Gardeners, and such others as shall fi-om time to time be appointed and elected in the manner hereinafter directed, and their Successors, be and shall for ever hereafter continue to be, by virtue of these Presents, one Body Politic and Coiijorate, by the name of " The Hobtioultueal Society of London ; " and them and their Successors, for the purjjoses aforesaid. We do hereby constitute and declare to be one Body Politic and Coi'porate, and by the same name to have perpetual Succession, and for ever hereafter to be Persons able and capable in the Law, and have power to purchase, receive, and possess any Goods and Chattels whatsoever, and (notwithstanding the Statutes of Mortmain), to purchase, hold, and enjoy, to them and their Successors, any Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments whatsoever, not exceeding, at the time or times of purchasing such Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments respectively, the yearly value at a Eack Eent of One Thousand Pounds in the whole, without incuning the penalties or forfeitures of the Statutes of Mortmain, or any of them : and by the name aforesaid to sue and THE ORIGINAL CHARTER. be sued, plea and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in all Courts and places whatsoever, of Us, our Heirs, and Suc- cessors, in all Actions, Suits, Causes, and Things whatsoeyer ; and to act and do in all Things relating to the said Corporation in as ample manner and form as any other Liege Subjects, being Persons able and capable in the Law, or any other Body Politic or Corjjorate, in our said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, may or can act or do : and also to have and to To use a Common use a Common Seal, and the same to change and alter fi-om tune to tmie as seal, they shall think fit. And We do hereby declare and grant that there shall bo an indefinite Number of number of Fellows of the said Society ; and that they the said George Earl definite, of Dartmouth, Edward Earl Powis, Brownlow Lord Bishop of Winchester, First For ^ John Lord Selsey, Charles Greville, Sir Joseph Banks, William Townsend Alton, John Elliot, Thomas Andrew Knight, Charles Miller, Richard Anthony Salisbury, John Trevelyan, James Dickson, Thomas Hoy, and AVilliam Smith, shall be the first Fellows of the said Society, and that any five or more of them, all having been first duly summoned to attend the Meetings of the said Fellows, shall and may, on or before the First day of May next ensuing the date of those presents, under their respective hands, in writing, appoint such other persons to be Fellows, Honorary Members, and Foreign Members of the said Society, as they may respectively think fit. And We do further declare and grant, that, for the better Rule and CoimcUaiid Omcere. Government of the said Society, and for the better du-ection, management, and execution of the Business and Concerns thereof, there shall be thenceforth for ever a Council, President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the said Society, to be elected in manner hereinafter mentioned ; and that such Council shall consist of fifteen Members to be elected from among the Fellows as herein- after directed, whereof any five shall be a quorum ; and We do hereby First Comi- nominate and appoint the said George Earl of Dartmouth, Edward Earl cers named. Powis, Brownlow Lord Bishop of Winchester, John Lord Selsey, Charles Greville, Sir Joseph Banks, William ToTOsend Alton, John Elliot, Thomas Andrew Knight, Charles Miller, Richard Anthony Salisbury, John Trevelyan, James Dickson, Thomas Hoy, and William Smith, to be the first Council ; the said George Earl of Dartmouth to be the fii'st President ; the said Charles Greville to be the first Treasurer ; and the said Richard Anthony Salisbury to be the first Secretary to the said Society : all and each of the aforesaid Officers and Coimsellors to continue in such their respective Ofifices until the First day of May One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ten : and that the said George Earl of Dartmouth shall have power to appoint such four Persons from and amongst the Members of the said Council, to be Vice-Presidents of the said Society, as he shall think fit, until some other Persons shall be chosen in their respective rooms, in the manner heremafter mentioned. And it is Our fui'ther Will and Pleasure that the Fellows of the said Annual Re- moval of Society, or any eleven or more of them, shall and may, on the First day of three Mem- ISo APPENDIX. bers of Comidl and Election of threii others. Annual Election of Officers. Vacancies occiisioned by death. Appuuit- mcnt of other Offi- cers. Appoint- ment of Vice Presi- dents. Election and Removal of Members. The Council empowered to make By- Laws. May One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ten, and also shall and may on tlie First day of May in every succeeding year, unless the same shall happen to be on a Sunday, and then on the day following, assemble together at the then last or other usual place of meeting of the said Society, and proceed, by method of Ballot, to put out and amove any three of the Members who shall have composed the Council of the preceding year, and shall and may in lilie manner by method of Ballot elect three other discreet Persons from amongst the Fellows of the said Society to supply the places and offices of such three as may have been so put out and removed ; it being our Eoyal Will and Pleasure that one-fifth of the said Comicil and no more shall be annually changed and removed by the Fellows of the said Society : .Ajid also that they the said Fellows, or any eleven or more of them, shall and may at the time and in manner aforesaid, by method of Ballot, elect from amongst the Members of the said Council, when formed and elected in manner aforesaid, three fit and proper Persons ; one of such Persons to be President, another of such Persons to be Treasurer, and the other of such Persons to be Secretary of the said Society for the year ensuing : And also, in like manner, shall and may, in case of the death of any of the Members of the Council, or of the President, Treasurer, or Secretary for tlie time being, within the space of two months next after such death or deaths, in like manner elect other discreet Persons, being Fellows of the said Society, to supply the places and Offices of such Members of the said Council, or of the President, Treasurer, or Secretarj' so dying : And also shall and may ajipoint such other Persons to be Officers of the said Society for the year ensuing as they may think proper and necessary for the transacting and managing the Business thereof. And it is Our further Will and Pleasure that, so soon after the Elections aforesaid as conveniently may be, the Person who shall at any time hereafter be elected to be President of the said Society, in manner aforesaid, may and shall nominate and appoint four Persons, being Members of the said Council, to be Vice-Presidents of the said Society for the year ensuing. And We do further declare and grant, that, from and after the first day of May now next ensuing, the Fellows of the said Society, or any seven or more of them, shall and may have power from time to time at the general Meetings of the said Society, to be held at the usual place of meeting of the said Society or at such other place as shall have been in that behalf appointed, by method of Ballot, to elect such Persons to be Fellows, Honorary Members, and Foreign Members of the said Society, and all Fellows, Honoraiy Members, and Foreign Members, to remove from the said Society as they shall think fit. Provided that no such Fellow, Honorary Member, and Foreign Member shall be declared elected or removed, unless it shall appear upon such Ballot that two- thirds of the Fellows present at such Meeting shall have voted for the same. And We do further declare and grant that the Council hereby appointed, and the Council of the said Society for the time being, or any three or more of them (all the Members thereof having been first duly summoned to attend THE ORIGINAL CHARTER. the Meetings thereof), shall and may have power according to the best of their judgment and discretion to make and establish such By-Laws as they shall deem useful and necessary for the Regulation of said Society, and of the Estate, Goods, and Business thereof, and for fixing and determining the times and places of meeting of the said Society, and also the times, place, and manner of electing, appointing, and removing all Fellows, Honoraiy Members, and Foreign Members of the said Society, and all such Subordinate Officers, Attendants, and Servants as shall be deemed necessary or useful for the said Society ; and also for filling up from time to time any vacancies which may happen by death, removal, or otherwise, in any of the Offices or Appointments constituted or established for the execution of the Business and Concerns of the said Society ; and also for regulating and ascertaining the qualifications of Persons to become Fellows, Honorary Members, and Foreign Members of the said Society, respectively ; and also the Sum and Sums of Money to be paid by them respectively, whether upon admission or otherwise, towards carryuig on the purposes of the said Society ; and such By-Laws, from time to time, to vary, alter, or revoke, and make such new and other By-Laws as they shall think most useful and expedient, so that the same be not repugnant to these Presents or the Laws of this our Realm. Provided that no By-Law hereafter to be made, or alteration or repeal of By-Laws to ^ be conlirmeo any By-Law which shall hereafter have been established, by the said Council by Baiiot at a General hereby appointed, or by the Council for the time being of the said Society, Meeting, shall be considered to have passed and be binding on the said Society, until such By-Law or such alteration or repeal of any By-Law shall have been hung up in the Common Meeting-Room of the said Society, and been read by the President, or any one of the Vice-Presidents for the time being, at two successive General Meetings of the said Society, and until the same shall have been confirmed by Ballot by the Fellows at large of the said Society ; such Ballot to take place at the ensuing Meeting next after such two Successive General Meetings of the said Society, seven at least of the Fellows of the said Society being then present : and Provided that no such By-Law, or alteration or repeal of any By-Law, shall be deemed or taken to pass in the affirmative, unless it shall appear upon such Ballot that two-thirds of the Fellows present at such Meeting shall have voted for the same. Witness His Majesty at Westminster, the 17th day of April, in the Forty- ninth year of Our Reign. By Writ of Privy Seal, WILMOT. 19T E E APPEXDIX. v.— NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS OP THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. VICTORIA, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these presents shall come. Greeting : First inoor- 1. WHEREAS THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LoHBON, hereinafter poration of the Society refciTcd to as " the said Society," was incorporated by Royal Letters Patent by Letters «/ ./ Patent, 49 uiider the Great Seal of om- said United Kingdom, bearing date at West- minster the 17th day of April in the 49th year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Thu-d, for the purpose of the improvement of Horticulture in all its branches, ornamental as well as useful. First 2. And whereas it has been represented to Us, that the said Society has between the scdulously pursucd and successfully promoted the objects for which it was sioners of incorporated : And it has been also represented to Us that, with the view ot hitionof still further promoting such objects, an aiTangement was lately entered into the Society, between the Commissioners for the Exliibition of 1851 (hereinafter referred to as " the Commissioners ") and the said Society, which is contained in certain Articles of Agreement, dated the 24th day of July, 18G0, and scaled with the corporate seals of the Commis.sioners and the said Society respectively, whereby it was agreed (amongst otlier things) : &st, that a piece of land at Kensington Gore, containing 20 acres, or thereabouts, part of the estate of the Commissioners, should be leased to the said Society for a term of years ; secondly, that the said Society, immediately after the execution by the said Commissioners of certain earthworks, should lay out and construct on the land an ornamental garden, with walks, trees, slu'ubs, terraces, steps, fountains, bai^-houses, statues, and vases, and at the north end of the said land a conservatory or winter garden, and expend not less than £50,000 ; and, thirdly, that the Commissioners, simultaneously with the progress of the works of the said Society, shoitld at their ovra cost enclose the said land with arcades, distinguished as the upper arcades, central arcades, and lower arcades respectively, and that the upper arcades (except the parts thereof coloured green in the plan annexed to the said Ai-ticles of Agreement), and certain rights and easements as to the use or enjo}'ment of the central and lower arcades and the excepted parts of the upper arcades, should be included in the lea,se of the said land, and that the Commissioners shall expend the sum of £50,000 about such earthworks, and in erecting the said arcades. And it is also represented to Us, that under the said Articles of Agreement the sum of £40,000 (part of the £50,000 to be expended by the said Society) is to be raised by debentures 19S KEW CHARTER ASV AGREEMENTS. (the remainder of the £50,000 having been already raised hy donations and ^Jjt^ftif " fees on the admission of Life Members), and divers stipulations or aOTeements commia- ^ _ ^ aioners (co'/i- are made thereby or contained therein for the application and disposition of 'i«»<«- the income of the said Society, it being part of such arrangements that the " receipts from the gardens," consisting of and including the moneys and income therein mentioned in that behalf, should be applied or disposed of in the following manner, viz., out of the gross amount of the " receipts from the gardens," such a sum as shall from time to time be allowed by the Committee hereinafter mentioned, in respect of the expenses therein mentioned of the said Society, and of carrying on the operations and concerns thereof, is in the first place to be retained by the said Society ; secondly, there is to be then retained by the said Society, out of such receipts, the amount which may be, from time to time, payable by the said Society in respect of interest, not exceeding £5 per cent, on the sum of £40,000, to be borrowed on debentures as aforesaid, or on so much of the said sum of £40,000 as may remain impaid or undischarged ; and, thirdly, there is then to be paid by the said Society to the Commissioners, as rent, the yearly sum of £2145, if the receipts shall be adequate for such pa3'ment, after retaining to the said Society the sums authorised to be retained by them, as therein mentioned, for the expenses and for the interest respectively aforesaid ; but otherwise, such a sum only as shall be equal from year to year to the residue of the receipts over and above the sums so in precedence ; and if there shall remain any surplus over and above the several payments hereinbefore mentioned, out of the " receipts ft'om the gardens," there is to be paid to the Commissioners for their own use and as additional yearly rent, a sum equal to half such sm'plus ; and, ftu-ther, that by the said Articles of Agreement, it is provided or stipulated that for the purpose of regulating the amoimt to be retained by the said Society in each year for expenses, a Committee shall be appointed annually, which Committee is to consist of six persons, three of whom are to be appointed by the Gomrais- sioners and three by the said Society, and any three of such Committee are to form a quorum, so as one, at least, shall be a person appointed by the Commissioners, and one shall be a person appointed by the said Society ; and as vacancies occur in each year, by death, incapacity, or resignation, such vacancies are to be tilled up respectively by the Commissioners or the said Society, according as the original appointments were made by them respec- tively ; and farther, that the Committee is from time to time to select one of those Committee-men who have been appointed by the Commissioners as Chairman of such Committee, and he is to have an equal vote with the other Committee-men for the time being acting, and in case of equality a casting vote in addition ; and the Committee is to have power to make bye-laws for their owa government in the execution of the duties confided to them ; and that it is also thereby pronded or stipulated that the said Society shall devote and apply towards the liquidation of the debt of £40,000, to be raised by debentm-es as aforesaid, tlu-ee-fifths of the money actually received by them APPENDIX. ft-om time to time, in respect of the " receipts fi-om the gardens," after the retentions and payments aforesaid fi'om and out of the " receipts irom the gardens," for expenses and interest by the said Society and the rent to the Co mm issioners , and divers other agreements or stipulations for can-ying into effect, or consequent on, or relating to the said arrangement are contained in the said Articles of AgTeement. Second 3. And whcrcas it is fiu'ther represented to Us, that by a Supplemental Agreement ' .j l ^ with Com- Agreement, dated the 20th day of November in the year 1860, and made and entered into m like manner between the said Commissioners of the one part, and the said Society of the other part (in which the said piece of land ia refen-ed to as " the gardens "), an arrangement has been made between the said parties for the occupation by the said Society of some additional land of the Commissioners shomi on the plan annexed to such supplemental Agree- ment by a red colom- adjoining or near "the gardens" (which additional land the Commissioners had, for the reason thereiu mentioned declined to include in the lease to be granted imder the first-mentioned Agreement), and for an access to " the gardens " by means of a lane or path shown on the same plan, marked with the colour " brown," and by the said supplemental Agreement the interest of the said Society in or with respect to the said additional land, and the right of the said Society with respect to such access, with the duties and rights of the said Society concerning the said additional land and access respectively are defined (the rent payable by the said Society in respect thereof being the nominal rent of Is.), and power is reserved to the Commissioners at any time to resume possession of such additional land, and also, upon pro- viding another road as therein mentioned, to stop up or take away the said road by or over which there is such access as aforesaid afforded to " the gardens." Third Agree- 4. And whereas it is further represented to Us, that by further Articles of CominTa-''' Agreement, dated the 1st day of March, in the year 1861, made and entered sioiiers. j^^^ manner between the said Commissioners of the one part, and the said Society of the other part ; after reciting the aforesaid Articles of Agree- ment of the 24th day of July, 1860, and setting forth divers of the clauses or provisions contained in the same Articles, and reciting that the said Society and the Commissioners are each desirous of respectively having the right of increasing the outlay by them respectively imdertaken to be made by the said therein-recited Agreement, to any amount not exceeding as to each of them the sum of £10,000 over and above the respective sums of £50,000 by them respectively undertaken to be laid out as aforesaid, and of acquiring such rights and privileges as in the said further Agreement now in recital appear in respect of such additional outlay if made, it is thereby mutually agreed between the Commissioners and the said Society (amongst other things) that the said Society may at any time before the 1st day of January, 1864, borrow, or take up on their debentures or other securities, any .sum or sums of money not exceeding in the whole the sum of £10,000 in addition to the sum of £40,000 in the said therem-recited Agi-eement mentioned as 200 NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. havina; been borrowed, or for the borrowing of which arrangements had been ThMAgiee ° ' o o ment with made, and may within the like period lay out and expend the smn or sums so borrowed in addition to the original sum of £50,000 therein mentioned of the tinmd). said Society, in and about such works and things as are in the clause in the said Agreement now iu recital refeiTed to as the 1st clause of the said therein- recited Agreement (being the clause secondly mentioned in the recital herein- before contained of such Agreement) undertaken to be done by them, and in and about which such original sum of £50,000 is required by that clause to be expended, and that the Commissioners may at any time before the 1st day of Januaiy, 1864, lay out and expend such smn or smns of money as they may thihk fit, not exceeding in the w'hole the sume of £10,000, in addition to the original sum of £50,000 in the clause iu the said Agreement now in recital refeiTed to as clause 2 of the said therein-recited Agreement (being the clause thirdly mentioned in the recital hereinbefore contained of such Agree- ment) mentioned in and about such works, matters, and things as by that clause are undertaken to be done by them, and in and about which the same sum of £50,000 is required by that clause to be expended by them, and further that in case both or either of the parties thereto should think fit to make any such outlay, such parties respectively or party shall have no claim or demand against the other of them or against the gardens, or against the receipts fi'om the gardens, save and except as thereinafter mentioned ; t'icle- Ucet, that witli a view to compensate such parties respectively, or party, in some degree for such additional outlay, the following alterations should be made in the said therein-recited Agreement and in the lease to be granted pm-suant thereto, videlicet, the 14th clause (which provides for the application and dis- position of the " receipts from the gardens," as hereinbefore mentioned) shall be altered and amended as follows, viz : — Out of the gross amount of tlie receipts fi'om the gardens there shall be first retained by the said Society such a sum as shall from time to time be allowed by the Expenses Committee, mentioned in the therein and first herein-recited AgTcement in respect of the expenses mentioned in the said Agreement now in recital, being the same expenses as in the said therein and first herein-recited Agi-eement are directed to be first retained by the said Society from and out of the " receipts from the gardens." 2ndly. There shall be then retained by the said Society out of such receipts the amoimt which may be ft'om time to time payable by the said Society in respect of interest not exceeding £5 per cent, per annum, on the sum of £40,000 originally borrowed or agreed to be borrowed by them on debentures as aforesaid and on any further smn or sums they may borrow and expend in accordance with clause 1 of the Agreement now in recital, not exceeding £10,000, or on so much of the original and additional sums as for the time being may have been raised and shall not have been paid off ; and, 3rdly, there shall then be paid by the said Society to the said Commissioners, as rent, the yearly sum or sums therein and hereinafter in that behalf mentioned, if the receipts shall be adequate for such pajmrent, after retaining to the said 201 APPENDIX. Third Agree- Socicty tile sums authoi'iscd to be retained by tliem under the first and second mcnt with , n ™ t Commis- heads of the present clause, but otherwise such a sum only as shall be equal 8ionei-s (con- j> , iitimd). irom year to year to the residue of the receipts over and above the sums so m precedence, videlicet, if the Commissioners shall limit their outlay under clause 2 of the said therein and first herein-recited Agreement to £50,000, then the yearly sum of £2145, only, but if under clause 2 of the Agreement now in recital they shall expend a larger sum, then an addition shall be made to such rent at the rate of £4 5s. for erery additional £100 which the Commissioners shall think fit to expend in accordance with that clause, not exceeding £10,000 in the whole. And if there shall remain any surplus over and above the said several payments thereinbefore directed to be made or retained out of the " receipts from the gardens," there shall be paid to the Commissioners for their own use, and as additional rent, yearly (whether or not they make any additional outlay), a sum equal to half such surplus, and that it is by the said Agreement now in recital also provided {inter alia) that the clause (therein referred to as the 17th clause) of the said therein and first herein-recited Agreement relating to the application of the three-fifth shares of the said Society towards the liquidation of the said debentm'e debt of £40,000 shall be altered as follows : videlicit, the said Socicty shall devote and apply towards the liquidation of their debenture debt (whether it amount to the original sum of £40,000 only, or any increased amount imder the authority of clause 1 of the Agreement now in recital,) three-fifths of the money actually received by them from time to time in respect of the " receipts from the gardens," after the payments directed to be retained out of the said receipts for expenses and interest by the said Society and the rent to the Commissioners, . and that certain alterations consequential on the execution of the said Agreement now in recital are thereby made in the other agreements or stipulations contained in the said therein and first herein-recited Agreement and herembefore men- tioned or refeiTed to. TiieiieooB- 5. And whereas it is fmihor represented to Us that, in consequence of the obfecteo? arrangement and the several Articles of Agreement respectively aforesaid, and Charter. in oi'dcr that the same and the objects thereof may, so far as regards the said Society, be fully carried into effect, it is necessaiy or expedient that the consti- tution of the said Society should be in some respects altered, and that the powers of the said Society should be enlarged, and it is also represented to TJs that the usefulness of the said Society would be increased thereby, and that the said Society ha§ consented thereto. Therefore We have been besought to grant unto the persons now composing the Horticultural Society of London, and such other persons as shall be approved of and elected as hereinafter mentioned. Our Eoyal Charter of incorporation for the purposes aforesaid, and with and under such powers and directions as hereinafter mentioned. And it is Our will and pleasure that such Society shall henceforth be called " The EoYAL Horticultural Society." aiiroftiie 6. Kow know ye, that We, being desirous of promoting the objects of the NEW CHAETEE AND AGEEEMENTS. said Society, and of increasinsr tlie usefulness thereof, hare, of Oiu- especial Members of \ ^ ) ) 1 the pi-eBcnt Errace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, given and granted, and We do Society, and hereby give and grant, That Our right, trusty, and wcll-boloYed Cousin to be »i3-^^^^^ Henry John, Earl Ducie, Fellow of the Eoyal Society ; Charles Eichard, elected Lord Bishop of Winchester, Prelate of the Most Noble Order of the Garter ; mentioned, Jolm Jackson Blandy, John Glutton, Charles Wentworth Dilke the younger, tion ot the Charles Edmonds, Septimus Holmes Godson, Henry Thomas Hope, John society^ Lee, Henry Pownall, James Veitch the yoimger, and Eobei-t Wrench, (being respectively some of the persons now composing the Hoi-ticultural Society of London,) and all other persons now (with the persons respectively hereinbefore named) being Fellows or Members of the said Society, and such others as from time to time shall be appointed and elected in the manner hereinafter directed, and their successors, be and shall for ever hereafter continue and be, by virtue of these presents, one body politic and coiporate, by the name of " The Eoyal Horticultm-al Society ; " and them and their successors, for the Corporate pm-poses for which the Horticultm-al Society of London was incorporated by the same Letters Patent, and with and subject to such additions and modifi- cations to or in the same purposes as appear in and by or flow from, or are consequent on, the said an-angcment between the said Commissioners and the said Society, and the said Articles of Agreement of the 24th day of July, 1860, and of the 20th day of November, 1860, and of the 1st day of March, 1861, respectively. We do hereby constitute and declare to be one body politic and corporate, and by the same name to have pei'petnal succession, and for ever hereafter to be persons able and capable in the law, and to have power to hold and to pm-chase, receive and possess the goods and chattels J",™'''"^, already vested in or belonging to the Horticultural Society, incorporated by and lands the recited Letters Patent, and any other goods and ' chattels whatsoever, mg to tie and (notwithstanding the Statutes of Mortmain) to hold and to purchase, hold to pnrchase and enjoy to them and their successors, any lands, tenements, and heredita- ither goods ments whatsoever, including as well the lands, tenements, and hereditaments """^ now vested in or belonging to the said Society, or agreed to be leased to them as hereinbefore recited, as all other lands, tenements, and hereditaments wheresoever situate, such other lands, tenements, and hereditaments not exceeding in the whole the annual value of £5000, without incm-ring the penalties or forfeitm-es of the Statutes of Mortmain or any of them, and by the name aforesaid to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be To sne^and answered unto, defend and be defended, in all courts and places whatsoever of Us, Om' heu's and successors, in all actions, suits, causes, and things whatso- ever, and to act and do in all things relating to the said corporation in as ample manner and foim as any other Our liege subjects being persons able and capable in the law, or any other body politic or corporate in om' said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, mav or can act and do, and To use « common also to have and to use a common seal, and the same to change and alter from seal, time to tune as they shall think fit. APPENDIX. Fellows. 7. And We do hereby declare and grant that the several persons who respectively now are as aforesaid Members or Fellows of the first-mentioned Society, shall be or continue Members or Fellows, and shall be and con- tmue subject and liable to all such duties and obligations as they are now subject or liable to as Members or Fellows of the first-mentioned Society, and that all such persons as shall be appointed and elected as hereinafter mentioned shall likewise become or bo Fellows or Members of " tlie Society " hereby incorporated, wliich is hereinafter referred to as " the Society." cmmcii and 8. And Wc do further declare and grant, that for the better rule and government of " tlie Society," and for the better direction, management, and execution of the business and concerns thereof, there shall be henceforth such bodies and officers as are respectively hereinafter mentioned ; that is to say, there shall be for ever a Council, one President, a Treasurer, and a Secre- tary of "the Society," appointed, and to be elected in manner hereinafter mentioned, and with reference to the said Articles of Agreement, dated the 24th day of July, 18G0, between the said Commissioners and the " said Society," and so long as " the Society " shall hold and use or enjoy as afore- said the said lands mentioned in the same Articles of Agi-eement of the Commissioners at Kensington Gore in pursuance of the said arrangement, The Ex- there shall be a Committee for regulating the amount to be retained by " the cSSttee Society " in each year from the " receipts from the gardens " for expenses, amng?" The said Council shall consist of fifteen members appointed and to be elected ^"en'tie as hereinafter mentioned, whereof any five shall be a quorum. The said Sonera' and Committee shall be appointed as hereinafter mentioned. And We do hereby the Society. j^Qmijiajg ^ud appoint or confirm Our well-beloved Consort His Eoyal Highness The coim- Priucc Albert, K.G., the said Earl Ducie, the said Bishop of Winchester, the said John Jackson Blandy, the said John Clutton, the said Charles Wentworth Nomination Dilke the youugcr, the said Charles Edmonds, the said Septimus Holmes SmSii. Godson, the said Henry Thomas Hope, the said John Lee, Jolm Lindley, F.E.S., the said Henry Pownall, William Wilson Saunders, F.E.S., the said James Veitch the younger, and the said Robert Wrench (who constitute the present Council of " the Society ") the Council. And we do hereby ftirther nominate and appoint or confirm His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort President, (uow being President) the President, the said William Wilson Saunders Treasnrer. (now being the Treasurer) the Treasurer, and the said Jolm Lindley (now Secretary, being the Secretary) the Secretary, of " the Society," (all and eacli of tlie aforesaid Councillors and Oificers to continue in such their respective offices until the second Tuesday in the month of February, 18G2 ; and as regards such of the said Councillors as shall not be balloted out ft'om time to time as hereinafter mentioned, they shall continue in office until so balloted out). vico-Presi- And Wc do also hereby nominate and appoint and confirm the said Earl Ducie, Bishop of Winchester, John Jackson Blandy, and Charles Wentworth Dilke (being the present four Vice-Presidents) to be the Vice-Presidents of XEW CHAETEE AXD AGREEMEXTS. " the Society," until some other persons shall be chosen in their respective rooms in the manner hereinafter mentioned. 9. And with respect to the said Committee to be appointed for regulating The conati- tlie amount to be retained by " the Society " for the expenses aforesaid from mode ot the " receipts from the gardens," We do hereby further declare and grant the eS-'"* that such Committee shall consist of six persons, three of whom shall be committee, appointed by the Commissioners, and three by the Council of " the Society," as hereinafter mentioned, and any three of such Committee shall form a quorum, so as one at least shall be a person appointed by the Commissioners and one appointed by " the Society." As vacancies occur in each year by death, incapacity, or resignation, such vacancies may be filled respectively by the Commissioners and " the Society " respectively, according as the original appointments were made by them respectively. The Committee shall fi-om time to time select one of those Committee-men who have been appointed by the Commissioners as Chairman of such Committee, which Chairman shall have the power of voting on all occasions equally with the other Committee- men for the time being acting ; and such Chairman, in case of equality, shall have a casting vote in addition, and the said Committee shall hare power to make bye-laws for then- own government in the execution of the duties confided to them. 10. And it is our will and pleasure also, that the Fellows of "the Society," Anmiai ^ remuval of or any 1 1 or more of them, shall and may, on the second Tuesday m the Members of month of February in the year 1862, and on the second Tuesday in the month appoint- of Februaiy in every succeeding year, assemble together at the then last or other offi- other usual place of meeting of "the Society," or some other convenient place (which meeting shall be called the " Annual Meeting,") and that at each and every such meeting the Fellows then present shall proceed by method of ballot to put out and remove some three of the Members of the Council of the preceding year, and shall and may, by method of ballot, elect three other discreet persons fi'om amongst the Fellows of " the Society," to supply the places of such tlu'ee as shall have been so put out and removed (so that one- fifth of the Council shall be yearly removed and renewed by ballot as aforesaid). And it is Our will and pleasin-e also, that at each and every annual meeting the Fellows then present shall and may, in manner aforesaid, elect from among the Members of the Council for the year next ensuing, the President, Treasurer, and Secretary of " the Society " for such ensuing year (each of such offices to be filled by a distinct person), and also elect, as well in the first instance as annually fi'om time to time afterwards ft'om the members of "the Society," three persons, to fonn (with the three Committee-men appointed or to be appointed by the Commissioners,) the Expenses Committee aforesaid for the year ensuing ; and in case of the death or incapacity from any cause whatever of any of the Members of the Council, or of the President, Treasurer or Secretary for the time being, or of any of " the Society's " Committee-men aforesaid, either before the first of the annual meetings APPENBIX. Annual removal of Members of Council and appoint- ment of other oificera (cDi(- tiiu'.ffd ). Resignation and removal of Members of Council. Secretary may be a pilid ofUcer. Expenses Committee may be paid. Annual ap- pointment aforesaid or between any two of such annual meetings, the said Council shall and may nominate or appoint some other discreet person or persons, being a Fellow or Fellows of "the Society," to supply the place or places of the Member or Members of Council and of the President, Treasm-er, and Secretary respectively, and of the Committee-man or Committee-men respec- tiTely, or any or either of them respectively, so dying or becoming incapable, until the annual meeting next following such nomination or appointment ; and such Member or Members of Council, President, Treasm'cr, and Secretary, and Committee-men or Committee-man respectively so nominated or appointed as aforesaid, shall until and on such next annual meeting be deemed to stand respectively for all purposes in the place of the person or persons respectively, or officers respectively, in or to whose place they respectively shall have been so nominated or appointed or should have succeeded ; and further, as regards any Member or Members of Coimcil dying or becoming incapable before the first annual meeting aforesaid, or in the interval between any two such annual meetings as aforesaid, and whose place or places shall not be supplied by the said Council as aforesaid, the place or places of such Member or Members of Council shall at tlie first or next annual meeting after the vacancy be supplied from the Fellows of " the Society," by ballot as afore- said, and in such case the number of Fellows to be balloted out at such meeting shall be proportionably reduced, it being Our will and pleasure that the vacancy or vacancies by reason of death or incapacity, not supplied by the Council, and actually existing at the time of any annual meeting, shall be treated and supplied as and in lieu of a vacancy by ballot. And it is also our will and pleasure that any such annual meeting as aforesaid may accept the resignation of, or for incapacity remove, any one or more of the Members of the Council for the time being, and elect hi manner aforesaid any person or persons from among the Fellows in the place or places of the Members so retiring or being removed, in addition to the Member or Members which the Fellows present at such meeting are hereinbefore authorised to elect. And further, that it shall be lawful for any such annual meeting to resolve that the Secretary of " the Society " shall be a paid officer, and, accordingly, that such salary or compensation slrall be paid to him as shall be determined by the said meeting, but in such case the Secretary shall be incapable of being a Member of the Council, and such meeting shall in manner aforesaid thereupon appoint a Member of Council in his place. And it shall also be lawful for any such annual Meeting to resolve that the tlu'ee Members appointed by the Society to form part of the Committee for regulating the amounts to be retained by the said Society for the expenses aforesaid shall be paid, and accordingly that such salary or compensation shall be paid to them as shall be detei-mined by the said meeting, but in such case the said Members of such Committee shall be incapable of being Members of the Council, and such meeting shall in manner aforesaid thereupon appoint Members of Council in their place. 11. And it is Our further will and pleasiu-e, that so soon after the elections NEW CHAETEE AMD AGREEMENTS. aforesaid as conveniently may be, tlie person who sliall at any time hereafter of vice- be elected to be President of the said Society in manner aforesaid may and hy the shall nominate and appoint fom- persons, being Members of the said Council, to be Vice-Presidents of " the Society " for the year ensuing. 12. And it is Our fmther will and pleasure that the three persons who Arpoint- . ment of t]ie shall be appointed by the Commissioners Members of the said Expenses qommis Committee shall be appointed simultaneously with or immediately before or three Mem after the appointment of the Members of the said Committee who shall be Expenses appointed by the Council, and that notice thereof shall be given by the Commissioners to " the Society " at the time of or immediately after the said appointment by " the Society," and that such Committee shall continue for the year ensuing. Nevertheless, on the death or incapacity of any or either of the Committee-men appointed by the Commissioners before the expiration of their or his year of office, the place of such deceased or incapable Committee- men respectively, or Committee-man, may be forthwith supplied by the Commissioners, and the person or persons so appointed shall continue in office mitil the time at which the deceased or incapable Committee-man would have vacated his office, if living. 13. And We do fm-ther declare and grant, that on, or at any time and Election and ^ removal ot from time to time after, the said second Tuesday in February, 1862, the Fellows. Fellows of " the Society," or any seven or more of them, shall and may have power at the general meetings of " the Society," to be held at the usual place of meeting of the Society, or at such other place as shall have been in that behalf appomted by open voting (unless five or more Fellows then present shall in writing require a ballot, and in such case by method of ballot,) to elect such persons to be Fellows, Honorary Members, and Foreign Members of |J.5Jjj'° " the Society " as they shall think fit, and any of the Fellows, Honorary Members, and Foreign Members for the time being to remove from " the Society," the majority of the Fellows voting, in case of open voting, to bind the minority ; in case of equality the Chairman to have a second or casting vote, but in case of a ballot no Fellow, Honorary Member, or Foreign Member shall be declared elected or removed, unless by a majority of two- thirds of the Fellows voting at such ballot. In case of a ballot scrutineers to be appointed, and the ballot to be taken at an adjourned meeting, in the like manner as is hereinafter mentioned in the 16th and 17th clauses ; and fmlher that all such persons as shall be elected Fellows or Members of " the Society" (other than Honorary and Foreign Members) shall, at the time of their election, or before they shall be entitled to enjoy the rights or privileges of members, sign a note or memorandum in writing, binding them to observe, perform, and abide by all the rules, laws, and regulations of " the Society," and that such note or memorandum shall constitute an agreement to the effect thereof with " the Society," and shall or may be enforced by " the Society ; " and provided also that if any Member should refuse or neglect to pay his first Bemovai of or any annual subscription for the space of six calendar months next after the APPENDIX. Remorai of game sliall, according to the niles or regulations of " the Society," become Fellows 1 1 T (continued), due Or payable, or shall neglect or fail in the obseryauce or perfonnance of the same rules or regulations in anymse, then such non-payment, neglect, or failm-e may be treated at any general meeting of the Fellows of "the Society" as a forfeiture by the Fellow so making default as aforesaid of his rights and privileges as a Fellow or Member of " the Society," and in case of any resolu- tion to that effect by the Fellows of " the Society " at a general meeting, every Fellow making such default shall by such default be deemed to have ceased to be a Fellow or Member, but without prejudice to the rights of " the Society " as regards the recovery of the aiTcars for the time being of the subscription of such Fellow or Member, it being hereby declared that such Fellow or Member, shall continue liable to the paj-ment of all such arrears. The arrange- 14. And it is Our further will and pleasure, and We do further declare mcnt be- i i n - tween the and grant, that " the Society " shall or may cany into effect the said an-ange- sioners and mcut bctweeii the Said Commissioners and the first-mentioned Society, and to be earned that the Couucil of " the Society " shall or may do, perfonn, and execute such acts and things as shall or may be necessary or tit or expedient for that purpose, and generally for can-ying into effect and performing on the part of " the Society " the said several Articles of Agi-eeraent, dated the 2-tth day of July 1860, and the 20th day of November 18G0, and the 1st day of March 1861, respectively entered into between the said Commissioners and the first- TUc coimcii mentioned Society, and in particular shall or may proceed to raise the said the £40,000 suiu of £40,000, whicli by the first-mentioned Ai-ticles of Agreement is and to have mentioned to be intended or to be then about to be raised by debentures, or re-boJ-row such part or parts thereof as has not now already been or for the time being fn respect^ shall uot liave bccn raised, and also when and as the said Council shall think thereof paid fit, the said further smn of £10,000, which by the said Ai'ticles of Agreement of the 1st day of March 1861, the said Council are to have liberty to borrow, or any part or parts thereof, and shall or may from time to time raise again or re-borrow any part or parts or siun or sums of money, in respect of any money which shall at any time or from time to time be paid off or discharged, of or in respect of the said sums of £40,000 and £10,000, or any part thereof respectively, and shall or may for the puiposes aforesaid, or any of them, or by way of security to the lenders, issue and deliver such debentures or other securities on behalf of or upon the property of " the Society " as the Coimcil shall think fit, and without incmTing any personal responsibility on account or in respect of the moneys now already raised or so to be raised or borrowed or raised again or re-borrowed, or by virtue of or under such debentm-es or secm'ities, or in anywise howsoever in respect thereof, or of the matters The Council aforcsaid, or any of them ; and We do herebv declai'e and grant that neither indemnified " t i tj? i? i from lia- the Counoll of " the Society " nor any persons acting for or on behalf of " the aoconnt of Socicty " lu tlic matter of the arrangement and the several Articles of Agree- into the said ment, shall be personally responsible on account or in consequence thereof in I NEW CHAETEE AND AGREEMENTS. anywise howsoeyer, and that they shall be respectively indemnified by or from tlie funds or property of " the Society " against all losses, costs, damages, and expenses, by reason or in consequence of the said arrangement, or the execution of the said Articles of Agreement or in relation thereto. 15. And We do ftu'ther declare and grant that the Council for the time being of " the Society," or any five or more of them (all the members thereof having been first duly summoned to attend the meetings thereof), shall and may have power, according to the best of their judgment and discretion, to make and establish such bye-laws as they shall deem useful and necessary for the regulation of " the Society," and of the estate, goods, and business thereof, and for caiTying into effect, on behalf of "the Society," the said arrangement between the Commissioners and the first-mentioned Society, and the said several articles of Agreement, and the affairs in general of " the Society," and all matters or things in anywise relating thereto, and such bj-e- laws from time to time to vary, alter, or revoke, and make such new and other bye-laws as they shall think most useftil and expedient, so that the same be not repugnant to these presents or the laws of this Our realm. And fui'ther that the present existuig bye-laws of the said Society shall continue in force in their integrity, and shall be binding upon the Society hereby incoi'porated and the Members thereof, except and in so far as they shall bo repealed or altered by any bye-law hereafter to be made by " the Society." 16. Provided that no bye-law hereafter to be made or alteration or repeal of any bye-law which shall hereafter have been established by the said Council hereby appointed, or by the Council for the time being of "the Society," shall be considered to have passed and be binding on " the Society " mitil such bye-law, or such alteration or repeal of any bye-law, shall have been adopted or confirmed at some general meeting of the Fellows at large of " the Society," either with or subject to any additions or amendments to or in the same which shall be resolved upon or adopted by such meeting (it being competent for any Fellow present at such meeting to propose or move any such addition or amendment) or in its integrity. The votes upon such bye- laws or any of them or the alteration or repeal in or of any such bye-laws or bye-law, or upon any motion or resolution relating thereto, to be by open voting, unless any five Fellows present shall object to open voting, and shall require, by notice in writing to that effect signed by them and delivered to the chairman, the voting to be by ballot. In the case of open voting, the majority shall bind the minority, tlie Chainnan may vote, and in case of equality may give a second or casting vote ; and provided that in the case of a ballot (but not in the ease of open voting) no bye-law or alteration or repeal of any bye-law, shall be deemed or taken to pass in the affirmative, unless it shall appear that two-thirds of the Fellows voting shall have voted for the same. In every case of voting by ballot two Scrutineers shall be at once appointed by the Chairman, the Fellows present may proceed forthwith to vote, and the meeting shall be adjom-ned to some day, not beuig less than five ment with the Com- missioners. The Council empowered to malvc byc-l;iws. Bye-laws to be conlirmed at a General Meeting of FeUows. Amend- ments may be miide .at the meeting ill liye-laws proposed by the Council. Voting may be open or bybaUot, i( required by five Fellows jircsent. APPENDIX. days nor more than ten days from the original meeting, for taking or continuing sucli ballot, of which adjoraned meeting, and of the object thereof, notice shall be given in some newspaper circulating in London two days at least before the day of such adjomiied meeting. Aimuai 17. And, lastly, every annual meeting shall be deemed a general meeting, sSibf and the Council may call at any time and from time to time any other genSuione. general meeting of the Fellows of the Society. In case of a ballot under the 13th and 16th clauses respectively, the ballot shall be taken at an adjourned meeting on some day to be appointed at the general meeting at which the same shall be required within ten days next after such general meeting between the hours of twelve o'clock at noon and three in the afternoon. In Witness whereof We have caused these Om' Letters to be made patent — Witness Ourself at Our Palace at Westminster this Eighth day of May in the 24th year of Our reign. Agreements behveen Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 and the Horticultural Society for the Lease to the Society of a portion of the Commissioners' estate at Kensington Gore. ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, Articles of Ageeejieot made this 24th day of July in the year of our Lord 1860, between the Commissioners for the Exliibition of 1851 (herein- after referred to as " the Commissioners "), of the one part, and the Hoi-ticul- tm'al Society of London (hereinafter refeiTed to as "the Society") of the other part. Whereas the Society being desfrous of obtaining a suitable area in or near the metropolis for an ornamental garden, in which they may exhibit and display the progress of Horticultm-e, and to which they propose to admit not only their Members and the holders of transferable tickets to which certain Life Members are and will be entitled, and also the holders of such debentures as are hereinafter mentioned (without any pa)Tnent), but other visitors on payment (by such visitors) of fees for admission, have applied to the Commissioners for a lease for that pm'pose of a portion of their estate at Kensington Gore hereinafter described ; and the Commissioners, being satisfied that the intended operations of the Society will extend the influence of the Science and Art of Horticulture upon productive industry, and that tlie formation of the said garden will be beneficial to their neighboming property, have agreed to grant such lease on the terms hereinafter appearing. And whereas it has been agreed that certain earthworks for altering the levels of the land to be demised, as well for the permanent improvement thereof as for facilitating the operations of the Society, and certain arcades on the bound- 210 NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. aries of the said land which as to some of them or some part or parts thereof Preamble {cmtinueii). shall be leased to the Society as hereinafter mentioned, and as to others or other part or parts of such arcades, shall or may be used by the Society as hereinafter mentioned, and may be available for other improvements on the estate of the Commissioners, and which may be connected with buildings which the Conunissioners may hereafter cause or allow to be erected on their estate, should be formed and erected at the espense of the Commissioners, and that the other works upon the ground to be demised should be constructed and done at the expense of the Society. And whereas the land proposed to be demised as aforesaid is that piece or parcel of land at Kensington Gore, in the county of Middlesex, containing 20 acres or thereabouts, the abuttals and boundaries of which, and the sites of the proposed erections thereon or connected therewith, are particularly delineated on the plan hereunto annexed, and the Commissioners have caused to be commenced the earthworks hereinbefore mentioned. And whereas the Society, for the pm-pose of defraying the exi^ense of the works to be done by them on the premises to be raised by Debentures demised, have entered into engagements for raising the sum of £40,000 by debentures, the residue of the sum of £50,000 (the amount agreed to be expended by the Society) having been obtained by them by donations and fees on the admission of Members for life. Now it is hereby mutually cove- nanted and agreed between the Commissioners and the Society, each covenant- ing for all matters and things to be done and forborne by them respectively as follows : — 1. The Society shall, immediately after the execution of the earthworks The Society which have been commenced as aforesaid, enter upon the said land for the giirden, ' purpose of laying out and constructing, and will forthwith lay out and approvlf of construct an ornamental garden, with walks, trees, shrubs, teiTaces, steps, ' fountains, band-houses, statues, and vases, and in addition thereto with a conservatory or winter garden at the north end. The Society may also erect on the said land such oflRces and other buildings as may be necessary and convenient for the caixying on the affairs and business of the Society. The whole of the above-mentioned works to be done to the satisfaction and subject to the approval of the Commissioners ; and the said ornamental garden, with the works coimected therewith, to be in a state fit for opening to visitors within six months after the Commissioners shall have finished the arcades hereinafter referred to. The Society will exjiend in laying out and con- structing the said garden, with the works and buildings aforesaid, a smn of not less than £50,000. 2. The Commissioners, simultaneously with the progress of the works iiecom- hereby undertaken by the Society, will at their own cost enclose the said to enclose gi'ound with arcades of an architectm-al character, as indicated in the said arcades, &c. plan. As respects the upper arcades coloured orange in the said plan, such lessUian"' arcades shall be substantial and fini.shed buildings. But as respects the central and lower arcades, colom-ed blue and yellow in the said plan, the same APPEXDIX. Commis- sionors to grant a Buildings which are to be included in lease. Right of way and promenade over those portions of the arcades not included in lease. Right to erect stalls reserved to Commis- sionerg, with sueli access thereto as may be allowed by Society. Society not to let stalls in arcades without consent of Commis* sioners. Sale of re- freshments. Commis- sioners to have power to arch over entrances into garden. Right is may bo of a more temporary natm-e. The Commissioners will expend the sum of £50,000 in and upon such earthworks as aforesaid, and in erecting the said arcades. 3. If the Society shall complete the works undertaken by them as expressed in the first clause of this Agreement, the Commissioners will grant to the Society a lease of the land and the garden and of the erections to be made or built thereon by the Commissioners and the Society respectiveh', as after-mentioned, for a term of 31 years, to be computed from the 1st day of June 18G1, on the terms and conditions following. 4. The buildings to be included in the lease shall be all such as are to be erected by the Society, and also the said upper arcades, except the parts coloured green in the said plan. The said excepted parts of the upper arcades, and the central and lower arcades shall not be so included, but shall remain the absolute property of the Commissioners, subject to a right of way or promenade therein or thereunder during the continuance of the said lease, to be allowed to the Society and their yisitors in such mode and to such extent nevertheless as respects the lower arcades, as not to prejudice or prevent the erection or letting of stalls in such lower arcades by and for the benefit of the Commissioners, wliicli privilege, and the granting to the occupiers of stalls (but not to strangers, unless by payment by or for them to the Society of the usual charge for the admission of strangers to the gardens on the day on which such right shall be enjoyed,) right of way thereto by such access as may from tune to time be appointed by the Society, the Commissioners e.xpressly reserve to themselves ; and the Commissioners also reserve to themselves the moneys received from such occupiers in respect of the stalls ; and such moneys are not to be considered for the puiijose of the provisions hereinafter contained as receipts from the garden, but shall belong wholly to the said Commis- sioners. And the said Society is not, without the consent of the Committee hereinafter mentioned, in any of the arcades to be demised to them, to let any part thereof for stalls or the sale of any matters (except refi'eshments). And with respect to the sale of refreshments, the sale thereof in the arcades to be demised to the Society shall continue only until suitable permanent arrange- ments for the supply of the refreshments shall (with tlie consent of the Society) have been made by the Commissioners. 5. It is understood that the Commissioners or their assigns are to have full power to arch over, if they should think fit, all or any part of the entrances or ways into the garden, for the purpose of erecting over the space thereof any buildings, and to erect for the purposes of the arches, or of the superstructure, piers or columns on any part of the ground appropriated to such entrances or ways, so far as the same may be done without obstructing the convenient access to the garden so far as respects the entrance on the west side ; and in regard to that on the east side, so far as may not interfere with the meethig rooms and offices proposed to be erected there by the Society ; and the demise and gi-ant of rights to the Society, of or in respect of the NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. arcades, is not to preiudice the right of the Commissioners to erect, or allow i-osorvcd to to be erected, any superstructure on or builamg connected with the arcades, ''"i™ '.'J^ (except that no superstructure shall be erected on the demised part of the ings con- upper arcades), or to take down any of such arcades for the pui-pose of arcados. erecting others of a more substantial or different character, and to suspend, so far as may be necessary, during the progress of such works the right of promenade, and use by the Society of such arcades. 6. No buildings shall be erected by the Society during the said lease with- Noimiid- out the sanction of the Commissioners, except strictly temporary buildings. |"°i'ty 7. The Society shall keep in good repair all buildings to be included in the j said lease, and all other the buildings which may be erected on the land to be commia- demised, except the excepted parts of the upper arcades and the central and sucietyto lower arcades, and the buildings by the Commissioners mentioned in Clause s„f,?ende?"'' No. 5, which last-mentioned arcades and buildings shall be kejit in good f,°'j55j|"gs repair by the Commissioners ; and the Society shall, at the end of the term, c J ' J ^ ? tei-mmation give up such buildings except as aforesaid, in good repair, together with all "f the statues and works of Ai-t which may be placed or put up in the gardens, Sfdirgs, and with all fixtures, including conservatories, greenhouses, and other Statoriep" erections at any time put up on the ground, and with all slmibs, trees, and are'toblsnr- plants that may be growing thereon : Provided that the Society be at '""'loi-ed. liberty to remove all statues and works of Art, temporary conservatories, greenhouses and other temporary structures put up by them, or with their consent, and paid for out of then' own funds, after the conunencement of the said term (except in the cases where the payments for such statues or works, conservatories, greenhouses, or other structures, shall have been allowed to them out of, or as part of, the cun-ent expenses of the said garden, by the Committee hereinafter mentioned). 8. The Society shall use the demised premises for the purpose for which they have applied for the lease of the same as hereinbefore expressed, and for mises for no no other ; and if, in the management or dealings with the demised premises, posrthm a the Society do or propose any act, matter, or proceeding which, having regard to the tenns and stipulations of these presents, shall, in the judgment of the Commissioners, be held unreasonable, and be deemed to be prejudicial to the demised premises, or the other property of the Commissioners, or to their rights, the Commissioners shall have full power to prohibit the act, matter, or proceeding in question, and the Society shall abstaui or forthwith discontinue the act, matter, or proceeding so prohibited. 9. The Society shall insm-e from loss by fire all such of the buildings to Society to be erected on the premises demised as the Society is under Clause A 0. 7 loss by fii-c. bound to repair. 10. The Society shall not assign, underlet, or otherwise part with the lease ^J'J,""'. to be so granted, or the ijremises to be so demised, except with the consent ui ™j'5jjjj' writing of the Commissioners. sanction ot ^ Coinmia- 11. All moneys received n-om Fellows of the Society, who have already sioners. 213 G G APPENDIX. What moneys to be considered capital. Accoinits to be kept by Society. moneys received from com- po.sitiun.'^. Di.spoa.ll of moneys received. 1. In pay- signified their intention of compounding, and who have paid or shall pay such composition, and all sums receired from new Life Members elected prior to the 1st day of June, 18G1, shall be considered capital, and belong to, and may be invested or used by the Socie'ty for the purpose of redeeming out- standing debentures, or otherwise. 12. The Society shall cause to be kept an account of all moneys received by them in respect of the admission to the garden^, and of all moneys received by them from Members for annual subscriptions (not compositions from Fellows nor life-memberships) received or subscribed for subsequent to those whicli are included in the amoimt of £50,000 mentioned in the recital to these presents, and all moneys paid or to be paid for admission of any person to the Society on terms conferring any right of entering the gardens, all which moneys and such proportion or annual sums from time to time as liereinafter mentioned, of or in respect of the moneys received for compositions from Fellows who shall, after the execution of these presents, signify their intention of compounding, and for life-memberships of Fellows elected after the said 1st day of June, 1801, are to be considered and are hereinafter referred to, as "receipts from the gardens," and such accoimts shall be rendered, and the rents hereinafter stipulated for, so far as they can be ascertained, paid half-yearly to the Connnissioners. 13. With respect to moneys received for compositions from Fellows, who, after the execution of these presents, shall signify their intention of com- pounding, and for life-memberships of Fellows elected after the said 1st day of June, 1861, the same shall be accounted for and disposed of in manner following (viz.), the annual receipts of the Society fi'om such compositions from Fellows and from such Life Members as last aforesaid, shall be taken in making out the account above refeiTed to according to the number of such Fellows and Members respectively in existence at the commencement of each financial year, and at the rate for each of such Fellows and Members respect- ively, of one-fifteenth of the sum which he may have paid for composition, or in lieu of annual pavTnents, or for admission, namely, at the rate of £2 16s. for each Fellow or Member who may have paid £42, and at the rate of £1 8s. for each Fellow or Member who may have paid £21, and the Society shall be charged in such financial year with such " annual receipts " as part of the " receipts fi'om the gardens ; " and subject to the stipulation in the present clause, all sums of money paid to the Society for the composition of annual payments by Fellows, and for the admission of Fellows as Life Members, may be applied and disposed of as part of the general funds of the Society, or in such manner as the Society shall think fit. 14. Out of the gross amount of the "receipts fi'om the gardens" there shall be first retained by the Society such a sum as shall from time to time be allowed by the Committee hereinafter mentioned, in respect of the expenses of the Chiswick garden, or other garden in lieu thereof, to be kept up for experimental or scientific piirposes, the reasonable expenses of the manage- NEW GHAETER AND AGREEMENTS. ment of the Society, including tlie expenses of the exliibition in the demised groimds (or elsewhere, with the consent of the Commissioners) of flowers, fruits, and other articles ; bands, police, and other general and necessary expenses ; and also sums to be given for medals or prizes for competition for articles shown at such exhibitions ; and farther in respect of the cmTent expenses of the gardens, to be laid out and constructed under these presents, including the repairs to be done by the Society, costs of insm-ance and any structural or other iniproyements or ornaments which the Committee may think fit, which allowance shall from time to time proceed and be made upon a fair and reasonable basis, and so as to keep and maintain the said gardens and all the buildiugs, improvements, and ornaments upon and belonging thereto in thoroughly good order and condition. 2ndly. There shall be then retained by the Society out of sxrch receipts, the amount which may be from time to time payable by the Society in respect of interest, not exceeding 5 per cent., on tlie sum of £40,000 which they have borrowed on debentm-es as aforesaid, or on so much of the said sum of £40,000 as may remain unpaid or undischarged ; and, Srdly. There shall then be paid by the Society to the said Commissioners as rent, the yearly sum of £2,145, if the I'eceipts shall be adequate for such pajnnent after retaining to the Society the sums authorised to be retained by them under the 1st and 2nd heads of the present clause, but otherwise such a sum only as shall be equal fi'om year to year to the residue of the receipts over and above the sums so in precedence. And if tliere sliall remain any surplus over and above the said several payments hereinbefore directed to be made or retained out of the "receipts from the gardens," there shall be paid to the Commissioners for their own use and as additional rent yearly, a sum equal to half such sm'plus. 15. For the purpose of regulating the amount to be retained by the Society in each year for expenses, a Committee shall be appointed annually, which Committee shall consist of six persons, three of whom shall be appointed by the Commissioners, and three by the Society, and any three of such Committee shall form a quorum, so as one at least shall be a person appointed by the Commissioners, and one a person appointed by the Society. Seven days' notice of every meeting of the Committee shall be given in writing to each member of the Committee by a letter to be sent by the post. As vacancies may occur in each year by death, incapacity, or resignation, such vacancies may be filled up respectively by the Commissioners or the Society according as the original appointments were made by them respectively. 16. The Committee shall fi'om time to time select one of those Committee- men who have been appointed by the Commissioners as Chaumau of such Committee, which Chaiiman shall have the power of voting on all occasions equally with the other Committee-men for the time being, acting ; and sucli Chairman, in case of equality, to have a casting vote in addition ; and the Committee shall have power to make bye-laws for their own government in tlie execution of the duties confided to them. ment of necessjiry expenses. 3. In Tpiw- ment uf Uitevest nn Deljentmes. :'. In pay- ment uf Rent 4. Divisuiii (if the sur- plus. Cbairinilu (if Expenses Committee, Committee h.is power to (onke bye- APPENDIX. Society to apply tliree- fiftha of their share of surplus in liquidating debentures. Conse- quences of failure to pay rent. good. Renewal of lease. Conditions on which Commis- 17. The Society shall devote and apply towards the liquidation of the debt of £40,000 (being the amount which they have so raised by debentures as hereiubefore recited), three-fifths of the money actually received by them from time to time in respect of the "receipts from the gardens," after the payments directed to be retamed out of the said receipts for expenses and interest by the Society, and the rent to the Commissioners. 18. In case it shall happen, after the expu-ation of the first five years ot tlie lease, that the smn or sums payable thereunder to the Commissioners as rent, shall fail in every one of any five consecutive years subsequent to the first five years to be equal to the sum of £2,145 per annum, then, and in any such case, it shall be lawful for the Commissioners to re-enter upon the said demised premises, and to resume full and absolute possession thereof, with all improvements therein, and all erections thereon, and with all the plants, shrubs, and trees in and about the same, and out of whatever fund the same may have been paid for, and that without making any compensation whatsoever to the Society. Provided always, that the right of re-entry shall not arise if the Commissioners, from the commencement of the tenn, have under the aforesaid provisions, received such a sum of money for rent as would, reckoning from suclr commencement to the expiration of tlie last year in whicli such continued deficiency shall occur, amount to an average sum of £2,145 per annum. 19. The Society sliall not require the Lessors' title to be deduced, nor shall any objection be made on the ground that a part or the whole of the ground to be demised is on mortgage, and tliat the mortgagees do not concur. 20. The Society shall have the right of giving to the Commissioners, two years before the expiration of the tenn of 31 years (provided such lease shall not have been previously determined or become subject to be determined mider the proviso for re-entry liereinbefore mentioned or contained), a notice in m'iting calling upon the Commissioners to renew the lease to be so granted for a further term of 31 years, to commence at the expiration of the first tenn of 31 years, subject to all and every the terms and conditions on which the original tenn is to be granted, except the right of renewal, and except as hereinafter appears. And hi case of such notice being given, the Com- missioners (provided the original term shall not have become liable to for- feiture after the giving of such notice) will either gi'ant a renewal in accordance with such notice and these presents, or, at their option, may decline to grant such renewal on the tenns and conditions of their taking upon themselves at the end of the original tenn of 31 years, the payment of such amount of the original debentm'e debt of £40,000 as may remain unpaid and undischarged at the ex-piration of that term, provided such amount do not exceed £20,000, or upon condition of taking upon themselves the payment of £20,000 part of such debt, if there remain owing a larger sum than £20,000 at the expii-ation of such term, which sum of £20,000 so to be paid by the Commissioners shall be applied in discharge or satisfaction of the unpaid debentures for the time being rateably and without preference NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. or priority. If, on the other hand, the dehenture debt shall at the expii-ation of such term be less than £15,000, or in case there should be no part of the said debenture debt then owing or unpaid, the Commissioners, in the foimer case, shall pay to the Society such a sum as when added to the amoimt of debenture debt then owing or unpaid, shall constitute a total sum of £15,000 ; and the Commissioners shall in the latter case pay to the Society the full sum of £16,000 ; and the Commissioners shall make their election to renew or take upon themselves such payment within six calendar months fi'om the receipt of the notice requiring a renewal. If the Commissioners elect to renew, a renewal shall take place accordingly, but tlie proviso for re-entry shall be so fi-amed as to operate immediately and without a suspension of the first five years of the renewed term. 21. If the Commissioners elect not to renew, they shall give a bond under obligation their common seal to the Society, to secure the due performance of the griISedby obligation which they are to undertake in respect of the portion of debt of the Sio"™if Society, not exceeding £20,000 remaining mipaid, or of the payment of the Jj^t^j'°°' sum not exceeding £15,000 as aforesaid, as the case may be, in which bond "new. some certain day, not being more than 12 months from the date thereof, shall be named for the principal sum of money thereby conditioned to be paid, and in the meantime interest at the rate of £5 per cent, per annum shall be payable thereon. 22. The costs of the original lease and counterpart, and of any renewal, coatsof and of these presents shall be paid by the Society. J-enewaUo 23. If either of the parties hereto shall differ as to the constraction of the sod"™''^ terms and provisions herein contained, or the mode in which this present Differences agreement is to be executed, or as to the provisions to be contained in any by arbitra- lease to be granted in pursuance of these presents, then all questions in ' difference shall, on the application of either party, be determined by an arbitrator to be named in writing by Her Majesty's Attorney-General for the time being ; and the decision of such arbitrator in wiiting, within the time, and as shall be du-ected by the said Attorney-General, shall be binding on all parties. In ivitness whereof, the Commissioners and the Society have hereunto aflixed their Common Seals above written. SUPPLEMENTAL AGKEEMENT. Articles op Agreement made this 20th day of November in the year of rreamWe. our Lord 1860, between the Commissioners for the Exliibition of 1851 (hereinafter refeiTed to as " the Commissioners ") of the one part, and the Horticultural Society of London (hereinafter referred to as " the Society ") of the other part. Whereas by certain articles of agreement bearing date the 24tli day of July 1860, and made between the Commissioners of the one part and the Society of the other part, it hath been covenanted and agreed between 217 APPENDIX. Preamble {cimiiuui'd). Additional land leaswd. Lease ter- minable on six months' notice on eitber side. Gardeners' Inaise, en- gine-bonse, and otber buildings to be erected thereon, snbject to approval of the Commissioners and the Society that certain works shall be done and executed by the Commissioners and the Society respectively in and upon a piece of land part of the estate of the Commissioners at Kensington Gore, which piece of land is agreed and intended to be used as an ornamental garden in which may be exliibited the progress of Horticulture, and which land is hereinafter referred to as " the gardens," and that on certain tenns and subject to certain conditions therein specified a lease of the gardens should bo gi'anted by the Commissioners to the Society renewable as therein mentioned. And whereas the intended works are now in progress ; and whereas the Society require for purposes connected with their said undertaking the use of some additional land adjoming or near "the gardens," and the Commissioners iiare allowed the Society to take and have possession for such purposes of certain land adjoining the gardens which is shown on the plan hereunto annexed and specified by a red colour, and which land is hereinafter referred to as " the additional land," but the Commissioners have declined to include such land in the lease to be granted, as they may require to resume possession of the same for other purposes ; and whereas an access to the gardens is at present afforded by means of a lane or path shown on the said plan and marked with the colom- brown, but the Commissioners have declined to include in the lease the use of such way, as it might interfere with other an'angements to be made by them of and concerning other parts of their estate at Kensington Gore ; and whereas with a view to the mutual convenience of the Commissioners and the Society, it hath been agreed to make and enter into this agreement as supplemental to the said recited agreement of the 24th day of July 18G0 : now it is hereby mutually covenanted and agi-eed between the Commissioners and the Society, each covenanting for all matters and things to be done and forborne to be done by them respectively as follows, viz. : — 1. The Society shall have and continue to hold possession of the additional land, viz., of all that piece of ground shown in the plan hereto annexed and marked with the colour red, as tenants thereof from year to year under the Commissioners, such tenancy to be held and understood as commencing on the 24th day of June last, until the Commissioners shall think fit to resume possession of the same, which they shall be at liberty to do at any period of the year without reference to that on which the tenancy commenced, on giving six calendar months' notice iii writing of then- intention so to do, and subject to the stipulations and conditions hereinafter contained ; or the Society may give up the same on sis months' notice at the end of any cun'ent year of their tenancy. 2. The Society shall build thereon a gardeners' house, an engine-house, tanks, and other buildings required for the purpose of the said undertaking, mth the necessary works and appliances, but no other erections or buildings whatsoever, and aU such buildings except strictly temporary buildings, shall be erected in accordance with plans previously submitted to and approved by NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. the Commissioners, and sliall be completed to tlieir entire satisfaction, or L'oraniis- otherwise the Society sliall not be entitled to the benefit of this agreement ; and the said additional land shall be used only for the puq^oses of the said society not undertaking, and shall not be underlet or assigned by the said Society to any o?nuow'°'' person or persons whomsoever, and shall not be so used as to allow the public e!Seme°nta or any other person or persons to obtain any rights or easements over the tained"' same that can or may in any way interfere with the use thereof by the said Commissioners for any purposes or pui-pose whatsoever ; and the Society will, at the request of the Commissioners, do and allow to be done all acts and things the Commissioners may think necessary to prevent any such rights or easements being obtained. 3. Until the Commissioners shall resume possession of the said additional Eont, n. land under the provisions in that behalf hereinbefore contained, the Society will yearly pay to the Commissioners the rent of Is. as an acknowledgment of the tenancy of the said land and of the use of the easement hereinafter agreed to be granted to them, the first yearly pajonent to be made on the 24th day of June 1861. 4. The Society shall, so long as the Commissioners think fit, have a right Society's ' D right of to use the road or way specified by the colour brown on the said plan as an access to access to the gardens, and the Commissioners shall not stop up or interfere with such right imless and until thoy shall provide another road for the use of the Society in lieu thereof ; and in case the Commissioners think fit to stop the said access to the said gardens, the said Commissioners shall find and provide some other fit access to such gardens, which access they shall be at liberty nevertheless from time to time to alter as they shall think fit. 5. In case the Commissioners shall desire to resume possession of the if.'^™- additional land and the Society shall continue at the time of the service of the six months' notice entitled to the lease agreed to be granted to them imder ''''' '"'"i they .ire the said agreement of the 24tli day of July 1860 (such lease not being tomidto forfeited or liable to forfeitm-e), the Commissioners shall, before the expiration other land of such notice, appropriate for the use of the Society, as tenant from year to thereof, and year, and subject to like provisions to those herein contained, some portion of the bniid-° their estate at Kensmgton Gore convenient for the purposes for which it is at their cost, intended to use the additional land ; and also that they the said Commis- sioners shall and will within the period of six months after service of such notice, and at their cost and expense, reinstate upon the land to be so appropriated as aforesaid the buildings and works as nearly as possible in the same condition as the buildings and works erected on the additional land. 6. All land to be substituted for the additional land shall be held by the Land so Society, subject to all the stipulations herein contained, particularly the right to be held of the Commissioners again to resume possession thereof on terms similar tormlas'"" to those herein specified as regards the additional land, and nothing herein contained shall give to the Society any lien or claim on the whole or any missioners APPENDIX. Conunis- sioners have right of re- sumption without compensa- tion if Society commit a forfeiture. Society to pay alt rates and taxes for this addi- tional laud. Arbitration clause. particular portion of the estate of the said Commissioners, so as to prevent them doing as they may think fit with tlieir said estate. 7. The Conunissioners sliall have full power and absolute right to take and resume possession, without paying any compensation whatever, of all the additional land for the time being appropriated for the purposes of the said Society as aforesaid, and all erections and buildings thereon, in case the Society shall do or conmiit any act or default which would be or amount to a forfeiture of the lease agreed to be granted to them by the said agreement of the 24th day of July 1860 ; and in the event of snch forfeiture such pos- session may be taken without the six months' notice ; and they may also, in the event of the Society doing or committing any such act or default, stop up the aforesaid access altogether without any such notice. 8. The Society shall, so long as any tenancy shall continue under this agi'eement, either as regards the land, the immediate subject matter thereof, or any other land to be appropriated in lieu thereof, pay all rates and taxes payable m respect of such land, and keep the same in good order and con- dition, and shall insure and keep insm'ed all buildings and erections thereon, and shall keep such buildings and erections in good and tenantable repair, and generally in all cases not hereby expressly provided for, the said land hereby agreed to be let and any land to be substituted for it shall be used and dealt with as if comprised in the agreement of the 24th day of July 18G0, or in the lease to be granted pursuant thereto. 9. If either of the parties hereto shall differ as to the construction of the terms and provisions herein contained, or the mode in which this present agreement is to be executed, or as to what might or ought to be done or forborne in pursuance or by virtue of or under the terms and stipulations herein, or in reference to any other matter or thing arising under these presents, then all questions in difference shall, on the application of either party, be determined by an arbitrator to be named in wi'iting by Her Majesty's Attorney-General for the time being, and the decision of such arbitrator in writing mthin the time and as shall be directed by the said Attorney-General shall be binding on all parties. In witness whereof the said Commissioners and the said Society have hereunto affixed their Common Seals above written. SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL AGEEEMENT. Preamble. ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made the Ist day of March in the year of our Lord 18G1, between the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 (hereinafter refeiTcd to as " the Commissioners ") of the one part, and the Horticultural Society of London (hereinafter referred to as " the Society ") of the other part. Whereas, by certain articles of agreement bearing date the 24th day of July 1860, and made between the Commissioners of the one part and the Society 220 NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. of the other part, it was mutually covenanted and agreed between the Com- ProamWe (continued] missionors and the Society that certain works should be done and executed by the Commissioners and the Society respectiyely in and upon a certain piece of land, part of the estate of the Commissioners at Kensington Gore, which piece of land is agreed and intended to be used as an ornamental garden, and is in the now reciting agreement, as well as hereinafter, referred to as " the gardens ; " and that, on certain terms and subject to certain conditions therein specified, a lease of the gardens should be granted by the Commis- sioners to the Society for the term of 31 years computed from the 1st day of June 1861, renewable as therein mentioned. And whereas it was by Clause 1 of that agreement proyided that the Society should expend in laying out and constructing the said gardens, with the works and buildings in the said agreement in that behalf specified, a sum of not less than £50,000 ; and it was by Clause 2 of that agreement provided that the Commissioners, subject to the conditions therein mentioned, should expend the sum of £50,000 in and upon the works by them to be done in accordance with the said agi-eement. And whereas it is provided by Clause 14 of the said agree- ment that out of the gross amount of the receipts from the gardens certain expenses therein mentioned should be retained by the Society ; and, secondly, that there should be then retained by the Society the amount which might be payable by the Society in respect of interest not exceeding £5 per cent, on the sum of £40,000, which it appears by the recitals therein contained they had borrowed or arranged to boiTow on debentures, or on so much of that sum as might remain unpaid or undischarged ; and, thirdly, there should be paid by the Society to the Commissioners, as rent, the yearly sum of £2145, if the receipts should be adequate for such payment after retaining to the Society the sums authorised to be retained by them under the iirst and second heads of that clause, but otherwise such a sum only as should be oqnal from year to year to the residue of the receipts over and above the smns so in precedence, and if there should remain any sui'plus over and above the several payments thereinbefore directed to be made or retained out of the receipts from the gardens, there should be paid to the Commissioners for their own use, and as an additional rent, yearly, a sum equal to half such surplus. And whereas Clause 17 of such agreement provides that the Society shall devote and apply towards the liquidation of the debt of £40,000 three-fifths of the money actually received by them from time to time in respect of the receipts from the gardens after the payments directed to be retained out of such receipts for expenses and interest by the Society, and the rent to the Commissioners ; and it is by the 18th Clause of such agi'eement provided that the Commissioners shall have a right of re-entry in certain events in case of such continued non- payment of the rent of £2145 as therein mentioned. And whereas it is provided by the 20th Clause of such agreement that the Society shall have a right to give such notice as therein mentioned, calling for a renewal of the lease to be granted to them, and the Commissioners may either gi-ant such APPENDIX. Preamble Society to have power to borrow £10,000 additional. Coramis- sioners in like manner to have power to boiTOW £10,000 additional. No claim to arise against renewal or decline to grant it, on the terms and conditions of their taking upon themselves at the end of the original term of thirty-one years the pajTnent of such amount of the original debentm-e debt of £40,000 as should remain unpaid and undischarged at the expiration of that term, provided such amount do not exceed £20,000, or upon condition of taking upon them- selves the payment of £20,000 part of such debt, if there remain owing a larger sum than £20,000, with a provision that if the debenture debt shall be loss than £15,000, or in case no part of the debenture debt shall be then unpaid, the Commissioners would pay a smn of £15,000 in manner and for the purposes in that clause mentioned. And whereas the Society and the Commissioners are each desirous of respectively having the right of increasing the outlay by them respectively undertaken to be made by the said agreement to any amount not exceeding as to each of them the sum of £10,000 over and above tlie respective sums of £50,000 by them respectively undertaken to be laid out as aforesaid, and of acquiring such rights and privileges as herein appear in respect of such additional outlay, if made. Now, it is hereby mutually covenanted and agreed between tlie Commissioners and the Society, eacli covenanting for all matters and things to be done and forborne by them respectively, as follows ; — 1. That tlie Society may at any time before the 1st day of January 1864, if they think fit (but they are not hereby required so to do, notwithstanding any additional outlay that may be made by the Commissioners), borrow and take up on their debentures or otlier securities, any sum or sums not exceedmg in the whole the sum of £10,000, in addition to the sum of £40,000 in the agreement mentioned as having been borrowed, or for the boiTowing of which arrangements had been made, and may within the like period lay out and expend the sum or sums so borrowed in addition to the original sum of £50,000 therein mentioned in and about such works and things as are in the 1st Clause of the said recited agreement undertaken to be done by them, and in and about which the original sum of £50,000 is required by that clause to be expended, such additional sum or sums never- theless being laid out and expended in such mode, and the works on wliich the same shall be expended to be subject to tlie like approval, aa in that clause provided in respect of the sum of £50,000 as therein mentioned. 2. That the Commissioners may, if they think fit at any time before the 1st day of January 1864 (but are not hereby required so to do, notwith- standing any additional outlay that may be made by the Society), lay out and expend sucli sum or sums of money as they may think fit, not exceeding in the whole the sum of £10,000 in addition to the original sum of £50,000 in Clause 2 of the said agreement mentioned, in and about such works, matters and things, as by that clause are undertaken to be done by them, and in and about which the sum of £50,000 is required by that clause to be expended by them. 3. In case botli or citlicr of the parties hereto tliink fit to make any such NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. outlay, such parties respectively or party shall haTe no claim or demand ^^J'"g'[J|,g'"* against the other of them or against the gardens or against the receipts from additional the gardens save and except as hereinafter mentioned, viz., that with a view e:^ept as ' to compensate such parties respectively or party in some degree for such additional outlay, the following alterations shall be made in the said recited agreement, and in the lease to be granted pursuant thereto, yiz. : — 4. The 14tli Clause of the said recited agreement shall be altered and Alteration ^ on Clause amended as follows, viz., out of the gross amount of the receipts ft'om the (u) in first agreement gardens there shall be first retamed by the Society such a sum as shall fi'om as to disposal of receipts time to time be allowed by the Committee mentioned in Clause 15 of the tIz., i. Ne- said agreement in respect of the expenses of the Chiswiok Garden, or other SpSes garden in lieu thereof, to be kept np for experimental or scientific puiposes, the reasonable expenses of the management of the Society, including the expenses of the Exliibition on the demised gTounds (or elsewhere with the consent of the Commissioners), of flowers, fruits, and other articles, bands, police, and other general and necessary expenses, and also sums to be given for medals, or prizes for competition for articles shown at such Exhibition, and farther in respect of the cmTent expenses of the gardens to be laid out and constmcted under the said agreement, including the repairs to be done by the Society, costs of insurance, and any structm'al or other improvements or ornaments which the Committee may think fit, which allowance shall fi'om time to time proceed and be made upon a fair and reasonable basis, and so as to keep and maintain the said gardens, and all the buildings, improve- ments, and ornaments upon and belonging thereto in thoroughly good order and condition : secondly, there shall be then retained by the Society out 5. interest 1 1 1 1 deben- of such receipts the amount which may be from time to time payable by the tmes both for the Societv in respect of interest not exceedmg S per cent, per annum on the sum £i0.mo and . . „ , n 1 , ; , T , ,1 T 1 ^10,000 bor- of £40,000 originally borrowed or agreed to be boiTowed by them on deben- rowed, tui-es as aforesaid, and on any fiu-ther sum or sums they may borrow and exjjend in accordance with Clause 1 of this agreement not exceeding £10,000 or on so much of the original and additional sums as for the time being may have been raised and shall not have been paid off ; and, thirdly, there shall *„„t'''""™''' then be paid by the Society to the said Commissioners as rent the yearly sum or sums hereinafter in that behalf mentioned, if the receipts shall be adequate for such payment, after retaining to the Society the sums authorised to be retained by them under the fu-st and second heads of the present clause, but otherwise such a sum only as shall be equal from year to year to the residue of the receipts over and above the sums so in precedence, viz., if the Commis- sioners shall limit their outlay tmder Clause 2 of the said recited agreement to £50,000, then the yearly sum of £2145 only, but if under Clause 2 of this agreement they shall expend a larger sum, then an addition shall be made to such rent at the rate of £4 5s. for every additional £100 which the Commis- sioners shall think fit to expend in accordance with that clause, not exceeding £10,000 in the whole. And if there shall remain any surplus over and above of surplus. APPENDIX. Three-fifths 'jf surplus to be applied in liquidation of deben- tures. Conse- quences of failure to pay rent altered to suit addi- tional sum borrowed. Clause 20 of first agi-eement altered to include additional sum bor- rowed. the said several payments hereinbefore directed to be made or retained out of the " receipts fi-om tlie gardens," there shall be paid to the Commissioners for their own. use, and as additional rent yearly, whether or not they make any additional outlay, a sum equal to half such surplus. 5. The 17th Clause of the said recited agreement shall be altered as follows, viz., the Society shall devote and apply towards the liquidation of their debenture debt, whether it amount to the original sum of £40,000 only, or any increased amount under the authority of Clause 1 of this agreement, three-fifths of the money actually received by them from time to time, in respect of the " receipts from the gardens," after the payments directed to be retained out of the said receipts for expenses and interest by the Society and the rent to the Commissioners. 6. The 18th Clause of the said recited agreement shall bo altered as follows, viz., in case it shall happen after the expiration of the first five years of the lease, that the smn or sums payable thereunder to the Commissioners as rent shall fail in every one of any five consecutive years subsequent to the first five years, to be equal to the sum of £2145 per annum, in case only that sum shall be payable, or to such larger amount as is hereby made payable as rent to the Commissioners, in respect of any additional outlay under Clause 2 of this agreement, if such increased rent become payable, then and in any such case it shall be lawful for the Commissioners to re-enter upon the said demised premises, and to resume full and absolute possession thereof, with all improvements therein and all erections thereon, and with all the plants, shrubs, and trees, in and about the same, and out of whatsoever fund the same may have been paid for, and that without making any compensation whatsoever to the Society ; provided always, that the right of re-entry shall not arise if the Commissioners from the commencement of the term have, under the provisions herein or in the said recited agreement contained, received such a sum of money for rent as would, reckoning from such commencemement to the expiration of the last year in which such continued deficiency shall occur, amount either to an average sum of £2145 per annum (if only £50,000 shall have been expended by them), or (in case of an additional outlay by the Commissioners under the 2nd Clause of these presents) to an average sum eqiial to £2145 and interest of £4 5s. per cent, per annum on the amount of such additional outlay. 7. Provided always that nothing herein contained or to be done under the authority of these presents shall alter or prejudice the rights of the respective parties under Clause 20 of the said recited agreement, save and except that in estimating the debenture debt of the Society for which under that clause provision or compensation is to be made by the Commissioners, regard shall be had not only to the original debt raised by the Society, but to the increased or additional debt raised by the Society under the authority of these presents ; and in case the aggregate amount of those debts remaining unsatisfied shall exceed £20,000, the said Clause No. 20 shall be read as if the sum named for NEW CHARTER AND AGREEMENTS. defining the ultimate liability of the Commissioners had, in lieu of the smn of £20,000, been such a sum as would be equal to £20,000, and in addition thereto one-half of the sum actually raised by the Society by debentures or other securities under the authority of Clause No. 1 herein contained ; and it is hereby expressly declared that the proTision in the said Clause No. 20, as to the paj-ment of £15,000 by the Commissioners in either of the events therein mentioned, shall not be altered or prejudiced by these presents. 8. Nothing heroin contained shall prejudice or affect a certain supple- Second mental agreement made between the Commis.sioners and the Society, and not to be effected. i}V bearing date the 20th day of November 18C0, save only that such last- anything in mentioned supplemental agreement shall be held and taken to be an agree- mm^°° ment supplemental to the original agreement, as altered by these presents. Lastly, all costs, charges, and expenses of and incident to this agi'eement );'"",'''^y'"' shall be borne and paid by the Society. Society. In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their corporate seals the day and year first above written. 225 Back of Foldout Not Imaged