<P> In 2009, more than 363,000 people were members of the society, and the number increased to more than 414,000 in 2013 . Membership and fellowship of the society were previously decided by election, but are now by financial contribution . Fellowship may be secured through a "suggested" £ 5,000 donation each year . </P> <P> Members and Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society are entitled to use the post-nominal letters MRHS and FRHS, respectively . </P> <P> The Royal Horticultural Society's four major gardens in England are: Wisley Garden, near Wisley in Surrey; Rosemoor Garden in Devon; Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in Harrogate, North Yorkshire . </P> <P> The Society's first garden was in Kensington, from 1818--1822 . In 1820 the society leased some of Hugh Ronalds' nursery ground at Little Ealing to set up an experimental garden, but the next year part of the Duke of Devonshire's estate at Chiswick was obtained . In 1823 it employed Joseph Paxton there . From 1827 the society held fêtes at the Chiswick garden, and from 1833, shows with competitive classes for flowers and vegetables . In 1861 the RHS (as it had now become) developed a new garden at South Kensington on land leased from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (the Science Museum, Imperial College and the Royal College of Music now occupy the site), but it was closed in 1882 . The Chiswick garden was maintained until 1903--1904, by which time Sir Thomas Hanbury had bought the garden at Wisley and presented it to the RHS . </P>

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