Jtme 22, 1871. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTDBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



437 



surpass the varieties we already have. Mr. Eckford likewise sent 

 several promising seedling Verbenas ; and Mr. Cripps, Tunbridge 

 Wells, Lobelia Parity, a very fine pnre white variety. 



Messrs. Fisher, Holmes, & Co., Sheffield, had a first-class certifi- 

 cate for Thymus citriodorus aureo-marginatus, with the leaves dis- 

 tinctly edged with yellow, and which will, doubtless, prove useful as 

 an edging plant. From Mr. Caunell, Woolwich, came Zonal Pelar- 

 gonium Master Christine, which had before received a first-class cer- 

 tificate, and a stand of Verbenas. Mr. Bragg, Slough, sent stands of 

 fancy Pansies and Pints. G. F. "Wilson, Esq., Weybrid-*e, exhibited 

 a vei-y fine stand of Lilies, among which were several varieties of 

 L. Thunbergianum, L. canadense fla\um, L. nmbellatum, &c. This 

 gentleman is well known as an enthusiastic cultivator of the Lily 

 tribe ; and that he has a rich collection, and can grow it well, was 

 abundantly testified by his specimens. For these a special certifi- 

 ■cate was given. Messrs. Barr & Sugden, of Covent Garden, also ex- 

 hibited cut blooms of a number of Lilies and of Spanish Irises. 

 From Mr. R. Parker. Tooting, came two varieties of Lilium fulgens ; 

 and the same exhibitor was awarded a first-class certificate for 

 Passiflora vitifolia, or Tacsonia Bnchanani, a brilliant-coloured 

 Passion-fiower. 



Mr. Anderson, gardener to T. Dawson, Esq., Meadow Bank, near 

 Olasgow, had a special certificate for magnificent cut specimens of 

 Aei-ides Veitchii and Odontoglossum Alesandrce, the fiowers of the 

 latter of nnnsual size and beauty. Mr. Wilson, gardener to W. 

 Marshall, Esq., received a second-class certificate for Phajus Mar- 

 shalliffi with pure white flowers and a lemon-coloured lip. From 

 JJessrs. Veitch came cut specimens of BougainvUlea speciosa, grown 

 in a cool conservatory along with Camellias, and quite equal in 

 Ijeauty of floral leaves to those from warmer structures. 



THE GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT 

 INSTITUTION. 



The twenty-eighth anniversary festival of this Institution was held 

 'at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on Tuesday last, and was 

 numerously attended. H.S.H. Prince Teck presided, and after the 

 -usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been enthusiastically received, he 

 ■^ave the toast of the evening — viz., "Continued Success and Pro- 

 sperity to the Institution.'" In doing so he urged its claims for in- 

 <3reased support, and while so many of the leading men in horticul- 

 ture were connected with it, both as subscribers and in its management, 

 it was not likely any aid bestowed would be thrown away. One great 

 feature was, that the pensioners (numbering sixty), were allowed to 

 "live in any part of the kingdom ; and another, the preference given by 

 the rules to subscribers over non-subscribers, so that a man reaps 

 ■what he has sown. 



Mr. Wrench, the Treasurer, with whose name the toast was coupled, 

 ■thanked the Prince for the manner in which he had advocated the 

 claims of the Institution, and was not surprised that the Prince should 

 ieel himself a gardener, for there was rarely a horticultural exhibition 

 at which he was not to be seen accompanied by the Princess. He had 

 also, as usual, to return thanks to those good friends who had so 

 liberally contributed to the decoration of the room — Messrs. A'eitch, 

 Lee, Turner, and Williams, and he wished he could have added the 

 names of some contributors of fruit, the paucity of which he con- 

 sidered a disgrace. Before he sat down he had to mention that he 

 had received a cheque for £50, accompanied with the following letter 

 from Dr. Hogg : — 



" Some time ago I undertook, after consulting a few friends, to raise a 

 subscription for a portrait of Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, as- a recog- 

 nition of the efforts he has made daring a long life to advance the art of 

 'horticulture. Although, by desire of Mr. Rivers, no special efforts were 

 ■used, and no direct application was made to anyone, a sum was raised 

 ■which proved more than sufficient for the object intended. 



" The portrait has been secured and handed over to the Trustees of the 

 Xindley Library, at South Kensington, where it may now be seen sus- 

 ^pended in the Council Hall of the Royal Horticultural Society. 



**! have a balance remaining of £50, which I have proposed to Mr. 

 Jlivers to add to the funded stock of the Gardeners' Benevolent Institu- 

 tion, and I have now the pleasure, with his consent, to hand you a cheque 

 ■for that amount. 



" The only condition which accompanies this gift is, that a special 

 paragraph be printed in all the annual statements of the Institution, 

 setting forth the purpose of the gift as a testimony to Mr. Rivers. 



"I trust that this may be the precursor of many such contritjutions to 

 'the funds of the Gardere-s' Benevolent Institution; and that they who 

 wish to honour those who are worthy of honour will not think their testi- 

 jmonial the less honoured because it has been given in aid of the comforts 

 of their needy and suffering brethren." 



The next toast was the health of the Chairman and that of Her 

 Soyal Highness the Princess Mary, the proposer remarking that ever 

 since His Highness had come to England he had identified himself 

 with horticulture, and now as President of the Royal Botanic, and 

 Vice-President of the Royal Horticultural Society, "he was still more 

 closely connected with it. With regard to the Princess Mary, they 

 "knew that she not only took a great interest in gardening, but was 

 better versed in its science than many of themselves. The Rev. Mr. 

 Sogers in a humourous speech proposed " The Royal Horticultural 

 and Botanic Societies," associated with the names of Mr. Bateman 

 and Sir Walter Stirling, who each returned thanks. " The Secretary," 



and "The Ladies," having been given, the proceedings terminated. 

 Prince Teck before departing closely examining the plants with which 

 the room was tastefully decorated. 



We understand that the total amount subscribed at the dinner was 

 between £-100 and £450. 



As usual at these meetings, the Secretary placed the representatives 

 of the press at the far end of the room, where it was impossible to hear 

 the speeches from the platform. 



SEEDLING GERANIUMS IN THE OPEN 

 AIR. 

 The following from the north of Liverpool miy, I think, be 

 a novelty, and will therefore deserve a corner in your interest- 

 ing Jonrnal. In digging over a bed planted last year with 

 Geraniums I met with about a dozen seedling Geraniums, 

 growing vigorously, all having their second pair of leaves, 

 some zonal-marked, and others plain. I have removed some 

 to the greenhouse, and a few remain where the seeds first 

 dropped. Here will be some strong constitutions for the 

 far north (?)— L. Eosookla. 



GARDENS FOR COTTAGERS. 



"We have lately had brought to our notice a very useful 

 little book, written by the Rev. G. Huntington, Eector of 

 Tenby, entitled " Amusements and Healthy Eeoreationa for 

 the People ;" from it we extract the following : — 



" I can say that, from my own observation, few things have 

 done more good than the plan of allotting small portions of 

 ground to working men, to be cultivated by them in their 

 leisure hours. I once heard it objected by a churlish farmer, 

 that it you give your labourers a piece of ground to till on their 

 own account, they would reserve their energies for this object, 

 and neglect their master's work. But the very contrary was 

 found to be the case, for the best cultivated gardens belonged 

 to the most laborious and conscientious labourers. In the 

 town of Wigan, allotment grounds were assigned by two mill- 

 owners, deservedly respected for the interest which they have 

 always taken in the welfare of their operatives, and I believe 

 that I am justified in stating that the results have been such 

 as to satisfy the most sanguine hopes of these benevolent 

 men. 



" In a village in the East Eiding of Yorkshire, the tenants 

 to whom this boon had been granted, subscribed for and pre- 

 sented to their landlord a silver enuff-bos, in token of their 

 gratitude. I would respectfully suggest to all landowners, and 

 employers of labour and capital, the expediency of adopting 

 the allotment system wherever practicable ; and I would urge 

 it on the double ground that spade husbandry will improve the 

 land itself, as much as the simple and inexpensive recreation 

 of gardening will benefit the morals of the people. To towns- 

 men the benefits are incalculable. No one who does not live 

 amid the smoke and din of a large town can estimate the plea- 

 sure which a few flowers are capable of conferring, nor the 

 influence which this taste has in rendering coarser pursuits 

 distasteful. Many a time has a bunch of flowers brought a 

 measure of happiness to a bed-ridden sufierer ; many a poor 

 seamstress, debilitated by late hours and a confined room, has 

 found her sole pleasure in attending to the few little plants 

 which somehow continue to live on the little balcony out- 

 side her window, in spite of the smoke, and fog, and malaria 

 of the city. Many a time, as I can testify, has the flower 

 garden kept the father of a family from the village ale- 

 house. 



"It may be objected that gardening is too laborious to be 

 considered a recreation. Possibly it may be so to an agricul- 

 tural labourer ; but it would not, I think, be thought so by a 

 shoemaker, or Ijy anyone whose occupation is sedentary. 



" To other pleasing incidents I may allude, although I am 

 scarcely at liberty to mention names. I know of more than 

 one gentleman's mansion where the produce of the green- 

 house is devoted, year by year, to the purpose of decorating 

 town churches. In an ' out-of-the-way ' village in Lancashire, 

 flower beds are regularly cultivated by young factory girls, who 

 rise at four or five on Easter-day morning to adorn the church 

 with the fairest, and sweetest, and choicest flowers they can 

 produce. Again, I have seen village maidens welcome a happy 

 lyoung bride by strewing her way to church with flowers, as if 

 to symbolise their good ^¥ishes, that fljwers and not thorns, 

 happiness and not cares, might be hei portion. And who has 



