ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S WAR RELIEF FUND. cxlv 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S WAR RELIEF FUND. 



Many of the Fellows having contributed to this special Fund, we think 

 the following particulars, showing how the amounts received have 

 been utilized, will prove of interest. 



RESTORING THE BATTLEFIELDS. 



BRITISH HELP FOR THE ORCHARDS AND GARDENS OF OUR ALLIES. 



To anyone who has served in France or Belgium, or indeed on 

 any of the fronts, the terrible devastation of the artillery fire stands 

 forth as the almost heart-breaking feature of the landscape. How to 

 replant and bring the countryside back to normal conditions is indeed 

 a problem of far-reaching magnitude. Well might excuses be found 

 for those small farmers and peasant holders who despaired of being 

 able, during their lifetime, to undertake the work effectively. Nor, 

 let it be said, could a problem of such importance be attacked 

 successfully by the individual alone. There had to be help and co- 

 operation. All this was seen very early — long before the close of the 

 war — by prominent horticulturists in this country, and as an outcome 

 the Royal Horticultural Society War Relief Fund was started. Its 

 object was, firstly, to collect money ; secondly, to spend it on trees 

 and seed and horticultural implements ; and thirdly, to distribute 

 gifts in such a manner as would confer the greatest benefit on the 

 largest number of individual holders of the devastated ground. Fortu- 

 nately for success, Lord Grenfell, President of the R.H.S., accepted 

 the Presidency, to be succeeded by Lord Lambourne, and Lady 

 Northcote became Lady President, while Sir Harry J. Veitch not 

 only served as Hon. Treasurer, but gave invaluable assistance 

 when the time came for the purchase of trees and seeds. Mr. Carl 

 Hentschel later on became Secretary, and testimony to his organizing 

 ability has been borne by Lady Northcote herself. 



The funds collected amounted to nearly £45,000 (of which £5,000 

 was collected by Scotland), and to give an account of their steward- 

 ship, the Executive Committee met a few days ago at the house 

 of Lady Northcote in St. James's Place. Among those also present 

 were Lord Lambourne (President), Miss Balfour, Sir Harry J. Veitch 

 (Hon. Treasurer), Mr. F. J. H anbury (Chairman), Lady Margaret 

 Boscawen, Mrs. Henshaw, Mr. H. M. Collinson, Mr. Reginald Cory, 

 Sir Albert Rollit, Mrs. Brodie of Brodie, Lady Dynevor, Lady Margaret 

 Macrae, Lady Jersey, Lady St. Cyres, and Mr. Carl Hentschel, C.C., 

 the Secretary. 



From the report made by Mr. Hentschel, it appeared that altogether 

 about 50,000 fruit trees, 48,000 tools, and 400,000 packets of seeds 

 VOL. xlv. £ 



