386 JOUKNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
workers have multiplied very greatly, and, as is so often the case in all 
walks of life, so is it, alas ! too true in ours, that worthy workers in all 
departments of gardening have been, and still are, through no fault of 
their own, often compelled at the close of their lives to feel the pinch of 
poverty. I am therefore delighted to put on record briefly the fact that 
in connection with gardening the charitably disposed and more fortunate 
members of our fraternity, over sixty years ago, founded The Gardeners' 
Pioyal Benevolent Institution, and this excellent Society is at present 
supporting 179 persons, 98 men and 81 widows, of varying ages from 
ninety downwards. Since 1838 the Society has expended no less than 
£'84,000, and it is the only institution of its kind in the kingdom. To 
carry out this excellent work the sum of £8,256 a year is needed, and 
of this only £900 a year is assured by investments. 
In 1887 the gardeners of Great Britain were considering, with all other 
loyal subjects, how they might best commemorate the Jubilee of our 
beloved Queen, and it was at last decided that the most fitting way of 
celebrating this auspicious event in the life of our late excellent sovereign, 
who at all times extended most kindly patronage to our craft, would be 
the institution of a Fund to aid the orphans of gardeners who were 
called away in early life and whose children were left without a bread- 
winner. The outcome of this idea was the founding, under Eoval 
patronage, of the " Gardeners' Orphan Fund," and this Society is to-day, 
after thirteen years' existence, able to report that 113 children have been 
■elected to its benefits, and the sum which the committee have been able 
to distribute among destitute orphans during that period amounts to 
£7,711. 2s. Q>d. The number of children now on the Fund is 72. 
Reference should also be made to the excellent efforts of self-sacrifice 
made by lovers of our craft (and of course I include both amateurs 
and professionals) in the institution and successful continuation of 
Paxton Societies, Mutual Improvement Societies, &c., all over 
the length and breadth of the land — institutions doing somewhat 
to enkindle and keep burning the enthusiasm and love of gardening, 
and holding meetings at which gardeners give their practical experience 
and tell their younger brethren how to avoid the pitfalls which 
they themselves have personally encountered, warning them against 
the enticing ways of some new fangled methods, probably misleading, 
and so guiding the babe in Horticulture over the rough and stony 
paths of first endeavour, until he is safely walking on the solid 
path of success. These efforts deserve notice, for they are often attended 
by much self-denial, but it is given lovingly and willingly, and is the sure 
foundation of greater work to follow, which when we have done our best 
will be carried on by our children ; for although the work of the past 
century seems to us to have been prodigious, and the march of progress 
to have been very rapid, still we have yet to see the Blue Chrysanthemum, 
the Scarlet Narcissus, the Yellow Shirley Poppy, and many other greater 
novelties than these. But that these will come we may be confident, and 
possibly at the end of the 20th century our successors will look back and 
sympathise with us in our narrow methods, and on our slow-going times ; 
at least let them not be able to reproach us with any slackening of the 
eftbrts which the last century has bequeathed. 
