February 12, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
133 
during the past year, an increase of £318 15s. The disbursements are 
heavier than usual, yet are trifling in comparison with the income. 
£23 2s. 6d. have been expended in sick pay to seven members, with the 
addition of £28 Is. 4|d. as the deposit amounts of two deceased members and 
older member received £26 16s. 3Jd. as the accumulated amount of his father. 
The lesson derivable from this i3 that persons should join as young as 
possible and keep up their payments. The probability is that every 
farthing they pay will be invested for them, and they insure against 
Fig.'23.—Nerine Fotliergill major. 
paid to their nominees. This brings out a great and important feature of 
this Society, and one probably unique in its way. Not only do the members 
enjoy the ordinary benefits of friendly societies, but the surplus is placed to 
the separate account of each member and invested for him. A member on 
attaining the age of seventy can draw his accumulations, but on his death at 
any time the sum due to him is promptly paid to his representative. Thus 
the wi lo w of a very young member was paid £1 5s. Id., while the son of an 
sickness for nothing. The above figures prove this, but they are by no 
means all, for £3000 are invested in Government consols, the interest on 
which exceeds £80 a year—a much greater sum than the liabilities of the 
very “ heavy ” year. It only remains to add that the Benevolent Fund has 
increased from £909 11s. 0£d. during the year to £992 15s. 10£d., and the 
highly satisfactory state of the finances of the Society will be admitted. 
Mr. Dean, in moving the adoption of the report, had a most pleasant 
