October 25, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
349 
COMING EVENTS 
HI 
25 
th 
Last day of Apple Congress at Chiswick. Sale of Vanda Sanderiana 
26 
F 
[ and other Orchids at Mr. Stevens’ Itooms, Covent Garden. 
27 
s 
28 
Sun 
23rd Sunday after Trinity. 
29 
M 
30 
TU 
81 
W 
UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT AND 
PKOVIDENT SOCIETY. 
URING the past few weeks more than ordinary 
attention has been directed to the subject of 
gardeners’ insurance—that is, of persons who 
are engaged in gardening operations as a 
means of livelihood, making, so far as they 
are able and as facilities are afforded, some 
provision for themselves when no longer able 
to work, or to their families who may be left 
without adequate means of subsistence. No 
more important question than this can engage the attention 
of any body of operatives ; and it would be a matter of 
surprise if gardeners were not fully alive to the prudence of 
making some immediate sacrifice for the accomplishment of 
an object so worthy of their serious consideration and so 
deserving of their prompt and united action. 
The properly trained and average-educated gardener of 
the present day is not wanting in intelligence. In this 
respect he ranks at least on an equality with the skilled 
mechanic ; while not a few who are engaged in the calling 
with which we are identified have by close study and per¬ 
severing efforts in self-improvement—both as regards intel¬ 
lectual attainments, high moral qualities, and general 
deportment—raised themselves distinctly above the level of 
mere handicraftsmen, and won, as they have merited, the 
esteem of those of higher social rank than themselves. 
All this is matter for congratulation ; but then the 
circumstance must be admitted, and we regret its exist¬ 
ence, that the average gardener is not equally remunerated 
with the average mechanic, and not a few of the best and 
most accomplished of gardeners cannot, even by the exercise 
of habits of frugality, do more than maintain themselves 
and families in a befitting state of respectability. Some, we 
are glad to know—a few hundreds probably—are so circum¬ 
stanced that they can provide for the comforts that they 
have a right to enjoy in the eventide of life ; but the vast 
majority, the thousands of industrious men, are not able by 
their own efforts to make any adequate provision for the 
future, even if the blessing of health is vouchsafed to them 
during the ordinary term of an industrious career. Recog¬ 
nising this fact, for fact it is, it becomes incumbent on all 
to co-operate with the object of effecting by mutual help 
that which it is so desirable to attain—a means of livelihood 
for themselves when they can no longer labour, or for those 
who are dear to them who may be left helpless in the 
world. 
This is essentially a practical question, and it is better 
to admit the position at once and make the best of it than 
to lose time in indulging in speculative theories instigated 
for raising, in some way or other, the wage rate of gardeners. 
This cannot be effected by any artificial means whatever. 
So long as young men are trained as gardeners in the 
present liberal manner, and in far greater numbers than 
vacancies can possibly occur for them to fill, so long will, 
aud must, the wage rate of gardeners remain as it is, or fall 
lower. It is not the habit of millionaires even to pay more 
than the market value of anything they may purchase, 
whether it is skilled or unskilled labour or any material 
commodity; and gardeners act on exactly the same prin¬ 
ciple, for none of them will give a shilling for a knife, no 
matter how good it may be, if he can get one of the 
same quality for ninepence. Far better, then, will it be to 
recognise the real position of the craft and act accordingly 
than to indulge in any golden dreams of the future, and go 
on dreaming until the time of a sad awakening occurs, and 
they find themselves worse than before—willing but not able 
to labour, and with nothing to rely on but the casual charity 
of others to enable them to live. 
The remedy lies in co-operation of a material kind for a 
substantial purpose—contributing during years of health 
and activity to a common fund from which the members can 
claim as a right a share of the benefits which it offers in the 
time of adversity. 
The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, which has 
lately been the subject of discussion, was established for the 
benefit of gardeners or the widows of gardeners in their old 
age. But this “charity,” to quote its Secretary’s description, 
is not well understood, and does not enjoy the confidence of 
those to whom it appeals for support; and as its acting 
official has distinctly declined to enlighten the public on the 
administration of the Institution in the only way in which 
he could do so effectually, we can only conclude that any 
efforts of ours to that end would not be agreeable to him, 
and therefore turn to another source, in the hope of finding 
a means of helping those of our industrial readers who are 
desirous of helping themselves to do so prudently, safely, 
and profitably. 
We are well aware that a great number of persons 
engaged in gardening as a vocation are members of some of 
the great general benefit societies, such as the Foresters, 
Odd Fellows, and other organisations of that nature. They 
are to be commended for their endeavours in thus making 
provision for the adverse contingencies of life; but the 
Society which we desire to bring as prominently as possible 
to the notice of our readers offers far greater facilities to its 
members, while it is not less safe. Our primary object in 
doing this is to benefit gardeners, and not to advertise the 
claims of this particular society. If any other institution 
exists of the same nature that offers greater advantages to 
its members, and is equally and indisputably safe, we shall 
be glad to be made acquainted with it, and will not less 
willingly urge its claims for support. 
The United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society 
was started by gardeners for gardeners, and its directorate 
consists wholly of gardeners—the Trustees, Messrs. G. & J. 
Wheeler and J. George ; Treasurer, Mr. J. Hudson ; and 
Secretary, Mr. J. F. M‘Elroy, being well-to-do members of 
the craft, and the Committee shrewd, practical, business 
men. That they are equal to their duties the flourishing 
state of the Society demonstrates, and we have no doubt 
whatever that once its character becomes fully known it will 
command the support of gardeners generally, and the 
number of members will rapidly increase. 
We have been cognisant of the existence of this Society for 
some time, and have quietly watched its progress, naturally 
hesitating in a matter so serious to publicly recommend it 
until we were abundantly satisfied with the soundness of its 
principles and of its satisfactory working condition. On 
neither of these points have we the slightest misgivings, and 
we do not hesitate to speak of it in unequivocal terms of 
approval. 
Since the publication of Mr. Heale’s letter on page 339 
last week we have carefully examined the. books of the 
Society, and nothing could exceed the alacrity with, which 
Mr. M'blroy placed them at our disposal. We were invited 
to scrutinise every page, examine every item, and point out 
any fault. AVe did examine closely, but could find no 
fault, and the extremtly clear and accurate manner in which 
