G4 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ «Tnly 24', 189lT. 
Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., supported by Dr. Hogg (represent¬ 
ing the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society), Dr. Masters, 
Messrs. Deal, Hibberd, Yeitch, and others, and the Gardeners’ 
Orphan Fund was formally established. Sir Julian Goldsmid 
was elected President, Mr. T. B. Haywood Treasurer, Mr. A. F. 
Barron Secretary, and an Executive Committee, comprising 
Messrs. G. Deal, P. Birr, W. Bates, H. Cannell, R. Dean, 
J. Douglas, W. Goldring, W. G. Head, H. Herbst, W. 
Holmes, W. Ingram, J. Laing, G. Nicholson, C. Penny, W. 
Richards, J. Roberts, W. Roupell, C. H. Sharman, J. Smith, 
H. Turner, H. Williams, J. Woodbridge, J. Wright, and B. 
Wynne. 
Such is a brief outline history of the origin and establishment 
of the Fund that is now doing so much good. In thes 9 days of 
quick movement and short memories it seems desirable to collect 
from scattered reports and compress the salient facts on the 
occasion of the third and most successful anniversary, which is 
reported on another page. From the first the proposition met 
with general sympathy. A few persons hesitated to join heartily 
in the movement from excellent motives—the chief being a 
fear of weakening the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, 
but the Secretary of that admirable charity was not one of them, 
and became a supporter of the Orphan Fund in its early days. 
Since endeavour was made to provide for the children of adversity 
the institution for aged gardeners and their widows has made 
greater progress than ever, as also has the United Horticultural 
Benefit Society, which affords relief to its members during 
illness. We wish to see all these Societies prosper, and have, 
on suitable occasions, appealed strongly for the two older ; 
at the present moment the younger is under particular con¬ 
sideration, and we bespeak for it the greatest possible support 
of the greatest possible number of gardeners and lovers of gar¬ 
dens. The demands of the future will be great, and while we 
believe there will always be affluent and generous helpers, it is 
most desirable that the actual workers in gardening should 
assist according to their means. The mites of the many not only 
become substantial in the aggregate, but act as direct incentives 
to extraneous aid. There is no truer maxim than this, “ Heaven 
helps those who help themselves,” and if every gardener in the 
land would do ever so little for the needy “ little ones ” in the 
gardening ranks, the more readily would the wealthy join in 
the noble endeavour. While it is evident the Committee of the 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund are anxious to give immediate relief to 
the fullest possible extent, they are conscious, as we are, of the 
extreme desirability of providing a substantial permanent fund 
to give stability to this much needed, excellent, and, we believe, 
well managed Institution. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
The annual meeting of subscribers to this Fund was held in the 
Cannon Street Hotel at 3 p.m. on Friday last, July 18th, N. N. Sher¬ 
wood, Esq., one of the Vice-Presidents, in the chair. The Secretary, 
Mr. A. F. Barron, read the notice calling the meeting and the minutes 
of the last general meeting. The Committee’s report, which had been 
printed and placed on the table, was then taken as read, and Mr. Sher¬ 
wood reviewed tbe principal items in the cash statement, comparing 
them with last year’s statement. 
The Chairman then referred to the great loss the Fund had sus¬ 
tained by the death of their Chairman, Mr. George Deal, and moved 
a resolution to the effect that the meeting pass a vote of condolence 
with Mrs. Deal, which was carried unanimously. He then observed 
that a memorial had been proposed, and they could not think of a better 
mode of commemorating Mr. Deal’s good work than by placing as many 
orphans on the Fund as possible. Some conversation had taken place 
between himself and Mr. H. J. Veitch, with the result that they pro¬ 
posed if £250 as a minimum could be raised they would place the 
seven unelected children on the Fund, a proposal that was received 
with loud cheers. After suggesting that it would be preferable if 
the financial year commenced in January instead of in July as at 
present, and that the annual dinner might also be held earlier in the I 
season, he concluded by moving the adoption of the report and cash 
statement. 
Mr. H. J. Veitch seconded the proposition, and congratulated the 
Committee on the favourable results of their work. It was wonderful 
that so much could have been effected in so short a time. He was 
quite willing to contribute his share to the Deal Memorial Fund as 
proposed by the Chairman, and he also agreed with him that it would 
be desirable that their year should commence in January. 
The other business comprised the election of Mr. T. B. Haywood as 
Treasurer, Mr. J. Fraser as Auditor, Messrs. Bates, Dean, Herbst, 
Richards, and Wright were re-elected members of the Committee-, 
with the addition of Messrs. G. Bunyard, J. Wills, and W. Marshall. 
Mr. A. F. Barron was unanimously re-elected Secretary, and Messrs. 
R. Dean and Ward were then appointed scrutineers of the ballot, am 
adjournment taking place until 4 P.M., when the follo'ving results of 
the election were announced and votes of thanks proposed to the.- 
various officials Robert James Phillips, 582; Thomas Henderson, 
241 ; George Philip Shrubb, 148 ; Henry Edmund Skelton, 131 ; George- 
Beveridge, 100 ; Bessie Stronach Deedman, 95 ; Frank Butcher, 87 
Susan Elizabeth Baker, 86 ; Henry William Milne, 79 ; Arthur Lacey, 
7S ; Alfred Henry Budd, 67 ; Mary Grieve, 72 ; Winifred Jones, 61 ; 
Evan Evans Kinch, 26 ; Sidney Alfred Offer, 72 ; Francis Thomas- 
Pragnall, 68 ; and Arthur Henry Rowland, 20. The first ten having, 
secured the highest number of votes were accordingly declared to be. 
duly elected. 
Report of the Executive Committee. 
The first words of the Executive Committee in presenting their third 
annual report to the supporters of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund must- 
needs be an expression of profound sorrow at the loss which the Fund 
has sustained by the death of Mr. George Deal. Only those who have 
worked with him in the interests of the Charity can adequately appreciate, 
his zeal on its behalf. His devotion to his duties as Chairman of the- 
Committee was only equalled by his business capacity, and his genial 
presence will linger in the memory of all who were associated with him 
in striving to assist the orphans of gardeners in their heritage of adversity. 
He will long be remembered as a true friend and kind-hearted man ; 
and the Committee desire to record their deep sympathy with Mrs. Deal 
in her great bereavement. They hope also, in due time, to be able to 
perpetuate his memory in a manner that in life would have secured his- 
hearty approval. 
The necessity for the institution, and its maintenance, is more fully- 
proved by each year’s experience. The first year eleven were placed on. 
the Fund, ten by election and one in consequence of the handsome 
donation by Mr. Sherwood. The second year eight others were added, 
five by election, one by reason of a noble gift from the Duke of Bedford,, 
and two as the result of a generous proposition made by Mr. H. J. Veitch, 
that he would give £100 conditionally on an equal sum being raised by 
other contributions, which were happily forthcoming. 
On the present occasion the Committee, encouraged by the growing 
interest in the Fund, feel justified in recommending that ten candi¬ 
dates be elected, and one will be added by the Wildsmith Memorial 
Trustees, making a total of thirty children, who will be suppirted at a 
cost of £390 a year. 
By the lamented death of Mr. W. Wildsmith of Heckfield the. 
Charity lost one of its most active workers, and in no way could 
his memory be more appropriately cherished than in the manner 
previously indicated. His loss is mourned as a genuine gardener and a. 
good man. 
The Committee desire to record, gratefully,Their thanks to His Grace 
the Duke of Bedford for the use—the third time—of the Flower Market 
in Covent Garden, also to the Lady Mayoress and Lord Mayor of Lon¬ 
don for opening the Evening Fete, by which means over £173 was- 
added to the Fund. The services of all who contributed to its success 
are warmly appreciated. By the alteration of Rule XII., designed to- 
recognise special endeavours on behalf of the Fund, thirty-four life; 
voters have been added, to forty of the preceding year, of the Covent 
Garden standholders for their valued co-operation, 
For the help rendered by various friends in various ways, such as by 
collecting cards, money boxes, concerts, gardeners’ improvement 
societies, flower shows, &c., earnest thanks are cordially tendered, and 
Mr. A. Henderson, Thoresby ; Mr. J. Brown. Reigate ; Mr. J. Hughes, 
Birmingham ; Mr. D. T. Fish, Hardwicke ; Mr. W. Roupell, Streatham 
Mr. Cummins, Hackbridge ; Mr. M. Todd, Edinburgh ; and Mr. T. 
Turton, Maiden Erleigh, Reading, are mentioned as examples of active; 
members who have worked effectively in aid of the Fund. 
While gratified with the results achieved, and thankful that, by 
community of effort, thirty necessitous children have been provided for 
in three years, the Committee have to deplore the fact that the needs, 
of many applicants cannot be met ; a strong appeal is therefore made- 
to all who are engaged in, or derive pleasure from horticultural 
pursuits, to consider the best methods by which they can support the. 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund during the ensuing year. 
The members of the Committee who retire by rotation are Messrs. 
W. Bates, R. Dean, H. Herbst, W. Richards, J. Wright, W. Goldring-, 
C. Penny, and J. Roberts, and the first five being eligible are recom¬ 
mended for re-election. Messrs. William Marshall, Bexley ; George 
Bunyard, Maidstone ; and John Wil s, South Kensington, are recom¬ 
mended for election, in the place of Messrs. Goldring, Penny,, and. 
Roberts, who retire. 
