January 22, 189I, J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
63 
primrose yellow. It is a very fragrant and altogether a delight¬ 
ful plant. 
Lilium speciosum.—This in its many varieties, from the pure 
white of album and Krastzeri to the deep crimson spotted superbum 
and Melpomene lends itself most readily to pot culture, and where 
three or four bulbs are placed in a large pot they make most 
admirable objects for adorning a conservatory or greenhouse in the 
early autumn months. I have never succeeded in growing it well 
in the open ground, and now entirely confine my culture of it to 
pots ; it is one of the most beautiful of Lilies, and deliciously 
sweet scented, not having that overpowering perfume which makes 
L. auratum sometimes too much for the house. All the varieties 
•are beautiful, but I think that Kraetzeri, Vestale (both white), 
Melpomene (an American seedling), superbum and atropurpureum 
are the best, but as I have said all are beautiful. 
_ L. Krameri.—I have never succeeded with this, and although 
it is very beautiful I would not advise anyone to try it unless they 
•do not mind failure. 
Lilium Browni is a very fine trumpet-shaped Lily, white in the 
inside with brown on the outer surface. At one time it was scarce, 
and thought to be difficult to grow ; but it is now found to be of 
easy culture, and is certainly a very handsome Lily. Generally, 
it bears but one flower, but old-established roots produce two or 
more. 
_ There are other varieties which are pretty and fragrant; but I 
think I have selected the best of those suitable for pot culture.— 
D., Deal. 
THE GARDEXERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLEXT 
INSTITUTION. 
The annual meeting of subscribers to the above Institution was 
held at “ Simpson’s ” in the Strand on Thursday last, January 15tb, at 
J P.M., when Baron Schrbder presided, and was supported by Dr. Robert 
Hogg, Dr. M. T. Masters, Harry J. Veitch, Esq., John Lee, Esq., and 
other gentlemen. There was also a good attendance. 
The business commenced by the Secretary, Mr. Roger Cutler, reading 
the minutes of the last annual meeting, which were duly confirmed, 
and this was followed by the Committee's report for the past year. The 
financial statement we published last week, but the chief items in the 
report and statement were as under. 
The Committee congratulated the subscribers upon the continued 
and increased prosperity of the Institution. During the year thirteen 
pensioners died, four leaving widows, who had been placed on the 
pension list in succession to their husbands, in accordance with rule 7, 
and one pensioner had resigned his pension. Regret was expressed at 
the death of the late Mr. James McIntosh, one of the Vice-Presidents, 
and it was reported that Mr. J. F. Meston, one of the Auditors, had 
resigned his office on account of failing health. The fifty-first anni¬ 
versary festival in June last, under the presidency of Mr. H. J. Veitch 
•(the Treasurer), was a grand success, the amount realised being over 
£3000 ; and in connection with this dinner it was a noteworthy fact that, 
although the Institution had during the year sustained severe losses 
among its annual subscribers, the amount of the yearly subscriptions 
has risen from £1328 to £1403. The result of this success was that the 
Committee had not only paid away m pensions £300 more than in any 
previous year, but they had increased the reserve fund to £25,000. 
At the same time the increase in the working expenses had been exceed¬ 
ingly trifling, and twelve pensioners could be added to the list, making 
a total of 156. The statement of accounts showed that the year was com¬ 
menced with a balance in hand of £753 6s. lOd. The annual subscrip¬ 
tions, the donations resulting from the annual dinner, and the sums 
obtained by means of collecting cards, amounted to £4491 ISs. 7d., 
which, with the dividends on stock and interest on deposits, brought up 
the total receipts to £5235 8s. lid., making, with the balance in hand, 
£5988 15s. 9d. By pensions and gratuities £2648 133. 4d. had been 
expended, the working expenses amounted to £750 Is. 4d., which, with 
the purchase of £2000 2^ per cent, consols, brought up the expenditure 
to £5296 13s. 8d., leaving a balance in the hands of the Treasurer of 
£668 13s. 9d., and in the hands of the Secretary of £23 8s. 4d. 
Baron Schrfiier remarked that all would agree the report and state¬ 
ment were most satisfactory, and their thanks were mainly due to 
Messrs. Veitch and Cutler, and the subscribers might well congratulate 
themselves upon having such excellent officers. Dr. Hogg moved that 
the report and statement of accounts be received and adopted, and 
stated that the Committee deserved the best thanks of the subscribers 
for their assistance during the year. He had been connected with the 
Institution for many years, and remembered when the first £1000 was 
invested, since which time substantial progress had been made, as seen 
by the £25,000 reserve fund, which he hoped would be further in¬ 
creased. The motion was seconded by Mr. Munro and carried unani¬ 
mously. 
Mr. Veitch stated that they had to deplore the loss of a great friend 
•of horticulture in the death of Mr. McIntosh, and he proposed for 
election in his place as Vice-President, C. J. Brackenridge, Esq., The 
•Grove, Bush Hill. This was carried, and Mr. Webber next proposed the 
•re-election of Mr. H. J. Veitch as Treasurer, and that the thanks of the 
•meeting be accorded him for his services during the past year. Dr. 
Masters seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation. 
It was proposed by Mr. H. Turner, seconded by Dr. Hogg, and 
carried, that Messrs. Douglas, Denning, Wythes, and Sexby be re-elected 
members of the Committee, and that Messrs. Arnold Moss, and Pilcher 
be added in the place of Messrs. Ballantine and Bolton. Messrs. J. Lee, 
J. Willard, and J. Webber were elected Auditors, the latter taking the 
place of Mr. J. F. Meston, who had resigned owing to ill health. 
Mr. J. Lee proposed the re-election of Mr. Cutler as Secretary, and 
remarked that it was unnecessary to say much in support of the resolu¬ 
tion, as all know how greatly the Institution is indebted to him. Dr. 
Masters seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. The 
following were then formally placed on the list as pensioners under 
Rule 6 without election :—Christian Craig, James Shepherd, and Philip 
Wright. 
Mr. J. Webber then moved a vote of thanks to Mr. H. J. Veitch for 
his service as Chairman at the Anniversary Festival on June 12th, 1890, 
and further proposed the resolution in the following form, to be illuminated 
on vellum, framed, glazed, and presented to Mr. Veitch at an early 
opportunity At the fifty-second Annual General Meeting of the 
subscribers to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, held 13th 
January, 1891, it was resolved unanimously that the best thanks of this 
meeting be presented to Harry J. Veitch, Esq., for his great kindness in 
presiding at the Anniversary Festival held on the 12th June, 1890, for 
the able manner in which he advocated the cause of the Institution, and 
the influence he brought to bear upon his friends for their liberality, 
and his own, on the occasion when the sum of over £3000 was 
realised.” 
Baron Schroder said he was proud to be able to second this resolution, 
for he had always found Mr. Veitch not only a good friend to the 
Institution, but ready to assist in any worthy cause. The resolution 
was carried unanimously, and Mr. Webber explained that by means of a 
subscription amongst private friends the testimonial had been prepared 
without any cost to the funds of the Institution. The proceedings then 
closed with a hearty vote of thanks to Baron Schrb ler for presiding. 
The election of eleven pensioners took place later in the afternoon, 
the following being the result of the polling :—Henry Primmer (2657), 
Thomas Stevenson (2509), James Gage (2376). Susannah Davison (2127), 
David Innes (2033), William Newcombe (1910), George Ilinxman (1875), 
William Bunn (1710), Joseph Henry Poole (1609), Isaac Gibbons (1539), 
Mary Ann Lane (1326). 
The Dinner. 
At 6 P.M. on the same day as the annual meeting the customary 
“ lark pudding ” dinner of subscribers and friends was held in the large 
hall of Simpson’s ; about 100 attended, the Chairman (N. N. Sherwood, 
Esq.) being supported by Dr. Bennett and Messrs. H. J. Veitch and J. 
Lee. There were also present Messrs. II. Williams, H. Cutbush, J. 
Webber, G. Woodgate, W. Denning, J. Willard, G. Paul, A. F. Barron, 
F. Q. Lane, W. G. Head, P. Barr, J. & H. Liing, W. Poupart, H. Turner, 
and others. 
The usual loyal toasts were pronosed by the Chairman and responded 
to heartily, and he then proceeded to propose continued success to the 
‘•Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution,” and remarked that the past 
season had been a very successful one, and it would be a good 
opportunity to review the progress the Institution had made. It 
was established in 1839, and in 1840 they had only one pensioner, in • 
1841 two pensioners, in 1842 four pensioners ; in 1850 they paid away 
£492 in pensions, and they had £2250 invested. In 1860 they paid 
away £723, and had £5100 invested. In 1870 they paid away £787, 
and had £7800 invested. In 1880 they paid away £1074, and they had 
£12,000 in stock. In 1889 the sum paid away was £2345, and they had 
£23,000 in stock ; and in 1890 the sum of £2648 was paid away, and 
they had £25,000 in stock. In 1891 the pensioners numbered 156 
(cheers). The oldest pensioner was upwards of 103 years of age, and 
had subscribed £18 183., while during the thirty-one years that he had 
been a recipient of the charity he had received £510. The number of 
pensioners who had been on the Society’s books up to the present date 
was 559, and the amount of money paid, including expenses, was 
£56,288. They were indebted for much of the success of the past year 
to Mr. Harry Veitch (cheers). Many of those present were well aware 
of the excellent manner in which Dir. Veitch presided at the annual 
dinner of the Institution, and they were also aware of the magnificent 
sum collected through his exertions. Mr. Vefich’s list amounted to 
£2000, the largest amount that had ever been collected in connection 
with any of the dinners with the exception of the Jubilee year. He 
was sure they would all agree with him when he said that Mr. Veitch 
was deserving of great respect and the cordial thanks of all present for 
the efforts he had put forward on behalf of the Institution. Their 
friend, who occupied a distinguished position in the horticultural 
world, was at all times ready to aid any cause of real distress that 
arose in connection with gardeners. At the urgent request of himself and 
their friend Mr. Cutler he (the Chairman) was permitted to tell them a 
great secret—a secret that was known only to himself and Mr. Cutler 
for some years. In 1885 there was a movement to augment the pensions, 
and at the annual general meeting held at the Bedford Hotel Mr. 
Cutler announced that with a view to enable the pensions to be per¬ 
manently increased, a friend of the Institution had offered to contribute 
£500, provided the remaining £1500 was forthcoming by the end of 
the year. This was accomplished, and “the friend” wished his name 
not to be published. He had now, however, consented to allow his name 
to become known, having been assured by himself (the Chairman) that 
it might benefit the Institutioii. The name of “ the friend ” was Mr, 
Harry Veitch. (Cheers.) He was sure, therefore, that all would agree 
