January 19, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
£9 
Wynne were appointed scrutineers, and later in the afternoon declared 
the poll, those with an asterisk prefixed being elected pensioners of the 
Institution. The total number of votes polled was 42,337. 
John Butler, 1559; Jane E. Nichols, 1156; *\V. Coleman, 1992; 
“James Munro, 2375; *H. Woolford, 2147 ; *T. H. Bowler, 1860 ; 
*Henry Bridden, 2975 ; Clara E. Brown, 612 ; John Collier, 184 ; Henry 
Fielder, 725; Emma Kendall, 1240; *George Macintosh, 2932 ; Ann 
Nixon, 587 ; *Jame3 Ricks, 2160; Thomas Thomas, 1030; *Samuel 
Tisdale, 2137 ; *George Woodgate, 2183 ; Francis Woodhams, 737 ; 
Thomas Bundy, 97 ; James Clarren, 514 ; John Comber, 674 ; David 
Cornell, 34 ; Hester Falconer, 147 ; Thomas Gooch, 845 ; *Mary Gray, 
2012 ; John Guyett, 1113 ; William Hale, 49 ; Ann Harding, 633 ; 
■■’’Margaret Kefford, 2837 ; Richard King, 475 ; *Agnes Merritt, 1931 ; 
Ambrose Minty, 170; John Pearcey, 131 ; Robert Pettit, 601; James 
Strachan, 129 ; Eliza Webb, 252 ; William Pamplin, 760, 
The “ Lark Puddinh ” Dinner. 
This gathering, held in connection with the annual general meeting 
of the Institution, took place at the same hotel in the evening of the 
17th inst. H. Seymour Foster, Esq., M.P., occupied the chair, and he 
was supported by a large company of members and their friends, nearly 
a hundred sitting down to the table. Amongst those present were the 
Rev. W. Wilks, H. J. 'Veitch, Esq., N. N. Sherwood, Esq., J. Weeks, Esq., 
Messrs. G. Bunyard, J. Laing, A. Veitch, P. Barr, A. Watkins, J. Hudson, 
G. Woodgate, and numerous other well-known horticulturists. 
The Chairman, after the customary loyal toasts, gave that of the 
evening—namely, “ The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution ; its 
continued prosperity and usefulness.” In proposing this toast he said 
it was an excellent custom to hold this gathering after the annual 
meeting so that the friends of the Institution could go back imbued 
with fresh zeal. He had left an agricultural conference at Ipswich that 
afternoon on purpose to be present. Regarding the work of the 
Institution, he observed that in its first year the annual income was 
but £100, whereas last year, according to the report, it reached £3527. 
He noticed also that between £50,000 and £60,000 had been distributed 
by the Institution, and there were upwards of 150 pensioners on the 
list, which alone proved its usefulness. The past year was a marked 
one in the annals of the Institution, inasmuch as the report showed an 
increase in the income and a decrease in the expenditure. (Hear, hear.) 
He thought it was a very excellent feature to assist those who had 
made an endeavour to help themselves. The funds, he observed, 
were widely and economically distributed. He had had some experi¬ 
ence with benevolent societies, and some he knew were organised for 
individuals and highly paid officials. Happily this was not the case 
with the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. This was managed 
on the most economical lines, and deserved the support and sympathy 
of all who took an interest in horticulture. A gardener’s life, he thought, 
was a happy one, and, as a rule, his work pleasant ; but withal it was 
especially desired that some provision should be made for a rainy day, as 
none of us knew when a day of adversity might come. It was impossible, 
however, for many working gardeners to make an adequate provision for 
old age and infirmities. He was much struck with the casualties which 
brougUt the candidates upon the list, and although fourteen pensioners 
had that day been elected, it was a sad fact that twenty-five deserving 
cases had to be turned away. All interested in the Institution should 
remember this and endeavour to render the Committee all possible aid, 
so that there may be no disappointed candidates. There were, he was 
glad to see, many friends of the Institution among the City companies, 
and perhaps he might be of further assistance in that respect. (Hear, 
hear.) Many others he might individualise, such, for instance, as the 
worthy Treasurer, who celebrated his silver wedding by subscribing 
£500 to the Institution ; and Mr. Sherwood, who had likewise given 
most liberally. These were friends indeed, and so long as the Insti¬ 
tution had such he ’nad no doubt as to its continued prosperity. 
(Applause.) 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood briefly responded, and said that his only regret, 
after such an excellent speech from the Chairman, was that there were 
no subscriptions collected that night. He was glad to say that the 
Institution is in a fairly flourishing condition, but he wished they had 
been able to place the whole of the candidates on the pension list. As 
the Chairman had said, the gardener’s life, up to a certain stage, was a 
happy one ; but there was a dark side to the picture. Gardeners had to 
be out in all weathers, and for the work required of them no men were so 
poorly paid. It was impossible for them alone to support the Institution 
themselves, and therefore he trusted that all who could would render 
assistance. There was one friend absent that night who might be 
regarded as the Father of the Institution. He referred to Mr. John Lee, 
who, he was sorry to say, was suffering from a severe illness, and he was 
sure that all would earnestly hope for his speedy recovery. 
Mr. H. J. Veitch gave “ The Chairman,” and remarked that much 
depended upon securing the services and aid of such gentlemen. He 
felt confident there was a bright and happy future for horticulture. 
He was sure also that Mr. Foster, as a member of the House of Commons, 
would watch the interests of the Institution and horticulture 
generally. 
The Chairman, in responding, said that he should never forget the 
Institution, and intended to become a life member. 
Mr. Nutting proposed “ The Secretary,” to which Mr. G. J. Ingram 
briefly responded. 
With the aid of a selection of music all present spent a most enjoy¬ 
able evening. 
THE WEATHER AND THE BIRDS. 
There are certainly not a few birds that we outdoor gardeners wish 
further. We have sent the sparrow to Australia, unfortunately without 
losing him altogether, and there are some other birds which those of us 
who pride ourselves on the size of our Strawberries, or the lusciousness 
of some of our other fruits, would probably rejoice to hear were exter¬ 
minated. The rigours of a winter such as we have been enjoying (?) no 
doubt end the lives of hundreds, but the summer sees the generality of 
these feathered bipeds as numerous and active as ever, and many of us 
vowing vengeance on them. But in such a winter their miserable puffed 
out condition, the melancholy, woe-begone appearance they assume 
touches most of us, and we put off the execution of our murderous 
thoughts. Generally, too, the Press, urged on by correspondents, pleads 
their cause, and “ Remember the poor birds ” forms the text for long 
dissertations. In this world we must take the evil with the good, and 
recognising that many birds are most useful to us gardeners, we feed our 
friends and let our enemies share the spoils. 
Personally until this winter the time to watch the vagaries of the 
feathered race has been denied to me, but now I have been conveniently 
placed and could devote a little leisure to that watching, which has 
proved most interesting, so much so that I promise amusement to those 
who choose to keep an eye on them. 
Firstly I must say that I am now well situated. My windows reach 
to the ground and open on to a large stone step, and so down to the 
garden. The few crumbs from the breakfast table have been regularly 
thrown out here, but during this awful, and I do not use the word in its 
slang meaning, in this awful weather, they have been liberally supplied, 
and very rapidly the viands disappeared. Have they any means of 
communication ? and if they have do they set us an example of sharing 
with others the goods provided for them ? I cannot answer, but what¬ 
ever be the cause the numbers of the suppliants increase, so too do the 
varieties. At first in the warmer times it was only the ubiquitous 
sparrow, the laziest of all birds as my experience goes, which visited us. 
The cock robins would take a crumb, thank you, and be off. As the 
weather became more severe these became regular customers, and the 
hedge sparrows joined the party. These were followed by two chaf¬ 
finches, later a third appeared. Then a black-pied water wagtail has 
turned up. This specimen was evidently suffering and looked pitiable, 
and I fear has gone over to the majority, for the last day or two it has 
not joined the group. With the increase of cold a mutton chop bone 
was put out, and this proved an unfailing source of quarrels, and has 
been pulled about hither and thither over the lawn. Thrushes and 
blackbirds ran about the lawn, but if they approached the window it 
was only occasionally. Then seeing the gusto with which the chop bone 
had been received we went a step farther. The bones of the beef 
sirloin were placed some 8 or 10 feet from the window. Stuck up on 
end they acted as scarecrows for many hours, the birds evidently taking 
them for a trap of some kind. We then had the bones moved on to the 
step outside the window, and fully expected the robins would soon 
attack them ; but no, they took the crumbs around it, but avoided the 
bones. So far as we could make out either the little blue tit or the cole 
tit were the first to tackle the joint, and the dainty little gems plied 
their beaks well, returning again and again to the attack. Later a long¬ 
tailed tit joined the party. The tits were followed by one of the thrushes. 
One of these having at last discovered what the bone meant has 
remained its most constant companion. This bird is a perfect glutton. 
It may be good for the human stomach to rest a while after food. It 
does not seem necessary with the thrush, if I may judge from this speci¬ 
men, but for the interference of a hen blackbird, which seems to be a 
perfect virago, and to spend her time in driving away any bird that 
seemed to be at all enjoying life. But for this the thrush might possibly 
have been frozen to the bone, and on several evenings she seemed to me 
as if she meant to roost upon it. Certainly she would keep pegging 
away at the frozen joint, standing on it, lifting it and herself as well 
long after all the other birds had gone to roost. 
The thrush is certainly one of if not the earliest bird, except perhaps 
the lark, in singing his morning chant; but, judging from our friend 
here, he is also the latest in going to rest. Ic is no use preaching to 
him, or we might tell him that he is “ burning the candle at both ends.” 
The blackbird now and then would try the bone, but never in the same 
way as the thrush. One blackbird would pick a large piece of the soft 
half frozen sop out of the plate, and with an effort be nearly upset 
and drop the morsel, which was at once pounced upon by half a dozen 
sparrows and carried off. Never venturing near the window a pair of 
wrens are occasionally seen, apparently being busy insect-searching over 
the bark of the trees. 
By far the most cheeky and impudent, and apparently least suffer¬ 
ing, are the tits. These were the most fearless ; would stand up for 
themselves, and not be driven off by chaffinch or hedge sparrow— 
indeed, without being quarrelsome, they appear to me far more plucky 
than the robins, determined to make the best of matters, and so giving 
us gardening folk an example of good temper and perseverance under 
the difficulties that frost and snow bring upon us. The robins now and 
then stand on the step and warble out their thanks, so the ladies seem 
to think ; but I catch a rather defiant tone in it, and am rather disposed 
to think that they see a rival; certainly they are the most impudent 
after our little friends, the tits. 
As regards fear of man, the thrush was far and away the least 
timid ; he would continue undisturbed, working away at his beloved 
bone with our watching him only a yard between us. Next to the 
thrush the hedge sparrows and robins stood their ground the best. In 
