520 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t June 29, 1893. 
- Campanula (Platycodon) gbandiflora.—I saw this very 
fine yet not at all common Bellflower in Mr. Ladham’s nursery 
flowering grandly in spite of the drought. The flowers are erect, 
of a pale mauve colour, and very pleasing. It is very hardy, and 
worthy of a place in every hardy flower border.—D. 
- A Wild Flower Exhibition. — There was a large and 
comprehensive display of wild flowers at the meeting of the Wakefield 
Paxton Society last week, over 200 species being staged. Mr. 
Blackburn arranged the wild flowers most effectively. A very inter¬ 
esting discussion was opened by Messrs. Burton and Parkin, each of 
whom dilated upon the usefulness and interest attached to the study 
of botany. 
- The Weather around Warwick. — Several showers have 
again fallen in this district, which have already produced a marvellous 
improvement in the appearance of vegetation generally. Trees, grass, 
and crops are in many instances assuming numerous and varied tints of 
verdant green. This change in the weather is fully appreciated after 
the intense heat and arid atmosphere experienced during the previous 
week. Kain began to fall during the evening of Thursday, 22nd, and 
continued at intervals throughout the night; by the following morning 
a quarter of an inch had fallen. On Friday slight showers fell 
frequently, and continued to fall during the night. To-day (Saturday) 
they are of frequent occurrence, and seem likely to continue. The 
total rainfall during the last three days amounts to a little less than an 
inch.— H. Dunkin. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION.—ANNUAL DINNER. 
The supporters of this old established and excellent charitable 
Institution held their fifty-fourth anniversary festival dinner at the 
Whitehall rooms. Hotel M^tropole, on Thursday, June 23rd. Baron 
Schroder, who is well known in the gardening world as an enthusiastic 
orchidist and an ardent supporter of all horticultural matters, presided 
-over a large assembly. About 120 gentlemen were present, and the 
company included Lord Teynham, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., N. N. 
Sherwood, Esq., Rev. W. Wilks, M.A. (Master of the Gardeners’ Com¬ 
pany), P. Crowley, Esq., H. J. Veitch, Esq., N. L. Cohen, Esq., John 
Lee,Esq., R M. Hogg, Esq., T. F. Peacock, Esq. (Hon. Solicitor), Messrs. 
W. Bull, J. Laing, H. Williams, J. Cheal, H. B. May, Owen Thomas, 
G. Munro, A. Turner, A. W. G. Weeks, G. Paul, H. Ballantine, A. Moss, 
Drewett, Rivers, A. Baker, A. F. Barron, J. Walker, J. Douglas, 
J, Hudson, G. J. Ingram (Secretary), and many other horticulturists 
and their friends. 
The Chairman, after the customary loyal toasts, proposed the toast 
of the evening—namely, that of “ Continued Success and Prosperity to 
the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, coupled with the name of 
H. J. Veitch, Esq., Treasurer.” In his introductory remarks, the Chair¬ 
man remarked that when he was asked to preside on this occasion he 
was at first inclined to refuse the honour put upon him because he felt 
he was no orator. However, he was deeply interested in the Institution 
and determined to give his testimony on its behalf. He took a great 
interest in all things connected with horticulture, and he was sure his 
hearers would forgive any shortcomings on bis part that evening. 
Despite the number of hospitals in that vast metropolis, and charitable 
societies innumerable, there were none that spoke so much to the heart 
as the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution (hear, hear). The man 
•did not exist who was not fond of flowers. They were mankind’s com¬ 
panions alike in joy and sorrow. The associations of flowers went with 
them through all the circumstances of life. As children they were 
taught the love of flowers ; young men when they go into society must 
have their flowers as buttonhole bouquets ; and the young maiden, 
before she has discovered diamonds, is charmed with beautiful flowers. 
At matrimonial ceremonies, too, flowers were always in evidence. The 
happy home is usually bedecked with floral gems, and when at his (the 
speaker’s) age, there was nothing so soothing as to go into the green¬ 
house and see the beautiful plants (cheers). He might go further, and 
say that flowers followed mankind to the grave, and he considered them 
as our best friends. If this was their regard for flowers, what ought to 
be their feelings to those who tended their flowers with loving 
hands night and day at the risk of their health—their gardeners ? 
Ought they not to honour these men? Ought they not to do 
everything in their power to assist them in their old age, and to 
alleviate their sufferings? Therefore those present ought to be 
thankful that the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution gave 
them the opportunity of showing their gratitude to those who had 
grown their fruits and flow’ers. The Institution, as they all knew, was 
established in 1838, and tw'o years afterwards he understood there were 
two pensioners and 100 subscribers. At the present day there were 
150 pensioners and 1300 subscribers. The Institution numbered amongst 
iTa distinguished patronesses and patrons Her Most Gracious Majesty the 
Queen and the Prince of Wales. The late Prince Consort had been for 
a long time a patron of the Institution. In his opinion he thought it 
was the duty of that assembly to show to the world that they were not 
on y horticulturists, but also philanthropists ; and that they were anxious 
not only to grow the finest flowers that were to be found in the world, 
but that they could show at the same time they appreciated the labours 
of their gardeners (hear, hear). One noticeable feature of the Institution 
was the encouragement it gave to those gardeners who in their days 
of prosperity subscribed to its funds. He thought that the new 
Rule 10 was one of the best rules that he had ever seen in any charitable 
institution. This rule, which was incorporated last year, gave a 
gardener who had been a subscriber four years no less than fifty votes 
at an election, while subscribers over a longer period had still greater 
privileges. In conclusion, the Chairman made an eloquent appeal on 
behalf of the recipients of the pensions provided by the Institution, and 
he trusted that the results of that evening’s proceedings would be a 
considerable augmentation to the subscription list (applause). 
Mr. H. J. Veitch, in responding, observed that he had seldom listened 
to a more sympathetic speech with regard to the Institution’s work at 
its festival anniversary. (Hear, hear). In looking back over the affairs 
of the Institution since it was founded, he thought its friends had great 
cause for congratulation that during the whole fifty-five years they could 
point to a continued progress, and even in these days of hard times he 
was still glad to say that the Institution fully maintained its position so 
far as the keeping up of the number of its pensioners was concerned. 
Although he could not point to any increase in the subscription list 
during the past year, still a gratifying reduction had been made in the 
working expenses. When he reminded those around him that Mr. 
John Lee, the father of the Institution, seldom failed to preside over its 
meetings, they might rest assured that every economy would be practised 
in its management. (Hear, hear). They owed a debt of gratitude to 
Mr. Peacock, their honorary solicitor, whoso unstintingly gave his ability 
in framing the present rules of the Institution. He claimed that the 
rules of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution were now second 
to none. The pension list of the Society required the expenditure of 
the sum of £2700 annually. The fixed income was, however, only 
about £2000, so that the absolute need and great necessity of a spirited 
response to the Chairman’s appeal would be manifest. He might lay 
stress on the fact that the pensioners of the Institution were scattered 
throughout the United Kingdom without regard to nationality or creed, 
some being in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, as well as in England. 
The general rules provided that pensioners should not be eligible for 
election under sixty years of age, but they had the power to make 
exception to this. There were now four such cases, and of these one 
poor gardener was blind, and another suffering from brain disease. He 
had received many letters appealing for help, and it was sad to think 
that there were twenty-five unsuccessful candidates at the last election 
of pensioners. He asked for means to aid the needv, and then the 
benevolent would know that they were doing good. (Cheers). 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., in response to the toast of “ The Royal 
Horticultural, Royal Botanic, and Kindred Societies of the United 
Kingdom,” which was briefly submitted by Mr. Moss, in the unavoidable 
absence of .Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., said that he had been connected 
with the Royal Horticultural Society for a long time. The Society had 
seen dark days, but he was thankful to say that it had emerged from 
them. There were now about 3000 Fellows, and they were apparently 
well satisfied with what they were receiving in exchange for their 
subscriptions. Moreover, recruits were coming in from all over the 
country, and no less than 274 new Fellows have already been elected 
this year. The Exhibition in the Inner Temple Gardens was a success 
from every point of view. It was a success naturally, and a most 
distinguished horticultural success, and many friends had told him that 
a more beautiful show they had never seen. He and others present had 
seen a good show at Ghent, and they wished an opportunity would arise 
to enable them to reciprocate the kind feeling that had been accorded to 
them there. Horticulture in Belgium was, however, on a different 
footing to what it was in England. Here horticulturists get “ a cold 
shoulder” from every department of the state. (No, no). Someone 
said “ no, no,” but he maintained that he was right. However, the 
Royal Horticultural Society did all that was possible in disseminating 
a knowledge of horticulture, as in addition to the volumes now published 
regularly at intervals, there was the report of the Conifer Conference— 
a book of 600 pages—which he regarded as one of the best of works on 
the subject. Examinations in horticulture for garden scholarships had 
been held, and this year there were 204 candidates, seventy-six of the 
higher grade, and 128 of the lower grade. They would be glad to hear 
that that afternoon he had received an intimation that the Somerset 
County Council would be happy to co-operate with them in regard to 
these and similar examinations. (Hear, hear). He thought it was very 
gratifying to know that nearly every new plant made its dehut at one of 
the fortnightly meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, which 
proves that the Society was in every way connected with horticulture. 
He expressed regret at the unfortunate results of the efforts to establish 
an Horticultural Hall, but he did not despair in that respect. Regarding 
the claims of the Institution he remarked that the debt of gratitude 
employers owe their gardeners is enormous, and he hoped his hearers 
would respond liberally to the Chairman’s eloquent appeal. (Cheers). 
The Rev. W. Wilks, M.A., proposed “The Stewards and Ofiflcers, coupled 
with name of N. N. Sherwood, Esq.,” and in doing so remarked he 
was sure they would forgive him if he began at the bottom. They all 
knew what an excellent Secretary they had in Mr. Ingram. The Stewards 
he considered as kind friends of the Institution, inasmuch as they all 
worked very hard at their task. As proof of this he might mention that 
one of them, Mr. Monro, had collected nearly £100, and others hail 
made strenuous efforts to augment the subscription list. Mr, Veitch, 
