November 17, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
439 
- American Garden Implements. —la reply to your corre¬ 
spondent, W. R. Raillem, page 416, I wish to say that I have used one 
of the Combined Planet Jr. Garden Cultivators, and on very light 
friable soils, free from stones, Ifiund it useful. For general use in 
England, however, these implements are not suitable. But I think they 
should give a hint to village blacksmiths to make tools that are handy 
if the Small Holdings Act becomes a practical matter.—R. Maher. 
- Anti-Blight.—W ill you please tell me through the Journal 
the address of the manufacturers of Tate and Buchanan’s Anti-Blight, 
also the vendors of the Melba Bellows ? I cannot understand why people 
do not advertise their goods when they see them highly spoken of.— 
Mildew. [Perhaps they can sell sufficient without. The agents, as we 
have several times stated, are Messrs. Barr & Son, and their address is 
usually to be found in their advertisement on the front page of the 
Journal of Horticulture .] 
Manager of the London Parks. —It is reported that the 
London County Council finally decided last week not to appoint a 
superintendent of the London parks at a salary of £700 a year, as was 
originally intended. The duties of certain present officials have been 
■re-arranged, and Mr. J. J. Sexby, of the architects’ department, becomes 
chief officer at a salary of £500 per annum. Mr. Sexby, although not 
a gardener, takes an interest in the profession, and for several years has 
been a member of the Committee of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution. It has also been decided to appoint a new officer having a 
special knowledge of horticulture at a salary of £300 a year, to act as 
Mr. Sexby’s assistant, and to be called the assistant-superintendent. 
—P. S. 
- Disease of the Vine. —The very destructive American 
disease of the Vine known as the “ Black-rot ” has, for some years past, 
made its appearance in Europe, and its life-history has now been 
thoroughly investigated by Viala, Rfithay, and others. The ravages of 
the disease have been traced to a parasitic fungus, Lsestadia Bidwelli, 
the mycele of which develops in the interior of the organ attacked, 
chiefly the young branches and berries, and produces spermogones and 
pycnids in the course of the summer. It is especially by the pycno- 
spores that the fungus is disseminated. Towards the end of the period 
•of vegetation sclerotes are formed, usually within the pycnids, and the 
conidiophores spring from these. Peritheces are also formed in May and 
June on the fallen and infected berries of the previous year. Until 
recently the ravages of this pest in Europe were confined to the French 
vineyards, but it has recently been detected in Austria and in Italy. 
The most effectual remedy for it is salts of copper.—( Nature .) 
- Dischidia Rafflesiana.— The “ Kew Bulletin ” states that 
after many unsuccessful attempts to introduce living examples of this 
interesting plant, Kew has at last succeeded, thanks mainly to the 
generosity of Dr. Treub, the distinguished Director of the Botanic 
G-ardens, Java, who sent a plant of it in a Wardian case two years 
ago. This plant is now established and growing freely, producing 
numerous large pitcher-like leaves as well as the small normal Hoya- 
like foliage. The morphological meaning of these pitchers has not yet 
been thoroughly worked out. “ The species of Dischidia all want a 
careful study. They cannot be described satisfactorily from dried 
specimens. The leaves change in form, and it is not ascertained in 
respect of many species whether they may or may not be converted 
into pitchers (ascidia) Hooker in “ Flora of British India.” The 
plant at Kew is now under the special observation of Dr. Scott, 
hon. keeper of the Jodrell Laboratory. D. bengalensis is an old garden 
plant. It is cultivated at Kew in the Palm house. D. Rafflesiana is 
for the present kept in one of the propagating pits. 
V 
- Sending Plants by Post. —We receive evidence of the 
inability of persons to pack plants so that they may pass a day or 
two safely in the post only too frequently ; what would they say to 
plants journeying 14,000 miles, spending five weeks in the post, and 
then arriving perfectly fresh ? When at Swanley the other day Mr. 
Cannell showed us an original letter acknowledging the receipt of some 
plants by Messrs. D. Hay & Son, Montpellier Nursery, Auckland, New 
Zealand. It ran as follows : — “ We have very much pleasure in 
stating that we received the two tins by post yesterday containing 
Chrysanthemums, Carnations, and Pelargoniums, and out of the whole 
number we do not think we shall lose one, as they all appear fresh. We 
are greatly pleased to say the Carnations are quite fresh. We also 
thank you for selecting such strong plants and for your liberal treat¬ 
ment. You cannot improve upon the system of packing with cocoa-nut 
fibre, and the tins being strong do not get damaged in transit.” This 
is a very good proof of what our skilled nurserymen can do in the 
way of packing. Mr. Cannell is proud of the letter, and well he 
may be. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
Among gardening charities the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Insti¬ 
tution occupies a foremost position, and it is no wonder that the fifty- 
third anniversary dinner, which took place at the Whitehall Rooms, 
Hotel Metropole, on Tuesday, November 15th, proved such a brilliant 
success. For upwards of half a century this sp'endid Institution has 
been carrying on its good work of rendering aid to aged and disabled 
gardeners and their widows, so that it has a strong claim upon the 
sympathy of all interested in horticulture. On the present occasion 
Lord Brassey, K.C.B., occupied the chair, and was supported by a large 
company, comprising about 150 gentlemen. Amongst others present 
were Lord Addington, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Sir J. Whittaker 
Ellis, Bart., Major-General Sberer, Major Sexby, Rev. W. Wilks, Messrs. 
H. J. Veitch, P. Crowley, W. Paul, N. Sherwo>d, H. E. Milner, W. H. 
Protheroe, J. Laing, A. W. G. Weeks, G. Bunyard, R. Cannell, and 
numerous other well known horticulturists. 
Lord Brassey, after the customary loyal toasts, gave the toast of the 
evening—namely, “ Continued Success and Prosperity to the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution, now in its fifty-third year, coupled with 
the name of Mr. Harry J. Veitch, Treasurer.” His Lordship said he 
would not trouble his headers with a long peecb, but would merely point 
out a few of the most important features of the Ins'itution. The Society 
was a very old one, having been established in 1839, and made a small 
beginning. The income in the first year of its foundation was limited 
to the sum of £126. The object of the Institution was to provide 
pensions for men who had followed the occupation of a gardener, and 
who had been rendered incapable of earning their own living, also for 
their widows. When first instituted, the pensions were fixed at £16 for 
men and £12 for women, but since 1885 the scale had been raised to 
£20 and £16 respectively. The main feature of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution was that, while it administered to the relief of 
those who were in distress, it sought by every means in its power to 
inculcate the virtuesof providence and economy. In 1851 the Queen and 
the late Prince Consort became the patroness and the patron respectively 
of the institution. Later on, in 1865, the Prince of Wales also kindly 
consented to become a patron. At the present time they had 156 
pensioners, of whom seventy-nine were men and seventy-five women. 
These were maintained at a yearly expenditure of £2700. They would 
thus see that some good had been done, but the funds were still 
insufficient. Last year only fifteen were elected out of thirty-four 
candidates, and since then a large number of applications had been 
received. He therefore hoped that those present, and other donors, would 
do their best to increase the funds of the Society. In urging his hearers 
to extend their lib j rality to the Institution, his Lordship sail he might 
appropriately appeal to their grateful recollections of the happy hours 
they had passed in gardens. England bore through all its length and 
breadth the marks of care and skill in its farms, its parks, and pleasant 
places, and in its innumerable gardens, both large and small. Shakespeare 
paid a tribute to gardening in some of his choicest lines. The debt they 
owed to those by whose labours so many scenes of enchantment had 
been created was great, and he hoped that debt would be in some degree 
repaid by their subscriptions that evening. (Cheers.) 
Mr. H. J. Veitch briefly responded in appropriate terms, making a 
strong appeal on behalf of the Institution. He said that of late the 
Committee had had a very anxious time, and not very long ago it 
appeared doubtful as to whether they would be able to hold their 
anniversary gathering. But thanks to Lord B assey and other donors 
they were able to do so. Regarding the aid given, the Committee would 
willingly increase the number of pensions were it in their power to do 
so. Those who had been elected as pensioners were very grateful for 
the sums they had received. The oldest pensioner now on the list was 
ninety-one years of age, and he had received assistance for nineteen 
years. In order to render as much assistance as possible they had kept 
down the working expenses of the Institution, having reduced them 
fiom 25 per cent, in 1888 to do less than 13 per cent. Still, much 
remained to be done, It was enough to “melt a heart of stone” 
to read some of the letters received. In January, 1891, eleven pensioners 
were elected, leaving fourteen unsuccessful ones ; this year fourteen had 
been elected out of thirty-three candidates; and next year they expected 
to be only able to put eight on the list out of nearly forty applicants, 
unless the funds were considerably increased. He, therefore, hoped all 
who could would render assistance. Most of the cases were deserving of 
the greatest sympathy. One in particular he might mention. This was 
a gardener who, from the stiDg of a bee, had become totally blind, and 
he moreover had a wife and family depending on him for support. This, 
however, was not the only case of a blind gardener. The Committee 
thought some time ago that the rules of the Institution needed revision, 
which was being done, and he hoped it would meet the approval of all 
whom it concerned. The Institution had a Committee of whom it might 
be proud, and in Mr. G. J. Ingram, the Secretary, just the man that was 
wanted. 
Lord Addington gave “ The Royal Horticultural and Botanic Socie¬ 
ties of London and the United Kingdom,” and in doing so remarked 
that there was no dispute about the valuable services rendered by 
gardeners. Spring frosts, wireworm, and numerous other enemies had 
