320 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 11, 1895 
W. IretoD, G. J, Ingram, J. H. Laing F. A. Laing, W. J. Brewer, W. 
Barr, H. Herbst, B. Wynne, D. Gorton, A. G. Baker, E. Hill, W. G. 
Head, J. Wimsett, A. F, Barron, H. J. Jones, J. Fraser and W. Bates, 
After the usual toasts for the Queen and Eoyal Family had been 
given, the Chairman arose, amidst applause, to propose that of ‘‘The 
Eoyal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund,” and, amidst other well-chosen remarks, 
said the Fund was originated to aid in the maintenance of the orphans of 
gardeners, foremen in public, private, and market gardens, and nursery 
and seed establishments, while rules are provided which enable the 
Committee to give a certain sum to start the children in the world. The 
Society was started in 1887 by Mr. Charles Penny, who he was pleased to 
see there, this being the first annual dinner he had attended since its 
origin. He (Mr. Penny) was now enjoying honourable retirement, and 
whenever thoughts of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund crossed his mind, he 
must feel thankful that he ever started it. In 1888 there were eleven 
candidates who have received an allowancs of nearly £10 per annum 
since. This speaks wonders for the way in which it has been supported, 
and it was gratifying to know that at the last meeting the highest 
aggregate of votes was polled. 
That such a fund was necessary was proved by the fact that £832 were 
annually paid in benefits, and since the commencement the sum of £3237 
had been so paid. A pleasing feature in the last balance-sheet showed 
an investment of £7570, with £825 at the bankers. An average of 
£1500 per annum had been paid since the Fund was started, which was 
a wonderful fact, and one that no other institution of so short a duration 
could boast. 
Many people thought a reserve fund was not necessary, but he 
thought otherwise, as they were virtually pledged to find payments for 
children until they attained to the age of fourteen, and should the 
income at any time become less they would have the reserve fund to fall 
back on. He hoped the reserve fund would increase, and in doing so be 
a help to those coming forward. As the Secretary and Committee were 
all honorary the expenses had been less than in any previous year. 
These by their energy were not only assisting sixty-four children, but 
the mothers as well. 
Many people, he thought, did not realise the meaning of the words 
widow and orphans. In the case of a gardener being taken ill and 
dying, his poor widow is left perhaps penniless, heartbroken, and health 
gone; the Gardeners’Orphan Fund then steps in and says, “We will 
help you to bring up your family.” This Fond helps those who are 
unable to help themselves, and by doing so obeys the Divine command 
which tells us to “ Comfort the fatherless and widow.” 
In conclusion, he would remind all present that mercy always brings 
a double reward, and that the greatest happiness is derived from making 
others happy, and he would entreat them in the fulness of their hearts 
to give all they could, through which many could be benefited who at 
the last election had to be refused owing to lack of funds. 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood, in replying to the Chairman, said he had 
received letters from Sir J. T. D. Llewelyn, Bart., Drs. Masters and 
Morriss, also Messrs. Dickson, V/right, Dyer, Marshall, Finch, and 
Sander, regretting their inability to attend. Proceeding, he said all 
knew the interest taken by Mr. Veitch in all charitable works, 
especially those connected with gardening, and he trusted the 
Chairman’s excellent speech would be the means of drawing a 
goodly sum. It must be a great pleasure, he said, to Mr. Penny 
to see the prosperous condition in which the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund is now in, and by energetic working and keeping it before the 
public it will doubtless develop into as great a Society as the Gardeners’ 
Eoyal Benevolent Institution. He had learnt that one gentleman had 
collected the sum of £50 in half-crowns, and he would like to suggest 
some arrangement be made similar to that in hospitals, by which a 
person after subscribing a certain sum has a cot set apart for the use of 
anyone he likes to recommend. If something like this could be 
instituted in this Society he would be happy to be the first to make a 
presentation. The Chairman, he said, had graphically described 
instances in which the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund was spreading its good 
work, and he trusted it would have the support of all interested in 
gardening, and so grow and become one of the greatest societies in the 
kingdom. 
Mr. J. Assbee, in giving the toast of “ Gardeners and Gardening,” 
remarked that it was one which embraced a very wide area. There 
were amateur gardeners, gentlemen’s gardeners, and market and nursery 
gardeners. In speaking more particularly of the three latter, he said 
that gardeners, as a rule, are a body of men who have great interest in 
their work, besides being men of many ideas and wide knowledge, Intel* 
ligent and deserving. The remuneration, he said, received by gardeners 
in many instances is not sufficient for them to make provision for their 
wives and families, and it was to help such that the Fund had been 
established, and with wider spread of feeling he hoped it would prosper 
still more. With respect to the second part of the toast—viz., “ Garden¬ 
ing,” almost everyone loves gardening, whether it is oa an elaborate 
scale, or even on a much smaller in a London window, and the keen 
love which is held for flowers may be seen in the way in which even a 
small child will run the risk of being run over in the street in order to 
become the possessor of some fallen blossom. He felt the toast of 
“Gardeners and Gardening” was one much too wide for him to 
thoroughly grapple with ; but in giving it he would couple with it the 
name of Mr. Owen Thomas, the accomplished gardener of Her Majesty 
the Queen. 
Mr. Owen Thomas in reply, said nothing had made more progress 
during recent years than horticulture, and in looking over a period of 
thirty years one could not fail to notice the extent to which methods and 
systems had changed. Flowers in those days were not grown to be cut so 
much as they are now, not that he bad anything to say against this, as 
it gave employment to a great many. In speaking of gardeners he 
regretted the recent death of several worthy horticulturists. There was- 
Mr. William Thomson, who had revolutionised the system of Grape¬ 
growing for market, and Mr. Thos. Baines, verily a king amongst 
gardeners ; and lastly, Mr. Wm. Dean, one of the most kind and amiable 
of men, and one of the best florists who ever lived. In speaking of the 
future of gardening, he said young gardeners of the present day were a 
class of men worthy of the highest praise. With respect to the Gardeners' 
Orphan Fund he said the chief power of the Society was centered in 
London, and he thought it would be a good idea to form centres in. 
different parts of the country by which the Fund might be much 
encouraged. 
At this point the result of subscriptions given at the table wa& 
read by Mr. Brian Wynne, and amounted to a substantial sum, 
particulars of which are appended. Per Harry J. Veitch, Chairman.— 
Harry J. Veitch, £52 10s. ; J. Veitch & Sons, £26 53. ; Mrs. Harry 
J. Veitch, £10 lOs. ; J. H. Veitch, £10 lOs.; J. Gould Veitch, 
£10103.—£110 03. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, £55 Is. 6d.; Covent Garden 
Table, per J. Assbee, £52 lOs. ; Wills &Segar, £40; J. Eeynolds (includ¬ 
ing Leopold de Eothschild, £20, and Alfred de Eothschild, £10 lOs.), 
£37 11s. ; The Hortus Lodge, £35 Os.; N. N. Sherwood, £35 lOs. ; 
Baron Schibier, £30; Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., £21; Lord 
Eothschild, £25; N. M. Eothschild, £25 ; E. Hill, Tring, £20; W. 
Eobinson (“ The Garden”), £15 153.; Arnold Moss (Wrench & Sons), 
£15 153. ; Ferdinand de Eothschild, M.P., £10 ; Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., M.P., £10 IOj. ; T. B. Haywood, £10 lOs. ; M. B. Head, £10; 
J. E. Stirling. £8 16^. Gd. ; T. C. Ward, £7 23. 6d. ; J. Willard, 
£6 133. Gd. ; E. P. Glendinning, £5 153. Gd. ; John Laing & Sons, 
£5 lOs. ; Martin J. Sutton, £5 5s.; Anthony Waterer, junr., £5 Ss. ; 
A. W. Suttcn, £5 ; Sir Donald Currie, £5 ; T. Statter, £5 ; Proprietors 
of “Amateur Gardening” and “Gardeners’ Magazine,’’ £5; G. A. 
Dickson, £5 ; W. G. Head, £5 59. ; H. Hartley, £5 53,; A. W. G. 
Weeks, £5 5s. ; II. J. Wimsett, £5 53.; H. Hicks, £5 53. ; A. H. Smee, 
£5 53. ; E. Gilbert, £5 14,3. ; T. Turton, £3 153. Gd.; H. J, Clayton, 
£3 lOs. ; W. J. Nutting, £3 3s.; W. Iceton, £3 33. ; -J. F. McLeod, 
£3 Os. Gd. ; H. J. Cutbush, £2 78. ; — Page, £2 23.; H. Herbst, £2 23. ; 
P. Crowley, £2 23. ; E. & G. Cuthbert, £2 23. ; C. B. Osman, £2 2*. ; 
T. Manning, £2 23. ; W. J. Brewer, £2 178. ; J. T. Bennett Poe, £2 ; 
P. E. Kay, £2 23. ; G. May, £2 2s. ; Laundy, Son, & Kedge, £2 2s. ; 
W. Bates, £2 Is.; W. Eoupell, £1 14s. Gd.; J. Phillips (Edinburgh), 
£1 43.: W. Smyth (Basing), £1 73.; and further sums of £1 Is. and 
under, making a total of upwards of £800. 
Mr. W. G. Weeks, in proposing the health of the Chairman, said it 
was to him a pleasure, marred to a certain extent, as he could not do full 
justice to the toast, and what he said was no mere figure of speech but 
the outpouring of heartfelt thanks. The name of H. J. Veitch, Esq, 
said he, carried with it a glow of goodness to anyone to whom it waa 
mentioned, for in spite of the many duties connected with the firm he 
always found time to attend to the wants of the aged and suffering in, 
the gardening world, which may be seen by his munificence and generosity 
in regard to the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund and other societies, and any¬ 
thing further that he might say would, he thought, be quite superfluous. 
The Chairman, in thanking those present for the kind manner in 
which they had drunk his health, said he felt he was a friend amongst 
friends, and he should like to thank Mr. Barron for the excellent manner 
in which he conducted the duties of Secretary, and also the Stewards for 
the good list of subscriptions they had succeeded in obtaining, coupling 
with the latter the name of Mr. Chas. Penny. 
Mr. Penny, in reply, said he could not tell them what he felt. He 
was so pleased and gratified at the success of the Society, which, frona 
being a cutting a few years ago, had now developed into a fine plant. 
He regretted the fact that more gardeners did not subscribe to the 
Society, as he thought every gardener might do so. He also trusted the 
horticultural press would do all they could to further the interests of the 
Society. He would also like to tender especial thanks to Mr. Barron 
for his services, and in conclusion said his early expectations had been 
more than accomplished. 
Mr. A. F. Barron, in a few words, expressed his thanks, and said he 
should always do his best for the Society. 
Mr. Harry Turner gave the toast of “ The Horticultural Press,” and 
said the Society had derived much benefit through the reports of meet¬ 
ings and events that appeared in the pages. Mr. George Gordon replied,, 
and thanked all present for the generous manner in which the toast had 
been received ; and, amongst other well chosen remarks, said memhers- 
of the Press would always endeavour to do what they could for the 
gardening fraternity. 
Selections of music, vocal and instrumental, were supplied by Mr, 
Herbert Schartau and others. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 9tf. 
This meeting at the Drill Hall was the best that has been held this 
year. The display of flowers w„8 an exceptionally brilliant one, and was 
comprised of a more extended selection than has been the case at 
previous meetings. Orchids were not quite so numerous, but as a rule 
the quality was exctllent, The exhibits for the Floral Committee made 
by far the greatest show, and in this section some plants of Streptosolon 
