58 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
January 18, 1894. 
November; then removed indoors and placed in a light airy position. 
Tney have been flowering profusely ever since, and will continue doing 
so to the end of May. I have had over 300 plants in pots, besides a 
considerable number planted out. 
The plants are not particular as to soil, but seem at home in all 
kinds. Ours is a cold heavy clay, and we have great difficulty to get the 
Clove and border Carnations to thrive at all. They are very easy to 
propagate.— John Milne. _ 
Those who have not yet grown these Carnations have missed much. 
I sowed some seed at the end of February last year in a mild heat, and 
the seedlings were potted when large enough, the bulk of them eventually 
finding their way into pots 5^ inches in diameter. Some few were 
grown in pots an inch less, but I noted those in the larger pots were 
much better in every way. Small pots do not afford sufficient scope 
for the roots, as these are freely made, and being very fibrous they absorb 
a quantity of moisture. A moderately rich compost is essential, the 
plants requiring a fair amount of stimulative food to enable them to 
continue longer in flower than they do when in a half-starved condition. 
To test these Carnations I planted some in the kitchen garden, but 
I found that those in pots flowered much the best. About 90 per cent, 
of these Carnations come double from seed, which is a great gain, as 
single flowers are really of little use for decorative purposes. Wnat 
I admire about them is the large numbers of self-coloured flowers 
that are produced. The bulk of them are deliciously scented, and all 
fringed at the edges of the petals. 
When the weather permitted the plants were assigned a position out 
of doors where they could obtain all available sunlight, were given 
plenty of space, and well supplied with water at the roots. Directly 
the pots in which they were to flower were full of roots, weak liquid 
manure was supplied to them freely. By the early part of July they 
commenced to flower, and kept on unceasingly until the early part of 
November out of doors. Where buttonho’e bouquets are in demind 
these Marguerite Carnations afford excellent material for the making of 
this favourite adornment, and as the Carnation is a popular flower for 
the purpose this new race is doubly valuable.—B. M. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITEnON. 
The fifty-fifth annual general meeting of the members of the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution was held at Simpson’s, 101, 
Strand, W.C., yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. H J. Veitch, Esq., 
occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of the supporters 
of this splendid charitable organisation. After readingr the minutes of 
the previous general meeting the Secretary, Mr. G. J. lagram, read the 
report of the Committee and financial statement for the past year, which 
we publish below. 
Annual Report and Financial Statement. 
For the fifty-fifth time the Committee of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution have the great satisfaction of presenting to 
their supporters a report, which shows that the Institution is still in a 
prosperous condition, and continues to carry on with success the good 
work for which it was founded—a work which has proved of incalculable 
benefit to those whom it is its especial office to aid, and by whom it is 
highly valued and appreciated. 
It is a great pleasure for the Committee to be able to state that the 
anniversary festival held in June last was entirely successful, and they 
desire to record their heartiest thanks to Baron Schrbler, who so kindly 
and ably presided on that occasion, and whose liberality and advocacy 
of the claims of the Institution contributed in a very great degree 
towards making the festival a financial success. The Committee would 
also gratefully acknowledge their indebtedness to all those who, either 
by acting as Stewards, or by sending gifts of flowers and fruit, assisted 
them in their efforts to bring about such a satisfactory result. 
During the past year thirteen pensioners have died, three leaving 
widows, whose claims to be placed on the pension list in succession to 
their late husbands have been carefully considered, and having been 
found satisfactory they have all been placed on the fund in accordance 
with rule iii., 13. 
The Committee have much satisfaction in stating that they have 
decided to increase the number of pensioners now on the books by fifteen, 
to be elected this day. Three of these, in accordance with rule iii., 5, 
are recommended for a pension without the trouble and expense of an 
election, thus leaving twelve to be elected in the usual manner. The 
Committee regret that they are unable to place a larger number of 
candidates on the funds ; but they would point out that the proposed 
addition necessitates an increased expenditure, and they therefore ear¬ 
nestly appeal to the supporters of the Institution to aid them by their 
liberality in meeting the additional liabilities thereby incurred. 
It is very gratifying for the Committee to be ableito announce that an 
auxiliary has been formed at Bristol, for Bristol, Bath and neighbour¬ 
hood, with the view of making the objects and claims of tae Institution 
better known in that district. Their thanks are specially due to Mr. 
J. H. Vallance (Hon. Sec.) and to thosa gentlemen through whose efforts 
this new departure has been made. It bids fair to create a greater interest 
in the work, and the Committee trust that this example will be followed 
by other friends of the Institution in different parts of the country. 
In conclusion, it is with feelings of deep regret that the Committee 
have to refer to the loss by death of many valued supporters during the 
past year, amongst whom were the Earl of Derby and Lord Ebury, both 
Vice-Presidents and warm friends of the Institution. These lossas, 
combined with the great need of extending the work, compel the Con- 
mittee to urge all those who have the well being of the Institution at 
heart to use their utmost endeavours to promote its interests. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
Bal.vxce Sheet for 1893. 
Dr. £ s. d. 
To Balance . 
„ Annual subscription . 
„ Donations at and in consequence of annual 
festival dinner .14S7 
,, Collecting cards.178 
„ Return of income tax . 4 
£ s. d. 
1237 9 0 
2 
2 
18 
Advertisements in annual list of subscribers.. 
I Dividends ou investments and interest on deposits 
1650 
47 
796 
Invested funds of the Institution— 
£25,000 Two and three quarters per Cent. Consolidated Stock. 
£2 664 193. lOd. Three per Cent. India Stock. 
Silver Wedding Thanksgiving Fund 
£479 lOs. 4d. Midland Railway Three per Cent Debenture Stock. 
£1300 on deposit with bankers. 
935 
a. 
T 
3781 1 ’. 0 
£4717 4 T 
Cr. £ s. d. 
By Pensions and gratuities. 
„ Secretary's salary. 
„ Rent of offices.. .. .. .. 
„ Office as istance .. . 
„ Cost of presentation to Hon. Solicitor .. 
., Printing (including annual report and list of 
subscribers;. .. .. 
„ Stationery. 
„ Expenses of annual meeting and election of 
p 'iisiouers .. .. .. .. .. 
„ Expenses of annual festival dinner .. .. 176 16 6 
„ Less tickets sold .. . 89 50 
„ Cost of appeals . 
„ Collecting boxes . 
„ Postage, travelling, and incidental expenses .. 
„ Placed on deposit with bankers. 
„ Balances, viz.: — 
With Treasurer at bankers . 
„ Secretary . 
200 0 
65 12 
23 0 
20 10 
137 
21 
87 11 
29 2 
G 7 
931 13 
2 3 
£ 
2687 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
4 
15 17 6 
83 12 11 
d. 
d 
692 16 
400 0 
936 16 4 
Audited and found correct, January 14th, 1894. (Signed) 
£4717 4 
(THOMAS SWIFT, 
(JESSE WILLARD 
A resolution to the effect that the Committee’s report and financial 
statement be adopted, was unanimously carried. On the motion of 
Philip Crowley, Esq., t Messrs. J. Douglas, W, Denning, J. Laing, 
N. Sherwood, and G. Wythes retire, according to the bye-laws, from the 
Committee, but be re-elected ; also that Messrs. J. H. Veitch and G. Bun- 
yard be elected in the place of Messrs. A. Veitch and H. Tillman. This 
resolution was carried. Mr. H. J, Veitch was re-elected Treasurer, and 
Mr. G. J. Ingram as Secretary. Messrs. Manning, Swift and Willard were 
re-elected auditors for the ensuing year, and Messrs. J. Buck, W. Crane, 
Higgins, Alexander, and Gold were appointed arbitrators. It was 
then proposed that J. Jobson, J, Webb, and Lydia Bulman be, ia 
accordance with the rules, placed on the funds of the Institution 
without election. This resolution, on being put to the meeting, was 
carried. Messrs. H. Cutbush, G. Monroe, J. Webber, A. Outram, and 
B, Wynne ware appointed scrutineers, and later in the afternoon declared 
the poll, those with an asterisk prefixed being elected pensioners of the 
Institution. 
*Jane Nichols, 2340 ; Clara E. Brown, 1635 ; John Collier. 519 ; 
Henry Fielder, 1785 ; *Emm\ Kendall, 2620 ; Thomis Thomas, 2133 ; 
*Francis Woodhams, 2209 ; Thomas Bundy, 437 ; James Clarren, 2100 ; 
*.John Comber, 2992 ; David Cornell, 184 ; Hester Falconer, 790 ; 
* Thomas Gooch, 3051 ; *Ann Harding, 2321 ; *Richatd King, 2300 ; 
Ambrose Minty, 253 ; John Pearcy, 1330 ; Robert Pettitt, 1407 ; 
Eliza Webb, 063; *William Pamplin, 2655; Thomas Bannister, 873 ; 
Robert Begbie, 413 ; *Sarah Buckham, 2015 ; *James Burt, 3227 ; 
Thomas Cawley, 1195 ; William Croshier, 947 ; Alexander Duncan, 37 ; 
Charles Harris, 795 ; Samuel Hicks, 71 ; Emma A. Ivery, 1244 ; *John 
Mackay, 2498 ; Joseph Monk, 173 ; Thomas Parry, 27 ; Joseph Shearn, 
575 ; (jharles Smith, 956 ; *Margaret Tindall, 2934. 
The members and friends of the Institution held their annual 
friendly supper last night (Wednesday) at the same place after the 
general meeting closed. N. Sherwood, Esq., occupied the chair, and he 
was supported by many prominent horticulturists. The arrangements 
were admirably carried out by Mr. G. J. Ingram, the energetic Secretary, 
and a pleasant evening was spent. A detailed report of the principal 
speeches that were delivered will appear in our next issue. 
The Edible Lichen of Japan. — This, known as “ iwatake,” 
is described in the “ Botanisches Centralblatt ” (1893, No. 45) by Dr. 
M. Miyoshi, under the name Gyrophora esculenta, sp.n. Its com¬ 
mercial value is due to the large amount which it contains of starch 
and of some gelatinous substance ; and it is also extensively used in 
Japanese cookery as a condiment, having a pleasant flavour and being 
free from purgative properties. In some parts of Japan, especially the 
mountainous districts, “ Nature ” says, it completely covers the moist 
granite rocks. After drying it is sent into the towns, and a large 
amount is annually exported. 
