January 25, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
75 
—cannot be shown in any class of Hybrid Perpetuals.” What reconciling 
can there be between these two opinions ? Surely it is a mistake to alter 
the position of a Rose after a quarter of a century’s life. 
I note that “ D., DeaZ,” says there are only eleven Hybrid Teas; 
he seems to count Captain Christy and its climbing variety as two, but 
for exhibition purposes they can only be one, thus reducing the number 
further, at least as I understand the N.R.S.’s regulations.—Y. B. A. Z, 
Perhaps it is not often that the contention of a correspondent is 
absolutely established in the same issue of the Journal in which it 
appears. But on page 47 I wrote that the previous letters had implied 
that some hardship had been inflicted upon Hybrid Teas by the action of 
the N.R.S., and “ D., Deal,” on the same page, puts the suggested hard¬ 
ship into words, and at the same time shows how entirely erroneous it is, 
when he says that these flowers “ cannot be shown in any class of Hybrid 
Perpetuals .... these Roses are excluded.” The multiplicity of 
matters which claim the attention of your esteemed correspondent must 
have caused him to forget what occurred at the annual meeting of the 
N.R.S. A resolution was brought forward which ran—“ Hybrid Teas 
must not be exhibited among Teas and Noisettes.” The fair inference 
from this would naturally be that they may be shown in other classes ; 
but to establish the matter upon a firmer basis than inference 
Mr. Frank Cant wisely moved to add the words—“ but they may be 
shown with H.P.’s and in mixed classes,” and in this form the regulation 
was adopted. So what “ D., DmZ” ought to have written was—“they 
can be shown in any class of Hybrid Perpetuals.” 
Again, I think, “ D., Deal,” is scarcely correct in writing that there 
are only eleven varieties of H.T.’s mentioned in the catalogue. I write 
with reserve upon this point, because at the moment I cannot put my 
hand upon the book in question, but I believe it will be found that 
there are two lists of Hybrid Teas contained therein, and that while the 
first list contains only eleven names, the second one embraces many 
more, some of them very beautiful flowers, well worthy of separate 
classification and exhibition. 
All who know your correspondent must recognise the truthfulness 
of his last sentence on page 47, and I am therefore sure that he will be 
glad to have his memory refreshed, and to be set right upon the points 
mentioned above.—J. B. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
As briefly mentioned in our last issue the annual friendly supper of 
the members and friends of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution 
was held at Simpson’s, Strand, W.C., on Wednesday, the 17th inst. 
N. N. Sherwood, Esq., occupied the chair, and he was supported 
by a large company, nearly a hundred gentlemen sitting down to the 
tables. Amongst those present we noticed Phillip Crowley, E.-q., 
H. J. Veitch, Esq., T. F. Peacock, Esq, (honorary solicitor to the 
Institution), R. M. Hogg, Esq., Messrs. A. Moss, J. Weeks, H. Turner, 
H. Cutbush, G. Bunyard, J. Laing, J. H. Veitch, W. J. Nutting, 
J. Webber, G. Monro, P. Barr, W, G. Head, A. F. Barron, J. Hudson, 
G. Wythes, with many other horticulturists and supporters of this 
deserving charitable organisation. The arrangements were carried out by 
Mr. G. J. Ingram, the Secretary, in his customary able manner, and the 
proceedings being of a purely social character enabled those present to 
spend a pleasant evening. 
The Chairman, after the usual patriotic toasts had been disposed of, 
rendered that of “Continued Success and Prosperity to the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution.” He said they had good reason for con¬ 
gratulating themselves in being fairly successful during the past year, 
especially when considering the general depression that existed through¬ 
out the country. This was a gratifying fact of which they all might 
be proud. The balance sheet which they had passed that day showed 
the position they were in at present. It proved t’nat nearly £2700 had 
during the past year been expended in pensions and gratuities. (Hear, 
hear.) He would briefly call attention to a few facts to show how they 
had progressed. The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution was 
founded in 1838, and during the first year, their income was a little 
over £100, and they had two pensioners. Now there were 158 pensioners, 
1300 annual subscribers, and many life members. The average age of the 
pensioners was seventy-six, and forty-five of them were over eighty-two 
years of age. During the fifty-four years the Institution had been in 
existence more than £65,000 had been given away in pensions. 
(Applause.) To maintain this liberality the income must be kept up. 
Nothing can stand still; it must either go forward or backwards. He 
hoped, therefore, everyone would do his best in pushing forward the 
work of this splendid organisation. Being quite a social gathering that 
evening it was not the proper time to make an appeal for fund.s, but he 
would ask all present to recommend the Institution to their friends. 
Gardeners, as a rule—there were exceptions, he knew—could not 
contribute much out of their earnings towards the Institution, but they 
could assist greatly by bringing it before their employers. There were 
many gentlemen in this country who had never heard of the Gardeners’ 
Royal IBenevolent Institution. If they desired to make headway they 
must put their shoulders to the wheel. There was an idea abroad that 
they were rich, because their funded property brought them in about 
.£700 a year, but that was totally insufficient to meet the demands of 
the pensioners. What was needed was an increase in the annual 
subscriptions. Each year they lost by death annual subscribers, and to 
continue to pay away £2700 yearly the number of supporters must be 
maintained. They all knew that one or two other gardening charities 
had been established, including the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, and 
he desired to see that prosper, as it was doing. (Hear, hear.) But he also 
hoped that the older one would hold its own. Whilst remembering that 
they had a good backbone, the sum at disposal for the relief of the 
needy was, as he had said, not enough. There had been twenty-four 
candidates refused that day, some of whom had made repeated appli¬ 
cations. He personally knew one who had been elected, and who would 
look upon the £20 a year as a small fortune. The new rule which gave 
subscribers power to vote according to the length of time they had 
assisted the Institution he considered one of the best that had been 
made. He trusted the Institution would continue to prosper. He had 
pleasure in proposing the toast and coupling the name of Mr. Nutting 
with it. (Applause.) 
Mr. Nutting, in briefly responding, said he was one of the oldest 
members, and remembered the Institution since 1848, about ten years 
after it had started. Since that time he had taken a great interest in 
it. On behalf of the Institution he would return thanks for the manner 
in which the toast had been received. What they had done in the past 
he was sure would be done in the future. (Cheers.) 
Mr. H. J. Veitch proposed “ The Executive and Workers of the 
Institution,” and said that for the moment he would, as Treasurer, 
exclude himself for the purpose of rendering the toast. The Executive 
and workers were a very important body of gentlemen. They had as 
Trustees Mr. Sherwood, Dr. Hogg, and Mr. John Lee. Then the 
Auditors did their work well, and to Mr. Peacock, their Honorary 
Solicitor, they were much indebted for the kind way in which he had 
revised their rules during the past year. They had not received a single 
complaint in regard to this matter, which said much for Mr. Peacock’s 
ability. (Hear, hear.) There were twenty-four Committeemen, and 
one-third of these were, in accordance with their rules, practical 
gardeners. In the interest of the Institution they had selected those on 
the Committee who resided as near the metropolis as possible, so that 
they could attend the meetings. As to the Secretary he would say but 
little then, and as regards the Scrutineers they carried out their 
arduous labours in a most efficient manner. This would be understood 
when he mentioned that no less than 52,317 votes had been polled that 
day. He would couple the names of Mr. Monro and Mr. Cutbush with 
the toast. (Cheers.) 
Mr, Monro briefly responded, remarking that to show the interest 
the Committee took in the work he might mention that the average 
attendance at the meetings was fifteen, which spoke well out of twenty- 
four members. Mr. Cutbush said that he assisted in the work of 
scrutineering the voting papers, because being young he considered it a 
duty to help those who were in need of assistance. 
Mr. A. Moss gave the toast of “ The Chairman,” and said that Mr. 
Sherwood had done much towards benefiting the Institution. Since he 
took the chairmanship, in 1886, the coffers of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution had been considerably replenished, and last year, 
to celebrate the jubilee of his firm (Messrs. Hurst & Co.), Mr. Sherwood, 
with his usual beneficence, gave £100. They would agree with him 
that a gentleman who had been the means of adding so much to the 
funds deserved to have his health drunk, and he wished him long life 
and continued prosperity. (Cheers.) 
Mr. Sherwood, in responding, said he had done his best in furthering 
the interests of the Institution, simply because his business brought him 
amongst gardeners, and it was a duty to render all possible aid to such 
worthy charities. It gave him very great pleasure to be able to do so, 
and his time and money—to a certain extent—were at the service of the 
Institution. (Hear, hear.) 
The Chairman then proposed the health of “ The Secretary,” and 
remarked that in Mr. Ingram they had a perfect Secretary. The late 
Mr. R. Cutler undoubtedly made the Institution what it is, and when 
he died they thought there would be some difficulty in finding a 
secretary to follow in his footsteps. They had, however, been favoured, 
and if the metropolis had been searched through, a more popular, 
energetic, and deserving man than Mr. Ingram could not be found. 
(Hear, hear.) He was sure that Mr. Ingram took great interest in his 
work, and was determined to make the Institution even more prosperous. 
One of the auditors, Mr. Swift, a member of his staff, informed him that 
it was a pleasure to look through the books of the Institution, they were 
so splendidly kept. (Cheers.) 
Mr. Ingram, in responding, said he would do in the future what he 
had done in the past, and with the assistance of the Committee, would 
always work in the interests of the Institution. 
TOP-DRESSING CONIFERS AT DROPMORE. 
I COULD but notice when at Dropmore recently that Mr. Herrin had 
been assisting some of the Coniferje growing there by adding top-dressings 
of clay taken from the bed of a large pond during the winter. The late 
Mr. Frost fully realised the importance of these top-dressings, and Mr. 
Herrin now not less so. Any garden refuse or wood accumulations, 
trimmings from roadsides, and vegetable matter, allowed to decay 
furnish an excellent dressing, which keeps the roots near the surface. 
There can be no doubt but that myriads of what were very fine Conifers 
in the country now becoming thin and ragged in appearance have 
become so because the roots have gone deep in search of food and 
moisture which they fail to find below, whilst had they been from time 
