2 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
, [ Jaly 7, 13S7. 
loose soil drawn over that which lias been moistened is 
of great help. The soil should in no case be allowed to 
become dry, much less water being required to moisten 
in the one case than in the other, and the plants can be 
sooner left to themselves. The quantity we give to each 
varies according to size, &c. Most plants 3 feet high 
need at least 2 to 3 gallons at a time. Large-balled 
specimens have as much as from 40 to 60. Very sandy 
soil may need water twice a week, soil of better quality 
from once a week to once a fortnight. 
With regard to vegetables, deep trenching and the 
employment of plenty of good fresh manure is of the 
greatest help in tiding over a period of drought. It is 
also of importance that vegetables, especially in light 
soils, should be deeply planted or sown. All our Peas, 
as an instance in point, are sown in trenches. The 
roots are down out of reach of dryness, as shown by the 
robust growth made by those from every sowing. In hot 
weather, however, it is well to help the plants by cutting 
elf the tops when sufficient flowers are opened for a full 
■crop. A soaking of water is also advantageous when the 
pods are swelling. Broccolis, Cauliflowers, Brussels 
Sprouts, Lettuces, Leeks, &c., never get more than one 
watering, and that to establish them when planted, but 
the precaution is taken of drawing aside the loose dry 
soil when planting, so that the roots get well into the 
moist stratum below, and when finished the dry soil is 
drawn back as a mulching. 
Seed-sowing in dry weather is rendered quite a satis¬ 
factory process if the drills are well watered before sowing 
and the seeds covered at once. Mats laid over beds help 
wonderfully in causing a good seed to braird. In the case 
of Spinach we find it of advantage to give a good dressing 
of Mushroom bed refuse underneath the place where the 
rows are to be. This, well moistened before sowing, 
causes a good leafage. 
Fruit trees we do not as a rule need to water, but 
those who employ rough turf should see to it that plenty 
of water is given, as this material has a tendency to 
become very dry.—B. 
TIIE GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
When Mr. Charles Penny, of Sandringham, made a proposition 
in our columns for the establishment of a Gardeners’ Orphanage, 
commemorative of the fiftieth year of Her Majesty’s reign, we gave 
a welcome to the proposition as one good in itself, but in that 
particular form impracticable ; and suggested that much more good 
could be done in a manner that could be devised by a central com¬ 
mittee, with the contributions of the well disposed, without expend¬ 
ing them on a necessarily costly building. No one was more 
\eady than Mr. Penny to place the matter in the hands of a 
committee and to acquiesce in whatever decision might be 
arrived at. 
On the appointment of a provisional committee it was first 
determined to test the feeling of gardeners on the subject of raising 
a fund for the succour of children that might be left helpless, and 
the response, though it did not equal the anticipations of some 
members, exceeded that of others, yet on the whole was regarded as 
sufficiently encouraging to justify further action in the matter with 
a view to establishing the movement on a sound basis. 
On full consideration of the whole subject, the building project 
was abandoned, and attention concentrated on the establishment of 
a fund that should be entirely devoted to relieving the necessities of 
the orphans of gardeners ; and on this basis a sub-committee was 
appointed for framing rules to be submitted to a general meeting 
that is to held on the 12th inst. at South Kensington, for the 
management of the fund. In this important work the committee 
had the advantage of a chairman of great industry and business 
capacity, Mr. G. Deal (of the firm of Messrs. John Weeks & Co.), 
and after several meetings the rules in question were formulated. 
As it is thought desirable that those rules at least that bear 
directly on the collection and distribution of the moneys composing 
the fund] be made known to the great body of gardeners and 
sympathisers with the object, we have had placed at our disposal 
an advance copy for bringing them before the public prior to their 
presentation to the general meeting alluded to. 
Rule I. is merely descriptive of the title of the fund. 
II. — Objects. —The objects of the fund shall be to make allowances or 
grants of money (iu accordance with Rules 13 and 14), to aid in the 
maintenance of the orphans of gardeners, foremen in gardens, and 
the managers or departmental foremen in nursery and seed estab¬ 
lishments. 
III. — Membership. —Any person contributing 5s. or more per annum 
shall be a “subscriber;” and a donor of £5 or more shall be a 
“ life subscriber.” Local associations or corporate bodies contributing 
to the fund £5 or more shall, for a period of fifteen years, exercise 
the same right of voting as a life subscriber. Annual subscriptions 
to be paid in advance, and shall be due on the first day of 
January. 
IV. — Management. —At the first general meeting of the subscribers to 
the fund, a governing body shall be elected, to consist of a president, 
vice-presidents, three trustees, a treasurer, secretary, two auditors, 
and an executive committee of twenty-four subscribers, with power 
to add to their number, five to form a quorum. The president, 
trustees, treasurer, secretary, and the secretaries of local committees, 
shall be ex officiis members of the executive committee ; and the trea¬ 
surer and secretary shall continue in office for one year, and shall 
be eligible for re-election at the annual general meeting. One-third 
of the members elected on the executive committee and one of the 
auditors shall retire in rotation each year, and the vacancies so 
occasioned shall be filled at the annual general meeting. The retiring 
members shall be eligible for re-election. The executive committee 
shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur during the 
current year. * 
V. —Funds. —No part of the general funds shall be used for the purpose 
of erecting any building of whatever kind ; but should the fund at 
any future time assume such proportions as to render it desirable to 
erect or purchase a building, special arrangements can then be made 
for the purpose. All donations and legacies, and such proportion of 
the annual subscriptions as shall be sanctioned by the executive 
committee, shall be invested in the names of the trustees, on the 
authority of the committee, endorsed by the signature of the 
treasurer. The trustees and treasurer shall at all times, when 
requested by the executive committee, give such information con¬ 
cerning the funds in their hands as the committee may require. 
* * * * * * * 
XI. —Qualifications of Candidates.—A ll candidates must be (1) 
orphans of persons who have been gardeners, foremen in gardens, 
or managers or departmental foremen in nursery or seed establish¬ 
ments ; and (2) must be nominated by two subscribers to the fund, 
who shall furnish to the executive committee such information 
respecting their nominee as the committee may require. The eom- 
mit f ee shall decide upon the definition of the words “ gardener,” 
“ foreman,” “ manager,” &c., and shall also decide generally upon 
the validity of the qualification of candidates. 
XII. — Mode of Election. —Candidates shall be elected by the votes of 
the subscribers at the annual general meeting. Subscribers of 5s. 
per annum shall be entitled to one vote at each election ; subscribers 
of 10s. to two votes ; of £1 to four votes ; of Jf2 to eight votes, and 
so on in like proportion. Life subscriptions of £5 shall entitle the 
donors to one vote at every election ; of £10 to two votes ; of £20 
to four votes, and so on in proportion. Any person or persons con¬ 
tributing special donations or payments other than annual sub¬ 
scriptions to the amount of £G0, may place, without election, one 
orphan on the fund for an allowance of 5s. per week for a period of 
six years. The votes recorded in favour of unsuccessful candidates 
shall be carried forward to their credit in succeeding elections ; and 
in the event of the death of a candidate after the publication of 
the voting papers, and before the date of election, the votes given to 
the deceased candidate shall be credited to a brother or sister, if 
eligible. Before the annual general meeting the executive committee 
shall examine the claims and qualifications of candidates, and 
prepare an approved list of those eligible, and from this list the 
election shall be made. A copy of the list and voting papers shall 
be sent to each person entitled to vote at least fourteen days before 
the day of the election. 
XIII. — Allowances. —The allowances shall consist of any sum not 
exceeding 5s. per week to children under the age of fourteen years 
who, within the knowledge of the executive committee, may be 
placed with relatives or other responsible persons acting as guardians. 
Allowances shall be paid quarterly, in advance, except when the 
committee may consider it desirable to make’other arrangements. 
No child shall receive annual support after leaving attained the age 
of fourteen years ; but the executive committee, at their discretion, 
shall have power to grant a sum, not exceeding £10, towards 
apprenticing, or otherwise promoting the start in life of any orphan 
on whose behalf application shall have been made to the committee. 
The committee shall also have power to grant, on application, a sum 
not exceeding £2 to any orphan who may have ceased to be charge¬ 
able to the fund, and who shall have given evidence of his or her 
satisfactory conduct during the subsequent twelve months. 'Ihe 
