JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ July n, 1888. 
?4 
with plants, and the tables were befittingly laden with flowers and 
fruit for the occasion. 
THE DINNER, 
Grace having been sung, the Chairman announced that he had 
received a letter and a subsequent telegram from Mr. Chamberlain, 
but he would refer to them later on. The Chairman next proposed “ The 
Queen,” and alluded in touching terms to the great sorrow Her 
Majesty had lately experienced. On the other hand, they all hoped 
that Her Majesty’s grandson had before him a long, happy, prosperous, 
and useful career. 
The Chairman then proposed the toast of “ The Prince and Princess 
of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family,” and remarked that, not only 
was His Royal Highness patron of the Institution, as was his illustrious 
father, but the Duke of Connaught not very long ago took the chair at 
one of their dinners. It was their hope that some member of the Royal 
Family might again occupy a similar position. 
Mr. J. R. Bourne next proposed the “ Navy, Army, and Reserve 
Forces,” each service being responded to severally by Admiral Field, 
M.P., Major Bolton, and Major Gole. 
The Chairman upon rising to propose the toast of the evening, 
‘‘ Success and Prosperity to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion,” was received with loud cheers. He said he need hardly say what 
keen sense of disappointment he felt when he heard that the Right 
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain had been prevented by illness from being in 
the chair that evening. He had had the pleasure of listening to many 
speeches on many subjects from that gentleman, and he (the Chairman) 
was bound to say that whatever the occasion, and whatever the subject, 
Mr. Chamberlain had been always able to bring to the subject some new 
illustration, some new method of interesting his hearers in what he was 
speaking about, and something which recommended what he said to 
the judgment of those whom he was addressing. He had in his hand a 
letter from Mr. Chamberlain, and also a telegram, in which he said, 
“ Thanks for kind expressions, I shall be happy to come some other 
night.” He was sorry that the Committee of Management had not 
been able to find somebody who would have been more able to bring a 
little freshness to the toast. The objects of the Institution were well 
known to everyone, as well as its claims, but in looking through the 
1 st of subscribers, he was sorry to say that he found the names of a 
large number of friends of his own absent, who derived a large amount 
of pleasure from their gardens, and felt sure it had not been brought 
to their notice that they ought to subscribe to the Institution. The 
Institution did not do anything that was at all extravagant. What 
did it do ! It simply gave to the men who were pensioners £20 a year, 
and to the women £lfi ; surely it would be impossible to do less than 
that. It had got on its lists a very considerable number of gardeners, 
and he was glad to see that it was enabled to add to the comforts of 
their old age, and a considerable number of tLem. The average age of 
the pensioners he found was seventy-four, and their oldest pensioner 
was 100 years of age ; therefore, gardening did not appear to be an 
unhealthy occupation. The number of applications was larger than 
the charity was able to help. The total expenditure was only £2250, 
and when he recollected the enormous interest which the people of 
this countiy took in gardening, he must say it was a reflection on the 
wealthier people of the country that they did not support the Institu¬ 
tion more largely. The Institution had made it a rule to help those 
who helped themselves, and that preference was given to those who 
had been on the books of the Society fifteen clear years before any help 
was given to others. A lady had once asked him whether he thought 
an Orchid was more beautiful than a Rose. He thought the proper 
course to take in such a case was to show them the door at once, because 
he did not think they could take any interest in any form of gardening. 
It was quite possible to take an interest in a Rose and admire an 
Orchid at the same time. He had been successful in gaining a prize at 
a show for twelve Roses, and he had also gained one of the National 
Rose Society’s gold medals, the only fault h- had to find with which 
was it was so small he could hardly see it. He ventured to think that 
they ought to work the field of gardening, and the interest the people 
took in their gardens, more largely than was done, in the interests 
of the Society. Possibly at no period of the history of the Society 
was so much money spent upon gardening as now. Therefore he 
thought the Society should be brought under the notice of proprietors 
of gardens who spent large sums in getting pleasure out of their gardens. 
Gardeners often found themselves in a position of having very little for 
their declining years, and he could not believe that people who got 
enjoyment out of their gar'ens would not be prepared to provide for 
the maintenance of that admirable Institution. (Cheers.) He did not 
think that he need detain them any further, only to wish that his 
friend Mr. Chamberlain had been present. So far as he was personally 
concerned, he felt he should occupy the position very imperfectly. 
(No, no.) He coupled with the toast the names of Mr. John Lee, who 
had only missed one dinner out of forty-five, and Mr. H. J. Veitch. 
Mr. John Lee, in response, thanked the company for the enthusiastic 
manner in which they had received his name, and went on to say that 
they owed a great debt of gratitude to the Chairman for having at a 
moment’s notice consented to preside that evening, and to those gentle¬ 
men present for the generous support they had given to the Institution, 
as it was through their generosity that it had been raised to a high 
pitch of excellence, and had been placed on a solid basis, which he, 
and he knew they all, hoped it would maintain for manv years to 
come. 
Mr. Harry J. Veitch also responded, and having returned thanks for 
the hearty reception accorded him, alluded, as Treasurer, to the financial 
position of the Institution, which, he said, was managed as carefully as 
it was possible to manage any institution. He would again like to re¬ 
mind them that the interest on the money subscribed all went in benefit- 
ing their pensioners. They had no large buildings to keep up, and no 
expensive staff to maintain, but they were obliged to have a Secretary, 
whom they paid as little as possible. With that one exception, the 
whole of their money was devoted to the purpose for which it was 
given. They had 120 pensioners, but at present they had only one elec¬ 
tion a year ; and at the last election they were obliged to omit fifteen 
unfortunate candidates for want of funds. That was a sad thing for 
either men or women, but one case was particularly sad, as in that 
instance the applicant lost by only nine votes after having secured 700. 
The present bad times affected gardeners even more than most other 
servants, as they were the first to be discharged in times of scarcity. 
He knew of cases where gardeners had been out of employment for 
three and four years, and they were compelled to spend what little 
savings they had put by for old age. This Society tried to meet those 
cases, and he was bound to say they made the funds at their disposal 
go as far as they possibly could. (Hear, hear.) Unfortunately for the 
Society, they had lost 50 guineas a year by the conversion of the three 
per cent. Consols. That was not, however, the place for speaking 
politics, but he simply wished to allude to the fact. In conclusion, he 
said if they could only see the tears of joy in the eyes of recipients they 
would not fail to continue their liberal support to the Institution. 
Dr. Masters proposed the health of the Chairman, who briefly re¬ 
sponded, and then the Secretary, Mr. Cutler, made the gratifying 
announcement that the night’s donations amounted to 1000 guineas.. 
Their Chairman had given £10 10s., and Mr. Chamberlain’s list 
amounted to £435, while quite £200 had been subscribed by garden rs 
in small sums. The Chairman then proposed the health of “ our old 
friend, Mr. Cutler,” who responded amid great applause. Mr. Tidswell 
then proposed “ The Houses of Parliament,” which was rest bnded to by 
Mr. H. L. W. Lawson, M.P. The last toast was that of “ The Honorary 
Officers,” which was responded to by Mr. B. S. Williams. 
There was a very large attendance, and the proceedings were 
rendered the more enjoyable by the admirable singing of the. 
talented vocalists, under the direction of Miss Mary Belyal, the, 
accomplished daughter of the Secretary of the Institution. 
Events of the Week. —Besides the Rose shows announced oir 
another page Exhibitions will be held at Winchester and Chiswick 
to-day (Thursday), the latter being likely to attract much interest 
owing to the competition for the challenge cup in the group classes. 
The principal event of the week will, however, be the Gardeners'' 
Orphan Fund annual meeting and dinner at the “ Cannon Street 
Hotel” on Friday, the 13th inst. The meeting takes place at 2 P.M., the 
ballot closing at 4 P.M., to be followed by the dinner at 5 P.M. 
- We are pleased to observe, in the Gardeners' Chronicle , that 
Dr. Maxwell T. Masters has been presented with (he insignia of 
Chevalier of the Order of Leopold by H.M. the King of the Belgians, 
the decoration, we presume, which attracted attention at the dinner of 
the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution last week. Dr. Masters was 
Vice-President of the Jury of the International Exhibition of Ghent in 
April of the present year. 
- The Weather. —Our Perthshire correspondent writes :—“ Wo 
have as yet had no genuine summer weather. Previous to last week, 
which had been dull and showery, there was a good deal of bright sun¬ 
shine, but easterly winds prevailed, with low temperature at night. On 
the morning of the 1st inst. Potatoes in this district were blackened by 
frost. Shortly before in many places Dahlias and other plants had/ 
suffered. Turnips have had in many parts of the country to be resown. 
Hay promises well, and cutting has begun. There is every prospect of a 
late harvest.” There has been a continuance of rain in the south, 
broken only by fine summer-like weather on Sunday and subsequent 
days. 
- A Wakefield correspondent says:—“The weather is very? 
unsettled and cold for July, prevailing winds N. and N.E., tho 
thermometer at 7 P.M. on Tuesday standing at 47°. As this is a fail” 
sample of what our experience has been for some days it makes every¬ 
thing very late.” 
