July 19, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
43 
ground a valuable winter or spring crop can be taken. Yery little, 
if anything, is lost by this close system of cropping. 
I intended referring especially to the system discribed by Mr. 
It. Inglis in August last. It deserves more attention than has been 
bes'towed upon it. I promised to try it, and have done so, and in 
spite of the objections that can be urged against it the plan is an 
^excellent one. I strongly advise all who are short-handed and sadly 
limited for room to give it a trial, for it is perhaps the best of all 
methods for small growers and those similarly situated. I am not 
certain whether it will not commend itself to those who grow on a 
large scale, especially for all the plants required for forcing mode¬ 
rately early in the season. The substance of Mr. Inglis’s plan may 
with advantage be given again. After the Strawberries have fruited 
•and the plantation has been cleared of weeds, litter, and runners, 
the ground is hoed, and the plants produce a late crop of runners. 
When these are rooted, which is the case by October, they are 
taken off and dibbled into the ground 2 inches apart. In spring 
they are placed in small pots directly signs of growth are visible, 
and the pots are plunged in ashes, the final potting taking place 
during June and the early part of July. One grower having tried 
it, objected to the system because it had the disadvantage of causing 
the “ crowns to split.” This objection is not worth consideration 
if the plants are left alone after their final potting. Mr. Inglis 
tried, if I remember rightly, to point out that to guard against 
this evil the crowns were thinned. Unless I have observed wrongly 
this method of treatment is just the course to follow if the grower 
wishes the plants to divide their crowns. If they are to be thinned 
let it be done after the completion of growth, and then only the 
puny crowns that it is certain will not flower. I also raised ob¬ 
jections to the system, but principally from an economical point of 
view, the plants being too long on hand, and therefore entailing 
more labour than is occasioned by providing a plantation and layer¬ 
ing direct into the fruiting pots. I must still maintain this ob¬ 
jection, for the labour required is about the same as when runners 
are pegged first into 60’s and afterwards placed in their fruiting 
pots. They are liable also to be seriously stunted by following 
•closely the original plan. 
In spite of these objections, some of which can be overcome, 
this system, or one that has sprung out of it, is well worthy of 
•consideration. To give some idea of the estimation I have of the 
method, I shall prepare 1000 plants of Yicomtesse Hericart de 
'Thury for early work in pots next year. When selecting small 
runners for the formation of a new plantation the required number 
will be potted. When rooted they will be planted out 0 inches 
-.apart in some position where they can be watered at night prior to 
lifting the next day if the ground is dry. This allows of their 
being placed direct into the large pots in June. Why we pot them 
previous to planting at first is only a natural question. I have 
varied Mr. Inglis’s plan by potting and by retaining plants in small 
pots, and like the potting and planting out better than dibbling 
them out or retaining them in pots. By the last method small pots 
become too crowded with roots for the well-being of the plants. 
Those dibbled out cannot on our light soil be lifted satisfactorily, 
and are therefore seriously checked while they are in full growth. 
Those potted can be lifted readily. A good watering is given after 
"they are potted, they are well syringed twice during the day, and 
in ten days they are rooting again freely and growing vigorously.— 
Wm. Bardyey. 
THE GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
Whey propositions were made about seventeen months ago, 
•which culminated in the establishment of this charity on July 12 th, 
1887, the most sanguine of its promoters could scarcely anticipate 
that so much would be done in, so short a time as has actually been 
■accomplished. The decision arrived at by the Executive Committee 
at the first annual meeting described below must come as a gratify¬ 
ing surprise to the majority of persons who have followed the 
progress that has been from time to time recorded of the young 
but vigorous organisation. As is stated in the official Keport,” 
the fact that expenses have been met and provision made for 
electing six children the first year, is, if not unprecedented, cer¬ 
tainly most gratifying.” But the Committee has gone even beyond 
its own report in having unanimously determined at the last 
imoment not to exclude any candidates whose claims were ad¬ 
mitted from the benefits of the Fund. The step taken was a bold 
and generous one, based on a trust in gardeners and those whom 
they serve to increase their efforts in obtaining support for .an 
hfclitution that is destined to gladden the hearts of widows, and 
aTOrd the means of sustenance to the children of gardeners left 
practically helpless on the world. The Gardeners’Orphan Fund 
has made a splendid beginning in its work, and it is most gratifying 
to know that other excellent institutions with which gardeners are 
identified have gathered strength since this was established. The 
anniversary dinner and “ great gathering of gardeners ” equalled, 
if it did not surpass, all that was expected of it by the promoters. 
A noble room, splendidly decorated with towering Palms and 
various plants ; seven long tables most tastefully furnished with 
flowers and fruit ; music provided by talented artistes ; the 
finest representative company of horticulturists seen for many a 
day ; excellent and high-toned speeches ; viands choice and abun¬ 
dant—all these combined to impel experienced “diners out” to 
express the opinion that it was “ the best and most successful 
5s. dinner ever held in London.” The manager of the Cannon 
Street Hotel deserves a word of warm congratulation, while all 
who contributed plants, flowers, and fruit merited the thanks that 
were unanimously accorded by the assemblage. The various 
speakers were much applauded, and bouquets were presented to 
Miss Mary Belval and her accomplished coadjutors, who contri¬ 
buted so much to the evening's enjoyment. The proceedings of 
the meeting, with a condensed report of the after-dinner speeches, 
are appended. 
ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION. 
The general annual meeting of the Committee and subscribers was 
held in Cannon Street Hotel on Friday, the 13th inst., at 2 P.M., Mr. 
G. Deal in the chair, but there was only a small attendance, as the 
majority had sent in their voting papers and did not arrive until a later 
period tor the dinner. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. F. Barron, read the 
advertisement calling the meeting, and then also read the annual report 
and balance-sheet which follow. 
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, FOR THE YEAR EYDIYG 
JCXE S'lTH, 1888. 
The first duty of the Executive Committee of the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund is to record a feelin z of gratitude for the support that has been 
accorded, and which has placed the charity on a basis firmer and sounder 
than could have been reasonably anticipated when the propositions were 
made that led to its establishment. 
In this, the first annual report, the Committee think it desirable to 
recount briefly the origin and institution of the Fund. 
The year -1887 was of historical importance as the fiftieth anniversary 
of the reign of the Sovereign of these realms, and a strong desire was 
manifested that gardeners and others engaged or interested in horticul¬ 
tural pursuits should identify themselves with some object commemora¬ 
tive of that auspicious event. 
The columns of the horticultural press were crowded with suggestions 
as to the most appropriate form in which united expression could be 
given to this desire, and Mr. C. Fenny, gardener to H.R.H. the Prince of 
Wales at Sandringham, issued a proposition, published on February 10th, 
that met with a prompt and warm reception ; suggestions of a similar 
nature were made almost simultaneously by Mr. H. J. Clayton, of Grim- 
ston Park, Tadcaster, and Mr. J. Udale, of Elford Hall, Tamworth. 
Sympathy with the object was spontaneous, and on the 21th of the 
same month Mr. Penny was able to announce publicly that the first 
promised annual subscription to a fund for the benefit of the orphan 
• children of gardeners was made by Mr. E. J. Beale (of Messrs. James 
Carter & Co.), who was immediately followed by Mr. William Bull and 
Messrs. Button & Sons. Mr. H. J. Veitcli also promised support, and 
subsequently gave a.munificent donation. 
On March 17th a list of ninety subscribers was published, and on 
the 22nd of the same month a provisional Committee was appointed 
in London to devise a plan of action that would best meet the end in 
view. 
On April 14th an appeal was made to gardeners for their adherence 
to the project then formulated, and the returns justified the holding of 
a general meeting for receiving the report of the Provisional Committee, 
and considering the rules at the same time presented. 
This meeting was held on July 12th, in the gardens of the Royal 
Horticultural Society at South Kensington, and the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund was-formally established. Officers were then appointed and Sir 
Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., elected the first President, his sympathy 
with the object in view being expressed by a generous contribution to 
the charity. 
Considering the short lapse of time since the movement was 
originated, the Committee point with gladness to the results achieved. 
The financial statement shows the amount received-, invested, and dis¬ 
bursed. In the establishment of institutions initiatory expenses are 
necessarily incurred that are essentially of a special nature, and which 
are not called for in subsequent management. The fact that these 
expenses have been met, and provision made for electing, sjx children 
the first year, is, if not unprecedented, certainly most gratifying, and 
sincere thanks are tendered to all who have contributed to this most 
satisfactory result. 
The Executive Committee desire to recognise the valuable and 
effective co-operation of the several local secretaries, now numbering 
ninety, who bring the claims of the charity to the notice-of gardeners 
and their friends in their several districts, and reliance is placed on 
their further aid and Continued efforts.* The incentive to this is an 
ever-increasing number of applicants for the benefit of the Fund, and 
this fact demonstrates the*necessity for its existence. 
The Committee also desire to acknowledge their indebtedness to the 
Council of the Royal Horticultural Society for permitting their gardens 
