October 18, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
367 
seeing their venerable friend, Mr. J. Lee, present to perform that task. 
The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution is endeavouring to ac¬ 
complish much good, and they had been very successful. As an indica¬ 
tion of the importance of having a good balance, be mentioned that 
many years ago he had an interview of the late Baron Rothschild, and 
obtained from him a donation of £50 for the funds of the institution 
The Baron asked what would be done with the money, and the reply 
was that they intended making it a nest egg, a course which was highly 
approved by the donor. In returning thanks for the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund, Mr. G. Deal said that there were over 6000 kindred societies in 
London, with more. than a million contributors, but they had much 
reason to be gratified with the progress of the fund in which he was 
specially interested, for though it had only been established a year, they 
had obtained bet ween £1700 and £1800, and placed ten children on the 
fund. He congratulated the United Horticultural Benefit and Provident 
Society upon their satisfactory condition. It has been said that every 
benefit society is solvent that had an average of £6 per member in 
hand, but this Society has about £12 per member, and he attributed the 
result to some extent to the different funds for special purposes. 
The “ Honorary Members ” was proposed by Mr. Hudson (the 
Treasurer), coupled with the named of Mr. J. Laing and Mr. W. Paul. 
He said they received material help from their hor. members, and they 
hoped to increase their numbers considerably. Mr. Laing had much 
pleasure in supporting the Society as well as the two other institutions 
specially for gardeners. Mr. Paul added his acknowledgments to those 
of Mr. Laing, and said that when he first saw one of the Society's cir¬ 
culars he was much struck with the unpretentious character and the 
indication of quiet determination to carry out their object. He hoped 
there is a future before the Society that would surpass the expectations of 
its most sanguine friends. 
The “ Health of the Chairman ” was proposed by Mr. N. Sherwood, 
who said the thanks of the Society were due to Dr. Hogg for his assist¬ 
ance in presiding at the dinner, and for the encouraging remarks he 
had made. The Society is undoubtedly in a flourishing condition, but 
it deserves all support, and he was sure all would join in cordially wish¬ 
ing Dr. Hogg long life and health. This was performed most enthusi¬ 
astically with musical honours. In responding, the Chairman observed 
that his sympathies were always with gardeners and gardening. For fifty- 
two years he had been closely associated with the horticulture of the 
metropolis, and though the winter frosts had come upon him and 
some of his fellow-workers, he hoped they would be spared to help for 
some time to come. 
The next toast was, “ The Trustees, Committee, and other Officers 
of the Society,” and in proposing this Mr. J. Wright said— 
The United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society was started 
by gardeners for gardeners, and its directorate consists wholly of gar¬ 
deners—the Trustees, Messrs. G. & J. Wheeler and J. George ; Treasurer, 
Mr. J. Hudson ; and Secretary, Mr. W. Collins, all being well-to-do 
members of the craft, men of high character, shrewd, practical, business 
men, who have steered a safe course, which is all-important. The Com¬ 
mittee might, and no doubt would, have gone ahead faster but for the 
stringency of the rules leaving them practically without an administra¬ 
tive fund. The fundamental difference between this and ordinary 
benefit societies was forcibly stated to him a few years since by Mr. 
George Baker, late gardener at Coombe Cottage, Kingston-on-Thames, 
and now of Membland Hall, Ivybridge, Devon, to whom the Society 
is much indebted for its success, and who was its Treasurer for 
many years. I have paid,” observed Mr. Baker, 7d. a week into the 
Old Fellows (or Foresters, I forget which), since I was eighteen years 
of age, and I am now fifty. I had, fortunately, had nothing out in that 
time, and if I go on paying all my life there will be £12 at my death.” 
And then he continued—“ I have paid Id. a week less into our Gar¬ 
deners’ Society for seventeen years, and now have nearly £10 to my 
credit, and if I continue paying as long as I paid into the other I shall 
have £100. This is £100 if alive at seventy, against £12 at death, and 
Id. a week paid more for the latter privilege than the former I 
Mr. Wright said it was in the year 1883 that he made himself in¬ 
timately acquainted with this institution. He called on the Secretary 
and asked to examine the books. They were promptly placed before 
him, and he was invited to examine every page, scrutinise every item, 
and point out any fault. He could find no fault, and had great pleasure 
in placing the advantages the Institution offered to gardeners before 
the world. He intended to support in every way he could this and 
other kindred institutions established for the benefit of gardeners, their 
widows, and children. 
Mr. J. Wheeler (Trustee) and Mr. Chard (Committee) replied 
briefly, and Mr. W. Collins (Secretary) remarked that there was little left 
for him to say respecting the Society, but he had one or two pleasant 
announcements to make. In the first place, before the proceedings 
commenced Dr. Hogg had handed him a cheque for £10 ; secondly, Mr. 
N. Sherwood had signified his intention of becoming a life member. 
They have now 270 benefit members and thirty honorary members, the 
numbers steadily increasing. He mentioned several cases in which 
their funds had been employed with considerable advantage to the 
members or their nominees, and he added that at the present time they 
have no sick members on their list. 
The Chairman said it afforded him peculiar pleasure to propose the 
health of Mr. H. J. Veitch, their Vice-Chairman, for he had known him 
all his life, and known only good of him. He had also known Mr. 
Veitch’s father, grandfather, and other members of his family, so 
that he had watched his progress with considerable interest. He also 
referred in commendatory terms to the energy and ability with which 
Mr. H. J. Veitch, and his brother, Mr. John Veitch, entered on the 
management of the business at the death of their father. Mr, Veitch 
expressed his hearty thanks for the manner in which the Chairman had 
proposed his health, and he was glad to have an opportunity of publicly 
expressing his gratitude for the kindness and serviceable advice he had 
received from Dr. Hogg during many years of friendship. Mr. Veitch 
also proposed the next toast, the health of the visitors, coupled with the 
name of Mr. Baker, who responded briefly in suitable terms. 
Mr. W. Paul proposed the “ Horticultural Press,” which was replied 
to by Mr. B. Wynne. Mr. Nutting moved that the best thanks of thee 
meeting be given to Messrs. Williams, Laing, Cannell, Chard, and 
Thomson, who had contributed so liberally to the beautiful array of 
flowers and fruit provided, and the proposition was carried with accla¬ 
mation. The Chairman then tendered the thanks of the meeting to Miss- 
Mary Belval and her musical friends for their excellent contribution to 
the pleasure of the evening, and the proceedings terminated shortly 
before 10 P.M., all being thoroughly satisfied with this most agreeable 
gathering. 
FRUIT-NAME HOLDER. 
It is quite common to see the names of fruits laid on the plates at 
exhibitions, and they are apt to get misplaced in being taken up by 
visitors and put back on the wrong dishes. The holder figured we 
brought from the Chiswick Fruit Conference. It is made of a piece of 
wire, the size of a stout knitting needle, and about 30 inches long. One 
end is made into a circle nearly 5 inches in diameter and looped, the 
other bent over to the centre of the circle, then taken upright, and at 
the height of 6 inches given a twist and formed into a square or nearly 
so, the end finishing with a hook as shown. A label can be suspended 
from the hook, or a card with name placed behind it, where it is held 
firm by the spring of the wire. One side of the circular base placed 
under the plate brings the name above the fruit at the back of the 
dish, and the little contrivance answers its purpose well. It is an 
American or Canadian idea, and a number of the holders fell into the 
hands of Mr. Barron at the Colonial Exhibition. Any handy man can 
make them. Other forms of holders equally simple can be affixed to 
the plates. 
