April 2:2. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
Terms used in describing an Auricula:— Thrum , parts 
of fructification in the tube, or centre of the (lower. 
Piute, white circle next to the tube in a florists’ flower. 
Ground-colour, circle next to the paste being the distine- 
j tive colour of the variety. Edge, outer circle or border. 
Pip is a single flower. Truss, a number of flowers on 
I a common flower-stalk. It is desirable there should not 
be less than seven. 
Properties of a Good. Floiwr. —The pip should consist 
! o( four circles, formed at equal distances round a given 
| point. The first, the tube, round, of a yellow colour, 
the thrum rising a little above the eye, or paste. The 
paste pure white, dense, and round. The ground-colour 
should be dense and distinct, perfectly circular next the 
j paste, slightly feathered towards the edge. The edge 
should be distinct in colour, whole, and circular, instead 
of starry in outline. 'The whole pip should be round, 
flat, and smooth at the edges. All tho pips in the truss 
should show boldly, without overlapping. The stem 
should be strong and the foliage healthy. For full 
particulars see “ Glenny’s Properties of Flowers,” and 
The Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary. It. Fish. 
ADVICE TO GARDENERS.—THE GARDENERS’ 
BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. 
My former papers of friendly advice and encourage¬ 
ment to young gardeners seem (from the various letters 
of thanks that I have received) to have given satis¬ 
faction, and, I trust, profit to my young friends. A 
circumstance, to which I will presently refer, having 
occurred, I am, in consequence, induced to venture a 
few words of advice to my professional brethren who 
are more advanced in life, and have achieved the rank 
of head-gardeners, and are now holding situations. 
The circumstance to which I allude is the reception, 
a few days ago, of the Report of the Gardeners’ Benevo¬ 
lent Institution, with a copy of the rules, list of 
pensioners, list of presidents, officers, and subscribers. 
This Report contains the state of the Society at the 
close of the last year, 185'). 
I have to state, for the information of all gardeners 
and their foremen, market-gardeners, nurserymen, and 
seedsmen and their foremen, who may not have seen 
the Report, and who are not Members of this excellent 
Institution, that it is instituted for the relief and support 
of all such gardeners and their widows as may, through 
unavoidable misfortunes, sickness, or accidents, have 
been brought to a state of destitution, and, therefore, 
need in their old age the assistance of their younger 
and more favoured brethren. 
This is true charity, and it is my advice, in this paper, 
addressed to all gardeners, that they should instantly 
become Members and Subscribers. The subscription is 
only a guinea per annum, yet, if every gardener in the 
United Kingdom were to become subscribers, the means 
of doing good would be greatly multiplied, and the 
Committee would have it in their power to increase in 
proportion the number of Pensioners, and, perhaps, in¬ 
crease the amount of their pensions. I, for one, should 
be glad to raise that pension from TIG to A!20 per 
annum for the males, and to TIG for females. T am 
1 sure the Society would be glad to do this if the funds 
! would allow such an increase. 
The present state of tho Pcusion List is as follows :— 
I There are twenty men at TIG, and cloven women at 
£12 per annum. The average age of the former is 
i seventy-six, and of the latter seventy-one, receiving 
! those pensions. These aged, indigent gardeners and 
their widows are thus placed above want, or the fear 
j of it, for the remainder of their lives. They can live 
j with their children, if they have any, or with some 
i friends, and are allowed, by the rules of the Society, to 
Go 
have, in addition, an annual income of T20 per annum, 
but are very properly not allowed to receive parish 
relief; and no person is eligible to be elected and 
placed on the pension under sixty years of age, except¬ 
ing he, or she, is blind, or unable to procure a livelihood 
in consequence of accident, such as loss of limbs, or 
paralytic affliction. These are wise and necessary 
restrictions, which no prudent man can object to. J 
mention these points to prove that the Society, though 
earnestly desirous to relieve, as far as is in their power, 
the really deserving, unfortunate, and indigent gardener; 
yet they by no means hold out any inducement to 
impostors, or able-bodied idle men, to expect that relief 
which they bestow upon the worthy poor and aged man. 
I earnestly recommend every gardener, not already a 
subscriber, to seriously consider the benefits such an 
institution holds forth to their needy brethren, and, as 
soon as convenient, to send their names and subscription 
to the Secretary, Mr. E. 11. Cutler, 14, Tavistock Row, 
Covent Garden ; or, if they wish to see the Rules, List 
of Members, &c., first to write to him for a copy. 1 am 
sure he will be most happy to attend to their request. 
I urge this on the broad basis of Christian charity, with¬ 
out subscribers expecting or hoping for leward; though I 
may also mention that every gardener who subscribes 
fifteen years consecutively lias then the privilege, should 
he need it, of being placed on the list of Pensioners, in 
preference to persons who may not have subscribed to 
the funds. The object of this regulation is to give a 
decided preference to those persons who have been con¬ 
tributing to relieve others. 
It may be an inducement to some to join in such a 
good work when I inform them that not only gardeners 
subscribe to this truly jioble charity, but even Royalty 
has taken it under its wing. The Queen and Prince 
Albert patronize it. The good Duke' of Devonshire is 
its President, and many other noblemeu support it as 
Vice-Presidents. There are great numbers also of the 
gentry subscribe to it, and almost all nurserymen of 
any note give their time and money to enlarge the 
funds. So that, my good friends, the gardeners as yet 
non-subscribers will find themselves in a goodly com¬ 
pany, besides great numbers of our own craft. 
Example is said to be better than precept. I am 
proud to say that the proprietors of this Journal sub¬ 
scribe, and all my follow-contributors are members also, 
and your humble friend and adviser has supported, as 
far as laid iu his power, this most excellent charity. 
On this account, I may be allowed to advocate its cause, 
for 1 do not advise others to do that which I do not 
myself. 
Some may say, I cannot afford even so small a sum, 
for I have a large family to support. Surely, it may be 
thought, a man in such a position may excuse himself; 
but, my friend, I cannot excuse you. I know a man, a 
writer for this Journal, who has a family of twelve 
children, and no great salary, and yet he subscribes. 
A little self-denial will enable you to go and do likewise. 
The promise is, “ Whoso giveth to the poor leudeth to 
the Lord, and look what be layeth out, it shall be paid 
him again.” My friend, this a good Pay-master, who 
never forgets Saturday night. Then, whilst it is in your 
power, do good. Act upon the Golden Rule, “ Do unto 
all men as you would they should do unto you.” Do 
some good in your day, for a time may come when you 
will, or may, need help from others; and how can you 
expect that help if you turn a deaf ear to others whilst 
you are in health; whereas, by sparing a little to com¬ 
fort your aged, needy brother, should you in your turn 
need comfort also, you may reasonably claim it. 
If 1 press upon and earnestly advise a gardener who 
has a family to support, and probably not too much 
salary for that purpose; need 1 press the same duly upon 
others iu better and more favourable circumstances? J 
