THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— June 17,1856. 213 
Tlio room was tastefully decorated by a profusion of 
flowers, chiefly Geraniums, from Mr. Charles Turner, of 
Slough, which formed a solid bank of beauty behind the 
Chairman. The tables were also ornamented with plants 
in pots and cut-flowers, from Mr. Yeitch, of Chelsea, 
Fraser, of Lea Bridge Road, and gardeners of the nobility. 
An excellent dessert was also contributed from the gardens 
at Trentham, Dalkeith, Chatsworth, and other large estab¬ 
lishments. 
The dinner was admirably served, and after tlio cloth was 
removed 
The Chairman proposed the health of “ Her Majesty the 
Queen,” who he described as a great patroness of gardening, 
and a warm friend to this Institution. After the health of 
“ His Royal Highness 1'rince Albert, and the rest of the 
Royal Family,” the Chairman proposed that of the “Army 
and Navy,” which was responded to by Lieut. Paxton. 
Arthur Anderson, Esq., proposed the health of “ His 
Grace the Duke of Devonshire, K.G.,” President of this 
Institution, and the munificent promoter of the science of 
horticulture. 
Sir Charles Fox, in returning thanks for his Grace, said 
he felt it a great pleasure to be present on this occasion, 
and that as a native of Derbyshire, and from his youth 
having known the Duke of Devonshire, he believed there 
was no person in England who so completely supported the 
character of an old English gentleman as his Grace; and 
there was no one, he believed, who took a deeper interest in 
the welfare of those about him. He liked his private even 
more than his public character, as he never did or said an 
unkind thing. 
Sir Joseph Paxton said he would have great pleasure in 
conveying to his Grace the tribute they had that evening 
paid him. He had had an interview with him that morning, 
and was struck with the interest his Grace looked over the 
subscription lists, and the earnestness he manifested in the 
welfare of this Institution. 
At this stage of the proceedings, the Chairman proposed 
what he would term the toast of the evening, which was, 
“ Success to the Gardener’s Royal Benevolent Institution, 
and long may it prosper.’’ He said, if he had nothing else 
to do than to drink to this toast, his task would be an easy 
one; but as he had something more to do by asking the aid 
of this meeting towards its support, an important duty de¬ 
volved upon him. He believed the institution Was in a pros¬ 
perous state, and there was no reason why it might not be 
even more so, if every one who was engaged or connected 
with it were to do their best by bringing in new subscribers. 
He read a statement of the financial position of the charity, 
and then adverted to the smallness generally of gardeners’ 
wages, which he said were frequently notoriously so. And 
he could not help observing that the gardener occupied, in 
this respect, an unfair position compared with mechanics 
and artizans, many of whom, as his friend Sir Charles Fox 
could testify, were men receiving from T2 per week and 
upwards. He was convinced the gardener had not the same 
opportunity of asserting the dignity of labour, which, how¬ 
ever, he believed to be caused by the supply being always 
equal to the demand; and if gentlemen would look over 
the list of those employed by them in places of trust, 
they would find that the gardener was always the worst paid. 
In consequence of this, and a large family', they were often, 
late in life, driven to seek aid from this institution, which 
was especially formed to meet such cases. He, therefore, 
hoped that the gentlemen present would not only be liberal 
in their subscriptions, but that when they returned to their 
several homes they would set about obtaining contributions 
to this most excellent institution. 
Mr. Mechi, in proposing the health of Sir Joseph Paxton, 
believed, that not only in the present time, but in days to 
come, the name of Paxton would be honoured. He would 
say, in the words of his friend Lord Braybrooke, that 
“ there was nothing in the laws of this country to prevent 
the humblest individual from becoming wliat he (Lord 
Braybrooke) was—a peer of the realm ”—and Sir Joseph 
Paxton was one of those who fully exemplified this. Let 
any one go to Sydenham, and see the vast structure he had 
erected there, a work worthy of the greatest genius, and 
they could not fail to admire his taste and judgment. 
Architects, he said, w r ere fond of building structures of 
bricks and mortar, with loop-holes for windows; but this 
was one which was all window', and no bricks and mortar 
“ In fact,” said Mr. Mechi, “ Sir Joseph has let daylight in 
upon us." Long may he be spared to carry out the great 
work he has begun. 
Sir Joseph, in returning thanks, said, “I happened to 
come in the flood-time, and by the energies that God had 
given me, and by the able assistance of many eminent men, 
I have been enabled to carry out these great works, and to 
attain the position I now occupy.” He stated, that although 
he had succeeded in his endeavours, he had been ably 
assisted by many gentlemen, to whom he owed much. 
Sir Joseph then proposed the health of F. Crossley, Esq., 
who, he said, had very liberally presented the town of 
Halifax with a free park, laid out at bis own expense. 
The Secretary then read his report, in which he stated 
that the Institution w r as never in a more flourishing condi¬ 
tion than at present. They had, since the last meeting, 
obtained the proceeds of the sale of the Stamvick Nectarine, 
which amounted to T2G2, which, being added to the funded 
stock of the charity, made it amount to .£4000. 
The donations received at the dinner amounted to T270. 
The health of the Treasurer, Mr. Wrench, was then 
proposed; and afterwards that of Mr. Cutler, the Secretary, 
of whom the Chairman spoke as being an officer of inde¬ 
fatigable energy in promoting the objects of the Institution, 
and who, he considered, was under-paid, seeing the de¬ 
votedness he exhibited in working for the welfare of the 
charity. 
The Chairman then proposed “ Success to Horticulture,” 
coupled with the name of Mr. Spencer. 
Mr. Spencer, in an able and eloquent speech, returned 
thanks on behalf of himself and his brethren engaged in 
horticulture, and took occasion to remind Mr. Mechi that 
good farming was only good gardening on a larger scale, 
and that he would wish all gentlemen who wanted their 
land profitably cultivated to take an example from the 
market gardeners round London, who, for a long series of 
years, had practised that deep tillage and heavy manuring 
which Mr. Mechi now so zealously advocated; and that 
from such a course our national resources would be largely 
increased, and proprietors amply remunerated. 
The Chairman then proposed “ The Strangers present;” 
to which Mr. Fox replied. 
In an elegant speech the proceedings were concluded by 
the Chairman proposing “ The health of the Ladies,” whom 
he designated “ the flowers of creation.” 
Among the subscriptions at the dinner were the follow¬ 
ing:— 
£ s. d. 
His Grace the Duke of 
Devonshire . 21 0 0 
Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P. 26 5 0 
Lieut. Paxton. 10 10 0 
J. and C. Lee. 10 10 0 
F. Crossley, Esq., M.P. 10 10 0 
It. Smith, Esq. 10 10 0 
A. Anderson, Esq.. 10 10 0 
Jos. Martineau, Esq. 10 10 0 
Jno. Spencer, Esq. 10 10 0 
£ s . d. 
Fox, Henderson, and Co. 
(annually). 5 5 0 
Proprietors of Cottage 
Gardener . 5 
Peter Lawson and Son .. 5 
J. J. Mechi, Esq. 5 
James Veitch, Esq. 5 
Richard Woods, Esq. .. 5 
R. Hanbury, Esq. 5 
THE SCOTTISH PANSY SOCIETY’S SHOW AT 
EDINBURGH. 
This Society, having for its object the cultivation and im¬ 
provement of the Pansy, held their first exhibition for the 
season in the Caledonian Horticultural Society’s Garden, 
Inverleith Row, on Thursday, the 5tli inst. The day was 
cheered by the first smiles of summer; the garden was in 
beautiful order, and, had it not been for the unusual back¬ 
wardness of the season and late heavy rains, we might have 
expected a very great display of “ the little Westeran flower” 
so peculiarly adapted to the climate of Scotland. From 
these causes, however, the number of competitors were one- 
third short of last year, and the general quality of the 
blooms, in our estimation, considerably inferior. 
There were only forty-three stands entered for competition, 
containing 480 blooms. 
Amongst the leading flowers of the day we observed the 
following conspicuous throughout the stands, and always 
maintaining their excellent properties;— Cyrus , Jeannie, 
