250 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
ton Lane, and Sion Lane, near Brentford, in Middle¬ 
sex; near Hastings and other places in Sussex; at 
Kingstciguton, in Devon; and near Gurnet Bay, in the 
Isle of Wight. 
In Wales, near Wrexham, in Denbighshire; at Cickle, 
near Beaumaris, and at Lleiniog Castle, Anglesey; and 
near Bangor and Caernarvon. 
In /Scotland, about Drumlanrig, in Nithsdale; at 
Peasebridge; and on Cartland Rocks, near Lanark. 
In Ireland, at Colin Glen, Belfast; Hedge Banks, 
near Carrickfergus; and near Clonmel. 
Johnson, in his edition of “ Gerarde’s Herbal,” is the 
first to mention this Fern as a British plant, and we 
have the unusual occurrence, not only of the name of 
its discoverer, but of the very day of its discovery. He 
describes it as Filix mas non ramosa pinnulis latis, auri- 
culatis, spinosis (Male Fern not branched, with broad¬ 
eared and prickly leafits); adding, “ This I take to be Filix 
mas aculeata major Bauliini (Bauhin’s Larger prickly 
Male Fern); neither have I seen any figure resembling 
this plant. It groweth abundantly on the shadowy 
moist rocks by Maple-Durham, near Petersfield, in 
Hampshire. John Goodyer, July 4, 1633.” 
Polystichum aculeatum is a free-growing, easily- 
managed, and very desirable Fern for the rockery, 
Fernery, and also for pot culture. It grows remarkably 
well in sandy loam and peat (fibry is the best) in 
equal parts, with au admixture of sand. It requires a 
tolerable depth of mould to grow in, and to be well 
drained. During its growing season it must be supplied 
rather freely with water, although not to make the soil 
marshy. It bears exposure to light pretty well when 
once established, but will become much finer if in the 
shade. It is perfectly hardy, and will bear very severe 
weather unless the roots are too much exposed, for in 
that case it is apt to perish. If grown in pots, a slight 
protection of some kind is desirable, for it will bear in¬ 
door treatment much better than many others of the 
British Ferns. The fructification is ripe by the end of 
the summer, and from the fructification it may be 
increased in the same way as directed for other Ferns. 
Very strongly do we solicit the attention of our readers 
to the Association with the rules and proceedings of 
which we are about to conclude this invitation; for it 
is au invitation to follow the example. It deserves'the 
name of the Gardeners’ Samaritan Club, with this 
additional claim to attention, that a member without 
any sacrifice—for no gardener in employment can miss 
a penny a week—will often be a Samaritan to himself. 
Rules op The Pine-Apple Nursery Sick Fund Society, 
Established January, 1858 ; and held at the Nursery, 
Pine-Apple Place, Edgware Road. 
“Bear ye one another’s burdens.”— Gal. vi. 2. 
1 .—That a Society be established for the purpose of affording aid to 
the Members in time of illness, to be called “The Pine-Apple 
Nursery Sick Fund.” 
H—'That the Entrance Fee for each Member be sixpence, and that 
the subscription be one penny per week, payable every Friday evening 
to the Secretary or his deputy. ° 
III. —If any Member be in arrears four weeks his name shall be 
struck off the list, unless he cau give satisfactory reasons for his default. 
IV. —That none but those in the employ of Messrs. Arthur 
Henderson and Co. shall be subscribers to the Fund, and they shall 
be so tour weeks before they can make a claim. 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, January 13, 1857. 
V. —That none but subscribers shall be entitled to be recipients of 
its bounty, and these only who have been ill, and have lost not less than 
five days’ wages. 
VI. —That the meetings of the Society be held in the Collecting 
Room, in the Nursery, every Friday evening, immediately after the last 
bell has rung. 
VII. —That a special meeting be held on the third Friday in November 
in each year, for the purpose of receiving from the Secretary a statement 
of his accounts, and particulars of the Society’s proceedings during the 
year; also for the election of Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary for the 
year ensuing. 
VIII. —That in the event of either Chairman, Treasurer, or Secretary 
resigning office during the year, a special meeting be called, giving two 
weeks’ notice on the meeting night after the said resignation, and that an 
officer be elected, pro tem., until the office is filled to the satisfaction of 
the, majority of the Members present. 
IX. —That the minutes of each meeting be entered in a book (to be 
kept by the Secretary for that purpose), which must be produced each 
meeting night, and be open for the Members’ inspection. 
X. —That any Member being desirous to make claim on the funds of 
the Society, he shall communicate the same through a friend (who is also 
a Member) on a meeting night, and the latter shall be expected to furnish 
the meeting with the nature of the claimant’s illness, and any informa¬ 
tion the Society may deem it necessary to obtain. 
Should any doubt arise as to the statement given, two Members shall 
be appointed to visit the sick man, and report their opinion at the next 
meeting; whereupon the Society shall be at liberty to vote a sum not 
under 2 s. 6 d. per week, and not exceeding 10 s.: the funds in hand, and 
the nature of the applicant’s necessities, to regulate the amount of award. 
XI. —That no Member shall be considered entitled to claim on the 
sick fund whose illness shall have been brought on by any irregularity 
or intemperance of his own, and which cannot be referred to providential 
visitation. 
XII. —That if any Member who has been on the funds of this Society, 
and received allowance therefrom, shall be found intoxicated in any place 
of ill-fame, gaming at cards or dice, horse-betting, or laying wagers of 
any kind, such Member to be cautioned and admonished as to his future 
conduct, and if no amendment ensue he shall be expelled the Society. 
XIII. --If at anytime anything shall arise or occur in this Society 
which is not provided for in these rules, the same shall be decided upon 
by a majority of the Members at a general meeting called for that 
especial purpose. 
XIV. —The foregoing rules cannot be altered or repealed without the 
consent of two-thirds of the Members, and notice of the same, stating 
the nature of the alterations proposed, must be given in writing to the 
Secretary, who shall post a copy of the notice seven days before such 
meeting is to take place. 
XV. —That all Donations and Subscriptions be thankfully and respect¬ 
fully acknowledged by the Secretary. 
The Society owes its existence to Mr. Brewer, foreman 
of the Pine-Apple Place Nursery, and so well jileased are 
the workmen there, who belong to the Society, with 
Mr. Brewer’s services to them, that they have just pre¬ 
sented him with a handsome lamp. We are indebted 
to him for the following particulars :— 
“In November, 1855, with many sick men around me, I 
was resolved, if possible, to establish a fund for those who 
were sick and stood in need of relief; consequently I called 
together a few of the men, and convened a meeting to take 
such step into consideration, whereupon I found plenty 
of cold water thrown upon my exertion. However, nothing 
daunted, and having obtained the assistance of two or 
three, I drew up a code of Rules, elected the necessary 
officers of Chairman, Treasurer, and myself as Secretary, and 
in a very short time the usefulness of the Society became 
self-evident, and every man in the employ who had a spark 
of good feeling or common sense was desirous of being 
added to the list of members. 
“ A copy of the Rules I inclose. We meet and transact 
our business in accordance with the laws laid down, and 
the time spent over it is of little or no moment—not more 
than half an hour in the week. 
“ I will inclose the Minutes of our General Meeting held 
November 20th, 1850, and from it you can gather all the 
information you will require. 
“ Mr. Jno. Henderson gives us 10s. as an annual donation ; 
Mr. Arthur Henderson, Is. per week; and Mrs. Arthur 
Henderson Is. per week, the latter only since our last 
Annual Meeting. Mr. Gallard gave 10s. Gd., which was 
the cost of printing the Rules. Our balance now, January 
0th, amounts to nearly £7, and with two sick members at 
10s. per week each. 
“ Mr. Brewer stated, ‘ I have the gratification to inform 
you that a very considerable sum has been given to (I hope I 
may say) a very deserving number, who, unhappily for them, 
merited our assistance. Although I have the pleasure to state 
that, and to acknowledge the donations and liberal subscrip¬ 
tions of our very worthy employer, still 1 have cause to say, and 
