102 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 15, 1887. 
Geonoma gracilis are valuable Palms, that elbow their 
way into almost every collection, side by side. 
Greenhouse plants also receive a due share of attention, 
and at the time of our visit a well-flowered group of 
Madame Desgranges Chrysanthemum in pots attested 
to its value for indoor work in early autumn. The 
well-known Souvenir de la Malmaison Carnation was 
grown in quantity ; while Salvia patens and Primula 
obconica seem to be equally widely disseminated. A 
comparatively new Pelargonium, named Y. R. Raspsel, 
is a semi-double that is described as being even more 
floriferous than Wonderful, which is evidently its 
parent. Tuberous-rooted Begonias exhibited the large 
flowers and all the different colours for which they are 
noted. Araucaria excelsa, of a convenient size for 
greenhouse or indoor decoration, is grown in quantity. 
AVixdle.sxraavi.ee Nursery. 
The management of this nursery also belongs to the 
same firm, and adjoins Golden Acre. Forest and other 
trees are grown in large breadths, and extensive beds 
are occupied by seedlings of the Scotch Fir (Pinus 
sylvestris), the Sweet Chestnut (Castanea vulgaris), 
grown for Hop-poles ; Spruce, Hollies, and Larch. Of 
the latter there was a fine healthy stock, two years old, 
from native seed. Larger plants of Ash, Mountain 
Ash, Horse Chestnut, Maples, and .Black Poplar were 
grown in quantity; while we noticed handsome speci¬ 
mens, in various sizes, of Pinus austriaca, Juniperus 
Sabiniana, Abies (Picea) lasiocarpa, A. (Picea) nobilis, 
and Cupressus Lawsoniana erecta viridis. 
--- 
GARDEN ANEMONES. 
Those who have the tubers of Anemone coronaria in 
the ground all the summer, have some time since been 
reaping a reward in vigorous tufts of handsome foliage ; 
indeed, I find, as a rule, the tubers rest not longer than 
from two to two-and-half months, and seem ready to 
burst up again into leafage the moment an autumn 
shower comes to justify the activity. AVhere tubers are 
lifted after the blooming period is passed, stored in 
boxes in a shed, replanted in September or October, all 
this early leafage is lost, and Avith it the early bloom 
which inevitably follows. To obtain beautiful flowers 
through the late autumn, and, indeed, if the winter be 
mild, right through that season also, is a considerable 
gain. 
The beds should be kept very clean, and after the 
tubers have ripened, be gently stirred between the rows 
and dressed with old hot-bed or other very short 
manure. Through this the new foliage will come 
strong and early in the autumn. My plants broke up 
effectually early in September, and there are numerous 
indications already of flower-buds being thrust up also. 
There are few of what might be termed common hardy 
garden flowers, more beautiful than are Anemones, and 
they are easily obtained. I sow seed almost as soon as 
ripe in shallow boxes and not too thickly. In these 
the plants remain until the early part of September, 
when they are dibhled out into drills 12 ins. apart. 
Good growth is made that autumn, and the plants 
produce some good flowers the first spring, whilst the 
following year they are very fine indeed. The autumn 
planting is safer on hot dry soils than is spring plant¬ 
ing. By sowing seed every year, not only can the best 
strains be secured, but a constant succession of robust 
young plants also, whilst the three or four-year-old 
tubers may be thrown away.— A. D. 
-- 
THE UNITED HORTIOULTUR AL 
BENEFIT AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
Ox Tuesday evening last, the members and friends of 
this little known Gardeners’ Provident Society, to the 
number of about seventy, dined together at the 
Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, under the presidency of 
Mr. Harry J. Yeitch, who was supported in the vice¬ 
chair by Mr. Richard Dean. Among the visitors 
present were F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Q.C., N. N. 
Sherwood, Esq., W. Roupell, Esq., A. AVeeks, Esq., 
Geo. Deal, Esq. (chairman of The Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund Committee), Mr. John Laing and his sons, Mr. 
Manning and Mr. Davidson, Chelsea, Air. Cannon, 
Ealing, Mr. A. Dean, and Mr. J. Crute. The usual 
loyal toast of “The Queen, and the other members of 
the Royal Family” having been given from the chair, 
and heartily received by all present, Mr. Yeitch 
proceeded to propose the toast of the evening, viz.— 
“Continued success to the United Horticultural Benefit 
and Provident Society,” and in so doing said that as 
in all matters connected AAdth the human race no effort 
can be too great, they could not do better at this, the 
twenty-first anniversary of the establishment of the 
society, than look at the past, consider the present, 
and see what could be done in the future to promote 
the welfare of the society. As regards the past, it 
would be remembered by some present, but, perhaps, 
not by many, that it was founded by three gentlemen ; 
to one of Avhom, Mr. George Baker, of Membland, he 
would particularly like to refer, as Mr. Baker, through 
residing so far away, was unable to be present with 
them on that interesting occasion. He, the chairman, 
had recently seen Air. Baker, and was pleased to hear 
from him that he still took a warm interest in the 
society’s affairs. The other two gentlemen were Air. 
AATlliam Heale, of Hereford, and Air. Rhodes, of 
Sydenham, both of Avhom had passed away, Air. 
Heale, he regretted to say, but a few hours previously. 
The society was formed by these gentlemen in 
1866, but after a feAV months working it was thought 
well to add to the sick fund a benevolent fund. The 
first object of the society he found stated in Rule I., 
which read as follows:—“The objects of this society 
are to render assistance to gardeners in time of sickness, 
calamity, and old age. First, by allowing sick pay 
until the member reaches his 70th birthday, as stated 
in Rules XIA r . and XV. : secondly, by assistance from 
the Benevolent Fund after attaining 70 years of age in 
time of sickness, or in seasons of distress, as stated in 
Rule XVIII.” Nothing, he thought, more noble than 
that could enter the thoughts of man. He had read 
the rules very carefully, and he would say that, con¬ 
nected as he Avas with several benefit societies he Avas 
struck by the liberality with which they treated their 
members, avIio could be enrolled from eighteen to 
forty-five years of age, and who, after contributing 2s. 
per month for twelve months, were entitled to 10s. 6 d. 
per week for six months in case of sickness. Further, 
if members remaiu ill for a longer period than fifty-two 
Aveeks they were handed over to the Benevolent Fund 
for further assistance. Could any rules be more 
liberal than these ? He had asked the treasurer for a 
few data as to the membership of the society from its 
inception, and he learned that few joined the society at 
first. In the first year there were but twenty-one 
members, and the number increased very slowly ; in 
the second year there were thirty-one, in the next 
fort} 7 , and in succeeding years the figures were forty- 
one, forty-three, forty-two, and forty-four. Things 
went on in this way until 1876, when there were 
sixty-six members enrolled, in 1882 there were ninety- 
six, and in 1883, 120. AYhen he inquired the reason 
for the rapid increase during these years he was told 
that it was owing to the society’s position having been 
taken up by the Press, and more especially the 
Journal of Horticulture, which, by placing the 
advantages offered by the society prominently before 
its readers, Avas the means of bringing in many mem¬ 
bers. The number at the end of last year Avas 177, 
and at the present time was about 200. 
As to the sick pay he found that in 1870 £16 14s. 6d. 
was paid in a membership of forty-three; in 1871, with 
forty-two members, £19 18s. 4 d. was paid. Then going 
to 1876, £4 os. 5 d. was paid ; and in 1881, with eighty- 
eight members, only £1 Us. Sd. Thus it would be 
seen the payments varied very greatly. A few inquiries 
into the payments of the Benevolent Fund show that 
assistance was given to the widow of a deceased member 
to the amount of £6 10s. 6 d., and in 1874-8-9, £18 8s. 
Avas expended in a similar manner. A somewhat 
similar case occurring not long ago, that of the widow 
of Air. AIcElroy, the late secretary, might be particu¬ 
larly alluded to. Air. AIcElroy's work for the society 
was purely a labour of love. Too old to become a 
member of the society, he yet discharged the duties of 
secretary for fourteen years, and although the rules 
permit of £20 a year being paid to the secretary, Air. 
AIcElroy steadily refused to accept anything beyond 
the small balance remaining over from the management 
fund. They ought, therefore, to pay an earnest tribute 
to the manner in Avhich Air. AIcElroy worked on the 
society’s behalf. He hoped to be allowed in passing to 
refer to another institution with which he was con¬ 
nected, namely, the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution. AVhen asked to come here it was suggested 
to him that his connection with the society just named 
would render an acceptance of the invitation inadvisa¬ 
ble, but he considered that any institution having for 
its object the benefit of our felloAv creatures was deserv¬ 
ing of all support. He had received from the secretary 
of this institution, of which Air. AIcElroy was a mem¬ 
ber for eighteen years, an intimation to the effect that 
its committee hope to put Airs. AIcElroy’s name down 
as a pensioner of the institution in January next. 
The next question that arose as to the work of the 
society was, “At what cost is it done?” Veil, last 
year he found that the working expenses were less than 
2s. 6d. per head in a membership of 177, and the 
figures speak conclusively as to the admirable manage¬ 
ment of the society by the appointed officials. Though 
a member of several societies, he knew of none that 
worked so cheaply as this. Alembers present may heartily 
congratulate themselves as to the present condition of 
the society and as to its future prospects. The great 
object should he to get more members ; the present 
number ought not to be considered satisfactory. 
Amongst thousands of gardeners there are but 200 in 
the society, and as the Press has been of the greatest 
assistance in the past, he hoped that it would advocate 
the cause of the society in the future. 
There was one omission in the rules, which Avas 
much to be regretted, namely, the absence of any 
provision for making the society more generally 
known. If concise circulars could be printed—they 
must not be long, or they would not be read—thousands 
could be distributed by asking the honorary members 
to enclose them in their packages and hampers after 
Christmas. Alessrs. Laing, Sutton, AYilliams, and 
other nurserymen would, no doubt, willingly distribute 
circulars in this manner free of cost. If the funds of 
the society could not be devoted to that purpose, he 
would suggest the organisation of a special fund, and 
would gladly give £5 to aid it. The society provides 
such great advantages that it was a pity it was not more 
widely known. Numbers would, he was convinced, be 
only too willing to join. Gardeners are a long-lived 
family, ranking, he thought, next to parsons ; and 
perhaps his hearers would suggest that in this respect 
they distinguished themselves in good company. Be 
that as it may, they had much to be thankful for, and 
as they were a pretty healthy lot, they Avould, if they 
presented themselves in a body, no doubt do well. As 
they could not do that they must adept other means 
of making the adA 7 antages of the society more widely 
known, so as to greatly increase the number of 
members. Vith the toast he had the pleasure of 
coupling the name of Air. Hudson, the treasurer of the 
society. 
In responding, Air. Hudson remarked that the 
officers of the society were deeply grateful to the chair¬ 
man for his encouraging remarks, and also to the Press 
for the great assistance they had rendered to the society. 
He thought that gardeners had an undoubted right to 
a benefit society of their own, as, owing to their 
necessary sobriety and exceptional freedom from sick¬ 
ness, they were placed at a great disadvantage when 
joining the larger mixed societies. He referred also to 
the fact that no entrance fees npr fines for non-payment 
of subscriptions Avere imposed, and there was no 
difference in the scale of payments at different ages. 
If payments were discontinued after the lapse of a 
specified time the member was not entitled to relief in 
sickness, butthe sum standing to his credit was retained, 
and at the age of sixty it Avas repaid to him without 
interest, or, in case of previous death, to his nominee. 
By means of the Benevolent Fund also, it was possible to 
considerably extend relief in deserving cases. As an 
instance, he noted that a widow of a member had been 
recently paid £34, and when she died shortly after- 
Avards £20 was voted to the orphans. He had found 
on calculation that their death rate was a very low one 
—namely, 7 per 1,000. At the last annual meeting 
there Avere 177 members, but they had now advanced 
to 200, and he earnestly hoped that they would some 
day reach 1,000. He concluded by proposing the 
“Honorary Alembers”, coupled with the name of Air. 
Sherwood (of Alessrs. Hurst & Son), who, in reply, said 
he was glad he had accepted the invitation to attend 
the meeting, as, though he heard but little of the 
society until recently, he Avas convinced that it 
thoroughly desen T ed the support of all. 
Air. AY. Roupell proposed “ The Officers of the 
Society,” Avliich was acknowledged by Air. J. AA’heeler, 
(one of the trustees), Air. N. Cole, (a member of the 
committee), and Air. Collins, (the secretary). Air. Phil- 
brick, Q.C., gave “The Horticultural Press,” to which 
Air. B. AYynne and Mr. George Gordon briefly replied. 
Air. Berry, Roehampton, next proposed “The Nursery 
and Seed Trade and Horticultural Builders,” which Avas 
responded to by Air. John Laing and Air. Alfred Veeks. 
Then folloAved “The Health of the Chairman,” pro¬ 
posed in eulogistic terms by Air. R. Dean, who alluded 
to the readiness with Avhich Air. Yeitch had always 
given both pecuniary and social support to all matters 
beneficial to gardeners ; to the fact of his being the 
treasurer of The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent In- 
