March 14, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
451 
UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT 
AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of this useful society was held 
on Monday last, with Mr. Joseph Cheal, of Crawley, 
in the chair. There was a good attendance of 
officers and members, and they eagerly followed the 
interesting introductory speech of the chairman, who 
said, after the secretary had presented [the statement 
of accounts, that it afforded him much pleasure to 
hear such a favourable report for the past year. 
The progress that this excellent society was now 
making was most remarkable. The increase both 
in the acquirement of new members, and also in the 
funds had been greater during 1895 than in any 
previous year since the society was established. 
The chairman contrasted the report of 1886 with 
that of 1895, which showed that the membership had 
increased three-fold during that period, and the 
funds had also increased in the same ratio. At the 
end of the year he said there were on the books of 
the society 587 members, with 41 since added. 
Mr. Cheal alluded to one most important fact which 
is a prominent feature in this society—viz., that one 
of the oldest members, and one who had assisted in 
its formation, having now attained the age of seventy 
years, wished to draw out his disposit balance; this 
amounted to no less than £82 10s., which sum as 
contrasted with that allowed by most benefit 
societies, is most favourable, this same member 
being still qualified to draw from the benevolent 
fund should he require it. The chairman concluded 
his speech by strongly urging the benefits of this 
sound and flourishing society to the notice of all 
members of the gardening profession, hoping that, 
as their attention would be drawn to its benefits by 
the reports in the horticultural press, that many 
more would be induced to join its ranks. 
The committee’s report is as follows :— 
" The committee have again very much pleasure 
in presenting to the members the annual report and 
balance sheet for the year ending January 13th, 1896, 
and in stating that the society continues in a pros¬ 
perous condition. 
" Seventy members joined during the year, eigh¬ 
teen lapsed, and two died, leaving a nett gain of fifty. 
" In the benefit fund the amount of subscriptions 
paid was £896 14s. 7d., including arrears for 1894. 
“ The sick list has been rather a heavy one, the 
amount of £145 6s. 4d. having been paid to fifty 
members. The deductions from members deposit 
account to meet this amount is 6s. 2d. and 4s. 2d. in 
the two scales of contributions respectively. The 
amount of sick pay has been increased since July 
8th from 16s. to 18s., and from 10s. 6d. to 12s. per 
week in the two classes. Amounts standing to the 
credit of deceased members have been paid, also one 
lapsed member. 
“ Subscriptions to the benevolent fund from benefit 
and honorary members is £128 9s. 6d. The sum of 
£7 10s. was granted to the widow of the late Charles 
Smith, and small sums, amounting, to £% 10s. 6d., 
were granted to other members in distress. 
No call has been made on the convalescent fund 
during the year. Members' attention is particularly 
called to this fund, as its benefit might be consider¬ 
ably extended. Mr. Sherwood again gave £5 5s. at 
the annual dinner to this fund. 
" The management fund shows a balance of 
£30 8s. 8d. The treasurer has invested £1,100 
during the year in corporation three per cent, stock, 
and has a good balance in hand. 
“ The annual dinner was again carried out with 
spirit and success. James H. Veitch, Esq., made an 
excellent chairman, and took the greatest interest in 
the proceedings. 
“ The accounts have been carefully audited by 
Messrs. Gunner and Dixon, and found correct. 
“ The committee, in conclusion, ask the members to 
do what they can to induce other gardeners to join 
this excellent society, as they are quite sure that no 
gardener can do better than join the ‘ United.’ ” 
The financial statements of the various funds 
would occupy too much space for us to reproduce 
in full, though they form most instructive and con¬ 
vincing reading, and should be applied for to the 
secretary by all non-members. We must content 
ourselves, therefore, with giving an account of the 
liabilities and assets,, which are :— 
LIABILITIES. 
1896. January 13th 
£ s - 
d. 
To Benevolent Fund .. 
.. 2,396 19 
2 
,, Convalescent Fund 
281 1 
6 
,, Management Fund 
• • 3 ° 8 
8 
,, Benefit Fund 
•• 7.929 5 
4 
10,637 H 
8 
„ Balance . 
• • 245 3 
0 
,£10,882 17 
8 
ASSETS. 
1896. January 13th 
£ s. 
d. 
By Investment at par valuation 
Nottingham Corporation Stock .. 5,500 0 
0 
Manchester .. 
.. 1,600 0 
0 
West Bromwich 
. . 2,200 0 
0 
Cardiff . 
.. 500 0 
0 
South Indian Railway Government 
Stock . 
.. 1,000 0 
0 
10,800 0 
0 
Cash in hands of Treasurer 
.. 82 17 
8 
£[10,882 17 
8 
The report and statements were considered very 
satisfactory. 
Messrs. Cummins, Foreman, 
and Peerless, • 
the 
three retiring members of the 
committee, were 
unanimously re-elected, and the 
satisfaction of the 
members with the results of the careful and 
assiduous labours of Mr. Wm. Collins, as secretary, 
was evidenced by his re-election with an augmenta¬ 
tion of salary. Mr. James Hudson, of Gunnersbury, 
was heartily thanked for the continued unflagging 
interest he shows as treasurer, and thanks to the 
horticultural press and chairman brought a most 
successful meeting to a close. 
EALING GARDENERS’ SOCIETY. 
On the 3rd inst.,at the Victoria Buildings, Ealing, 
the members of this society assembled in large 
numbers to witness the friendly rivalry between the 
exhibitors for the “ best twelve flowering plants in 
not larger sized pots than 32’s,” and to listen to a 
very excellent paper by Mr. C. Curtis, of the Gardeners' 
Magazine, on “ Horticultural Exhibitions : Their 
Uses and Abuses.” 
The exhibition of plants was a meritorious one, 
and called forth encomiums, not only from the mem¬ 
bers themselves, but also from the judges, Messrs. 
Farr, Hawke and Meridew, who experienced some 
difficulty in apportioning their awards, as the com¬ 
petition was exceedingly keen. There were six 
entries, and the prizes went to Mr. W. Roberts, 
hon. secretary ; Mr. C. Edwards, gardener to W. 
Owen, Esq., Castlebar; Mr. C. Long, gardener to 
E. P. Oakshott, Esq., Orchardene ; and Mr. W. 
J. Simpson, gardener to C. T. Sutton, Esq., East 
Acton. The leading group contained some well- 
grown Primulas, Hyacinths, Amaryllis, Anthurium 
scherzerianum, and Dendrobium nobile, the latter 
standing Mr. Roberts in good stead. The second 
prize collection was remarkable for Cinerarias, one 
of which was a very fine plant, the individual flowers 
measuring from in. to 3J in. over, while Azalea 
Deutsche Perle and Narcissus Grand Monarque and 
N. Horsfieldi produced a very pleasing effect. Mr. 
Edwards, therefore, came near the first place, as 
his cultural abilities would lead one to expect. Mr. 
Edwards, however, was very closely followed by Mr, 
Long, who had some good examples of double Hya¬ 
cinths, Cinerarias, Narcissus, Polyanthus, Clivia and 
Lachenalia tricolor, while Mr. Simpson, although 
behind Mr. Long, was very much en evidence with 
Azaleas, Cinerarias, Deutzias, Solomon’s Seal, etc., 
his only defect being lack of colour. The sinews of 
war were generously supplied by R. Callard, Esq. 
Mr. Hawke, gardener to the Earl of Jersey, Osterley 
Park, contributed a remarkable variety of Cyclamen 
persicum in a 6-in. pot, which measured 4 ft. in cir¬ 
cumference and possessed quite 150 flowers. These 
latter were pure white and of good substance, and 
came in for special comment. A vote of thanks was 
duly accorded, and Mr. Hawke in reply promised a 
paper on the subject of ” Cyclamen Culture,” which 
was received with applause. 
Mr. Curtis also received a hearty vote of thanks 
for his sensible remarks concerning exhibitions, and 
the same honour having been extended to the chair¬ 
man, S. A. Sewell, Esq., F.R.H.S , one of the most 
successful meetings in the history of the society was 
brought to-a close,. .... - » . . 
ENCEPHALARTOS HILDEBRANDTII. 
I notice in your recent issue, p. 419, an interesting 
reference to a femal& plant of the above fruiting in 
the Palm house at Kew. Perhaps you would like to 
know that we have a fine plant of the Encephalartos 
villosus, a female also, bearing a fine cone that is 
getting well on for being ripe, as it is full-sized, and 
getting a pretty golden hue about the edges of the 
scales, and the ovules that are apparent between the 
scales in places. On measuring the fruit of this 
kind here, I find it is a trifle larger than the Kew one, 
being fully 18 in. from the apex to where it joins with 
the stem. In girth, near the base, it is about 18 in. 
at the thickest part. This is the second time the 
plant has fruited here ; the last time we exhibited 
it in a collection of twelve specimen plants, which 
took the first prize at our local show. But this 
Encephalartos is finer now than it was then, as it is 
bearing about thirty healthy fronds, the largest of 
which are about 8 ft. long by about 16 in. across 
midway up the frond. If any grower was to have a 
male plant bearing pollen and report the matter, these 
female cones might be successfully impregnated 
which we recently did with Cycas revoluta, as we 
have a nice batch of young plants by so doing.— 
Robert Mackellar , Abney Gardens, Cheadle, Cheshire, 
2nd March, 1896. 
THE ALPINE PODOCARP 
(PODOCARPUS ALPINA). 
Conifers from the Antipodes are not generally 
hardy in this country, but at the present time this 
distinct and very interesting Tasmanian Conifer may 
be seen in excellent condition in an old-fashioned 
garden in the neighbourhood of London, and where 
it has stood unharmed for the past fifteen years. It 
is of low,spreading growth, with but little inclination 
to retain a leading shoot, the branches weak and 
pendulous, and the foliage thickly produced, Yew¬ 
like in appearance, about | in. or 1 in. long, and 
dark green in colour. The prominent rib along the 
underside of the leaves is always present. The fruit 
is about the size of a Cherry, with a single, bony- 
shelled seed within. 
A very neat specimen of this highly-interesting 
Conifer has been brought about by side-pruning and 
tying the main leading shoot to a support, and as it 
bears pruning well the method is to be recommended 
when the flat spreading habit is wished to give place 
to that of more upright growth. Young plants are 
readily reared by laying the side branches in light 
sandy peat.— A. D. Webster. 
FANCY ^PANSIES. 
In your issue of February 8th I noticed a list of 
twenty- four fancy Pansies, given by R. L. to assist 
beginners in making selections. He gave a very good 
list, most of which have been cracks in their day, and 
throve well in this neighbourhood (Scottish Midlands). 
The soil here is of a light sandy nature, dries quickly, 
and consequently Pansies do best in a showery 
season. I have often noticed Pansies recommended 
by different writers ; often these Pansies had ceased 
to do well here, and also others that never did well 
in our soil. It may be that some varieties thrive 
better on stronger soils than on the lighter sandy 
soils. 
Donald Morrison has not been grown here for 
competition for two years at least. Thos. Gardner 
has good form, but could never be got to size in this 
quarter, and was always thin. Maggie A. Scott can 
be got occasionally up to competition form, but not 
very often during the last two years. Mr. M. 
Cuthbertson and Mrs. Sherrard have been got at 
times in splendid form, but have always been rather 
delicate growers here. 
The following varieties do mflch better in this 
neighbourhood:—C. B. Renshaw, Jessie Russell, 
Mrs. Paterson, Mrs. L. D. Duncan, Miss H. Hunter, 
Mrs. G. P. Addie, Mrs. H. Wight, Miss Abercrombie. 
Even Robt. Jamieson, although getting aged, is much 
oftener shown here than the above, taken from R. L.'s 
list. It would be interesting to know the experience 
of others on other kinds of soils. Some varieties of 
Pansies may grow best in strong clay, others on 
peaty, and others on sharp sandy soils, but I believe 
the majority will do best on good deep loam. But, 
Mr. Editor, if you or some other wise man would 
take the trouble of conducting a Pansy election next 
winter on the lines of the Rose election, It would 
not only be interesting and instructive, but would be 
by far the^most reliable guide to those- forming 
