102 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 14, 1893. 
New Zealand Veronicas and other new plants were 
sent home by him. Seeds of Pritchardia pacifica in 
quantity were collected, but they did not germinate. 
Dipteris Horsefieldii also failed as it hitherto always 
has done. Ptycosperma Veitchii was another 
discovery, and the lovely “Rice field Lily" of 
Borneo (Eurycles australasica) was collected in 
quantity by Mr. Veitch in the balmy South Sea 
Isles. This choice bulb is not a native of Borneo, 
although always cultivated in every Rice field there, 
as a sort of fetish or "good luck ’’ plant; hence. Sir 
Hugh Low and others have surmised that it may 
have been brought by immigrants from Australasia 
or the South Sea ages ago. 
Being aware of Mr. Veitch's modesty we shall not 
say more, although he is well known as being ever 
anxious to help and assist in all that interests or 
tends to elevate the art or craft of gardening 
we all love, as well as to benefit those who practise 
it either for themselves, or the pleasure and profit of 
their employers. 
--j-- 
UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT 
AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
The annual dinner of this Society took place at the 
Cannon Street Hotel on Tuesday evening, under the 
presidency of Mr. P. C. M. Veitch, of Exeter. 
About 130 members and friends sat down, and the 
chairman was supported, among others, by Mr. Harry 
J. Veitch, Mr. N. N. Sherwood, Mr. Clarence Smith, 
M.P., Mr. William Marshall, Mr. W. Y. Baker, Mr. 
Lynch White, Mr. Arnold Moss, Mr. Peter Barr, 
Mr. Herbst, Mr. J. Cheal, and Mr. G. J. Ingram. 
The tables, as usual at these gatherings, were very 
beautifully decorated, and the dessert, kindly con¬ 
tributed by friends in all parts of the country, was 
one of the best we have seen at a public dinner, 
being lavish in quantity and of the best quality. 
The surplus, we are glad to hear, was sent as a 
present to Guy’s Hospital for the use of the suffer¬ 
ing inmates. After the usual loyal toasts had been 
duly honoured, the Chairman gave that of “ The 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society,” 
remarking at the outset that he considered he had 
been greatly honoured by being asked to preside at 
the anniversary dinner of the Society, with the 
objects of which he was in hearty sympathy, and 
warmly thanked the ofiicers of the Society for the 
compliment they had paid him. It was true he had 
accepted the duty on that occasion with some 
amount of trepidation, because it was the first time 
that he had accepted such a heavy responsibility ; 
but they had received him with so much kindness, 
and supported him so well by their presence, that 
he felt no regret in being present with them that 
evening. As to his fitness for the office, as a horti¬ 
culturist he could only say that he had been born in 
the nursery business, and had been devoted to it all 
his life. His earliest recollections in connection 
with horticulture were of being chased round the 
old Exeter Nursery by his late grandfather and old 
John Dominy, no doubt for some boyish delinquency 
which warranted temporary banishment at the time, 
and since he had arrived at man’s estate it had been 
a source of great pleasure to him to do all that 
in him lay, and to assist others in doing 
everything possible, that promoted the welfare 
of gardeners and gardening. He thought, as 
regarded their great horticultural institutions, that 
they all admired, and he hoped most of them sup¬ 
ported, the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution 
and the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, both of 
which, as purely charitable institutions, were doing 
a grand work in relieving the wants of their more 
necessitous brethren. But there was something 
about the Society whose anniversary they had met 
that evening to celebrate, which claimed their respect 
and warm regard, and which recommended it to them 
for generous financial support. It was in no sense a 
charitable Society, but a well-governed organisation 
of gardeners for the encouragement of thrift, or in 
other words, self-help and mutual benefit, and they 
carried on their good work with a sturdy indepen¬ 
dence that all could but admire. Their system of 
helping one another, while laying up future benefits 
for themselves, was undoubtedly a sound one, and 
the most satisfactory way of providing an old-age 
pension that he was acquainted with. They did 
their work, for the most part, gratuitously, having only 
one paid officer—if he could be said to be paid—and 
that was much better than any elaborate official system 
which caused so much of subscribed funds to be eaten 
up in expenses. The Society financially was in a very 
strong position, and no gardener who joined it need 
have the slightest fear that what he paid in might 
not be paid out, their funds being too prudently 
invested for such h calamity as that to happen to 
them. After alluding to the early history of the 
Society, its struggles during the earlier period of its 
career, and its growth by leaps and bounds since 
1887, Mr. Veitch strongly recommended all young 
men to become members. It was the duty of every 
man, whatever his earnings might be, to save some¬ 
thing, and young gardeners could not possibly do 
better than put their savings into this Society, and by 
membership make themselves entitled by right to 
the advantages which the Society offered to its mem¬ 
bers, and which, for such a widely separated class as 
gardeners, were such as no other similar society 
offered. Their Management Fund did not allow of 
any great efforts being made to rapidly increase 
their numbers, as he thought ought to be done, but 
time would doubtless remedy that defect. Their 
Convalescent Fund he would also like to see in a 
stronger position, and every member ought to con¬ 
tribute something to that fund, because after illness 
there was nothing like a change of air for setting a 
man up and getting him well again, and the more 
quickly he was got well the less would he require 
from their Provident Fund. The Benefit Fund was 
in a most satisfactory condition, and he could but 
express the hope that they would go on in increasing 
prosperity. Their motto was "Union is Strength,” 
and he could heartily wish them more strength. 
The toast was acknowledged by Mr. Sherwood, 
who took the opportunity of thanking Mr. Veitch, 
on behalf of the Society, for his presence that 
evening and the admirable manner in which he had 
advocated the claims of the Society. Mr. Sherwood, 
who was the author of the Convalescent Fund, also 
suggested that gardeners should make an appeal to 
their employers on its behalf, believing that if they 
did the amount now in hand would soon be sensibly 
increased. Mr. Hudson proposed " The Honorary 
and Life Members and The Visitors,” which was 
acknowledged by Mr. William Marshall and Mr. 
Clarence Smith, M.P. Mr. H. J. Veitch proposed 
" The Officers of the Society,” which was acknow¬ 
ledged by Mr. Joseph Wheeler, one of the trustees, 
and Mr. W. Collins, the secretary. “The Chair¬ 
man ” was proposed by Mr. Arnold Moss in very 
agreeable terms, and the Chairman having replied, 
the proceedings terminated with " Auld Lang 
Syne.” 
During the evening Mr. Sherwood announced his 
intention of giving to the Convalescent Fund, in 
commemoration of his firm this year celebrating their 
Jubilee, and Mr. H. J. Veitch gave to the Conva¬ 
lescent Fund and a similar amount to the Manage¬ 
ment Fund 
-- 
ABOUT MUSHROOMS. 
It is a curious fact that the particular variety of 
fungus which we hold in such esteem for the table 
by no means, says the Daily News, enjo)s the same 
repute abroad. The Italian malediction, " May you 
die of a Mushroom,” is said to be as heavy as was 
once “ The Curse of Crummel ” in the Sister Island. 
On the other hand, our friends across the Channel 
make good use not only of the ordinary Mushroom, 
but of many other kinds of fungus which we disdain 
altogether. It is one of the things they manage 
better in France. The truth is that the Mushroom 
of the markets is but one among scores of most 
excellent relations. The Chanterelle is one of the 
few that, even in England, is held in high esteem—a 
Mushroom with a most exquisite fla.vour and with 
the mellow fragrance of an Apricot. The Morell, 
too, though not so highly prized as in Germany, 
where the peasants had to be forcibly prevented 
from burning down the forests to encourage its 
growth, is an English favourite. But these are 
nothing out of the general multitude. “ I have 
grieved,” says a famous writer on what he is bold 
enough to call Funguses, " I have grieved . . . 
to see pounds innumerable of extempore beef¬ 
steaks growing on our Oaks in the shape of 
Fistulina hepatica, Agaricus fusipies, to pickle 
in clusters under them ; puffballs, which some 
of our friends have not inaptly compared to 
sweetbread, for the rich delicacy of their unassisted 
flavour ; Hydna, as good as oysters ; Agaricus deli- 
ciosus, reminding us of tender lamb kidney; the 
beautiful Yellow Chanterelle growing by the bushel, 
and no basket but our own to pick up a few speci¬ 
mens in our way ; the sw'eet, nutty Boletus, in vain 
catling himself edulis, where there was none to be¬ 
lieve him : the dainty Orcella, the Agaricus hetero- 
phyllus, which tastes like a crawfish when grilled ; 
the red and green species of Agaricus to cook in any 
way, and equally good in all.” On the Continent 
these good things are not left to rot upon the 
ground. There are, indeed. Mushroom eaters in our 
own country who assure us that scores of varieties 
which we not only do not eat, but which most of us 
would prefer not even to touch, are not merely edible 
but in the highest degree nutritious and well- 
flavoured—many of them much superior to the one 
that comes to our tables. The light in which we re¬ 
gard the members of this part of the vegetable 
kingdom is shown in the names we give them. One 
is the Mushroom. All the rest are Toadstools, Puff¬ 
balls, Jews’-ears, or at best, Fungi. 
It is not the easiest thing in the world to distin¬ 
guish which Mushrooms are good and w’hich are 
bad, to tell for certain the false from the true. It 
has been suggested that colour is a pretty safe guide ; 
that a Toadstool of a bright red or a vivid yellow is 
sure to be dangerous. But some of the most brilliant 
are at the same time the most wholesome. The 
dainty Chanterelle, one of the best of all, is as yellow 
as a guinea. There is a red fungus growing on trees, 
which " If it is not beef itself, is sauce for itwhile 
the orange-coloured Lactarius found in almost every 
Fir plantation is, according to one enthusiast, " the 
most delicious Mushroom known.” Some brightly- 
tinted Toadstools are, it is true, very poisonous. A 
girl who tasted a piece of the beautiful coral- 
coloured Clathrus cancellatus "was seized with 
violent convulsions, lost the power of speech, and 
ultimately fell into a stupor, which lasted forty- 
eight hours. Prompt attention was given to her, 
but it appears to have been some months before she 
was perfectly cured.” Some of the most toothsome 
Toadstools, instead of the linear "gills” of the 
common Mushroom, have a multitude of tiny holes, 
or pores, upon the under side. To this order belong 
the various species of Boletus, the commonest of 
which—a most excellent article of food, much used 
in France and Russia—grows to so great a size that 
a single one makes a most satisfactory dinner for 
one man. Half-a-dozen kinds of Boletus, at least, 
are fit to eat, but the character of one species may 
be gathered from its name—Satanas, the Devil’s 
own. Doctors disagree to some extent on the sub¬ 
ject of fungi, as on other things. There is a very 
common Toadstool found on dead wood which one 
authority compares to lamb. Another writer says 
it is nauseous and disagreeable. One common 
species is called by some edible, and by others 
poisonous. Of one variety much used on the Con¬ 
tinent an English expert says, “ One might as well 
think of eating saddle-flaps.” Rules have been 
drawn up by which poisonous fungi may be known. 
Unfortunately, most of these rules have exceptions, 
and, if strictly applied, would exclude some of the 
most desirable varieties. Even edible fungi should 
always be used fresh. Not a few which are other¬ 
wise good develop noxious properties by being kept 
too long. There are plenty of people in this country 
who make use of their opportunities, and who eat 
scores of different kinds of Mushrooms—or, as the 
common herd would call them. Toadstools. The 
name of the edible species is, they assure us, legion. 
Well, these fungus-eaters live and thrive. They do 
not, at any rate. 
All grow by slow degrees. 
Brainless as chimpanzees. 
Meagre as lizards. 
They are none the worse. There are none of the 
awful consequences which result from eating lobsters 
or Scotch shortbread. They do not 
Go mad and beat their wives. 
Plunge, after shocking lives, 
Razors and carving-knives 
Into their gizzards. 
Ferns and Fern Culture. By J. Birkenhead, F.R.H.S.— 
How to grew Ferns, with selections for stove, warm, cool and 
cold greenhouses ; for baskets, walls, wardian cases, dwelling 
houses, 'Stc. Price, is. ; by post, is. 3d. Publisher, Garden¬ 
ing World, i, Clement’s Inn, Strand, London, W.C. 
