434 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 10, 1894.- 
let down upon its delightful slopes. It wants shade, 
partial shade at least, and coolness. I have seen it 
doing remarkably well on the fringes of shrubbery 
borders, where the soil is cool and moist. I confess 
I grow it with some difficulty at the foot of an east 
wall in the shade of an Apple tree, but it nearly gets 
dried up in winter. It is readily propagated by 
means of a division of its creeping roots. I do not 
know if this species seeds, but I have never to my 
knowledge seen it quoted in any seed list published 
at home or abroad.— R. D. 
-- 
THE UNITED HORTICULTURAL 
BENEFIT AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
A MEMBER of our Society, Mr. A. J. Brown, suggests 
in your last issue that an alteration should be made 
with regard to the age at which members should be 
put on the Benevolent Fund of the Society. The 
writer suggests that the age should be reduced to 6o 
or 65. At first sight 70 may appear a great age, but 
if members will carefully read rule 18 they will find 
that although 70 is the age at which any member 
will cease to be eligible for benefits from the ordinary 
sick fund, and shall be put on the Benevolent Fund, 
members may also receive benefit from this Fund 
at an earlier age. 
For instance all members are eligible to receive 
benefit from this fund if they have the misfortune to 
be ill for a longer period than fifty-two weeks. Or 
in case of an accident, the committee may vote a 
sum towaids the payment of the surgeon’s account, 
should a member be in such a position as to need 
such assistance. Again, if a member die leaving a 
widow and children unprovided for, some assistance 
may be given them from this Fund should the 
committee find, on investigation that such assistance 
is needed. My object in writing is not to prejudice 
any members against any alterations that may be 
suggested, but to give them an opportunity of con¬ 
sidering the subject, and all of those who would 
support such an alteration should endeavour to be at 
the general meeting. The subject was discussed at 
the last committee meeting, when Mr. Wheeler, who 
was one of the first committee-men, pointed out that 
when the rules were first prepared there was some 
discussion with regard to fixing an earlier age, and 
that Mr. Finlaison the actuary would not certify for 
an earlier age than 70. 
Our friend in a letter sent to our secretary, Mr. 
Collins, refers to the "Foresters” and other 
Societies, as having made some alteration in regard 
to the same matter ; so far as I am aware there is no 
such Fund connected with the Societies he named. 
I have been a “ Forester ” nearly 24 years, and have 
not heard of such a Fund. 
I am quite sure that ail of the Committee would 
be pleased to hear any suggestions for the good of 
the Society, and would give members every assist¬ 
ance in bringing any matter forward, but I for one 
should certainly oppose any alteration in the age at 
which members micst go on the Benevolent Fund, 
for I think it would be a hardship rather than other¬ 
wise if members could not receive benefit from the 
ordinary sick fund up to the age of 70, and further 
it would require a much higher scale of contributions 
to provide anything like an adequate sum for all 
members after they attain to the age of 60 or even 
65 - 
Up to the present time I believe the Benevolent 
Fund has not been very heavily drawn upon. The 
Society has now been established nearly 30 years, 
and one may therefore reasonably expect that there 
will be more calls on the Fund in the future than in 
the past. This fund, besides being available for all 
“ Benefit Members, ” may also be applied to Honor¬ 
ary Members, should circumstances arise that they 
may need assistance. As an example of what it 
would cost to secure a pension of 5s. per week for 
all members on obtaining the age of 60, I will quote 
the terms on which such a pension may be obtained 
through the medium of the Post Office Savings 
Bank. Supposing a man is 30 years of age when 
he joins, he would have to pay £2 4s. 5d. per year, 
up to the age of 60 ; he would then be entitled to /13 
per year payable half yearly. Or put the age at 20 
to commence, the yearly subscription would be 
7s. id. to secure the amount equal to 5s. per week 
at the age of 60. 
We pay 3s. per year to the Benevolent 
Fund, which if taken from the age of 30 would not 
be sufficient to secure £1 per year on the terms 
given by the Post Office. Our " Benefit Fund ” not 
only provides for old age, but is also available for 
those who may have the misfortune to need help 
through long continued sickness earlier in life. 
I consider it one of the best features of the Institu¬ 
tion, and think it would be a great pity to over 
tax its resources. 
With regard to the management fund, I will leave 
that in more able hands. I may, however, state 
that I have heard similar suggestions to those which 
Mr. Brown refers, and I have mentionedjthe subject 
at a committee meeting, and from what I 
gathered from our Secretary, I think on investigation 
this fund will be found in a perfectly satisfactory 
condition. The fact that we number only 500 
instead of 1,000 or more is no fault on the part of 
the management. I am intimately associated with a 
great number of young gardeners, and though I 
have introduced several new members to our 
Society, I find a great percentage of the young men 
prefer to belong to a Society the meetings of which 
are held in their own locality, I have also dis¬ 
covered that our present rate of subscription is 
higher than many care to pay, therefore I think to 
make any further advance would be detrimental 
rather than otherwise.— A. Hemsley. 
--j--- 
TIE VlglWLE GIABDEN, 
Carrots. 
These are indispensable in the kitchen, be they 
large or small, but it is not in every garden they are 
grown, to anything like the perfection that their 
merits deserve. In some places the soil is too poor 
for the proper development of their growth, in others 
it is too heavy, while on some soils the wireworm is 
very troublesome. Therefore, it is necessary that 
all these should be taken into consideration by those 
who have to produce a continuous supply of these 
roots. We all know how easy it is to get nice clean 
roots in a frame ; then why not try to imitate the 
same culture in the open ground ? Where the soil 
is of a very poor nature it is essential that fertilisers 
be added, so that it may be rendered productive ; but 
these should not be in the shape of farm—yard 
manure directly before sowing, as they are an 
impediment in the way of the downward progress of 
the roots. On such ground it is best to sow only the 
short rooted quick growing kinds at intervals from 
the second week in March till the end of July. The 
quantity at each sowing and the shortness of the 
interval between must depend on the demand, but 
for all ordinary purposes once in three weeks will be 
sufficient. For the last sowing or two a greater 
breadth will be needed, as these will have to give a 
supply through the winter. 
On light, rich soil there need not be any difficulty 
in getting first-class roots early in the season, or to 
keep up a continuous supply the whole year round, 
and with the aid of a frame young roots may be had 
for the greater part of that time. Some preparation, 
however, is necessary if we would have them in the 
best possible condition, even on such land as this, 
for it will not do to sow the seed anyhow. If good 
roots are to be had, the ground must be deeply dug 
and rendered fine to a depth of a foot or fifteen 
inches, so that the roots may not have any obstruc¬ 
tions in their way, otherwise they will not be the 
clean straight roots we would desire. This is too 
often neglected, the consequence being forked or 
crooked roots. The;e is next the close or heavy 
soils to contend with, as such great care is needed to 
render them suitable for the reception of the seed. 
It is, moreover, better not to sow the bulk of the 
crop too early on such land, as the surface is liable 
to get beaten down by the heavy rains before the 
young plants are through, thus necessitating water¬ 
ing to soften the surface in order to prevent them 
from perishing through the sticky state of the soil. 
No general rule can be laid down for such work, as 
situations vary, but as a guide for those who have 
such ground to deal with, we may say that from the 
first week in April to the end of that month the 
seed may be sown with equal success. It is best to 
make two sowings for the main crop, one about the 
early part of April, and another towards the latter 
end of that month, or even later in the southern 
districts. 
We have grown nearly all the varieties in cultiva¬ 
tion, and have come to the conclusion that there are 
none better for sowing at the beginning of April 
than Sutton’s Intermediate and Veitch’s Matchless. 
Both these varieties are excellent, but of the two. 
Matchless is the best colour. For later sowings, 
where the soil is rich and of a good depth. Long 
Surrey and Altringham are both good varieties. 
Scarlet Model and Early Gem are both good for 
shallow soils, and for sowing at the latter end of the 
season. Carrots are troubled with numerous 
enemies, even from the time they appear above the 
soil, therefore close attention must be paid to their 
wants. Snails are very partial to the young foliage, 
so that the ground must be looked over for these 
early in the morning or in showery weather. If the 
roots are likely to be attacked by the wire worm, 
insert a few pieces of rope cake over the bed 
attached to a piece of stick, as the larvae are very 
fond of this, and may be caught by the hundreds 
feeding. As a rule, however, good cultivation is all 
that is necessary to secure the finest samples free 
from blemishes, therefore well prepare the ground 
previous to sowing, and treat the crop liberally with 
phosphates, soda, and potash, by which, together 
with frequent surface stirrings to keep down weeds, 
there will be satisfactory results follow .—Kitchen 
Gardener. 
Seakale. 
It is many years since I forced much Seakale by 
means of pots, or other covers, and fermenting 
materials, and never was much in favour of using 
hot manure (especially if rank) at any time ; but I 
have nevertheless seen much finer produce (in 
appearance) from this old practice than I have from 
the finest examples cut from roots, lifted and placed 
in close boxes, or air tight frames. This being always 
considered the most tidy and expeditious method of 
forcing, it is favoured by cultivators in private 
gardens. Where manure is so abundant as is the 
case in the vicinity of large towns (London for 
example), Seakale is raised by means of manure 
thrown over frames covered with wooden shutters 
instead of glass. In private places the finest and 
best flavoured Seakale is raised in heaps of leaves, 
or by pots covered with clean warm leaves, free from 
manure. For late purposes—say from January 
onwards—this method of growing Seakale has many 
advantages. The roots when kept well manured— 
reduced after being forced ,and not over heated, last 
for many years in vigorous condition. From March 
to May (I have cut good heads during June in a 
cool shady position) good Seakale can be grown from 
crowns which have been covered with pots, over 
which soil has been throwm. Soil drawn over 
the crowns also answers w-ell.— Stirling. 
Rhubarb. 
I AM not out of touch with the remarks of “A.D.” 
regarding large Rhubarb (or grossness in any other 
vegetable) in preference to fine quality, and being 
often asked to judge at cottagers’ shows as well as 
many other important horticultural exhibitions 
throughout the country, I only give size of exhibits 
the leading position when excellency of quality is 
also present. Among northern cottagers and 
amateurs generally, I find exhibitors have as sound 
ideas regarding quality as the best judges whom they 
can employ. Now and again a "green hand” will 
table for competition a gross exhibit destitute of fine 
quality, believing that size is the strongest point 
necessary to put exhibitors into a winning position. 
But the lessons taught soon change the ideas of such 
exhibitors, and their efforts afterwards to raise 
produce of good quality is manifest. When weight 
only has to decide the award there is no choice but 
to produce an exhibit of greatest bulk. Reverting to 
Rhubarb, it is seldom that any variety other than 
Victoria is tabled at exhibitions for quality. Stott’s 
Monarch has no chance under such conditions, but 
for weight it is an easy winner against all comers. I 
do not know Hawke’s Champagne, but have purchased 
St. Martin’s four times (I think) for culture in England 
as well as Scotland, and in each case it has turned 
out to be my favourite early variety Prince Albert.— 
Stirling. 
-- 
American Seed Trade Association.— At a recent 
meeting in New York of the executive committee of 
this association, it was voted that while favouring 
the retention of the present rate of twenty per cent, 
ad valorem as preferable to an abolition of all duties, 
they would advocate as the sense of the associa¬ 
tion a specific duty of a higher rate rather than an 
ad valorem duty as calculated to encourage the 
importation of the better grades of seeds. 
