346 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 26, 1895. 
greater advantage as a manure, or the ash pit choked 
full of ashes. Besides, it is not fair to a man's 
fellow-workmen who have to follow him on duty for 
them to find the laws of cleanliness so grossly 
neglected. What can be more provoking to the 
relief man, who sees a sharp frost imminent, to find 
his fires slumbering peacefully under the soporific 
influences of ashes and clinkers. Who could wonder 
greatly if the language of such a sorely tried 
individual, towards stoking in general and that 
exponent of it who had preceded him on duty in 
particular, was not more expressive than polite. It 
is just such little circumstances as these that make a 
naturally unpleasant job still more distasteful, and 
this in a greater degree than there is any necessity 
for. If gardeners would insist on the stokeholes 
being kept clean, a plentiful supply of fuel always 
maintained, and the flues and ash pit of the boiler 
kept free from soot and ashes, there would be fewer 
complaints about the difficulty experienced in keeping 
up sufficient heat. 
Whenever a sharp frost threatens it is very impor¬ 
tant that the fires should be started away early 
enough in the afternoon, so as to get the water 
nicely hot by night-time. It is, moreover, a very 
great mistake to leave any turning on of heat that 
may be necessary until banking-up time. A lot of 
cold water thus turned on when the fire is in a great 
measure checked cannot fail to be attended with a 
serious lowering of heat all round, and thus there is 
generally a hurried scramble in the morning to 
drive the temperatures up to their required height. 
This reckless driving of the fires cannot fail to pro¬ 
duce that greatest of all evils in our plant houses, a 
parching uncongenial atmosphere that is extremely 
deleterious to plant life, and is accountable to a very 
considerable extent for the weak, sickly looking 
appearance of the inmates of some plant houses. 
The importance of judicious stoking, and the bearing 
it has upon the welfare of the plants themselves, 
cannot be too strongly impressed upon all young 
gardeners who have in the course of their pro¬ 
fessional career to attend to the fires in their turn.— 
An Old Stoker. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
The annual general meeting of the subscribers to 
this Institution was held at “ Simpson’s,’’ ioi, 
Strand, on the 17th inst., the Treasurer, Mr. H. J. 
Veitch, presiding. The minutes of the previous 
annual meeting having, been read and confirmed, the 
Secretary, Mr. G. J. Ingram, read the following 
report and statement of accounts for the past year : — 
“ In ’submitting the fifty-sixth report of the Gar¬ 
deners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, the committee 
have the satisfaction of again congratulating the 
members and subscribers on the continued prosperity 
of the work which has now been carried on with 
such signal success for the past fifty-six y^ears, and 
has been the means of conferring year by year an 
increasing amount of benefit upon a most worthy 
class of society, who have been compelled to seek 
aid from the funds of the charity. 
“ The committee have much pleasure in stating 
that the annual festival dinner, held in June last, 
was most successful. They desire to acknowledge 
their great indebtedness to Sir Julian Goldsmid, 
Bart., M.P., who presided on that occasion, and 
whose able advocacy of the claims of the Institution 
and personal liberality conduced in a very large 
measure to the financial result which was attained. 
The committee also desire to tender their hearty 
thanks to those gentlemen who acted as stewards, 
as well as to those friends who, either by gifts of 
flowers and fruit or in other ways, contributed to 
make the festival a success. 
" During the past year fifteen pensioners have 
passed away. The committee have therefore 
decided to recommend an addition of fourteen 
pensioners to those now on the books, eight of whom 
they ask the subscribers to place on the fund without 
the trouble and expense of an election, they having 
fulfilled the conditions of Rule III. 5, the remaining 
six to be elected in the usual manner. It is with 
much regret that the committee feel themselves 
unable to assist a larger number of candidates, the 
more so as the list of those seeking election is the 
largest on record in the history of the Institution. 
They deeply deplore the fact that there must be at 
least thirty-six unsuccessful applicants whose claims, 
urgent though they are, cannot be met. If ‘hope 
deferred maketh the heart sick,’ then there must 
necessarily be a number of heart-sick ones who will 
be compelled to wait on before that aid which they 
so much need can be afforded. The committee 
therefore very earnestly appeal for more support and 
increased effort on the part of their friends ; and 
they would specially plead with those for whose 
benefit the Institution was founded to do all they 
can, not only to help the Institution themselves, but 
to urge its claims upon all those with whom they 
come into contact, and who are interested in horti¬ 
cultural pursuits. 
11 The committee believe that the Institution and 
its aims are becoming more widely known and better 
appreciated, and they have noted with much satis¬ 
faction that a keener interest appears to be taken in 
its work than heretofore, as indicated by the recent 
correspondence in the columns of the horticultural 
Press. They take this opportunity of thanking 
their well-wishers, and trust that all who have the 
well-being of the Institution at heart will redouble 
their exertions on its behalf. 
“ With the full sanction of the committee, and in 
order to increase the resources of the Institution, the 
trustees decided to sell out the sum of £ 20,000, 
forming part of the invested funds of the Institution, 
and reinvest it in guaranteed securities bearing a 
higher rate of interest. They have, therefore, taken 
up the above amount in London and North-Western 
Railway Three per Cent. Debentures, Midland 
Railway Three per Cent. Debentures, Great Indian 
Peninsula Five per Cent. Guaranteed Stock, and 
Manchester Corporation Three per Cent. Stock. 
This will give an increased income from dividends 
of about £50 a year. 
“ At the last annual meeting the committee had 
the satisfaction of announcing that an auxiliary had 
been formed at Bristol for Bristol, Bath, and neigh¬ 
bourhood, with the view of making the objects and 
claims of the Institution better known. They now 
have much pleasure in stating that similar auxiliaries 
have been started at Birmingham, under the presi¬ 
dency of the Right Hon. the Earl of Dudley, and at 
Wolverhampton under that of C. T. Mander, Esq. 
(Mayor). At both towns successful inaugural meet¬ 
ings have been held, which were addressed by the 
treasurer of the Institution and the secretary. Very 
heartily do the committee thank those gentlemen to 
whose efforts the formation of these branches are 
due, and they cordially invite communications from 
friends in other parts of the country who are willing 
to help in establishing these local adjuncts to the 
Institution, which they believe will tend to promote 
its interests. 
“ Like other charities, the committee feel the 
effects of the commercial depression under which 
the country is passing, and the consequent cessation 
of many annual subscriptions which had been 
regularly remitted for many years. Then again, 
they have to deplore the loss of several warm friends 
and supporters by death, foremost amongst whom 
may be mentioned the late Earl Grey, who had been 
for a long period a contributor to the funds of the 
Institution. It is difficult to fill the places of these 
friends, but it is a matter of much congratulation 
that a number of new annual subscribers have been 
obtained during the past year, which will in some 
degree compensate for the financial loss sustained. 
“ The committee have also to express their deep 
regret that, in consequence of advancing years, their 
revered and esteemed Chairman of Committee has 
been compelled to resign that important office. Mr. 
John Lee has fittingly been described as the father 
of the Institution. For upwards of fifty years he 
has taken the warmest interest in its welfare. He 
has been indefatigable in his exertions on its behalf, 
and he has had the satisfaction-of witnessing its pro¬ 
gress and prosperity year by year. 
“ At a General Committee held on December 21st 
last, the following resolution was unanimously 
adopted :—• That the committee sincerely regret the 
necessity for Mr. Lee’s resignation, and they desire 
unanimously to place on record their grateful 
acknowledgment of the very great services rendered 
by him to the Institution during more than fifty 
years, but more especially during the long time he 
has acted as chairman of the committee, and they 
express the sincere hope that Mr. Lee may yet be 
spared many years to continue a member of the 
committee and to give them the benefit of his mature 
judgment.’ 
“ It was naturally a task of much difficulty to 
obtain a successor to Mr. Lee. The committee, 
however, after much consideration decided to 
approach Sir Alexander Arbuthnot with a request 
that he would join their body and accept the position 
vacated by Mr. Lee. They now have the pleasure 
to announce that Sir Alexander Arbuthnot has very 
kindly consented to join the committee and occupv 
the post of chairman. 
“ The committee would add that the Gardeners' 
Royal Benevolent Institution is the only charity of 
its kind in the United Kingdom, and that, though its 
centre is in London, the benefits it dispenses are not 
limited merely to the area of the metropolis, but are 
extended to and embrace all parts—England, Scot¬ 
land, Ireland, and Wales. They do not, therefore, 
put forward the claims of a charity the usefulness 
and importance of which have decreased, but for an 
Institution which, after a period of fifty-six years' 
existence, is more than ever regarded as an inestimable 
boon by those assisted from its funds upon whom old 
age, sorrow, and misfortune have fallen." 
On the motion of Dr. Masters, seconded by Mr. 
R. Dean, the report and accounts were unanimously 
adopted, and the best thanks of the meeting were 
accorded to the committee for their able management 
of the affairs of the Institution during the past year. 
On the motion of Mr. B. Wynne, seconded by Mr. 
G. Wythes, Mr. H. J. Veitch was again unanimously 
re-elected treasurer, and cordially thanked for his 
past services on behalf of the Institution. On the 
motion of Mr. B. Wynne, seconded by Mr. Osborn, 
Mr. H. J. Cutbush, Mr. H.Williams, Mr. A. Watkins, 
and Mr. J. J. Sexby, were re-elected members of the 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION, STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 
FOR THE YEAR, 1894. 
Dr. 
To Balance . 
„ Annual Subscriptions 
,, Donations. 753 2 
.. .. 379 0 
., Income Tax refunded 
by Commissioners... 2 14 
„ Collecting Cards. 1S6 2 
£ s. d. £ s. d. 
Advertisements in 
Annual List. 44 19 6 
Dividends on Invest¬ 
ments and Interest 
on Deposits. 792 n 2 
1.302 19 4 
1,321 iS 7 
£ s. 
936 16 
837 10 8 
* Invested Funds:— 
2j per cent. Consols, £5,000. 
India, 3 per cent, stock, £2.664 19s. iod. 
Midland Railway, 3 per cent.Debenture 
Stock (Silver Wedding Thank- 
offering Special Fund), £479 10s. 
Great Indian Peninsula Railway, 5 per 
cent, guaranteed (cost £5.062 19s. 
9 d -)> £3,000- 
London & North Western Railway, 
3 per cent. Debenture, £5,000. 
(Cost £5,363 8s. 6d. stock.) 
Midland Railway, 3 per cent.Debenture 
Stock, £5,000. (Cost £5,365 4s. gd.) 
Manchester Corporation, 3 per cent. 
stock,£4,054 i2s.gd. (Cost £4.133 6s.) 
On Deposit, £1,400 
In the names of the Trustees. 
3.462 8 7 
£4,399 4 11 
By Pensions and Gratuities... 
,, Secretary, Salary and 
Honorarium for extra 
services .. 
,. Rent of Offices . 
,, Office Assistance . 
,, Expenses of Annual Meet¬ 
ing and Election. 
„ Collecting Boxes . 
„ Printing, including Annual 
Report and List of 
Subscribers . 
„ Stationery, &c. 
Expenses ofAnnual Dinner 
£ s. d. £ s. 
Cr. 
d. £ s. d. 
2,710 2 5 
220 0 
62 10 
20 0 
15 19 
27 iS 
129 
21 
166 
Less Tickets sold. 73 10 
, Cost of Appeals. 
Expenses of Transfer of 
Stock . 
Postages. Deputation 
Travelling, and inciden¬ 
tal Expenses. 
Placed on deposit at 
Bankers . ... 
Balance, viz.:— 
With Treasurer at 
Bankers .. 
With Secretary . 
92 11 
19 10 
7 6 
74 2 6 
6S6 2 S 
902 10 10 
090 
902 19 10 
£4,399 4 II 
11 k k ave aut ffied Ike accounts for the past year, and are pleased to report that we found the books in perfect order and 
we 1 kept. (Signed) Thomas Manning. J, Willard, T. Swift. 
