392 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 16, 1895. 
CHRISTMAS ROSES. 
These are of all hardy mid-winter flowers the most 
universally esteemed, and blooming at a time when 
flowers are generally scarce they are particularly 
welcome. Helleborus niger, in its varied forms, is 
the best known and most widely cultivated, and with 
H. altifolius, the Giant Christmas Rose, will often 
give a supply of white flowers from October to 
March, when there is an ample supply of other 
flowering plants. In a batch of seedlings a consider¬ 
able variety in the size of the flowers will be found, 
and the smaller flowered ones should be gradually 
weeded out as the plants increase in size. We have 
found some come with comparatively puny flowers, 
and so after blooming the one season have discarded 
them. There is no real difficulty in securing a crop of 
seed where facilities exist for flowering them under 
glass with plenty of air and a gentle heat. Some 
complain of never being able to save any seed, but 
we think they can never have tried this plan, and 
that their failure has been in connection with plants 
flowered outside, as we have never obtained any seed 
from outdoor flowers. 
Considering that the common variety has for so 
long been a general favourite, and the length of time 
we have had it in cultivation being nearly 300 years, 
it seems a little strange that it is not more plentiful, 
for it thrives well in almost any ordinary garden soil. 
A rich sandy soil is generally regarded as the most 
desirable for them, and although this is, generally 
speaking, a pretty correct view, we have never lost 
the impression made on us many years back by the 
sight of a number of remarkably fine clumps of them 
growing on a chalky loam. They were full of flower 
at the time, and without any exception the very best 
we have ever seen. On whatever soil Christmas 
Roses may be planted, thorough drainage should be 
secured, for stagnant water is most destructive to 
them. With good drainage and partial shade they 
will succeed almost anywhere. 
Those who have any doubt respecting the suita¬ 
bility of their soil, or have any variety considered 
choice, may form a compost for them of equal parts 
of good turfy loam and well decayed manure, to 
which add a half part of fibry peat and an equal part 
of coarse sand. Where planting expressly for a 
supply of cut flowers it is a good plan to do so in a 
frame placed in partial shade, protection only being 
required during the flowering time. For this purpose 
any spare lights from other frames can be used, and 
if made secure from frost by a good covering, the 
flowers will come cleaner than if exposed ; and will 
always be fit to gather when required Failing this, 
the protection of a handlight will suffice for isolated 
plants, or where the stock of plants is equal to the 
demands, they may be taken up and forced in a 
gentle heat. Plants subjected to this treatment, 
however, should have care taken of them after they 
have done flowering ; they must not be exposed to 
violent changes, and should have at least one season’s 
rest from forcing. 
They are sometimes grown on in pots, placed out 
in a shady place and kept well supplied with water 
during the summer. There is much in this plan to 
recommend it, as it saves the disturbance to the 
roots in lifting them from the ground and the plants 
are always ready to place under cover if required. 
In the flowering season those plants allowed to 
flower without protection should have a mulching of 
some material placed around them to prevent the 
flowers being spoiled by heavy rains, and where slugs 
abound they must be dealt with in the ordinary way, 
as they will frequently disfigure many of the blooms. 
We have purposely confined our remarks to while 
flowered Hellebores, as these are the most popular 
and best known of the family. Propagation is 
effected by division and seeds. The first method 
may be best put into practice during April, just when 
the plants commence fresh growth. Take the clumps 
up with care and wash the soil away from the roots, 
as this enables the crown buds to be readily seen so 
that the plant can be cut to pieces with a knife without 
injury to the other parts which a haphazard division 
effected with the soil adhering to them would occasion. 
Care should be taken in cutting up the plant that a 
leaf or two and some roots is attached to each por¬ 
tion. Pot them in a sandy compost, and place in a 
cold and close frame till well rooted, when they 
should be planted out in a border, the soil of which 
has been well worked and manured. Set the plants 
from six to twelve inches apart according to their 
size. 
It should be remembered that they never flower 
very satisfactorily the first season after being 
disturbed, and that it requires at least two seasons 
after re-planting to flower them as profusely as they 
should be. When seed is obtained, sow it at once 
in pans under glass, and when the seedlings are large 
enough to handle, they should be potted into thumb 
pots and kept in a cold frame for a time. They may 
be planted out later on in the same season in rich sandy 
soil, or, if desired, may be kept through the following 
winter in their pots in a frame, where they will have 
some shelter from rough weather, planting them out 
early the following spring.— W. B. G. 
— I -- 
ROYAL GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
The annual general meeting of the subscribers to 
this charity was held at the Cannon Street Hotel, 
E.C., on the 8th inst., Mr. John Harrison, of 
Leicester, presiding. Owing to the severity of the 
weather, the meeting was very thinly attended. The 
minutes of the previous annual meeting having been 
read and confirmed, Mr. Marshall, Chairman of the 
Committee, read the following report and statement 
of accounts for the'past year, and formally moved 
their adoption. 
“ The Executive Committee, in presenting their 
seventh annual report, again have to congratulate 
the subscribers to the Royal Gardeners' Orphan 
Fund on the continued prosperity of the charity. 
Nothwithstanding the intensity of the commercial 
depression of the country, which so greatly affects 
all that pertains to gardening pursuits and the culti¬ 
vation of the soil, it is extremely gratifying to be 
able to record a success, and to feel that so far as 
this institution is concerned the tide of charity and 
benevolence flows on as freely and as fully as ever. 
The receipts during the past year are somewhat 
higher than in 1893, while the ordinary working ex¬ 
penses remain about the same—two decidedly 
gratifying facts. 
During the past year the Committee have been 
able to assist in the maintenance of sixty-one orphan 
children, at a cost of £787 10s., and the Committee 
recommend the election of six this day, thus raising 
the number of beneficiares for 1895 to sixty-four. 
Of the number of orphans elected since the 
establishment of the fund in 1887, five having 
attained the age of fourteen years are no longer 
chargeable to it, two of these ceased to be recipients 
during the past year. 
The Committee regret their inability to re¬ 
commend that more than six of the thirteen appli¬ 
cants be elected at the annual meeting ; the remain¬ 
ing cases—all of urgent necessity—have to be 
deferred for another year. 
The Committee would again draw the attention of 
the gardeners themselves to the excellence and im¬ 
portance of this charity, and to solicit from them 
more help and assistance, which are urgently needed, 
as the whole object of the fund is for their exclusive 
benefit. 
Among the local secretaries and others who are 
foremost in supporting the fund are many who by 
reason of earnest and successful work have earned 
the hearty thanks of the Committee. Grateful 
mention must on this occasion be made of the con¬ 
tribution of £50 ios.—proceeds of a concert given 
by the Altrincham Gardeners' Society, and to whom 
the special thanks of the Committee are hereby 
tendered. 
For last year's annual festival dinner, the Com¬ 
mittee were fortunate in securing as Chairman, The 
Right Honourable Sir Robert Tyler, Bart, (the 
Lord Mayor of London), to whom the warmest 
thanks of the Committee are due for his able advocacy 
of the claims of the charity. 
The Committee have the greatest pleasure in 
announcing that Mr. Harry J. Veitch, Vice-President 
of the fund, and one of its most munificent patrons, 
has consented to preside at the next festival dinner, 
which is fixed to take place on April 5th 1895, when 
it is hoped that horticulturists and gardeners will 
attend and give Mr. Veitch rheir hearty support. 
The members of the Committee who retire by 
rotation are Messrs. Assbee, Ballantine, Cannell, 
Cummins, Gordon, Lane, Roupell, and Wynne, who 
being eligible, all offer themselves for re-election— 
with the exception of Mr. Lane, who retires. Mr. 
McLeod, of Dover House Gardens, Roehampton, is 
nominated for election in the place of Mr. Lane. 
Mr. George Bunyard and Mr. J. Wright having 
resigned, Messrs. H. B. May, Edmonton, and H. J. 
Jones, Lewisham, are recommended for election to 
fill the vacancies thus created. The retiring Auditor, 
Mr. Fraser, is again nominated, with Mr M. Rowan, 
of Clapham, in the place of Mr. Sharp, who retires. 
The Treasurer, Mr. T. B. Haywood, and the Hon. 
Secretary, Mr. A. F. Barron, are again nominated 
by the Committee for re-election. 
The motion was seconded by the Chairman- (Mr. 
Harrison) who congratulated the executive on the 
continued success of their labours. It was most 
gratifying to find so young an institution in such a 
strong financial position, and so well holding its own 
in the midst of the trials and difficulties which at 
present affected all charitable institutions, more or 
less, and made it so arduous for the managers of many 
to maintain their annual revenue. That the fund in 
which they all took such a warm interest should 
have received so much support during the hard 
times was a fact of good omen for the future, and he 
sincerely hoped that the forthcoming annual festival, 
at which their good friend, Mr. Veitch, had promised 
to preside, would prove a greater success than any 
which had preceded it. The motion was carried 
unanimously. 
On the motion of Mr. H. J. Veitch, seconded by 
Mr. John Laing, Mr. T. B. Haywood was 
unanimously re-elected treasurer. Mr. A. Outram 
moved, and Mr. Bates seconded, the election of Mr. 
John Fraser, of South Woodford, and Mr. Martin 
Rowan, of Clapham, as auditors, and this also was 
carried nem. con. On the motion of Mr. William 
Poupart, seconded by Mr. C. E. Osman, Messrs. 
Assbee, Ballantine, Cannell, Cummins, Gordon, 
Roupell, and Wynne, were re-elected members of the 
committee, and thanked for their past services. Mr. 
A. W. G. Weeks moved that the best thanks of the 
meeting be accorded to Mr. F. Q. Lane, who retired, 
and to Mr. G. Bunyard and Mr. J. Wright, who had 
resigned, for their past services, and on being 
seconded by Mr. Bates was also carried unanimously. 
On the motion of Mr. R. Dean, seconded by Mr. 
John Laing, Mr. H B. May, Edmonton, Mr. H. J. 
Jones, Lewisham, and Mr. McLeod, Dover House 
Gardens, Roehampton, were unanimouslj' elected to 
fill the vacancies thus created. Mr. Marshall 
moved, and Mr. Veitch seconded, the re-election of 
ROYAL GARDENERS' ORPHAN FUND—CASH STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 
DECEMBER 31st, 1894. 
RECEIPTS. 
To Balance from last Account ... £52810 8 
,, On Deposit with Bankers ... 300 0 o 
„ Subscriptions, General . 341 2 6 
„ . Ditto Collected by Local 
Secretaries. 94 13 6 
,, Donations, including proceeds ot 
Sale of Flowers, Boxes, En¬ 
tertainments, &c. ... ... 213 8 8 
,, Ditto Collected by Local 
Secretaries . ... 78 10 3 
,, Annual Dinner . 
,, Card Collection ... . 
,. Advertisements in List of Subscribers 
,, Dividends on Stock and Interest on Deposit 
£ s. d. 
828 10 8 
435 16 o 
291 19 1 
620 19 3 
27 6 it 
35 9 3 
1S9 g 9 
Note Investments, &c. 
2 i °/o Consols. 
3 °/ 0 Canadian Stock ... 
£2.429 10 11 
... £7,070 6 10 
500 0 o 
£7-570 6 10 
EXPENDITURE. 
By Allowances to Orphans _. 
.. Postage. &c., General Card Collection 
,, Annual Dinner . 
,, Printing and Posting of List of Subscribers... 
,. Secretary's Clerk . £52 10 0 
., Printing and Stationery ... ... 15 3 10 
., Annual. General and Committee 
Meetings. 11 17 11 
„ Postages . 13 13 2 
„ Bank Charges. 026 
,, Sundry Expenses (Petty Cash) ... 19 4 9 
„ Purchase of £500 2f °/ 0 Stock ... 
Balance, viz. : 
,, Cash at Bankers . 524 19 5 
,, Ditto on Deposit . 300 0 o 
.. Ditto in Hand . 4 14 2 
£ s. d. 
7S7 10 0 
1 10 0 
150 14 8 
35 12 ° 
112 12 2 
51I 18 6 
S29 13 7 
£2,429 10 11 
Having inspected the Securities, and examined the Books 
and Vouchers supplied to us, we hereby certify the above 
account to be correct. 
(Signed) JOHN FRASER, Leyton, | , ... c 
M. ROWAN, Clapham, -]Aud\ton- 
Dated, January 2Sth, 1894.. . „ .. 
