July 6, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
715 
THE DAMASK ROSE. 
The Damask Rose (Rosa daraascena) is an old 
favourite, and admitted to be of great antiquity. 
Although it has been with us about 300 years it is 
still much appreciated ; in fact, it is one of those 
good old things that will not be ousted out by the 
modern craze. It is, moreover, of some commercial 
value, for Colonel Drury states that in India it is 
much grown for procuring attar of Roses and Rose 
water. He further states it requires about 200,000 
blossoms to yield the weight of a rupee in attar! 
Well, I suppose we ought not to grumble over this 
as the concoction is so largely in demand by our 
fair, if frail sisters, whose sweetness, it would seem, 
is not so unsophisticated as some would have us 
believe. 
But it is not only the product of the Rose, but the 
Rose itself which constrains our attention. At Kew 
a circular bed near the “ popular’’ house or conser¬ 
vatory has lately been a blaze of beauty. Its strong 
vigorous habit, free-flowering qualities, delicate 
tints, and sweetness of disposition mark it out as a 
shrub for town acceptance. How many people— 
would-be Rosarians—-waste their substance on the 
more recalcitrant varieties when a species like Rosa 
damascena would reward their efforts. Most people 
are apt to assume that the Damask Rose is of a dark 
crimson colour, whereas the variety under present 
notice is of the most delicate flesh-pink. So tender, 
and delicate, and sweet, indeed, it is, that it has 
received the title of " Rose Celeste.” 
I do not know whether this was the Rose the poet 
had in his mind, or, perchance, nostrils, when he 
wrote:— 
Even the gods who walk the sky. 
Are amorous of thy scented sigh,” 
but I do know that this fragrant old-fashioned 
flower is well worth all the praise that has from 
time to time been bestowed upon it .—Le Vert. 
-- 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL 
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
The fifty-sixth Anniversary Festival was held in the 
■Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole on Friday 
last, presided over by His Grace the Duke of Fife, 
who was supported by the prominent workers of 
the fund and the elite of horticulturists. 
The usual loyal toasts were most heartily received, 
due prominence being given to the facts that the 
Queen was patroness, and the Prince of Wales patron 
of the Institution. 
The toast, “ Continued success to the Institution,” 
was proposed by the Chairman, who said that in 
these days, in spite of the universal depression, 
enormous sums were spent every year in charity. 
Last year in London alone there was disbursed by 
the various charitable societies and agencies no less 
than 5J millions sterling, to say nothing of the con¬ 
siderable amount which could not be calculated, 
flowing from private channels of benevolence. He 
believed that larger sums were spent every year in 
this country on charitable relief than in any other 
country in the world, yet unfortunately these huge 
sums did not bring about all the beneficial results 
to be wished for, because there was not sufficient 
concentration in the efforts. There were too many 
societies with similar objects ia view, clashing with 
each other, thus increasing the cost of distribution 
and diminishing the amount of effective work that 
could be done. This, however, did not apply to the 
Gardeners’ Benevolent Institution, as it was the only 
society of its kind in Great Britain. Its principal 
object was to assist aged and infirm gardeners by 
means of pensions, and it inculcated the admirable 
principle of self help by giving a preference to those 
who had subscribed to its funds. In connection 
with the work of a gardener one was apt to think 
that it was very nice and easy to arrange flowersand 
pick fruit, but people who knew anything at all 
about it understood the amount of drudgery and 
hard work connected with the supply of these lovely 
necessities, and work which unfortunately was often 
very poorly recompensed. His Grace concluded an 
excellent speech by appealing for contributions on 
behalf of the Institution. 
In responding to the toast, Mr. George A. Dickson, 
of Chester, spoke in a business-like manner as to the 
necessity of the funds being largely augmented, 
instancing cases known to himself where applicants 
failing to secure election had died in distress and 
poverty before their claims could again be brought 
before the ballot. He spoke in highly eulogistic 
terms of the manner in which the work of the 
Institution was done, mentioning the fact that 
beneficiaires had expressed gratification at always 
receiving their allowances at an exact time, and they 
knew that the money could definitely be relied upon. 
Mr. Dickson read telegrams from Mr. Harry J. 
Veitch, the greatly respected treasurer of the fund 
(whose state of health unfortunately prevented his 
attendance at the festival), and others, regretting 
inability to attend, and expressing good wishes for 
the success of the gathering. 
"Horticulture” as a toast was enthusiastically 
received at the invitation of Mr. W. J. Jefferies, the 
trade veteran from Cirencester, and was suitably 
acknowledged by the able and popular president of 
the Royal Horticultural Society, to wit, Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart. 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood (Messrs. Hurst & Son), who 
ranks with Mr. Harry J. Veitch as a prince of bene¬ 
factors in all matters appertaining to the welfare of 
gardeners and the trade, proposed "The Chairman,” 
using the happy language to which we are getting 
accustomed to expect from him. 
At the invitation of Mr. Arnold J. Moss (Messrs. 
Wrench & Sons) Mr. George Munro responded for 
" The Stewards,” and mentioned that he was never 
more thankful or happy in his life than on the day 
upon which he secured the final sum to make up the 
£100 odd which he had been able to collect for this 
festival. This was a time of centuiies, and he had 
striven, fortunately successfully, to pass the century 
of pounds. 
Mr. George J. Ingram, with his usual modesty, 
would not accept all the complimentary remarks 
that were made about his work, but acknowledged 
that this had been a very bad year for collecting, 
and he was pleased to see that though not perhaps a 
record in the amount promised and given, £1900 
odd was a very satisfactory total to reach. 
In addition to the amounts which we have been 
publishing from week to week many others were 
announced at the dinner, including £30 from the 
Duke of York, £10 10s. each from Messrs. G. May- 
cock, Alfred Rothschild, Edward Stern, G. W. 
Dawes, and Sir Trevor Lawrence; £5 5s. each from 
Messrs. John Lee, C. Czarnikow, The Thames Bank 
Iron Co., George A. Dickson, Protheroe & Morris, 
J. Coleman, and Wrench & Son ; collected by Mr. G. 
Munro, £101 14s. 6d. (including nine new annual 
subscriptions) ; additional sums of £5 from Mr. 
George Profit and £6 from Mr. S. Osborn ; £8 8s., 
Mr. G. J. Brakenridge ; £3 3s., Mr. J. L. Withers ; 
£go from the William Thompson Memorial Fund; 
and £7 10s. as part proceeds of the third edition of 
the Orchid book issued by Mr. R. I. Measures. 
We learn that Mr. Ingram has also received a 
letter from His Grace the Duke of Westminster 
announcing a substantial increase in his annual 
subscription. 
We are highly gratified to learn from year to year 
that this noble Institution continues to flourish and 
prosper in spite of the depression of trade and other 
adverse circumstances. It has had a long career of 
usefulness, and in all probability has not yet reached 
its “ prime of manhood ” and serviceableness to the 
old and infirm gardeners of Great Britain. Before 
concluding his speech His Grace the Duke of Fife 
stated that since the establishment of the Institution 
nearly sixty years ago, pensions and gratuities had 
been granted to the amount of £65,000, and at the 
present moment 156 persons, including 77 men and 
79 women, were in receipt of assistance from its 
funds, and other pressing cases were still on the list 
waiting for election. The pensions for men had 
been raised to £20, and for women to £16. We urge 
upon all gardeners to remember the fact that by 
subscribing a guinea annually to the funds, so long 
as they are able, they are actually laying past some¬ 
thing for themselves against the proverbial rainy 
day, by making their election more and more certain 
by every guinea they subscribe. 
—--— 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Agricultural, June 24 th to 28th .—The fifty- 
sixth country meeting of this Society was held at 
Darlington on the five days included in the above 
mentioned dates, and- from all accounts was a great 
success, with exception perhaps of the unfavourable 
nature of the weather, which prevented the gathering 
from being so large as it would otherwise have been. 
Farmers and horticulturists in the north will have 
reason to be thankful for the heavy falls of rain 
which (independently of the show) must have done 
a great deal of good in spite of the temporary incon¬ 
venience. The horticultural interest was largely 
represented in the shape of seeds, implements and 
other matters pertaining to gardening. The first 
object of interest on entering the show ground was 
the " Royal Stand ” of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
Reading. This was shown at Windsor in 1889, and 
comprised a suite of offices of solid English Oak and 
Walnut, and contained a very large collection of 
grasses, seeds, roots, Potatos, flowers and other 
objects of utility and interest, including Mangolds 
and Swedes for agricultural wants. The firm also 
exhibited forty varieties of Potatos, including Ai, 
Supreme, Windsor Castle, Early Regent, Satisfac¬ 
tion, Magnum Bonum and others, notable for their 
disease-resisting qualities. Here also was an exhibit 
of the Gloxinias, for which the firm is celebrated, as 
well as a display of Lilium Harrisii, Ixias, Gladioli 
and other summer-flowering bulbs. A large case of 
146 medals, won by the firm, and numerous photo¬ 
graphs of Sutton’s Royal Seed Establishment at 
Reading were also exhibited. 
Messrs. W. Richardson & Co., North of England 
Horticultural Works, Darlington, showed a well 
fitted example of a span-rooted ornamental conserva¬ 
tory, 24 ft. by 18 ft., including fixing in the neigh¬ 
bourhood. A half-span patent Vinery, 35 ft. by 
16 tt. ; a span-roofed greenhouse, 25 ft. by 15 ft. ; and 
a span-roofed forcing house, 30 ft. by 12 ft., of an 
equally substantial character and finished workman¬ 
ship, were also displayed at their stand. Amongst 
other exhibits from the same firm were " The 
Darlington ” wall cover, samples of wall protectors, 
greenhouse blinds of various types, numerous garden 
frames, a large number of hot-house boilers, hot water 
fittings, radiators, and other heating apparatus and 
appliances for which the firm is celebrated. From 
the works of Messrs. Richardson & Co. there have 
been sent out for nearly a quarter of a century to 
every part of the kingdom—indeed, to most parts of 
the world—everything from a humble garden frame 
to a palatial winter garden. Messrs. Dickson, 
Limited, Chester, exhibited collections of seeds of 
grasses, clovers, growing specimens of natural 
grasses, dried and mounted specimens of the same, 
also seeds of weeds found in uncleaned samples of 
farm seeds and various other objects. Messrs. 
Harrison & Sons, Market Place, Leicester, showed 
specimens of growing vegetables, grasses, farm roots j 
etc. Messrs. Dickson, Brown & Tait, Corporation 
Street, Manchester, showed collections of dried 
grasses and clovers, Potatos, and grasses and clovers 
in growth. Messrs. Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, 
Limited, The Orwell Works, Ipswich, had a large 
collection of agricultural implements, including a 
large number of lawn mowers, edge cutters and a 
sweeping machine. 
Mr. Conway G. Warne, Limited, Royal Potteries, 
Weston-super-Mare, had vases and other kinds of 
pottery. Messrs. John Crowley & Co., Limited, 
Meadow Hall Iron Works, near Sheffield, showed 
several lawn mowers, etc. Messrs. Barford & Perkins, 
Queen Street Iron Works, Peterborough, also 
showed lawn mowers amongst their numerous 
exhibits. Messrs. Geo. Cotton & Co., Willaston, 
Crewe, showed a patent Potato sorter. Garden 
syringes, amongst many other subjects were shown 
by Messrs. Sinclair & Co., 19, Eldon Street, London. 
Garden vases and numerous garden seats and chairs 
were shown by Messrs. Vipan & Headly, Church 
Gate Iron Works, Leicester. Hose piping and 
garden hose reel, etc., were shown by the British 
Engineering Co., Limited, Lombard Street, Birming¬ 
ham. Hand seed drills and other implements were 
shown by Mr. Robert Roby, St. Andrew's Iron 
Works, Bury St. Edmunds. Grass mower, “ Ideal,” 
etc., were shown by Messrs. A. & J. Main & Co., 
Corn Exchange Buildings, Edinburgh. Messrs. 
Strawsons, Limited, 77, Queen Victoria Street, 
London, exhibited several Potato spraying machines, 
some patterns of the “ Strawsonizer ” fruit tree 
sprayers, knapsack sprayers, and a variety of 
insecticides. Messrs. Wm. Glover & Sons, Limited, 
Eagle Works, Warwick, showed watering carts, 
