January 21, 1893. 
THJE GARDENING WORLD 
325 
rooms and found them to be good to eat; the flavour 
was stronger and flesh a little coarser than in the 
common Mushroom. After seeing and examining 
Mr. Boulon’s Mushrooms at his place, and getting 
some specimens from him to taste and send to friends, 
a comparison on the spot proved to us beyond a 
doubt that his and our Mushrooms were identical. 
We had an idea that they might be the wood Mush¬ 
room, Agaricus sylvaticus, and suggested this to 
Prof. Peck, upon whom we had called for assistance 
in the identification of our discovery." 
Prof. Peck after careful examination concluded 
that it was a good species, though one not very far 
removed from Agaricus campestris var. rufescens, 
and drew up the following description of it under 
the name of 
Agaricus subrufescens n. sp. It differs from the 
variety mentioned in its usually paler colour, and 
especially in its flesh being unchangeable where cut 
or bruised. In A. sylvaticus the lamella are described 
as at first reddish, and the stem long and thin, and 
the pileus gibbous or subumbonate, characters not 
well exhibited by your plant. The pure white 
minutely flocculose stem also differs both from this 
and from that of A. placomyces, and from the latter 
it is easily separated by the colour of the pileus and 
the much more indistinct and loosely fibrillose 
squamales when these are present. 
Mr. Arthur Veitch, Mr. T. Glen, and Mr. Owen 
Thomas were elected members of the Committee, in 
the places of Mr. A. F. Barron, Mr. John Fraser, 
and Mr. C. Pilcher,who had resigned ; and the mem¬ 
bers retiring by rotation, Messrs. John Lee, George 
Monro, T. A. Dickson and Mr. W. J. Nutting, were 
unanimously re-elected. Mr. T. Manning, Mr. T. 
Swift and Mr. Jesse Willard were elected auditors! 
and Mr. Ingram was also re-elected as Secretary. It 
was also resolved ncm. con. that John Mitchell, of 
Escrick, who had been a subscriber for 46 years ; 
and Elizabeth Rogers of Lymington, whose late 
husband had subscribed for 30 years, be placed on 
the pension list without the trouble of an election I 
and that the next two highest on the poll to the ten 
to be elected be placed on the list also. 
The meeting then adjourned for the counting of 
the votes, on the completion of which the scrutineers. 
Messrs. H. Williams, A. Veitch, G. Monro, J. 
Webber, H. J. Cutbush andB. Wynne reported that 
the poll was the heaviest on record, the number of 
votes given being 42,337 ; and that the following 
were the twelve highest on the list:—Henry Bridden, 
2,975 ; George Macintosh, 2,932 ; Margaret Kefford, 
2,837; James Munro, 2,375; George Woodgate, 
2,183; James Ricks, 2,160; H. Woolford, 2,147; 
Samuel Tisdale, 2,137; Mary Gray, 2,012; W. 
Coleman, 1,992 ; Agnes Merret, 1,931 ; and T. H 
In the evening a large number of the subscribers 
dined together under the presidency of Mr. Harry 
Seymour Foster, M.P. The toast of the evening 
" The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, its 
increased prosperity and continued usefulness” was 
proposed by the chairman in feeling and eloquent 
terms He thought there were some points in 
connection with the institution which were matters 
for legitimate congratulation. The accounts for 
last year showed a considerable revenue with a 
sensible decrease in the working expenses; they had 
during the existence of the institution paid between 
^50,000 and £ 60,000 in pensions ; they adopted the 
excellent principle of helping those who made some 
effort to help themselves ; and their accounts showed 
that their funds were prudently and economically 
distributed. He was sure that they all felt it a 
privilege to help in carrying on such a good work. It 
was unfortunately the case that though gardening 
was an enobling occupation, the remuneration of 
gardeners as a class did not enable many of them to 
provide against the day of adversity, and it behoved 
them all during the present year to do their best to 
increase the list of subscribers. Mr. Sherwood 
responded and in so doing expressed the regret felt 
by all present at the absence through illness of Mr. 
John Lee. Mr. Veitch proposed the health of the 
chairman and thanked him for his kindness in coming 
among them and presiding that evening. Mr. Foster 
suitably replied. Mr. Nutting proposed the health 
of Mr. Ingram, who since he had been appointed 
secretary had thrown his heart and soul into the 
work of the institution, and had succeeded in gaining 
the respect and good will of them all. Mr. Ingram 
having recently become a benedict, the name of Mrs. 
Ingram was associated with the toast, which met 
with a most cordial reception, hearty good wishes 
being expressed all round for the newly wedded 
pair. 
A New Mushroom : Agaricus rufescens. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVO¬ 
LENT INSTITUTION. 
The annual general meeting of the subscribers to 
this institution was held at “ Simpson’s -” on Tuesday 
afternoon, a special general meeting being first held 
to confirm the resolution recently passed authorising 
the re-registration of the title of the institution under 
the appellation by which it has now so long been 
known. Mr. H. J. Veitch presided at both meetings. 
At the second the secretary, Mr. Ingram, read the 
report of the committee and statement of accounts 
for the past year. The latter we give opposite. In the 
former the committee congratulated the subscribers 
on the institution being still found to be a source of 
great benefit to a large number of persons whose 
circumstances have compelled them to seek it s 
assistance; and thanked Lord Brassey for the 
eloquent and forcible appeal which he made on 
behalf of the institution at the annual festival; and 
Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Veitch fortheir munificent thank- 
offering on the occasion of the celebration of their 
silver wedding. During the year twelve pensioners 
have died, and three of them having left widows 
who were eligible for the pensions, they had been 
placed on the list in accordance with the rules. The 
committee expressed their deep regret that with 
thirty-eight applications for pensions they could only 
that day place fourteen pensioners on the list. This 
existence of so large a number of applicants was in 
itself a proof of the need of the institution, and the 
committee earnestly appeal for a larger measure of 
support to enable them to meet the ever-increasing 
demands. The report and statement of accounts 
were unanimously adopted. 
Mr. Veitch was unanimously re-elected Treasurer, 
and thanked for his services during the past year. 
Bowler, 1,860. These were declared to be duly 
elected, and the proceedings closed with votes of 
thanks to the scrutineers and chairman. 
The Institution: Its Officers and its Rules. 
With an earnest desire to promote the welfare of 
this most beneficent gardening charity, so far as lays 
in our power, we venture to claim the indulgence of 
our general readers, this week, for the inclusion in 
our columns of the new rules of the institution, 
which are somewhat lengthy, but the publication of 
which we hope may be the means of inducing many 
to become subscribers who have hitherto known but 
little of the institution or of the grand work which 
it is doing in relieving the necessities of indigent 
gardeners. To our purely gardening readers, we 
feel sure that it is not necessary to make any such 
claim. With the present number, and with the 
same object in view, we present our readers with a 
supplementary sheet, on which will be found 
characteristic portraits of the leading officers of 
the institution prepared from pen and ink sketches 
by Mr, Alick P. F. Ritchie. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION, ABSTRACT for 1892. 
Dr. 
To Balance, .. 
,, Annual Subscriptions 
„ Donations. 
,, Thank-offering for in¬ 
vestment from Mr. 
and Mrs. Harry J. 
Veitch to commem¬ 
orate their Silver 
£ s. d. 
£ s. d. 
£ s. d. 
£ s. d. £ 
s. 
898 16 11 
By Pensions and Gratuities... 
1,397 13 6 
,, Secretary’s Salary . 
187 
10 
695 3 0 
,, Rent of Offices . 
75 
0 
330 13 9 
,, Office Assistance . 
26 
0 
,, New Iron Safe . 
5 
5 
,. Printing (including Annual 
List of Subscribers). 
158 
9 
,, Stationery, part 1890-91 ... 
14 
3 
Wedding. 
500 
0 
0 
,, Collecting Cards. 
219 
10 
8 
— 1,745 7 
5 
,, Advertisements. 
46 17 
6 
,, Dividends on Stock 
(£25,000 2% per cent) 
768 
0 
9 
,, Interests on Deposits 
9 
19 
6 
,, Return on pension a/c 
2 
10 
O 
— 780 10 
3 
Invested ;— 
£25,000 2| per cent Consols 
£2,664 I 9 S - IQ d. India 3 per cent 
£497 105 Midland Railway 3 per 
cent Debentures 
3,970 S 8 
£4,869 5 7 
Cr. 
£ s. d. 
2,634 6 8 
„ 1892 
Expenses of Annual Meet¬ 
ing and Election of Pen¬ 
sioners . 
Expenses of Annual Fes¬ 
tival Dinner,. 
196 11 9 
Less .Tickets sold. 119 13 o 
Postage and Expenses of 
Appeal . 
Expenses of Revision of 
Rules (including Special 
General Meeting). 
Postage, Travelling, and 
Incidental Expenses ... 
Investment of Thank- 
offering (Mr. and Mrs. 
Harry J. Veitch) (inclu¬ 
ding Commission and 
Stamp). 
Placed on Deposit with 
Bankers .. 
Balances, viz.:— 
With Treasurer at 
Bankers. 
With Secretary. 
22 S 3 
17 19 o 
76 18 9 
24 9 3 
15 1 0 
76 3 2 
699 7 4 
500 0 0 
600 o 0 
918 8 4 , 
17 3 3 
— 935 11 7 
£4 869 5 7 
Audited and found correct. 
January nth, 1893. 
(Signed) J. Webber.; 
R. , 
, ,,, \ Auditors. 
Jesse Willard-) 
