492 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 1, 1899i 
"Remedies.—Your correspondent has tried sulphur 
in the soil with some good effect. No fungicide> 
however, will be so beneficial as— 
" i. Fresh clean soil. 
" 2. Ventilation as far as it can be given. 
" 3. To water the freshly struck cuttings as little 
as possible till they form roots. 
" To use boxes or pans which have been thoroughly 
disinfected, and to have houses and benches washed 
down with a limewash. 
" In addition to these Mr. Massee recommends for 
the Tomato disease, to mix as much lime in the soil 
as the plant will stand. How far these measures can 
be carried out must lie with the discretion of the 
grower." Dr. Muller suggested sterilising it, by 
baking the soil. 
Hybrid Narcissi.—Some specimens were re¬ 
ceived from Rev. C. Wolley Dod with the following 
remarks :—'• I send a spontaneous hybrid which has 
come in one of my flower beds. It is presumably 
N. Pseudo-Narcissus var. minimus x N. cyclamineus. 
I also enclose the parents. I consider N. cyclamineus 
one of the best marked species of the genus. It is 
the only one which has the perianth almost sessile on 
the fruit. Mr. G. Maw once suggested to me that it 
might be produced by N. minimus x N. triandrus, 
but he overlooked this characler—the tube of N. 
triandrus being very long. In the hybrid sent the 
tube is intermediate between the parents. The trunk 
of the perianth follows neither parent, being 
cylindrical, while that of N. p. minimus tends to be 
funnel-shaped, and that of N. cyclamineus is always 
ventricose and contracted towards the mouth. N. 
cylamineus is a profuse pollen bearer and seed 
bearer, but the bulb, with me at least, is short lived, 
and requires constant renewal from seed. I have also 
observed in another bed a hybrid, N. cyclamineus x 
N. Pseudo-Narcissus, of some larger variety. The 
developed tube and glaucous broad leaf belong with 
certainty to Pseudo-Narcissus, though the perianth 
is completely reflexed, as in cyclamineus." 
THE NURSERYMEN, MARKET GAR¬ 
DENERS’ & GENERAL HAILSTORM 
INSURANCE CORPORATION, LTD. 
The fourth annual general meeting of this Corpora¬ 
tion was held at Simpson’s Hotel, 101, Strand, 
W.C., on Monday last, March 27th. Mr. Harry J. 
Veitch took the chair at 3 p.m. After the minutes 
of last year's annual general meeting had been read 
and signed, the report and balance sheet for 1898 
were brought forward. 
The report, which was presented by the secretary, 
Mr. Alexander J. Monro, showed a very satisfactory 
state of affairs. Attention was drawn to the fact that 
not only had the premium income been increased by 
over 27 per cent., but that the ratio of working 
expenses had been considerably reduced as com¬ 
pared with previous years. The number of those 
taking out policies also showed a substantial in¬ 
crease. New agents have been called into service in 
various parts of the country, and there has been a 
greater amount of business done. 
The year 1898 has not failed to bring with it 
several hailstorms, some of which have been of 
great severity, and have caused much damage. On 
May 2nd a heavy storm passed over South Devon, 
and glass was broken at Plymouth, Plymton, Stone- 
house, and other parts. On June 26th Shapwick, 
near Southampton, was bombarded by very large 
hailstones. Later on in the summer, in July, Lam¬ 
port, Northamptonshire, suffered considerably from 
a storm, whilst on August 18th a terrific storm passed 
over the south-west of England and South Wales, 
some districts, especially between Taunton and 
Tenby, having had much damage to report. 
In spite of all these storms no glass insured under 
the Corporation has been broken, although in 
several cases the gardens of policy holders were in 
close proximity to the storm areas. 
The report then passed on to discuss the special 
advantages offered by those insuring with the Cor¬ 
poration, of which the fact that those insured can 
immediately replace their own glass broken by hail, 
the Corporation paying at the rate per sq. ft. at 
which the glass is insured, is one of the chief. 
Another special advantage is that of being able " to 
cover wholly or partially the value of the contents 
of the glasshouses by increased insurance of the 
glass—an advantage offered by no other insurance 
company." 
The Board of Directors meets not less than once 
in every three months, whilst a committee of six 
meets as often as business demands. The total 
number of meetings held during the year has been 
twelve. The Directors have so far elected to take no 
fees. 
The revenue account shows income from premiums, 
£1,736 os. 6d., making with dividends from invest¬ 
ments a total income of £1,814 17s. 2d. The total 
sum charged against the revenue has been £746 7s. 
6d., made up of £183 13s. 4d., commissions on in¬ 
surances; £223 18s. 2d., working expenses; £160, 
balance written off formation expenses; £28 16s., 
balance written off office furniture and fixtures; and 
£150, further reserve for unexpired risks. This fund 
now reaches a total of £650. 
The balance sheet shows that of the authorised 
capital of £100,000 (20,000 shares at £5 each), only 
10s. per share on 5,000 shares has been called up, 
making an item of £2,500. Sundry creditors claim 
10 guineas. On the assets side there is a sum of 
£424 2S. cash, either in hand or at the bankers’, and 
interest and one or two outstanding items account 
for £18 is. 2d. There are investments of capital to 
the amount of £2,311 4s., and investments of income 
of £873 14s. 6d. 
The balance from the revenue account has been 
depleted by £601 18s., which is the debit balance 
from 1897, and as £650 has been set aside for un¬ 
expired risks this leaves a balance of £466 11s. 8d. of 
assets over liabilities. 
This balance of £466 ns. 8d. being available for 
disposal, the directors recommend a dividend of 
5 per cent, per annum on the paid-up capital, free 
of income tax, and also a bonus of 5 per cent., mak¬ 
ing a total of £250. A sum of £200 is to be placed 
to the credit of the reserve fund, and £16 ns. 8d is 
to be carried forward. 
In formally moving the adoption of the report and 
balance sheet, Mr. H. J. Veitch said that they were 
of the most satisfactory nature, from three points of 
view. Firstly, more business had been done; 
secondly, it had been done at less expense; and 
thirdly, no claims had been made. Mr. Veitch then 
explained the principal items in the report, and 
remarked upon the growth of premiums, the number 
of agents and policies, and the lessening of working 
expenses. Speaking of the assets, he said, that the 
whole of the assets were now available to settle any 
claims that might be made upon them. No invest¬ 
ments had been realised during the past year, but on 
the contrary, other investments had been made. In 
conclusion, Mr. Veitch specifically moved the pay¬ 
ment of a dividend of 5 per cent, per annum on the 
paid-up capital for the past year; and also a bonus of 
5 per cent., or £250 in all, that £200 should be added 
to the reserve fund, and that the balance of 
£16 ns. 8d. be carried forward. 
Mr. W. Annett, of the Sun Life Insurance Com¬ 
pany, seconded, and in doing so commented upon the 
very thorough way in which every detail connected 
with the conduct of the " Corporation ” had been set 
forth, and the report and balance sheet were duly 
ratified, there being no discussion. Passing to the 
election of officers, Messrs. Peter E. Kay, Thomas 
Rochford, Joseph Rochford, James Sweet, Harry J. 
Veitch, and James Walker, the retiring members of 
the Board of Directors, were, upon the motion of Mr. 
Kinnell, seconded by Mr. Peter Kay, asked to con¬ 
tinue as members of the directorate. 
Mr. Piper moved, and Mr. T. Rochford seconded, 
that Messrs. Baker, Haward, and Watson, 
Chartered Accountants, be re-elected auditors at the 
increased fee of 10 guineas. This was assented to. 
A vote of thanks to the agents and representatives 
proposed by Mr. Joseph Rochford, and one to the 
horticultural Press, proposed by Mr. Geo. Monro, 
were both carried with unanimity. 
The ordinary meeting was then resolved into an 
extraordinary general meeting for the purpose of 
considering certain measures of importance. 
Mr. H. J. Veitch proposed that “ a second issue of 
5,000 shares of £5 each, at a premium of 4s. per 
share be forthwith made, payable as follows 5s. on 
application; gs. on allotment; 10s. on June 1st, 
1899, and the remainder as may be required and 
determined, but no single call on any share to exceed 
one quarter of the nominal amount of such share, 
nor be made payable within two months after the 
last preceding call was made.” In explaining this 
proposed new issue of shares, Mr. Veitch said that 
it was entirely due to the increase of business, since 
an increase of business meant a possible increase of 
claims. It was felt by the directors that moremoDey 
was needed to be in readiness for any call that might 
be made upon it, in order that all claims might be 
met as promptly as they had been met hitherto. 
Mr. Kay seconded, and there being no dissent or 
discussion, the motion was duly carried. 
Mr. Smith moved, and Mr. Geo. Monro, Junr. 
seconded, that in Clause 92 of the Corporation’s 
Articles of Association, the word subscribed should be 
deleted, and the word paid-up substituted, the whole 
clause to read, *' That the directors' renumeration 
shall be such as the company shall in general meet¬ 
ing determine, but the directors shall receive no fees 
in any year when a profit on the paid-up capital for 
the time being of less than 5 per cent, per annum, is 
made. 
This being carried it was announced that a second 
special meeting should be held at 1 and 2, King 
Street, Covent Garden, on Tuesday, April i8tb, to 
confirm both these resolutions. 
A vote of thanks to the chairman for presiding, 
introduced by Mr. W. Iceton, was heartily received. 
Mr. Veitch, in replying, paid a high tribute to the 
zeal and great business acumen which their manager 
and secretary, Mr. A. J. Monro, brought to bear up¬ 
on his duties, and said that it was largely owing to 
him that things had gone on so swimmingly. 
■» !— - 
SOCIETIES. 
FALKIRK HORTICULTURAL. —March 17 th. 
The spring flower show promoted by this associa¬ 
tion was held in the Town Hall, Falkirk, on the 
above date. The entries, which numbered about 
400, showed a considerable falling off as compared 
with those of other years, but this was amply 
accounted for by tbe spell of Arctic-like weather 
which reigned, and also by the fact that the show 
was fully a fortnight earlier than usual. On the 
whole the show was as good as could be expected 
under the circumstances, and some capital stuff was 
staged. The exhibits of bulbs were rather weak, 
numerically, but stove and greenhouse plants were 
well represented. The bouquets also were good. 
The Silver Cup, given by the association for the 
best table of plants arranged for effect was won by 
Mr. W. Robertson, Bainsford, Mr. T. C. Sutherland, 
Parkhall, Polmont, coming in second. 
In the classes for pot plants open to gardeners and 
amateurs, Messrs. W. Henderson, T. C. Sutherland, 
John McLaren, Millfield, Polmont; J. Ogilvie, Lar- 
bert; and Peter Tait, were the most successful 
exhibitors, and divided nearly all the prizes between 
them. 
Mr. W. Robinson was even more successful in the 
amateurs' section, for most of the first prizes fell to 
his share. The coveted prize for the best Hyacinth 
in the show was also won by that gentleman, 
There were some fairly good collections of vege¬ 
table shown, but the competition was lacking in 
spirit. 
Amongst the miscellaneous exhibits was a fine 
table of plants from Messrs. Murray & Sons, Park- 
hall. The judges were Messrs. Keith, Bathgate; 
Kidd, Hope Park, Bonnybridge; Pearson, Beech- 
wood, Murrayfield ; and Mr. Murray, Sunny Bank 
Nursery, Camelon. 
The show was visited during the afternoon and 
evening by a big concourse of people. The Falkirk 
Orchestra was in attendance. 
EALING AND DISTRICT GARDENERS — 
March 21 st. 
The second annual spring flower show of this society 
was held on the 21st ult., in the Victoria Hall, 
Ealing, a building in excellent accord with such an 
object, and one that lends itself to tasteful arrange¬ 
ments and groups of plants, such as were here 
gathered together in very creditable form. 
Lady Nelson, of Hanger Hill House, opened the 
exhibition under the most depressing circumstances, 
for while the hall inside represented sweetness and 
light, the weather conditions outside were of the 
most arctic and repressive character. 
Tbe society, therefore, this year was most unfor¬ 
tunate in its fixture, for the intense frost, the squally 
showers of snow, and a north-west blizzard com¬ 
bined, had a serious and deterrent effect on the 
takings at the “ gate.” This is all the more dis¬ 
tressing, as the committee had : decided to divide the 
