July 22, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
747 
without slurring facts which are evident if we only 
take the trouble to observe them. 
In concluding, Mr. Bateson said that if all 
hybridists would keep notes, if only rough ones, on 
the differences of cross-breds, such matter when 
accumulated would be of inestimable help to this 
special science or groove of it. Figures showing the 
percentage of hybrids taking mostly after the male 
parent, and also the number following the female or 
mother parent, might be roughly made out and 
recorded, also including those with a balance of both 
characters. Such records are absolutely necessary 
and all partaking in so good a work would receive 
the gratitude of posterity. 
(To be continued.) 
ROYAL GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
The annual dinner of this charity was held at the 
Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole, on 
the evening of Tuesday last under the presidency of 
Alderman Sir R. HansoD, Bart., M.P. About 130 
sat down to dinner amongst whom we noted Sir 
Deighton Probyn, Bart., Messrs. Harry J. Veitch, 
N. N. Sherwood, A. W. G. Weeks, W. J. Nutting, 
W. Poupart, H. B. May, Harry Williams, Wm. 
Marshal, Arnold Moss, Geo. Monro, J. Asbee, A. F. 
Barron, Leonard Barron, J. W. Moorman,, H. J. 
Cutbush, J. Ingamells, H. J. Jones, R. Dean, Gerald 
Dean, W. J. Brewer, H. Ward, Gilson, G. J. Ing¬ 
ram, Rev. S. B. Mayall, Messrs. G. H. Cuthbert, A. 
Outram, J. F. McLeod, James William Hewlings 
Barr, Tom Morris, G. Gordon, C. H. Curtis, A. S. 
Galt, Horace Wright, R. H. Pearson, E. T. Cook, J. 
Fraser, &c. 
After a well-served dinner the chairman proposed 
in succession the " Queen," the " Prince and Princess 
of Wales. &c.,’’ and said that the Queen was not 
so young as she used to be, but that her children and 
grand-children performed many duties for her, and 
gardeners might be proud that the Princess of 
Wales, who came amongst them in 1863, was their 
patroness. Later on he proposed "The Royal 
Gardener's Orphan Fund,” and commenced by 
repeating Bacon’s often quoted saying that " God 
Almighty first planted a garden, &c.” and that in 
Adam we had a common ancestor, and when some 
of his descendants fall by the way we should make 
it our earnest endeavour to help them. As a lover 
of gardens he advocated this help. He believed that 
from the beginning of the world some had always 
been fortunate and others had been unfortunate, and 
unable to leave anything for the support of the 
children they leave behind. W e must do something 
to alleviate the sufferings of those unfortunates. 
‘ He understood that the income of the institution 
supported the children for which the charity was 
liable, but that it was not equal to the claims of 
the children in need. The resolve not to have a 
building in connection with the institution was a 
good one, and he would persuade those concerned 
not to have one, but to spend all the money on the 
orphans. He had looked into the accounts of the 
institution and found them very satisfactory. The 
funded money was able to meet all liabilities; and 
when the children grow too old to be eligible for 
this help the committee of the institution assisted 
some of them to get apprenticed. The duty of all 
concerned was to give freely of their means, and the 
more children would be supported. The duty of 
the profession was to remember the children and the 
aged, and he hoped for health to the institution and 
that a considerable sum might be added to the fund 
so that more of the children’s claims might be met 
and supported. He coupled with the toast the name 
of Mr. William Marshall. 
Mr. Marshall introduced and illustrated his re¬ 
marks by an anectdote; and then passed on to thank 
Alderman Sir R. Hanson, Bart., for consenting to 
preside^. As chairman of the executive committee be 
was glad to say he had not had a cross word from 
anyone, but that everything worked admirably. 
Already they had some applications for next election. 
It was a good principle to look after the children 
when they had become superannuated at fourteen 
years of age. It would be a heavy duty for the 
institution; but an important matter to attend to 
this aspect of the question, and he wished for sup¬ 
port to carry it out. 
As chairman of the executive he had been brought 
much in contact with the late secretary, Mr. A. F. 
Barron, whom he had known for a great number of 
years. It was proposed by Mr. H. J. Veitch and 
seconded by Dr. Masters, and carried unanimously, 
that a present be given to Mr. Barron for his devoted 
services to the institution from its commencement in 
1887 till his resignation before the last election. 
He forthwith made Mr, Barron the present of a 
handsome framed testimonial, Mr. Barron replied 
in suitable terms, thanking them fsom the bottom of 
his heart. 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood next proposed " The 
Chairman" as duty required his presence in the 
House of Parliament. He approached him as a 
great personal friend, proposed his health, and said 
that his name was a household word in the City, 
where he was at the head of one of the greatest com¬ 
mercial businesses, and that he had been the Lord 
Mayor of London in the Diamond Jubilee year. He 
now represents the City of London in Parliament. 
We ought to be proud that he had so willingly con¬ 
sented to act as chairman that night. 
The Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund had been 
healthy, and he hoped the time would come when it 
would no longer be dependent upon this function for 
its support, but would get it in annual subscriptions. 
Gardeners were not well paid, he admitted, but 
surely every one could afford 5s. a year for the 
Fund. One grateful mother hoped her child would 
become a subscriber when able. 
At this point, Mr. B. Wynne, the secretary, read 
the list of donations, and amongst other sums were 
£25 from the chairman ; £58 from the house of N. 
N. Sherwood, Esq. ; Baron Schroder, 10 gs.; H. J. 
Veitch, 10 gs. ; Thames Bank Iron Co., 10 gs. ; 
Arthur W. Sutton, 5 gs.; Geo. Cuthbert, 5 gs. ; J. 
F. McLecd, £6 10s.; altogether the chairman's list 
amounted to £398 ; Mr. J. Asbee, of Covent Garden, 
and other market men, £94, since raised to/ioo; 
Mr. Geo. Reynolds, of Gunnersbury Park, £28 3s. 
6d.; Mr. J. H. Laing, £17 is.; Mr. Tom Morris, 
£8 6s. 6d , &c. The total amounted to /590 5s. 6d. 
The chairman wished he had been able to stay to 
hear the toast of " Gardeners and Gardening.” 
Further, it was well to give donations, but everyone 
who gives donations ought to give a subscription, 
and he would subscribe 2 gs. annually. 
Mr. Arnold Moss proposed " Gardeners and Gar¬ 
dening." There were gardeners and gardeners, 
some through force of circumstances, and others 
paid most exemplary attention to duty at all times. 
Concerning gardening, he said that the fad of red, 
white and blue designs, &c., was dying out, and 
quoted Dean Hole in support of his statement. He 
then called upon the Rev. S. B. Mayall to reply. 
The latter said that gardening was still carried on 
with enthusiasm, and when its votaries from the 
country come to the city they often brought with 
them the simple flowers they cultivated and enjoyed. 
Whoever takes up the cultivation of flowers or 
shrubs would find himself educated, raised, and re¬ 
fined thereby. This should lead us to encourage 
and advance the welfare of gardeners for the lessons 
they teach us. 
Mr. A. W. G. Weeks extolled the amenities of 
" The Press,” to which Mr. G, Gordon replied in 
suitable terms. 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood, who had assumed the duties 
of the chair after the retirement of the chairman, 
then proposed the health of the secretary, Mr. B. 
Wynne, who had worked indefatigably for the good 
of the fund, and had fulfilled the duty admirably, 
notwithstanding the gieat deal he had to contend 
with. Mr. Wynne replied in most sympathetic 
terms on behalf of the cause of the orphans, which 
he had at heart. Mr. Wm. Marshall then proposed 
" The Treasurer,” Mr. N. N. Sherwood, who replied 
that he would help the gardening charities so long as 
it was in his power. Before sitting down he thanked 
the donors of flowers, including Messrs. Wills & 
Segar, Veitch, Sander, B. R. Cant, F. Cant & Co., 
Laing, Cooling & Son, Turner, Beckwith & Sons, 
&c. 
With songs, recitations, and music, a very enjoy¬ 
able evening was spent, and finished by the singing 
of " Auld Lang Syne." 
James Douglas, Edenside, Great Bookham, Surrey. 
Whatever they had in view who gave it the name, it 
is certain there is little or no rose in any part of the 
flower. The various shades of brown are much 
darker than usual, that on the base of the lip being 
almost black, and showing off beautifully by con¬ 
trast with the rest of the flower. The tails of the 
petals were, as usual, of great length, and serve to 
maintain the interest for this strange and interesting 
species. In the same house with it were the 
ordinary C. caudatum, as well as fine varieties of 
Laelia grandis tenebrosa and Cypripedium chamber- 
lainianum. 
FEEDING ORCHARD TREES. 
" Oh ! the trees are old and worn out; nobody can 
do anything with them ” is a very common cry; and 
possibly in the long run the best plan is to plant new 
trees on fresh ground. There are many instances 
where this is the only resource the cultivator 
has at his command ; because from age and loDg 
neglect the trees have got into such a condition that 
it is practically impossible to renovate them. At 
the same time,where,from the nature of the tenancy, 
it appears inexpedient to grub them up and re-plant 
with new trees it would be well to give the old 
soldiers a fresh lease of life, if possible, by clearing 
away some of the exhausted soil,replacing it with fresh 
soil and manure, or breaking up the soil and pour¬ 
ing the contents of a cesspool into it. The very best 
King Pippin Apples I met with last year, were from 
trees which had a ton of water from a farmyard cess¬ 
pool poured into the soil about them several times dur¬ 
ing the season. These, for some years previous to 
this treatment, furnished almost useless samples of 
fruit. There is nothing new in the idea of resusci¬ 
tating fruit trees on these lines; but in these days 
when sanitary science is carried out to almost a 
craze there are very few who have the opportunity 
of putting it into practice. The world has yet to 
learn that because some things smell offensive they 
are not necessarily prejudicial to health ; or how is 
it that those who work on sewage farms are generally 
in the best of health ?— W. B. G. 
Gardening Miscellany. 
ORCHID NOTES & CLEANINGS. 
Cypripedium caudatum roseum.— Such is the 
name given to a very beautiful variety of C. cauda¬ 
tum, which we noted recently in the nursery of Mr, 
LOTUS PELIORHYNCHUS. 
As a basket plant for a warm greenhouse there are 
few things more interesting and pretty than this 
charming leguminous plant. At Mr. B. Brown’s Nur¬ 
sery, Exeter, there is a quantity of it grown; and as 
it hangs from the roof just above the other subjects, 
its glorious foliage, trailing habit, and scarlet flowers 
show off to perfection. The singularity of- the 
blossoms has procured for it the common name of 
the Scarlet Bird’s-foot Trefoil, but the general 
appearance certainly would seem to have more re¬ 
semblance to a bird’s beak or claw. An idea of 
Clianthus puniceus comes to one on the first sight, 
but that is only in the colour and singularity of the 
flowers. It by no means resembles that plant in 
other of its characteristics. I would certainly 
recommend that this Lotus be procured wherever 
it is possible. Its novelty and beauty will, I am sure, 
make ample amends for any previous lack of know¬ 
ledge respecting it.— S. 
DIMORPHOTHECA ECKLONI. 
Though at present known to but few, will, I doubt, 
not soon be freely grown, and add to the interest of 
the flowering house. It comes to us from the Trans¬ 
vaal, so the barest protection will be needed for its 
development. Grown in frames during the early 
spring and brought on as the flowers appear, it will 
succeed better than if kept in the greenhouse all the 
year round. When the flowering season is past it 
may be stood outside in sheltered spots, wintered in 
frames and thus kept strong and sturdy. It is said 
to be one of the very best of the many composites 
which grow in South Africa. Anyway, its shrubby 
habit, its flowers like a Marguerite whose ray florets 
are pure white with a blue disc, and the reverse 
bright blue also, freely blooming in spring, will, I 
am sure, be freely grown as it is better known.— S. 
