October 17, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
107 
Passing on to some of the subjects mentioned by 
Plantsman I find Statice latifolia and S. Gmelini, 
both of them almost indispensible. Gypsophila 
paniculata spoken of by A. P. in a recent issue is one 
of the few herbaceous plants that I should imagine 
would find a place in almost any collection towards 
the latter end of the summer. I am surprised that 
none of your other correspondents have mentioned 
it. Bocconia cordata is very telling as a back row 
subject, and the tall growing perennial Phloxes are a 
host in themselves. Several bunches in different 
colours may well find room in a fair sized 
exhibit. Given a fair season Phloxes are not only 
some of the showiest subjects that can be placed 
upon the exhibition boards during July and August, 
but they are of the greatest value in the garden. 
During the early part of July, too, it will be possible 
to cut a few bunches of Delphiniums, than which 
there is no statelier flower for the show table. 
Centranthus ruber, the Red Valerian, must not be 
forgotten. The white form of it is not so telling as 
the type, but may well be grown for the sake of 
variety. Galega officinalis is a charming plant, and 
the form compacta is an improvement upon it in 
every way. 
Tropaeolum polyphyllum has not been mentioned. 
If grown in a warm dry spot it flowers most pro¬ 
fusely and always attracts a deal of admiration. 
Some of the Verbascums are eminently suited for a 
place in the back row. V. olympicum with its huge 
candelabra-like inflorescence of large yellow flowers 
can scarcely be passed over. V. nigrum, which is 
scarcely so tall and is darker in hue is another 
pretty species, for the mention of which no apology 
need be made. Of the members of the genus Cam¬ 
panula there are several that claim our attention. 
C. latifolia, and its white form, C. 1 . alba, C. persi- 
caefolia, C. p. alba, C. p. alba fl. pi., and C. ■ 
pyramidalis must all be included in a fairly 
representative list, in addition to all those plants 
that have been mentioned by your various corres¬ 
pondents.— Bucks. 
--j—- — 
UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT 
AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
The tenth anniversary dinner of this thriving society 
was held on the 7th inst., at the Holborn Restaurant, 
London, under the presidency of W. J. Nutting, Esq., 
supported by 107 members and others mostly 
connected with the gardening profession in some 
way or other. Amongst others present we noted Sir 
Clarence Smith, Messrs. James H. Veitch, W. Y. 
Baker, Baker, Jun., Nathan Cole, Joseph Wheeler, 
A. F. Barron, H. J. Laing, G. J. Ingram, H. B. May, 
Geo. Wythes, R. Cannell, J. G. Veitch, W. G. 
Cummins, James Hudson (treasurer), W. Co’lins, 
(secretary) 9, Martindale Road, Balbam, S.W., and 
others. 
After the toast, “ Her Most Gracious Majesty 
The Queen, ” was duly proposed by the chairman 
and loyally rendered, the chairman rose later on and 
proposed the toast of the evening, “The United 
Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society,’’ which 
he had great pleasure in doing, and congratulated 
the members on its continued success. As the 
annual report was placed before everyone present, it 
was quite unnecessary for him to detain them by 
going into all the details of the same as they could 
peruse it at their leisure. The society was started in 
1865, and five years later consisted of only forty-two 
members. Now, it had a membership of 631. Since 
the dinner last year there had been an addition of 
seventy members, leaving a nett gain of fifty after 
the lapse of eighteen and the death of two. For 
some years after the establishment of the society, the 
invested funds were very small, but now they 
exceeded £ 10,000 as could be seen by reference to 
the balance sheet. The society was still open to 
receive more members, and he appealed to all con¬ 
cerned to assist in this matter ; for notwithstanding 
its great success the society was still unsatisfied. 
The speaker in the name of the society acknowledged 
the assistance which had been rendered by the press. 
As proofs of the deserving nature of the institution 
upon the claim of gardeners, he said that in looking 
through the books of the secretary, he had observed 
that one old gentleman of seventy had received 
£82 10s. from the funds of the society, although the 
said gentleman had only paid £57 6s. 9d. into them. 
The society had another good claim upon the 
generosity of its supporters, inasmuch as it had a 
convalescent fund by which those members requiring 
its aid could be sent away to recruit their health at 
a convalescent home. This fund had been originated 
by their good friend Mr. Sherwood, who had con¬ 
tinued his donation of five guineas towards it. The 
weekly deposit of 6d. was a small matter in con¬ 
sideration of the fact that it secured 12s. weekly in 
case of sickness ; and a weekly payment of 9d. would 
secure 18s. under similar circumstances. Before 
concluding he said that the secretary was always 
begging in the good cause, and always ready to 
receive the names of new honorary members. He 
would couple this toast with the name of Mr. James 
Hudson. 
The latter in rising congratulated the chairman for 
the terse way in which he had laid the claims of the 
society before those assembled. He believed in the 
motto that “ Union is Strength,” and was of opinion 
that by the aid they rendered to gardeners, they 
assisted in relieving both the Gardeners' Royal 
Benevolent Institution and the Royal Gardeners' 
Orphan Fund. These remarks, followed by the 
statement that the society had been able to raise the 
allowances to sick members without increasing the 
premium, elicited warm applause. The great success 
of the society dated from 1884. 
Mr. Nathan Cole proposed the ” Honorary and 
Life Members and Visitors," and said that the 
honorary members deserved this recognition, inas¬ 
much as the society was very largely dependent 
upon their generosity for its present high position ; 
and that they did this without any chance whatever 
of receiving benefit. The society had on its list 
distinguished honorary members, and they and the 
life members had joined the society because they 
saw that it v/as on a sound basis. He remembered 
the first dinner and was greatly pleased with the 
continued success of the annual festive gathering. 
He coupled with the toast, the names of Sir Clarence 
Smith and James H. Veitch, Esq. 
Sir Clarence Smith in rising, explained in a 
humorous way that his speech would be brief in 
accordance with those who had preceded him. He 
was pleased to be an honorary member, and took 
that advantage to speak in favour of the society. 
Concerning the invested funds, he said that they 
were well looked after by able and competent 
trustees who took care that the investments were 
made upon perfectly reliable, safe and profitable 
stocks. Their value in fact continued to increase. 
If he were a gardener he would certainly belong to 
such an excellent institution. James Herbert 
Veitch, Esq., said that it had given him great 
pleasure to come once more before them. He was 
an honorary member, but was surprised that such 
members had not increased more rapidly than they 
did. If the society continued to treat all members 
as it did, the number of honorary supporters was 
bound to increase. Gardeners deserved more 
support on the ground that our gardening reputation 
was due to their skill and ability. 
H. B. May, Esq., proposed “ The Chairman.” 
The society had been fortunate in securing the 
services of such a man as Mr. Nutting on this 
occasion. The latter had long evinced a kindly 
feeling towards the society. In the horticultural 
woild he was known as the most kind and generous 
of men. In a brief speech the chairman thanked 
all for the kind way in which they had received him, 
and before sitting down he had the pleasing announce¬ 
ment to make that Mr. May had consented to preside 
at the anniversary dinner next year. 
Mr. Joseph Wheeler proposed “ The Press,” which 
had taken a great interest in the society, and had 
given notices which helped greatly in forwarding 
the interests and success of the society. The press 
was a powerful organ, and the horticultural press 
had lent the greatest amount of assistance. He 
coupled with the toast the name of Mr. Geo, Gordon. 
He was pleased that the society had now taken its 
proper place in aiding the wants and claims of its 
members. The United Horticultural had been the 
first to admit horticultural journalists to the benefits 
offered to other members. It was the duty of the 
press, therefore, to assist the society and its horti¬ 
cultural members, as well as instruct them. 
Mr. W. Collins proposed “ Thanks to Donors of 
Fruits and Flowers,” coupled with the name of Mr. 
Harry J. Laing, who briefly returned thanks for the 
compliment accorded him. With some more songs, 
musical and other entertainment carried on under 
the direction of Madame Marie Belval, the pro¬ 
gramme was almost concluded, when the chairman 
rose and proposed “ The Secretaries ” of all the three 
thriving horticultural help and charity institutions — 
namely, Mr. W. Collins, Mr. A. F. Barron, and Mr, 
G. J. Ingram, all of whom were present. Mr. Ingram 
replied on behalf of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution; Mr. Barron on behalf of the Royal 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund ; and Mr. Collins for the 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society. 
The singing of" Auld Lang Syne ” brought a pleasant 
and highly-eDjoyable evening to a close. 
-- 
LECTURES AT THE FRUIT SHOW. 
(Continued fvomp. 93). 
THE CIDER AND PERRY INDUSTRY. 
A most exhaustive paper on this subject had been 
prepared by Mr. C. W. Radcliffe Cooke, M.P. for 
Friday, October 2nd. Mr. George Bunyard again 
presided, Sir Trevor Lawrence being kept away by 
ill health. The attendance was fair, but not so good 
as on the preceding day. 
In his opening remarks Mr. Radcliffe Cooke 
rapidly sketched the past history of cider and perry 
making as an industry, referring to its former 
important popularity, and the period of decadence 
which immediately succeeded it. In Herefordshire, 
his native county, the industry had found one of its 
chief centres, a fact that was attested by the multi¬ 
tudes of old trees, many of which were in bearing 
still. The orchards of Herefordshire in past 
centuries had covered enormous areas, and Dr. 
Beale, who wrote in the 17th century, describes 
them as being a pattern for all England. Eveljn, 
who lived later on in the 17th century than Dr. 
Beale, speaks of the whole of Hereford as being one 
vast orchard. The quality of Herefordshire cider 
was also famous, for it was said that Charles I., and 
such of his friends as accompanied him, protested 
their preference for the cider of the county to the 
best wines of the day. During the French war the 
industry declined, owing, doubtless, in great 
measure, to the thin, doctored stuff which was 
spread abroad in great quantities instead of the 
genuine. Still, the soil and the climate were the 
same, and the orchards were there, although perhaps 
in many cases in a state of neglect, and there was 
no reason why the industry should not be revived. 
Indeed, he regarded it now as being the only 
agricultural pursuit capable of development to an 
almost unlimited extent, and one that was not 
endangered by foreign competion—the only one in 
fact that looked hopeful. 
The chief cider producing counties, continued the 
lecturer, are Devon, Hereford, Somerset, Worcester, 
and Gloucester. The acreage of orchards in these 
counties in 1894 was 115,045 ; and in 1895, 116,192; 
being an advance in one year of 1,147 acres. Cider 
is also manufactured in Cornwall, Dorset, and S. 
Wales. The whole area under orchards in this part 
of the country was 140,000 acres, when, if we sub¬ 
tract one fifth of this amount as an allowance for 
orchards planted with other views than that of cider 
making, we get a net area of 112,000 acres. The 
yield of cider per acre is variously estimated ; some 
putting it at 200 gallons, the price per gallon to the 
producer being 3d. This he thought was too low, 
and 300 gallons per acre, at 5d. per gallon, would be 
somewhat nearer the mark. This would work out 
at a total of about £700,000 annually. In former 
times it was common for one farmer to sell fifty 
hogsheads at ten guineas each, from 100 to no 
gallons going to each hogshead. 
Mr. Radcliffe Cooke then turned the attention of 
his audience to the making, proper, of cider. Cider, 
he said, was the expressed and fermented juice of the 
Apple; and perry the expressed and fermented juice 
of the Pear. Perhaps his audience might think it 
was scarcely necessary for him to tell them this, but 
there were very many people who did not know what 
perry was, amongst them being an M.P. of his 
acquaintance who had recently pleaded ignorance 
upon the subject. Not all varieties of Apples were 
suitable for the manufacture of cider. A good cider 
Apple was too astringent, and had too much tannin 
in its composition to be palatable for dessert. The 
modus operandi was briefly touched upon by saying 
that the fruit was crushed by rollers, the pulp 
passed through hair or Manilla cloths, and after¬ 
wards allowed to ferment. The last named process 
is the most difficult in the whole of the manufacture, 
as the quality suffers if fermentation is either 
delayed or continued for too long. 
