476 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 24, 1900. 
EVOLUTION OF PLANTS. 
Mr. R. Lynch, curator of the Cambridge Botanic 
Garden, addressed Fellows of the R.H.S. on this 
subject at the Drill Hall meeting of March 13th. 
Mr. Lynch, by numerous citations from undisputable 
records, showed that high strains which have 
evolved from lower characters can be kept true from 
seeds. Garden hybrids are often fit to rank as true 
species, for in all respects they behave quite identi¬ 
cally with good species. With Darwin’s theory and 
explanations as to the causes for evolution, which are, 
(1), variation; (2), struggle for existence; and (3), 
survival of the fittest; Mr. Lynch entirely accorded. 
Each day fresh proofs for Darwin's theory were 
being adduced. The germ-plasm and body-plasm of 
the cells of plants was not free, but joined and con¬ 
tinuous, and, from the fact of this continuity of the 
protoplasm, the transmission of hereditary peculiari¬ 
ties is said to be dependent. 
From causes of environment, &c., plants greatly 
differ, as was shown by two Spurges, one a British 
species, the other a native of dry South Africa. We 
also have the aphorism that "No two blades of grass 
are ever exactly alike.” So much for variation. 
In dealing with the effects of hybridisation, it was 
shown that marked differences arise by means of 
hybridisation between species in Nature. Plants are 
evolved in Nature just as they are developed and 
altered mtbe garden by artificial instigation. Species 
in a state of Nature often originate as hybrids. In 
point of selection or survival, it was stated that juet 
as we select seeds for our purposes, Nature likewise 
does so for hers. A good illustration of a garden 
bigeneric hybrid acting steadily as a species is that 
of Montbretia crocosmiaeflora, another being 
Urceocharis Clibrani. 
In endeavouring to solve the question as to 
whether it was possible to determine the limits of 
genera and species by sexual affinity, it was con¬ 
cluded that we can hardly make any distinction 
between hybrid and cross. It would be interesting 
to know what would follow on the selection and 
hybridising of "rogues,” or the hybridising of 
rogues and good members of a crop. Mr. C. E. Shea, 
who was chairman, made a few remarks, as did 
Dr. M. T. Masters and Rev. Geo. Henslow. 
■I« -- 
UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT 
AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
Report for 1899. 
The annual general meeting of this very useful 
Benefit Society was held as we mentioned last week, 
in the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, Strand, on Mon¬ 
day, March 12th. Mr. S. T. Wright, of Chiswick, 
being absent through illness, the chair was occupied 
by Mr. R. Dean. About thirty-five members were 
present. In presenting their report, the committee 
expressed satisfaction with the progress made dur¬ 
ing the year. 
Eighty-three members joined during the year, 
twenty-nine lapsed from various causes, two died, 
and two ceased to pay, being over seventy years of 
age; this leaves a nett increase of fifty, the member¬ 
ship for the year being 791. The amount of Sub¬ 
scriptions paid by members to the Benefit Fund, in¬ 
cluding arrears for 1898, was £1,236 5s. 3d. The 
sick pay account was £206 2s., being £52 15s. less 
than last year. This is covered by deductions from 
members’ deposit accounts of 6s. 5d. and 4s. 4d. re¬ 
spectively. There is a balance now in this Fund 
(including £1,201 15s. ud. standing to the credit of 
lapsed members) of £12,190 9s. 2d. 
The Benevolent Fund is now doing a useful work. 
Subscriptions amounting to £153 16s. id. have been 
received from honorary and benefit members, includ¬ 
ing £10 10s. generously given by W. Y. Baker. Esq , 
at the annual dinner. Various grants have been 
made from this Fund amounting to £66 5s. 6d. 
The Convalescent Fund continues to increase. 
Mr. Baker and Mr. Sherwood each gave a donation 
of £5 5s. at the annual dinner. Three members only 
applied for assistance during the year, the amount 
paid out being £4 only. 
The Management Fund shows a balance of 
£129 8s. iod. The amount invested in corporation 
stock by the treasurer during the past year was 
£1,500, the total invested funds being £15,850, and 
the treasurer has £153 14s. ud. in hand. 
The annual dinner passed off in a most successful 
manner, the chair being admirably filled by W. Y. 
Baker, Esq. 
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS: BENEFIT FUND. 
Receipts. 
Expenditure. 
Dr. 
Cr. 
1899, January gth. 
£ s. d. 
1900, January 8th. 
£ s. d. 
To Balance brought forward 
10,899 19 1 
By Sick Pay to members, &c. 
206 2 0 
1900, January 8th. 
„ Various amounts paid out 
56 16 1 
To Interest credited to members, 
,, Balance to date. 
12,190 9 2 
Arrears, and Subscriptions 
L 553 8 2 
„ Benefit members £10,988 13 3 
,, Lapsed „ 1,201 15 11 
£12,453 7 3 
£i 2.453 7 3 
BENEVOLENT FUND. 
Receipts 
Expenditure. 
Dr. 
Cr. 
1899, Jan. 9th 
£ s. d. 
1899 and igoo, Jan. gth. 
£ s. d. 
To Balance brought forward 
3,015 11 0 
By amounts granted 
66 5 6 
„ Other items . 
259 16 11 
1900, Jan. 8th. 
By Balance at date. 
3,209 2 5 
£ 3.275 7 11 
£ 3.275 7 11 
VOLUNTARY CONVALESCENT FUND. 
- 
Receipts. 
Expenditure. 
Dr. 
Cr. 
1899, Jan. 9th. 
£ s d 
1899. 
£ s. d. 
To Balance in hand .. 
365 3 1 
Paid to No. 514 
I 10 0 
1900, Jan. 8th. 
»» If II ^ 3 ^ * * • » • • 
100 
To Interest, Subs., &c. 
39 0 0 
il it 11 24^ • • • • • • 
I 10 0 
400 
By Balance to date. 
400 3 i 
£404 3 1 
£404 3 1 
MANAGEMENT FUND. 
Receipts. 
Expenditure, 
Dr. 
Cr. 
1899, Jan gth. 
£ s- d- 
1900, Jan. 8th. 
£ s. d. 
To Balance in hand .. 
IOQ 19 4 
By Secretary’s Salary, Stationery, Rent, 
igoo, Jan. 8th. 
&c., &c., . 
138 :8 10 
To Subscriptions, &c. 
158 8 4 
,, Balance to date. 
129 8 10 
- 
£268 7 8 
£268 7 8 
TREASURER’S STATE 
MENT OF ACCOUNTS. 
Receipts. 
Expenditure. 
Dr. 
Cr. 
1899, January gth 
£ s. d. 
1900 
£ s. d. 
To Balance in hand 
128 15 11 
By Sick Pay from Benefit Fund 
206 2 0 
1900, January 8th 
,, Pa>ment to Nominees of deceased 
,, Hon. Members' Subs. 
62 7 0 
members 
672 
,, Benevolent Members’ Subs. 
1,208 19 3 
,, Payments from Benevolent Fund 
66 5 6 
,, Other items 
273 14 7 
,, ,, ,, Convalesent Fund 
4 0 0 
,, Dividends on Investments.. 
444 18 2 
„ „ „ Management Fund 
138 18 10 
,, Investments, stamps, and com- 
mission », . „ 
1.543 6 6 
1,965 0 0 
„ Balance in hand. 
153 14 11 
£2,118 14 11 
£2,118 14 11 
STATEMENT OF LIABILITIES AND ASSETS. 
Liabilities. 
Assets. 
1900, January 8th 
£ 
S. 
d. 
1900, January 8th 
£ 
s. 
d. 
To Benevolent Fund 
. . 
.. 3.209 
2 
5 
By Invests, at par valuation— 
,, Convalescent Fund 
• « 
. . 4OO 
3 
I 
„ Nottingham Corpor. Stock 
5.500 
0 
0 
,, Management Fund 
• . 
. . 129 
8 
IO 
,, Manchester . 
1,600 
0 
0 
,, Benefit Fund 
. . 
.. 12,190 
9 
2 
,, West Bromwich. 
3.300 
0 
0 
— 
,, Cardiff .. .. 
2,600 
0 
0 
15.929 
3 
6 
,, York . 
1,850 
0 
0 
„ South Indian . 
1,000 
0 
0 
15,850 
0 
0 
Balance 
II 
5 
Cash in hands of Treasurer 
153 
14 
II 
£16,003 
14 
II 
£16,003 14 
II 
Total Invested Money . .. £15.850 
March 7th, 1900. 
Audited and found GEO. DIXON 
correct. W. GUNNER 
The Annual Dinner Account for 1899 amounted to £31 5s, 6d." 
} 
A uditors] 
