102 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
-January 31, 1903. 
to-day’s election there will be thirty-one applicants left on the 
list who are appealing for aid, and of this number several are 
totally blind. To help them an increased income is needed, and 
whilst being thankful beyond measure for the generous support 
accorded to them in their work in the past, the committee plead 
most earnestly for further aid to enable them to extend the 
benefits of the charity to those who are so much in need of them. 
H. J. Yeitch, Chairman. 
Geo. J. Ingram, Secretary. 
The same officers as served last year were this year re-elected. 
It was also proposed by Mr. A. W. Sutton, Y.M.H., “ That the 
action of the committee, graciously approved by the president, 
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, in placing on the fund the eleven 
unsuccessful candidates, formerly subscribers to the institution, 
to commemorate the Coronation of their Majesties the King 
and Queen, patrons, be and is hereby confirmed.” 
The scrutineers were next appointed, and proceeded to count 
the votes on the voting papers. The result of the poll was in 
the following order:—Jane Kent, 6,741 votes; Jane Temple, 
4,216; William B. Glasscock, 3,308; Emma Honess, 3,195 ; 
John Bates, 3,063 ; William J. Stacey, 3,056 ; Rachel Tegg, 
3,046 ; Charles Puzey, 3,015 ; George R. Allis, 2,991 ; Stephen 
Bracebridge, 2,968 ; William Wall, 2,878 ; William Darvel, 
2,850; Robert C. Alliston, 2,825; James Levell, 2,761; and 
Elizabeth Gower, 2,602. 
Mary A. Donnan and John Price, each being over eighty 
years of age, and having practically no friends, were placed on 
the pension list by the committee, this being within their 
province, although the chairman wished those' present to en¬ 
dorse the action of the committee. The result of the voting 
proved that there were forty-six spoiled papers, and 330 spoiled 
votes, which must have been lost to the candidates. 
The Annual Friendly Supper. 
According to the usual custom, the annual friendly supper 
was held at “ Simpson’s ” on the evening of the election. About 
sixty sat down to the table under the chairmanship of Alfred 
Watkins, Esq. Amongst those present we noted Messrs. Harry 
•T. Veitcli, P. C. M. Veitch, William and Edward Sherwood, 
W. Y. Baker, II. B. May, W. Poupart, J. F. McLeod, George 
Paul, J. McKerchar, G. Cuthbert, M. Gleeson, G. Monro, A. 
J. Monro, W. Roupell, K. Drost, -T. Sweet, W. A. Bilney, F. 
Moore, H. G. Cove, C. H. Curtis, II. H. Thomas, J. H. Dick, 
and many others. 
The chairman proposed “ Continued success to our institu¬ 
tion.” In the course of his remarks he said that at Twicken¬ 
ham they had a population of 22,000, but only 200 or so are 
subscribers to the local hospital. This was general in England ; 
it was a case of the willing horse. Country travellers have a 
scheme whereby they pay one penny a day to the landlord 
of the hotel where each stays, and this is credited to the 
Travellers’ Sick Fund for the benefit of their widows and 
orphans. He wondered if a similar scheme could not be de¬ 
vised in this particular case. He suggested pence and half- 
crowns from young gardeners as well as head gardeners. For 
sixty-four years the institution had been doing good work, and 
lie hoped it would continue to flourish. 
Mr. Harry J. Veitch, in replying to the above toast, said that 
they had now 202 pensioners on the books, the largest number 
they had ever had ; there were 93,000 votes polled that day, 
which would give an idea of the money that passed through 
the secretary’s hands. 
In reference to- spoiled votes, we may say that one voter 
with five votes to his credit had given five votes each to fifteen 
candidates. Another with five votes had given one vote to 
one candidate. He mentioned the case of Mr. W. B. Glass¬ 
cock, who, four years ago, had 4,000 votes to his credit. He 
got into better circumstances, and had his name scored off on 
the understanding that, should he require again to- apply, he 
might be allowed to resume his 4,000 votes. This was granted 
to-day, and he was elected. 
Arnold Moss, Esq., proposed “ The Committee, Honorary 
Officers, and Country Friends,” to which Messrs. W. A. Bilney 
and P. C. M. Veitch replied. Mr. W. Poupart proposed “ The 
Chairman,” whom he had known for many year’s. In business 
he was noted for his kindness, integrity, and sense of honour. 
Whatever he undertook- he did to his best ability. The work 
in connection with this institution he considered a duty in pre 
ference to the word charity. Mr. Poupart also proposed “ Tire 
Secretary,” Mr. G. J. Ingram, and the latter replied. Mr. H. B. 
May, in speaking of old land-marks, spoke of the many friends 
who had previously assembled there, but of whom many had 
departed. He proposed the health of his friend, Mr. George 
Monro, and the latter replied. The evening was rendered 
pleasant by recitations, and vocal and instrumental music. 
A Letter Delivered by Proxy to Dr. Carnegie- 
As an item of news of practical interest to garden-lovina 
friends in general, I beg .to submit the following suggestions as 
such:- 1 hat Mr. Carnegie hand over to us one of his surplus 
millions in order that we may be able to do something hand¬ 
some in the 'horticultural world. Many of your readers are, 
doubtless, thinking like Goldsmith, and agree with the senti¬ 
ment contained in his appropriate lines, that 
“ HI fares th/e land to hastening ills a prey, 
Where wealth accumulates and men decay ; 
And a bold peasantry, their country’s pride, 
When once destroyed can never be supplied.” 
Well, then, why have these enormous idles accumulated, and 
multitudes of men hanging round street corners with their 
hands in thieir pockets who are quite willing to work, but are 
unable to find anything to do? Then again, there are thousands 
of acres of land within the British Isles in a very lax state of 
cultivation a/t this present minute, and the cause of this very 
apparently. emanates from the inability of the tenants to pro¬ 
vide anything better. Would not two or three millions spent 
on the cultivation of the land at home be money quite as well 
spent as in assisting one tc a settlement in the Transvaal or 
any other foreign territory? I fancy so, and no doubt so do 
a good many of your readers. Here, then, is an excellent op¬ 
portunity for Mr. Carnegie to step in. Why could we not have 
a magnificent garden flourishing under the name of “ The Car¬ 
negie Vineyard,” the “ Carnegie Floral Park,” the “ Carnegie 
Horticultural Gardens,” or some such appropriate name? A 
few ranges of magnificent vineries and Peach houses could be 
erected, and Orchids, Chrysanthemums, Begonias, etc., could 
be all grown to great perfection and the produce given to the 
public at a small price. 
After The Gardening World has given publicity to these 
suggestions the Editor must see that they have been brought 
under Mr. Carnegie’s notice, and he could be informed that a 
dozen acres at present under agricultural cultivation could be 
transformed in a few years into a veritable paradise. I have 
already got the site chosen, and am waiting Mr. Carnegie’s 
further commands. John C. Peebles. 
St. Fort, Newport. 
Bananas from Dominica. 
A recent report on a trial shipment of Bananas from 
Dominica, states, that the shipment in question consisted of six 
bunches, and was made by Royal Mail steamer. The object 
of this experiment, it is said, was to test the system of packing 
adopted in the Canary Islands, in which the bunch of Bananas 
cut at the right stage, is carefully wrapped in a thin layer ot 
cottonwool, in turn is covered with paper and lightly tied to 
keep both the wool and the paper in place. The bunch is then 
carefully laid in the crate and held in position to prevent 
bruising by perfectly chy Banana trash. The bunches in 
question arrived in London in perfect order, and realised 7s, 6 d. 
apiece, and at a time when the Banana trade was reported 
at a low ebb on account of heavy arrivals. The brokers re¬ 
ported that the condition and packing left nothing to be 
desired, and they were confident that if the fruit could be 
regularly brought in a like condition there would be no fear 
for the results. L. D. 
