January 3l 1903. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
V. 
Pitcher Plants as Cockroach Traps. 
Under the above heading the “ Agricultural News ” of the 
West Indies refers to the American cockroach as an enemy to 
Orchid plants in the West Indies, and quotes the following 
from a communication of Mr. J. H. Hart in the “ Bulletin of 
Miscellaneous Information, Trinidad ” : " We have recently 
observed,’’ Mr. Hart says, ‘ the help given to the cultivator 
in the destruction of these depredators by the various species 
of Nepenthes, or Pitcher plants. As they assume full develop¬ 
ment, the pitchers developed on the ends of the leaves become 
filled with liquid, into which the cockroach is apparently 
attracted, and eventually drowned. The liquid contained in 
the pitcher is of a similar character to the gastric fluids of the 
human stomach, and renders any animal matter fit for absorp¬ 
tion by the plant, so that the cockroach is ultimately digested 
as plant food. The Nepenthes have bean found to be so useful 
for this purpose that it has been deemed advisable to largely 
increase the number of these plants among Orchids, as the 
damage done by the cockroach has been considerably decreased 
by their aid. The plants are grown in suspended baskets in 
a similar manner to Orchids.” 
This note, when widely known, should lead to a general 
cultivation of Pitcher plants, and if someone could succeed in 
producing a perfectly hardy form, it might be introduced as 
a household requisite for the capture of the domestic cock¬ 
roach or black beetle. L. D. 
Balance Sheet Royal Benevolent for 1902. 
Receipts. 
To balance. 
„ amount on deposit ... 
„ annual subscriptions . 
„ donations including those at festival j 
dinner and collection cards J 
„ return of income tax. 
„ advertisements in annual list off 
subscribers 1902 ... j 
dividends and interest 
£ s. d. 
Loot 9 0 
2,150 13 2 
49 1 10 
40 11 6 
849 14 3 
£ s. d. 
944 18 1 
2,715 10 0 
4,644 9 9 
Expenditure. 
By pensions and gratuities 
,, expenses of special and general 1 
meeting and election of pen- , 
sioners ... . ... J 
„ rent, cleaning, firing, etc., secre- | 
tary's salary, and office assistance J 
£ 8,304 1 7 10 
£ s. d. £ s. d. 
3,344 10 0 
15 11 9 
454 9 0 
I xpenclmure. 
By printing, including annual reports | 
polling papers and new niles ... J 
„ stationery . 
„ chequebooks... 
„ advertisement in l'ry’s Charities ... 
,, festival dinner expenses £213 2 8| 
less dinner charges £ 1 22 17 Of 
„ wreath for late lion, solicitor 
„ postages, including reports, appeals, \ 
voting papers etc. ... ... I 
,, deputation and travelling expenses 
„ carriage, telegrams, repairs, and | 
incidental expenses ... ... I 
„ bank charges ... 
„ amount placed on deposit ... 
,, balance with treasurer 
„ „ secretary 
£ 
s. 
d. 
115 
9 
3 
22 
17 
0 
2 
1 
s 
3 
3 
0 
9) 
5 
8 
1 
13 
0 
51 
13 
1 
9 
2 
9 
6 
9 
2 
3 
6 
.017 
12 
0 
4 
/ 
0 
£ s. d. 
302 18 1 
3,165 10 0 
1,021 19 0 
£8,304 17 10 
We have audited the accounts and certify the same correct 
and the books well kept, we also certify that the securi¬ 
ties of the invested funds are in the hands of the bankers 
by whom the dividends are received on behalf of the 
institution. 
(Signed) Thomas MANNING, Thomas Swift, J. Willard. 
Jan. 20th, 1903. 
VICTORIAN ERA FUND. 
Balance Sheet, 1902. 
Receipts. £ s . d. 
To balance .. 
„ dividends . 123 14 9 
„ return of income tax.. ... ... 6 17 0 
,, unsued cheques ... ... .. 611 
£ s, d, 
112 6 2 
130 18 8 
Expenditure. 
By gratitudes ... . 
., balance in hand, Dec. 31st, 1902 
£243 4 10 
£ s. d. 
104 0 0 
139 4 10 
£243 4 10 
GOOD SAMARITAN FUND. 
Balance Sheet. 1902. 
Receipts. 
To balance ... 
,, annual subscriptions .. 
„ donations 
,, dividends . 
,, return of income tax .. 
£ s. d. £ s. d. 
253 18 2 
1 1 0 
14 0 0 
56 1 10 
3 12 7 
Expenditure. 
By gratuities . . 
,, balance in hand, Dec. 31st, 1902 ... 
Audited and found correct, January 20th, 1903. 
(Signed) Thomas Manning, T. Swift, J. 
£328 
13 
7 
£ 
s. 
d. 
120 
0 
0 
208 
13 
7 
£328 
13 
7 
Willard. 
appointed bv> IRogat Warrant Manufacturers of Ibortiailtural Machinery to Ibis Majesty ikmq Edward HU. 
AUTOMOBILE SHOW, CRYSTAL PALACE, 
January 30th to February 7th. 
STAND No. 1. __ ROMAN COURT. 
RANSOMES, SIMS & JEFFERIES, LTD., are making a 
FINE DISPLAY OF MOTOR LAWN MOWERS 
in various sizes, to meet every requirement, 
AND INVITE THE INSPECTION OF INTENDING PURCHASERS. 
RANsomes, sims & Jefferies, Ltd., ipsWieH 
