168 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 21, 1903. 
protection of glass, and many a conservatory would be en¬ 
hanced were a few plants flowered therein. 
Iris alata (syn. I. scorpioides). 
The “Scorpion Iris” of Spain and Portugal is a member 
of the Juno group, of which it has all the characters, i.e., flat 
channelled, recurving leaves, bulb with numerous fleshy roots, 
small standard, and broad spatula,te falls, which have two 
lateral flanges clasping the styles. A showy, large-flowered 
plant, the colour of its flowers varying from blue to lilac. Very 
desirable when grown in shallow pans, in frames, for flowering 
in a cool house. 
Galanthus Alien). 
This is at present the most conspicuous. Snowdrop ; of robust 
habit, with a large, spreading flower, with rounded outer seg¬ 
ments, almost imbricate near the base. It closely resembles G. 
plicatus, from which it. is readily distinguished by its leaves 
not having recurved margins. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
The annual general meeting of the 1 subscribers to this institu¬ 
tion was held at the Cannon Street Hotel, London, E.C., on 
Friday, February 13th, under the presidency of Mr. H. B. May, 
the chairman of the executive committee. After the reading of 
the minutes of the last meeting the chairman read a letter from 
Mr. Geo. Stanton, Park Place. Henley-on-Thames, announcing 
that the young men in the bothy there had sent £12 to the 
Orphan Fund, the sum which had accumulated in their collect¬ 
ing-boxes during the year. The above sum was the result of 
weekly contributions of one penny, which was never missed. 
There were over twenty-four young men in the new 1 bothies at 
Frogmore, and if the same plan was adopted there and else¬ 
where a very appreciable sum could be raised. The plan had 
been given, a seven years’ trial at Park Place, and it showed 
what could be done.' Last autumn the Wargrave Gardeners 
Association sent £12 to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion, and many others would gladly follow if rightly led. He 
then proposed the adoption of the report, making special 
mention of several important items in it. "With regard to the 
election of candidates for the benefits of the fund, the com¬ 
mittee had followed a similar course to that adopted by the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. The proposal was 
seconded by Dr. Masters, and the report unanimously adopted. 
Report of the Executive Committee. 
The presentation of their fifteenth annual report enables the 
executive committee to again offer their congratulations to the 
supporters of the Fund on its continued prosperity, as although, 
unhappily, there has been an appreciable falling off in the 
regular annual subscriptions, the total receipts tor the year 
(exclusive of legacies) show a gratifying increase of £110 Is. 7d. 
over the record of the previous year. 
Grateful acknowledgment is made of the receipt of a legacy of 
£250 from the trustees of the will of the late Mr. Alfred H. 
Smee, one of the founders, as also one of the original trustees 
of the Fund, and of a legacy of £100 from the executors of the 
widow of Mr. John Wills, who in the early days of the Fund 
was a member of the committee, and until his death was in¬ 
cessantly active in promoting its best interests. 
Tire committee, with much regret, record the death of two of 
the vice-presidents—Mr. E. J. Beale, of the firm of Messis. 
James Carter and Co., and Mr. William Bull. Mr. Beale was 
one of the first to assist in thel establishment of the Fund in 
1887. and it will be within the recollection of many of the sub¬ 
scribers that it was in his office that practical shape was first 
given to the movement. . 
The number of orphans who have been elected to receive the 
bereffts of the Fund during the past fourteen years is 155, and 
the total amount expended in allowances during the same period 
is £10,937 7s. 6d. The number of children receiving the full 
benefit of the Fund is seventy-three, and during the- year com¬ 
passionate allowances have been made under Rule XIY. to 
fifteen of the candidates waiting for election. 
With reference to the election this day, the committee 
believe that they are but carrying out the wishes of all the sub¬ 
scribers in recommending that the whole of the candidates - 
twenty-four in number—be elected without a^ ballot, in com¬ 
memoration of the Coronation of His Majesty King Edwaid T II. 
and his most gracious consort Queen Alexandra, the patroness 
of the Fund. 
The committee again most cordially acknowledge tie valuable 
assistance rendered to the Fund by local secretaries and associa¬ 
tions of gardeners and others in the districts of Altrincham, 
Bournemouth, Bradford, Bristol, Chesterfield, Chislehurst, 
Reading, Rugby, Sheffield, Wimbledon, etc., by means of con¬ 
certs and the sale of flowers at exhibitions on behalf of the 
charity, and they earnestly hope that during the present year 
the gardening communities in other districts may be prompted 
to follow so good an example. 
The committee have much pleasure in recording the fact that 
on the occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty King 
Edward VJI. and of Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, Mr. John 
Pinches, of Camberwell, very kindly presented a handsome 
Coronation Medal to all the children on the Fund. The com¬ 
mittee thank him most cordially for his generous gift. 
With keen regret the committee have to announce the retire¬ 
ment, through pressure of other engagements, of Mr. J. B. 
Stevenson, the local secretary for the Bournemouth District, and 
who, for the past twelve years, has, at his own cost, most 
admirably discharged the duties of his office. In the name of 
the subscribers and on their own behalf the committee tender 
to Mr. Stevenson most grateful thanks for his valuable services. 
The annual festival held at the Hotel Cecil on May 8th, 
under the genial presidency of Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., was 
of the most successful character, and the committee most heartily 
desire to thank all who assisted them in bringing about such a 
happy result. The chairman’s whole-hearted appeal on behalf 
of the Fund met with a most generous response, the subscription 
list amounting to £687 Is. 6d., or an increase of £38 14s. 5d. 
over the previous year’s list. Very cordially indeed do the com¬ 
mittee acknowledge their indebtedness to Mr. Leopold de 
Rothschild for his great kindness, and it affords them the 
greatest pleasure in recommending that he be this day elected a 
vice-president. 
The supporters of the Fund will doubtless be as gratified to 
know, as the committee are to make the announcement, that the 
Right Hon. the Earl Carrington has most kindly promised to 
preside at the. next festival, which has been fixed to take place 
at the Hotel Cecil on Tuesday, May 5th. The committee feel 
sure that they will not appeal in vain for the support of all lovers 
of horticulture and friends of the charity in their efforts to stili 
further enhance the popularity of the festival. 
Several cases having come before the committee in which, 
owing to exceptional circumstances, they have been satisfied that 
it would have been greatly to the advantage of the children con- 
cerne-d if the benefit of the full allowance of 5s. per week could 
have been given for a somewhat longer period than is now fixed 
by the rules, they invite subscribers to-day to consider, and, if 
approved, to adopt such an alteration in Rule XIII. as will enable 
them in future to deal with such cases in the manner which they 
may consider will be most conducive to the welfare of the children 
under the special circumstances of each particular case. 
The alteration proposed is to add the words printed in brackets 
in the following sentences in Rule XIII., commencing in line 6 : 
—“ No child shall receive annual support after having attained 
the age of fourteen years [but the committee may, at their dis¬ 
cretion, in exceptional circumstances continue the usual allow¬ 
ance for a further period not exceeding two years. Further], 
the executive committee, at their discretion, shall have power 
to grant a sum not exceeding £10 towards apprenticing or other¬ 
wise promoting the start in life of any orphan on whose behalf 
application shall have been made to the committee.” 
The members of the committee who retire by rotation are: — 
Messrs. W. Bates, H. J. #ones, H. B. May, J. W. Moorman, 
W. Nutting, G. Reynoldsi, A. W. G. Weeks, and J. H. Witty; 
and Messrs. Bates, Jones, May, Moorman, Nutting, Reynolds, 
and Witty being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. Mr. 
G. Caselton, Garden 'Superintendent, Crystal Palace, is nomi¬ 
nated for election to the sear rendered vacant by the retirement 
of Mr. Weeks. 
The committee most heartily congratulate Mr. Sherwood on his 
restoration to health ; thank him most sincerely for his con¬ 
tinued efforts in promoting the welfare of the Fund ; and have 
great pleasure in again nominating him for re-election as 
treasurer. 
The best- thanks of the committee are also due, and are hereby 
tendered, to Mr. M. Rowan and Mr. P. R. Barr for their valued 
services most cheerfully rendered as auditors. Mr. Barr is the 
retiring auditor, and is nominated for re-election. 
Mr. R. Dean moved, and Mr. W. H. Cutbush seconded, that 
Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., be elected a vice-president of the 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
