606 
THE GARDENING 
WORLD 
July 11, 1903. 
Iris xiphioides or “ English Iris.” 
For effectiveness: as bedding plants or for cutting few plants 
at this season can excel this bulbous Iris, which is so moderate 
in price that all enjoy its charms. Possibly les® elegant than 
its congener, the Spanish Iris. (Iris: Xiphium) in cut flower 
arrangements, it is more effective in the flower garden, and as 
it flowers later does not clash with it. It. is chiefly distin¬ 
guished from the Spanish form by its larger bulb, which has 
a very fibrous outer tunic, by its robust habit, and by not 
producing its leaves till spring. Native' of the Pyrenees. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
The annual festival of this institution was held in the White¬ 
hall Rooms, Hotel Metro-pole, on the 24th ult. The chair >vas 
taken by the Earl of Warwick, who was supported by Lord 
Redesdale, Lo?'d Brook, Baron Schroder, Sir Walter Smythe, 
Bart., Sir J. Rankin, and Messrs. H. J. Veitch, A. W. Sutton, 
M. H. F. Sutton, W. G. Bilney, William and Edward Sherwood. 
We also noted Messrs. P. Kay, J. Assbee, Peter Barr, G. Glen, 
Geo. Monro, J. A. Monro, E. Rockford, Alderman Piper, Arnold 
Moss, G. A. Dickson, Anderson, H. S. Rivers, Win. H. Barr, 
W. Glendinning, John Mac.Kerehar, Herbert J. Cutbush, H. B. 
May, J. Hudson, W. Y. Baker, — Baker, jun., Cory, G. J. 
Ingrain, R. Dean, W. Nutting, Harry Williams, W. Roupell, and 
many others. 
The usual toasts of “The King,” “The Queen,” “Prince and 
Princess of Wales, and other members of the Royal family,” were 
proposed in due course, and heartily responded to. Her Majesty 
the Queen and the Princess of Wales are patrons of the institu¬ 
tion, and these facts were brought to the attention of the. assem¬ 
bled guests. The chairman also' hinted the probability that the 
Prince of Wales would take the chair at some future dinner 
of the institution. He referred at some length to the aims and 
objects of the institution while- dealing with the toast of the 
evening, “ The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, ’ 
and said that at present it had on its funds 204 men and 38 
women in receipt of pensions for life, and who absorbed about 
£4.000 or £5,000 a year, but only about £900 of which was 
assured as regular income. The pensioners received help at the 
rate of £20 for the men per annum, and their widows £16. This 
year the Prince of Wales, who is president, had subscribed £20, 
and Mr. N. N. Sherwood had given £5 to each of the unsuccessful 
candidates at the- annual election, as a thankoffering for his re¬ 
covery from a serious illness. 
In reply to the above toast, Mr. H. J. Yeitch, the treasurer, 
spoke at some length on the good the institution was doing 
amongst aged and disabled gardeners and their families. A good 
instance of this was an aged couple whom he mentioned, and who 
had received more than £460 since the election of the gardener to 
the benefits of the fund, although lie had only contributed £25 
in subscriptions during his lifetime. 
Lord Redesdale proposed “ Success to Horticulture in all .ts 
Branches,” and in doing so spoke of the particular nature of the 
work carried on by gardeners. Botany carried on in the mere 
spirit of scientific research was useless to the practical cultivator. 
He must apply it to the art of cultivation in order to improve the 
art and develop the same in its highest form. 
This toast was responded to by Alderman Robert Piper, who 
said that a gardener who has failed is a happier man than one 
who has failed in any other occupation. This was partly 
ascribable to the peculiar natux-e-of his occupation, but more par¬ 
ticularly to the fact that if he has subscribed to the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution during his earlier years he can 
get assistance during the remainder of his declining years. Since 
its foundation 64 years ago this institution has distributed no 
less than £100,000 amongst its pensioners. 
The toast of “ Our Chairman ” was proposed by Arthur W. 
Sutton, Esq., V.M.H., who described Lord Warwick as a hard¬ 
working man. Reference was also made to the benefit accruing 
to horticulture-owing to interest taken, in, it by the chairman’s 
wife, Lady Warwick,_ who was the founder and promoter of the 
Lady Warwick Hostel, Reading. The Chairman replied at 
some length, and then asked the secretary, Mr. G. J. Ingram, to 
read out the list of subscriptions. Some of these were : Lord 
Rothschild, lOOgs. ; A. W. Sutton, £50 ; Martin J. Sutton, £20 ; 
H. J. Yeitch, £10; Mrs. Veitch, £5; A. Maokellar, 15gs., and 
various other items, making a total of £1,750, which we learn 
has since been augmented, 
SOCIETIES. 
NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
July 1st. 
(Concluded from page 588.) 
We now resume our account of this show, held in the Inner 
Temple Gardens by the National Rose Society, promised in our 
last issue. 
Nttbsery.uen.— The champion trophy in the nurserymen’s class 
was secured by Messrs. R. Harkness and Co., Hitchin, Herts. 
Some of their finest blooms were Frau Karl Druschki, Mme. Dei- 
ville, Caroline Testout, Bessie Brown, White Lady, Mrs. Edward 
Mawley, Maman Cochet, Bo-adicea, Hon. Edith Gifford, Kaiserin 
A. Victoria, Marquise Litta, Viscountess Folkestone, etc. 
Messrs. B. R. Cant and Sons, the Old Rose Gardens, Colchester, 
were a good second. Amongst their finest blooms were Bessie 
Brown, Mildred Grant, Countess of Caledon, Lady Mary Fitz 
william, Mme. Gabriel Luizet, Her Majesty, Killarney, etc. 
Messrs. Frank Cant and Co., Braiswick Rose Gardens, Col¬ 
chester, came in third, showing beautiful blooms of Killarnev. 
Viscountess Folkestone, Souvenir de S. A. Prince, Exquisite, 
Tennyson, Ulster, etc. 
In the class for forty varieties in triplets the lead was taken 
by Messrs. B. R. Cant and Sons, who had some magnificent 
triplets of Bessie Brown, Souvenir d’un Ami, Ellen Keller. Mrs. 
Cocker, Frau Karl Druschki, Countess of Caledon, Mrs. Edward 
Mawley, La France, Caroline- Testout, and Mildred Grant, the 
last named being particularly fine. 
Messrs. Alex. Dickson and Sons, Ltd., Newtownards, Ireland, 
took the second place with fine- triplets of White Lady, Lady Mary 
Fitzwilliam, Mrs. AV. J. Grant, Bessie Brown, Ulster, and 
others, the last named being beautifully coloured. Messrs. 
Frank Cant and Co. came in third with beautiful blooms of 
Frau Karl Druschki, S. M. Rodocanachi, Bessie Brown, etc. 
Messrs. G. and W. H. Burch, The Rose Nurseries, Peter¬ 
borough, took the premier award for 48 varieties, staging hand 
some blooms of Her Majesty, Mrs. J. Laing, Mrs. R. G. Sharman 
Crawford, Caroline Test-out, Comte Raimbaud, La. France, etc. 
Mr. Hugh Dickson and -Co., The Nurseries, Belfast, took the I 
second place with fine blooms of Mrs. Cocker, Marchioness of 
Downshire, Etienne Levet, La France, White Lady, etc. The 
third award was secured by eMssrs. J. Burrell and Co., Howe 
House Nurseries, Cambridge, showing Mrs. J. Laing, Her 
Majesty, and others-in fine form. 
Mr. Geo. Mount, Canterbury, had the best 24 varieties, show¬ 
ing grand blooms of Bessie Brown, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Mrs. 
E. Mawley, Mme. C. Ramayl Mildred Grant, Caroline Testout, 
Mrs. J. Laing, Mme. Gabriel Luizet, etc. Mr. C. Turner. 
Slough, was second with Bessie Brown, Tom Wood, Killarney. 
Cleopatra, etc. Mr. Thos. Rigg, South View Nurseries, Caver- 
sham, Reading, came in third with some fine blooms. 
For 24 varieties in triplets Mr. C. Turner took the lead, show¬ 
ing fine samples of Caroline Testout, La. France, Tom Wood, 
Mrs. J. Laing, Mrs. R. G. S. Crawford, Ulster, etc. He was 
followed by Mr. Geo. Mount, having Frau Karl Druschki, Bessie 
Brown, Ulrich Brunner, and other fine blooms. Mr. Hugh 
Dickson and Co. took the third place, showing huge blooms cf 
Rev. Allan Cheales and others. 
I ea and Noisette Section. —Mr. Geo. Prince, Longworth. 
Berks, came out strong in this section as usual. Some of his bes: 
blooms were Mrs. E. Mawley (the Silver Medal bloom for the | 
premier Tea in the nurserymen’s classes), White Maman Coohet, 
Medea, Muriel Grahame, Golden Gate, Comtesse de Nadaillac. 
Cleopatra, Empress of Russia, Alba Rosea, Devoniensis, 
Mine, de Wattevill-e, Souv. de Pierre Notting, The Bride, 
Bridesmaid, Princess Beatrice, Lady Roberts, Comtesse de I 
Panisse, etc. Messrs. D. Prior and Sons, Myland Nurseries, 
Colchester, took the second award, showing fine blooms of 
Cleopatra, Souv. de S. A. Prince, Innocente Pirola, Rubens, Mrs. 
E. Mawley, etc. The third award was secured by Messrs. Frank 
Cant and Co., who had splendid blooms of Mrs. Ed. Mawley and 
others. 
The best 12 blooms were shown by Mr. John Burrell and Co., 
Souv. de Pierre Notting, Comtesse de Nadaillac, and Boadicea 
being fine. Mr. John Mattock, New Headington, was second 
with Medea, Cornelia Cock, Souv. de S. A. Prince, etc. 
The premier award for 14 varieties in triplets was taken by 
Messrs. D. Prior and Sons, who had fine blooms of The Bride. 
Med-e-a, Marie Van Houtte, Maman Cochet, Souv. d’un Ami, 
Anna Olivier, Mrs. E. Mawley, Innocente Pirola, Souv. de S. A. 
Prince, etc. They were followed by Mr. G. Prince with fine . 
