244 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
March 19, 1904. 
SOCIETIES. 
THE UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT AND 
PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
Annual General Meeting. 
This gathering was held, as usual, in the Caledonian Hotel, 
Ad el phi, and there were between forty and fifty members pre¬ 
sent. The chair was taken by Mr. Horace J. Wright, and we 
observed Messrs. Chas. H. Curtis, John Wright, V.M.H., C. 
Harding, G. Keif, G. Taylor, R. Scott, C. Brown, Burge, 
Wheeler, Stanbridge, Frogbrook, Price, Woods, Winter, Harry 
Thomas, and J. Harrison Dick. The minutes of the previous 
annual general meeting having been read and confirmed, the 
secretary, Mr. W. Collins, was called upon to read the com¬ 
mittee’s report for the year, which, with the several balance 
sheets, was already in the hands of the meeting. 
Report of the Committee for 1903. 
It is with the pleasure that results from continued success, 
and the knowledge that the society is now filling that place in 
the horticultural world for which it was created thirty-nine 
years ago, that the committee brings; forward its report for the 
year 1903. Both financially and numerically the society con¬ 
tinues to progress steadily. 
It is interesting to notice that while some fewer new members 
were elected than in 1902, the number was eight-three, precisely 
the same as in the years 1899, 1900, and 1901. Five members 
died during the year, twenty-seven lapsed from various causes, 
and one, having passed the age limit, was, at his own request, 
paid out. This leaves a nett gain of fifty for the year, and 
brings the total membership to 1,016. 
The society also shows sound financial progress, the amount 
invested during the year being £1,800, making a total of 
£22,018 12s. 7d. now in trust for the members. Sick pay for the 
year amounted to £303 5s., a slight increase on the payments 
under that head in the previous year, but yet showing a 
decrease in the sum chargeable per head, this being 7s. 2d. 
and 4s. lOd. as compared with the 7s 5d. and 4s. lid. of 1902. 
The benevolent fund has rendered assistance to' the extent of 
£129' 2s. 6d. Of this amount, members over seventy years of 
age (three) received £61 8s., and members transferred from the 
sick fund (six) received £53 15s., all in weekly allowances. In 
addition special grants varying from 19s, 6d. to £5 were made to 
five members, the total amount being £13 19s. 6d. The cou- 
valescent fund has only been drawn on to- the'extent of £4 10s., 
and the committee feels that the sick and benevolent funds 
might often be relieved somewhat if members recovering from 
an illness took advantage of this fund before resuming their 
employment. 
On the recommendation of the treasurer, the trustees sold the 
£1,000 South Indian Railway Capital Stock, and with the pro¬ 
ceeds thereof £1,200 of Liverpool Three Per Cent. Stock was 
purchased. This; transfer, effected because of the prospect of 
early redemption of the stock, was made with advantage to the 
society. 
The committee would esp'ecially draw attention to the fact 
that lapsed members do- not forfeit any amounts standing ro 
their credit in the society’s books. This should not be lost sight 
of when young gardeners, are being induced to- join the society. 
The total amount standing to the credit of lapsed members 
is £1,564 13s. 8d., which, by the way, earns interest for the 
benefit members. The largest amount credited to a lapsed 
member is just over £65, and the lowest is Is. ; forty-four have 
over £10 ; sixty-five have over £5 and less than £10 ; and 221 
have amounts less than £5. All these sums can be claimed 
when the lapsed member reaches the age of sixty, and, in the 
case of earlier death, by his; nominee. Lapsed members' having 
£5 to their credit may be regarded as having belonged to- the 
society for about five years ; while those with from £5 to £10 
to their accounts have an average membership of seven and a-half 
years. 
i During the year the committee has had under consideration 
the revision of the rules of the society, but- the business at the 
usual monthly meetings has! so increased that little time was 
1-eft for this special work. Now, however, the committee has 
resolved itself into- a Rules Sub-committee, and as such it sits 
one evening a month to discuss the rules. The committee hopes 
to be able to- place the suggested alterations before a special 
general meeting of members, to b-e- held on the same date as the 
next annual meeting. 
The committee wishes to- tender its best thanks to- the 
honorary members, and especially to Mr. Peter Barr, V.M.H., 
who so ably presided at the largely-attended annual dinner, held 
at the Holborn Restaurant on October 10th. The nurserymen 
and seedsmen who have been good enough to publish the- title 
and objects of the society, together with the secretary's name 
and address, are also warmly thanked for the services thus 
rendered. At the same time, the committee wishes to express 
its high appreciation of the many services ably and cheerfully 
rendered the society by the horticultural Press. 
In conclusion, with so much progress to record, the committee 
confidently looks forward to a further increase of membership, 
and in this connection urges all members and friends to do their 
utmost to induce the young gardeners of the United Kingdom to 
join “ The United,” as the society is now popularly designated. 
Signed on behalf of the committee, 
Charles H. Curtis, Chairman. 
Wm. Collins, Secretary. 
Benefit Fund. 
receipts. 
Dr. 
1903. January 12th. £ s. d. 
To Balance brought 
forward.16,045 17 11 
19 )4. January 11th. 
To Interest credited to 
Membersas per Ledger 4 8 4 4 
„ Subscriptions of Mem¬ 
bers . 1,591 18 2 
,, Subscriptions, Arrears 
for 1902 28 5 6 
(Sick pay for the year has 
been met by deductions of 
7s. 2d. and 4s. lOd. per 
member, respectively, on 
the two sca'es, as com¬ 
pared with deductions of 
7s. 5d. and 4s. lid. in 1902.) 
EXPENDITURE. 
1903. January 12 h. 
£. ft 
d. 
By Sick Pay to Members 
303 5 
0 
2 
,, Rest Fund .. .. 
,, Amo mts paid out as 
follows 
27 15 
No. 70 to Nominee 
80 8 
5 
>> 5. 
48 3 
1 
„ 558 
17 9 
4 
„ 252 
30 4 
3 
„ 322 
., 12 fiom De- 
29 18 10 
posit Ac:t. 
73 17 
2 
- i „ „ 
5 0 
0 
„ 11 
5 0 
0 
.. 59 „ „ 
,, 82 Lapsed Mem- 
5 0 
0 
b“r .. .. 
„ 433 Widow of 
Lapsed Mem- 
39 7 
0 
ber .. .. 
„ Interest on Lapsed 
3 13 
5 
Members' Account .. 
44 15 
9 
704 17 
5 
Benefit 
Members, £15,862 14 iO 
Loosed 
Mmibes, 1,564 13 8 
£18,132 5 11 
By Balance to date .. 17,427 8 6 
£18,132 5 11 
Benevolent Fund. 
receipts. 
Dr. 
1911. January 1 th. £ s. d. 
To Balance brought 
forward . 3,814 1 4 
• 1901. January 11th. 
To Interest on above .. 109 15 0 
„ Subscriptions of Mem¬ 
bers . 116 19 9 
„ Arrears for 1 02 .... 6 6 3 
„ Sub criptions of Hon¬ 
orary Members .. 4) 1 i 0 
„ Subscriptions of Life 
Member. 10 10 0 
„ Definitions from Mem¬ 
bers’ Rest Fund .. 27 15 2 
£4,145 6 6 
EXPENDITURE. 
Cr. 
1904. 
January 11th. 
£ 
s. 
<f. 
By Amount grant ;d to No. 4 
22 
8 
0 
50 
20 
16 
0 
103 
13 
0 
0 
14 
18 
4 
0 
1 i L 
13 
19 
6 
533 
13 
0 
0 
134 
2 
0 
0 
70 
4 
15 
0 
1139 
13 
0 
0 
948 
1 
0 
0 
542 
5 
0 
0 
» 
J> I) 
3 
2 
0 
0 
129 
2 
6 
By Balance to date .. 
4,017 
4 
0 
£4,143 
6 
6 
Dr. 
1903. January 12th. £ s. d. 
To Balance brought for¬ 
ward . 478 1L 1 
1904. 
To Interest on above 13 14 0 
,, Benefit Members' Sub¬ 
scriptions . 8 15 10 
,, Donation — 
N. N. Sherwool, Esq. 5 5 0 
£506 5 11 
If. 
£ s. d. 
1 10 0 
1 19 0 
1 . 0 ' 0 
4 1)0 
By Balance to da‘e.501 15 11 
£506 5 1^ 
Voluntary Convalescent Fund. 
RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE. 
1904. Janeary 11th. 
Pail to No. 248 . 
„ „ 558 . 
„ „ 324 .. .. 
Management Fund. 
Dr. RECEIPTS. 
1993. January 12lh £ s. d. 
To Balance brought for¬ 
ward . 57 1 0 
1904. January 11th. 
To Subscriptions of Mem¬ 
bers . 114 13 3 
,, Arrears of Ditto, 1902 6 4 0 
„ Revocation Fees and 
Rules. 0120 
„ Adverts, in Annual 
Report . 14 6 6 
„ Sale of Emblems .. 12 6 
„ Ijiiterest on 
£1,564 13s. 8d. stand¬ 
ing to the credit of 
Lapsed Members .. 44 15 9 
£238 15 0 
EXPENDITURE. 
Cr- 
1904. January 11th. £ s. d. 
By Secretary's Salary .. .. S3 0 o 
„ Rent of Room for Meetings 3 5 6 
„ Rent i-f National Safe .. 110 
„ Rent of Secretary's Room 5 0 0 
„ Postages . 20 5 11 
„ Printin; and Stationery 34 2 6 
„ Postal Orders to Sick 
Members . 2 9 4} 
„ Carriage of Parcels .. .. 0 16 2 
„ Treasurer's and Trustees' 
Expenses. 4 0 2 
„ Auditors’ Fees. 4 4 0 
, Sundries . 6 6 2 
166 1) 10 
„ Balance to data. 72 4 2 
£238 15 0 
