180 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
That we are sufficiently numerous as a body to provide assist¬ 
ance for every deserving but unfortunate -member of the pro¬ 
fession, without his becoming subject to the stigma so univer ¬ 
sally attached to the recipient of parochial relief, there cannot 
for a moment be a doubt; and it only requires unanimity of 
purpose, an immediate resolve on the part of every individual 
capable of contributing to do something, and a proper vehicle 
through which it may be judiciously distributed, to disseminate 
happiness where little short of misery is now found. 
The Gardeners’ Benevolent Society has, for some years, been 
silently working much good ; and we rejoice to see it arresting the 
attention of the rich and the noble. Long may it continue to do 
so! but it is not fit that gardeners should apathetically leave it 
to others to do the good work: let them but unite, and a very 
small contribution will be found sufficient to work wonders. 
The bright example held out by the Licensed Victuallers’, 
the Butchers’, and various other institutions, should not be 
entirely thrown aside, but let us “ do likewise.” 
The Benevolent Fund is kept up by voluntary contributions 
of a guinea per annum ; and it has now, we believe, eight per¬ 
sons— old and indigent gardeners and their wives or widows — 
entirely supported by it. This Society was formed for the per¬ 
manent support of such members of the profession as from age 
or other infirmity were rendered incapable of pursuing their 
vocation, and redounds much to the honour of the founder. 
Another Society, in unison with the first, has lately been formed 
for the temporary relief of gardeners in distress. The en¬ 
deavours of the Society have been most ably and laudably 
seconded by the editor of the Gardener s Qazette , and, throw¬ 
ing aside all differences of opinion, we would have all parties 
unite in forwarding the interests of so desirable an institution; 
the object of the Society being to afford temporary assistance 
in the shape of small sums, the residue, if any, going to the 
Benevolent Fund. The following remarks, taken from the 
Gazette , will show most forcibly the importance and probable 
benefit resulting from such a fund. 
“ There are no charities in this kingdom that do more good 
than those which stretch forth a helping hand to persons in 
temporary difficulty. How many thousands have, for want of 
very trifling aid, been permanently ruined, and their families 
