February  22,  1-  CO. 
JOI'RXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
165 
letter  be  referred  to  the  Executive  Committee  to  deal  with,  asserting  at 
the  same  time  that  where  more  than  one  member  of  a  family  were 
recipients  subscribers  might  be  sure  that  the  case  was  urgently 
necessitous,  or  the  Committee  would  not  have  recommended  it.  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones  supported  this,  as  did  Mr.  Roupell,  who  was  distinctly  in 
favour  of  generous  treatment,  as  he  was  of  the  opinion  that  it  was 
desirable  to  do  the  utmost  good  with  the  funds  at  disposal,  and  thought 
that  subscribers  would  rally  round  the  Institution  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  real  service  that  it  did  for  the  orphans  for  whose  benefit  it 
was  constituted.  These  little  points  having  been  disposed  of,  the 
motion  that  the  report  and  balance-sheet  as  in  the  hands  of  those 
present  be  accepted  was  carried  with  acclamation. 
Mr.  Weeks  then  rose  to  propose  that  Alderman  Sir  Begin  aid 
Hanson,  Bart.,  M.P.,  who  it  will  be  remembered  presided  at  the 
Society’s  last  annual  dinner,  and  ■which  was  such  a  signal  success,  be 
elected  a  Vice-President  of  the  Fund,  and  further  that  Mr.  William 
Marshall  be  elected  to  a  similar  position.  The  latter  gentleman  has 
long  been  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  but  has  unfortunately 
felt  compelled  to  relinquish  that  position  owing  to  its  taking  him  out 
at  night,  which  was  detrimental  to  his  health,  and  it  was  therefore 
desired  that,  while  regretting  the  loss  of  his  valuable  personality  in  the 
active  work  of  the  Society,  that  he  be  added  to  the  list  of  Vice- 
Presidents.  Here  again  Mr.  Roupell  was  seconder,  and  the  proposal 
was  carried  unanimously. 
The  much  regretted  death  during  the  past  year  of  Mr.  Sydney 
Courtauld  made  it  necessary  that  a  fresh  Trustee  should  be  elected,  and 
the  Chairman  nominated  for  the  position  Mr.  William  Sherwood,  son  of 
Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood,  the  highly  esteemed  Treasurer  of  the  Institution. 
Mr.  R.  Dean  seconded  this  proposition,  and  there  was  no  dissentient 
voice  when  it  was  put  to  the  vote.  It  must  be  superfluous  to  say  that 
Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood  was  re-elected  Treasurer,  and  heartily  thanked  for 
the  valuable  services  he  had  rendered  to  the  Society  in  the  past.  As 
the  rules  of  the  Fund  necessitate  one  Auditor  retiring  annually  Mr.  M. 
Rowan  (of  Carnation  fame),  who  is  associated  with  Mr.  P.  Rudolph  Barr 
in  this  capacity,  -was  proposed  by  Mr.  G.  Assbee  for  re-election.  Mr. 
W.  Poupart  was  the  seconder,  and  everyone  present  was  emphatically 
agreeable,  as  was  evidenced  by  the  unanimous,  “All.” 
Mr.  Alexander  Dean  proposed  that  Messrs.  W.  Bates,  R.  Dean, 
H.  J.  Jones,  H.  B.  May,  G.  Reynolds,  and  A.  W.  G.  Weeks  be  re-elected 
members  of  the  Committee.  In  support  of  these  nominations  he 
alluded  to  the  satisfactory  condition  of  affairs  in  general,  and  considered 
this  sufficient  evidence  as  to  their  suitability  for  service.  He  further 
intimated  that  in  case  there  came  a  time  when  the  Institution  was  over¬ 
burdened  with  funds  they  should  make  orphans  over  seventy  years 
of  age  eligible  for  benefits,  and  coupled  with  the  suggestion  that 
both  the  Chairman  of  the  meeting  and  his  brother,  Mr.  Richard  Dean, 
having  passed  the  allotted  span,  might  be  the  first  recipients.  Mr. 
Weeks  intimated  his  willingness  to  accept  of  this.  The  portion  of  Mr. 
Dean’s  proposal  relating  to  the  Committee  having  been  supported  by 
Mr.  J.  Fraser,  wa  carried,  and  we  may  asssume  that  the  second 
portion  will  stand  over  for  the  next  half  century  or  so.  Mr.  J.  G. 
Veitch  proposed,  and  Mr.  P.  R.  Barr  seconded,  that  Messrs.  Whitpaine 
Nutting  and  E.  G.  Monro  be  elected  members  of  Committee  in  place 
of  Messrs.  W.  Marshall  and  H.  Herbst,  who  resigned.  This  was  carried. 
In  reference  to  the  last  named  gentleman,  Mr.  Weeks  proposed  that 
he  be  heartily  thanked  for  the  active  support  he  had  accorded  to  the 
Society  for  many  years,  and  this  receiving  the  support  of  Messrs.  H.  B. 
May  and  W.  Bates,  was  also  carried  unanimously.  On  the  motion  of  Mr. 
_  Weeks,  seconded  by  Mr.  Assbee,  Mr.  Brian  Wynne  was  re-elected 
Secretary  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  both  speakers  eulogised  the 
services  Mr.  Wynne  had  rendered.  Messrs.  W.  Bates,  W.  Poupart, 
R.  W.  Alderson,  J.  F.  McLeod,  R.  Dean,  and  H.  J.  Jones  were  then 
elected  scrutineers  of  the  ballot,  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned 
until  4.30. 
Result  of  the  Ballot. 
Punctually  at  moment  stated,  Mr.  W.  Poupart,  on  behalf  of  the 
scrutineers,  announced  that  the  ballot  had  resulted  as  follows : — 
Hilda  K.  M.  Rogers,  506;  Aaron  Hall,  470;  Winifred  Moxham,  429; 
Charles  A.  Dranfield,  427;  John  Baird,  254;  Edward  While,  237; 
George  W.  Stevens,  153;  Margaret  M.  Wood,  148;  Sarah  C.  E. 
Langley,  135.  Ihese,  therefore,  were  elected.  It  was  then  announced, 
and  was  splendidly  received,  that  the  finances  were  so  satisfactory,  that 
Arthur  G.  Stephenson,  130;  Ernest  S.  Henderson,  105,  who  were  also 
on  the  balloting  paper  ;  and  Frederick  G.  King,  J.  G.  Riddle,  and  Mary 
Alice  Wood,  whose  nominations  had  come  too  late  for  inclusion,  but 
which  were  known  to  be  deserving,  could  be  placed  on  the  Funds,  and 
this  having  been  put  to  the  meeting,  was  carried  with  acclamation,  and 
we  may  add,  fittingly  crowned  a  successful  meeting,  which  was  brought 
to  a  close  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Weeks  for  his  services  in  the 
chair. 
Burning  LEAVEs.~The  Board  of  Health  of  Plainfield,  U.S.A.,  is 
said  to  be  considering  the  question  of  adopting  a  rule  which  will  pro¬ 
hibit  the  burning  of  leaves  within  the  city  limits,  as  it  is  claimed  that 
the  practice  is  conducive  to  much  ill-health  during  the  autumn  season. 
Several  physicians  have  said  that  the  smoke  and  smudge  which  come 
from  burning  leaves  are  the  cause  of  many  of  the  ailments  of  the 
throat,  lungs,  and  eyes. 
DEATH  OF  MR.  P.  W.  FAIRGRIEVE. 
Mr.  Peter  Walker  Fairgrikve  died  suddenly  at  Dunkeld  House  on 
Thursday,  the  15th  iust.,  where  he  has  been  head  gardener  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  first  under  the  late  Dowager  Duchess  of  Athol^ 
and  for  some  years  under  the  present  Duke  of  Athol.  The  sad  intelli¬ 
gence  of  the  removal  of  this  talented  and  popular  horticulturist  will 
be  received  by  many  friends  with  deep  regret.  He  was  a  great 
enthusiast  in  all  matters  associated  with  gardening,  but  distinguished 
mostly  for  the  part  he  took  in  the  development  of  hardy  fruit  culture, 
and  has  been  a  large  exhibitor  of  these  fruits,  as  well  as  a  lecturer 
on  their  cultivation.  At 
Dunkeld  Mr.  Fairgrieve 
had  considerable  scope 
and  favourable  opportuni. 
ties  for  testing  the  qualities 
of  outdoor  fruits,  and  the 
proving  of  such  as  were 
suited  to  the  northern 
climate.  The  fine  walls, 
shelter,  and  good  soil  and 
position  of  the  garden  were 
taken  full  advantage  of  j 
while  the  attention  to 
cultural  details  gave  evi¬ 
dence  of  Mr.  Fairgrieve’s 
knowledge  and  unremitting 
attention  to  that  most  use¬ 
ful  branch  of  gardening. 
The  great  gathering  of 
gardeners  which  was  held 
some  years  ago  from  all 
parts  of  the  country  is  well 
remembered  by  most  of  us. 
The  keen  investigation  of 
trees  and  fruit,  and  the 
discussions  which  took 
place,  gave  much  pleasure  and  instruction  to  all.  A  splendid  enter¬ 
tainment  was  given  in  the  Town  Hall  of  Dunkeld  to  the  visitors  in  the 
form  of  a  banquet.  The  Dowager  Duchess  backed  Mr.  Fairgrieve  in 
his  efforts  to  render  success  complete.  Mr.  Fairgrieve  was  a  Galloway- 
shire  man.  His  experience  in  gardening  was  wide  and  practical. 
After  years  of  apprenticeship  and  journeyman  the  deceased  went  as 
foreman  to  Wemyss  Castle,  Fifeshire.  He  went  as  foreman  to  Dunkeld, 
then  as  head  gardener  to  Duncrub,  near  Perth,  whence  he  returned  as 
head  gardener  to  Dunkeld. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
BITS  FOR  THE  BOTHY. 
Fighting  the  Bores.  {Continued  from  page  124.) 
“What  a  bore!”  This  from  many  a  youth  at  the  mere  thought 
of  studying  in  any  shape  or  form  ;  and  this  from  those  who  are  really 
the  best  of  good  fellows.  There  is  always  something  very  taking  and 
very  contagious  about  these  “  happy-go-lucky  ”  kind  of  boys,  who, 
without  words,  tell  you  in  the  language  of  eyes  and  actions,  that  this 
old  world  of  ours  is  a-very  jolly  kind  of  place  to  live  in.  We  could  not 
do  without  them — these  veritable  sunbeams  of  life,  but  they  must  be 
caught — trapped  into  a  steady  purpose,  instead  of  flickering  out  their 
existence  on  a  scene  behind  which  lays  so  many  stern  realities.  Their 
thoughts,  plans  and  actions  run  freely  into  any  mould,  but  will  not 
keep  shape.  This  must  not  be.  One  particularly  bad  case  was  doctored 
by  the  “  0.  B.”  some  years  ago,  and,  happily  cured ;  otherwise  the 
question  of  isolating  the  patient  to  prevent  infection  by  this  high  fever 
of  life  would  have  been  seriously  considered.  The  course  of  treatment 
pursued  will  be  sufficient  recipe  for  others  to  cure  themselves  if  they 
will  adopt  it. 
“  A - ,  I  want  you  to  copy  out  this  list  tor  me,  after  tea ;  take  it 
into  the  bothy.”  A - took  it  with  heightening  colour  and,  apparently, 
some  suspicion.  After  tea  a  visit  to  the  bothy  found  the  decks  cleared 
and  A -  in  action,  liter  ally  sprawling  spread-eagle  fashion  over  the 
foolscap  as  bis  mouth  twitched  and  twisted  in  sympathetic  movement 
with  the  pen.  Sitting  down,  our  young  scribe  was  watched  and  waited 
as  he  twisted  and  wriggled  to  a  finish  ;  muffied  sounds  overhead  testify¬ 
ing  to  the  enjoyment  extracted  by  comrades  aloft  from  the  martyr’s 
sufferings  below.  The  pen,  of  course,  was  “  a  bad  ’un,”  and  he  “  could 
do  it  better  with  a  pencil.”  “Will  it  do,  sir?”  “  Yes,  very  well  (it 
answered  present  purposes) ;  “  but  you  want  practice.  You  are  going 
to  be  a  head  gardener,  some  day,  are  you  not  ?  ”  “  Yes,  sir,”  as  the 
eye  which  showed  a  suspicion  of  moisture  brightened  considerably. 
“  Well,  you  know  a  good  head  gardener  must  be  a  good  scholar,  so 
practise  an  hour’s  writing  every  week  night,  except  Saturday  night,  to 
the  end  of  the  month,  and  I  will  look  in  and  help  you— say  from  seven 
till  eight  o’clock.” 
Poor  A - ,  he  would  never  have  tackled  that  bore  singlehand,  but 
between  us  we  ousted  him ;  yet  it  is  believed  that  had  the  six 
consecutive  nights  in  the  week  been  insisted  upon  he  would  not  only 
have  run  away,  but  his  fighting  days  would  have  been  over.  This 
