58 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
January  21,  189?. 
remarks,  I  will  try  very  briefly  to  describe  how  the  dance  of  the  year 
goes  on.  As  a  rule  yellow  is  the  colour  which  predominates  most  of  all 
at  the  beginning  of  the  year — Primroses,  Celandines,  Cowslips,  Narcissi, 
and  other  things  are  in  evidence  of  what  I  say  ;  and  as  in  the  woods  so 
it  is  in  the  garden  as  well.  Very  soon  deeper  colours  and  greater- 
brightness  are  to  be  seen,  and  it  progresses,  till  at  midsummer  the  whole 
place  is  aglow  with  Roses,  Gladioli,  Irises,  and  other  things,  and  in 
autumn  Tritomas,  and  single  Dahlias  and  Asters  abound. 
(To  be  continued.) 
THE  GARDENERS’  ROYAL  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTION. 
As  is  customary,  Simpson's  Hotel  was  chosen  for  the  holding  of  the 
annual  general  meeting  of  this  excellent  Society  on  Thursday,  14th  inst. 
Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch,  the  energetic  Treasurer  of  the  Institution,  occupied 
the  chair,  and  as  the  clock  struck  3  commenced  business  by  calling 
on  the  Secretary,  Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  to  read  the  minutes  of  previous 
meetings,  which  were  quickly  confirmed  by  the  members  present. 
Amongst  the  company  were  noticed  Dr.  Maxwell  T.  Masters,  and  Messrs. 
J.  Fraser,  A.  Outram,  J.  Hudson,  H.  B.  May,  J.  H.  Veitch,  G.  Wythes, 
G.  Dixon,  G.  Munro,  White  (Secretary  Worcester  Auxiliary),  and  many 
others.  After  this  preliminary  business  was  concluded,  the  Secretary 
read  the  report  of  the  Committee  and  the  balance-sheet  for  the  past  year, 
both  of  which  were  adopted.  It  is  a  matter  for  congratulation  to  see 
how  admirably  the  Society  is  worked,,  and  to  know  the  amount  of  good 
that  is  being  done.  Though  the  institution  is  adding  more  pensioners  to 
its  list  this  year  than  has  been  done  on  any  previous  occasion,  we  are 
quite  of  the  opinion  that  the  Committee  is  fully  justified  in  its  action,  for 
the  Society  was  never  more  popular  than  it  is  at  the  present  moment — a 
popularity  that  it  is  hoped  will  be  proved  in  a  practical  manner  by 
largely  increased  subscriptions.  With  Mr.  Veitch’s  able  scheme  we 
deal  on  page  45. 
Repoet  of  the  Committee  for  1896. 
The  Committee  have  the  greatest  possible  satisfaction  in  submitting 
their  annual  report  for  the  year  1896,  and  in  doing  so  they  would 
express  their  sincere  thankfulness  that  they  are  able  to  again  congratu¬ 
late  the  subscribers  and  friends  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution  on  its  continued  prosperity  and  ever-increasing  usefulness 
to  those  in  adverse  circumstances  for  whose  benefit  it  was  established. 
It  is  with  much  pleasure  the  Committee  have  to  report  that  the 
annual  festival  dinner  held  in  May  last  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
in  the  history  of  the  Institution,  and  they  take  this  opportunity  of 
acknowledging  their  great  indebtedness  to  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of 
Lathom,  G.C.B.,  who  so  kindly  presided  on  that  occasion,  and  whose 
earnest  appeal  on  behalf  of  the  funds  of  the  Charity  elicited  such  a 
generous  and  substantial  response.  The  Committee  desire  also  to  offer 
their  most  sincere  thanks  to  those  gentlemen  who  so  kindly  acted  as 
Stewards,  and  to  all  friends  who  in  any  way  rendered  assistance  in 
contributing  to  the  success  of  the  anniversary. 
In  the  past  year  eighteen  pensioners  have  passed  away,  four  of  them 
leaving  widows,  three  of  whom,  whose  cases  having  been  investigated 
and  found  to  be  deserving  and  eligible,  have  been  placed  on  the  pension 
list  at  £16  per  annum  in  succession  to  their  late  husbands,  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  Rule  III.,  13.  The  names  of  two  pensioners  have  been 
removed  from  the  list,  their  circumstances  having  altered,  whereby  they 
are  no  longer  eligible  to  receive  aid  from  the  funds.  The  Committee  are 
glad  to  announce  that  they  have  decided  to  recommend  an  increase  of 
twenty  pensioners  to  the  number  at  present  on  the  books,  ten  of  whom, 
having  been  accepted  in  conformity  with  Rule  III.,  5,  they  ask  the 
subscribers  to  place  on  the  funds  without  election.  The  remaining  ten 
will  be  elected  by  the  votes  of  the  subscribers  in  the  usual  way,  making 
a  total  number  of  161  pensioners  on  the  fund.  It  is  a  great  pleasure  to 
the  Committee  to  feel  justified  in  thus  increasing  their  liabilities,  and  to 
recommend  to  be  placed  on  the  pension  list  the  largest  number  of 
candidates  ever  admitted  at  any  one  election  since  the  establishment  of 
the  Institution  ;  whilst  at  the  same  time  they  regret  that  with  liabilities, 
which  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  accurately  estimate,  they  are  unable 
to  render  assistance  to  a  greater  number  of  those  applicants  who  are 
appealing  for  aid. 
It  is  gratifying  to  the  Committee  to  be  able  to  report  the  formation 
of  a  new  branch  of  the  Institution  at  Exeter,  which  was  inaugurated 
after  a  most  successful  meeting  heU  at  that  place,  presided  over  by  the 
Mayor  of  Exeter  and  addressed  by  the  Treasurer  and  the  Secretary  of 
the  Institution,  and  the  Committee  would  express  their  hearty  thanks 
to  the  promoters  of  the  meeting,  and  especially  to  the  Hon.  Treasurer 
and  Secretary,  for  their  assiduity  and  energy,  which  went  far  to  insure 
its  success.  They  would  also  present  their  grateful  thanks  to  the  Hon. 
Treasurers  and  Secretaries  of  the  Worcester,  the  Bristol  and  Bath,  the 
Wolverhampton,  and  the  Birmingham  Auxiliaries  for  their  services  and 
ungrudging  labours  in  advancing  the  cause. 
In  the  past  year  a  meeting  was  held  at  York,  presided  over  by  the 
Lord  Mayor  of  that  city,  in  furtherance  of  the  objects  of  the  Institution, 
and  from  the  success  which  attended  it  the  Committee  believe  that  a 
greater  interest  will  be  taken  in  the  Charity  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
There  have  been  also  held  a  floral  service  at  York  Minster,  a 
floral  and  fruit  stall  in  connection  with  a  floral  exhibition  at  Exeter, 
presided  over  by  county  ladieB,  garden  ffltes  at  Osberton  and  Reigate, 
fruit  show  at  Reading,  and  concerts  at  Altrincham  on  behalf  of  the 
funds,  to  the  organisers  of  which,  and  to  the  other  friends  in  various 
parts  of  the  country  who  have  assisted  the  Institution  in  any  way,  the 
Committee  would  tender  their  very  hearty  thanks. 
In  drawing  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  present  year  will  witness 
an  event  which  is  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  this  country — viz.,  the 
completion  of  the  sixtieth  year  of  our  beloved  Queen’s  beneficent  reign — 
the  Committee  beg  to  announce  that  they  have  determined  to  endeavour 
to  commemorate  so  unique  an  occurrence  by  establishing  a  special  fund, 
to  be  called  “The  Victorian  Era  Fund,”  the  interest  of  which  shall  be 
devoted  to  the  temporary  assistance  of  those  applicants  who  are  waiting 
to  be  placed  on  the  pension  list,  and  who  have  been  subscribers  to 
the  Institution.  This  proposal  has  already  met  with  hearty  and  unquali¬ 
fied  approval  from  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Westminster  (President), 
Baron  Schroder  (Vice-President),  C.  Czarnikow,  Esq.  (Vice-President), 
N.  Sherwood,  Esq.  (Trustee),  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (Treasurer),  to  whom 
the  Committee  are  indebted  for  the  proposal,  and  many  other  friends  of 
the  Institution,  who  have  also  promised  generous  contributions  towards 
this  object.  The  Committee  would  point  out  that  Her  Majesty  has  been 
the  Patroness  of  the  Charity  for  forty-five  "years,  and  only  last  year 
evinced  her  continued  interest  in  its  welfare  by  contributing  £25  to  its 
funds,  and  they  believe  that  in  attempting  to  celebrate  the  Diamond 
Jubilee  of  Queen  Victoria  in  such  a  manner  and  with  the  purpose  in 
view  they  will  receive  the  support  and  practical  sympathy  of  all  friends 
of  the  Institution,  as  well  as  of  those  who  take  an  interest  in  gardening 
and  flowers.  The  Committee  have  also  resolved, in  honour  of  the  event, 
to  send  on  June  21st  next  the  sum  of  £5  to  each  unsuccessful  candidate 
at  the  present  election  whose  name  is  then  on  the  applicants’  list. 
It  is  with  feelings  of  deep  regret  that  the  Committee  have  to  record 
the  decease  of  their  valued  colleague  and  friend,  Mr.  James  Webber. 
From  the  year  1844  his  family  had  been  warm  supporters  of  the  Insti¬ 
tution,  whilst  for  the  past  twenty-one  years  he  himself  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Committee,  and  had  invariably  done  his  utmost  to 
promote  the  interests  and  further  the  objects  of  the  Institution,  and  his 
loss  will  be  severely  felt  and  his  services  greatly  missed. 
The  Committee,  in  conclusion,  have  the  privilege  and  the  pleasure  of 
announcing  that  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Rothschild  has  very  kindly  under¬ 
taken  to  preside  at  the  fifty-eighth  anniversary  festival  dinner  on 
Thursday,  May  26th,  1897,  at  the  Whitehall  Rooms  of  the  Hotel 
Mdtropole,  and  they  confidently  appeal  to  all  those  who  are  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  the  Charity  to  do  their  utmost  to  make  the 
anniversary  a  marked  success.  The  Committee  earnestly  hope  that  the 
thankfulness  expressed  for  the  success  attained  in  the  past  will  be  an 
incentive  to  further  exertions,  so  that  the  good  work  which  has  been 
carried  on  by  the  Institution  for  fifty-eight  years  may  continue  to  grow 
and  prosper. 
Balance-sheet,  1896. 
Dr. 
To  Balance  . 
,,  Deposit  . '  • .  . 
„  Annual  subscriptions  . 
,,  Donations  at,  and  in  consequence  of,  annual 
dinner,  including  stewards’  lists,  and  collecting 
cards . 
„  Return  of  Income  Tax  . 
,,  Advertisements  in  annual  list  of  subscribers 
„  Dividends  and  interest  on  deposits  . 
Total 
Cr. 
By  Pensions  and  gratuities  . 
,,  Expenses  of  election  and  annual  meeting 
,,  Secretary’s  salary . 
,,  Office  assistance  . 
,,  Rent  of  office . 
„  Printing,  general,  including  annual  reports  and 
lists  of  subscribers,  appeals,  &c.  ... 
,,  Stationery,  including  new  subscription  books  ... 
,,  New  rules  . 
,,  Book  of  cheques  ....  . 
,,  Expenses  of  annual  dinner . £170  18  0 
,,  Less  tickets  sold  .  8(1  2  0 
,,  Honorarium  to  J.  S.  Rowe . 
,,  Postage  of  appeals . 
,,  Postage  of  reports,  list  of  subscribers,  voting 
papers,  ordinary  postage,  and  incidental  ex¬ 
penses 
,,  Deputation  and  travelling  expenses  . 
,,  Advertisement  . 
,,  Bank  charges . 
£ 
S. 
d. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
905 
15 
5 
1265- 
0 
0 
1335 
7 
0 
2492 
1 
11 
22 
19 
10 
47 
11 
0 
841 
4 
3 
4739 
4 
0 
£6909  19 
5 
2787 
18 
0 
15 
11 
7 
250 
0 
0 
26 
0 
0 
62 
10 
0 
338 
10 
0 
105 
16 
3 
37 
17 
8 
7 
2 
6 
3 
0 
8 
84 
16 
0 
2 
2 
0 
•  14 
15 
5 
54 
19 
10 
10 
10 
9 
2 
2 
0 
0 
3 
6 
7 
,,  Investment  of  life  subscriptions,  Midland  Rail¬ 
way  3  per  cent.  Debentures  . 
,,  On  deposit  . 
„  Balance  with  Treasurer  . 
500  0  0 
2015  0  0 
929  13  3 
Total 
£6909  19  5 
(Signed)  Thomas  Manning  1 
Thomas  Swift  >  Auditors. 
Jesse  Willard  ) 
