164 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  25,  1897. 
warmed  to  about  60°.  I  ought  to  add  that  I  only  advocate  the  pot 
method  for  the  very  earliest  dishes.  Mine  in  the  pits  follow  these,  and 
are  usually  planted  about  the  20th  of  January.  I  find  the  Old  Ashleaf, 
Veitch’s,  Myatt’s,  and  Rivers’,  Sharpe’s  Victor,  and  Early  Puritan  good 
for  forcing,  but  I  prefer  the  first  and  last  named  varieties. 
Carrots. 
This  is  another  acceptable  dish,  and  much  appreciated  when  in  a 
young  state,  and  may  be  brought  on  much  earlier  than  it  is  possible  to 
have  them  outside  by  making  up  a  bed  of  leaves  and  placing  a  frame 
thereon.  What  they  require  is  similar  to  Potatoes — a  gentle  lasting 
heat,  which  fresh  collected  leaves  will  give.  The  frame  should  have 
about  9  inches  of  soil,  which  should  be  light  and  of  a  sandy  nature, 
leaving  space  of  9  or  10  inches  for  the  tops.  The  seed  can  be  Bown  in 
drills  4  to  6  inches  apart  or  broadcast.  I  adopt  this  last  named  plan, 
and  it  should  not  be  sown  too  thickly,  for  if  it  is  thinning  must  be  done 
very  early,  as  they  soon  get  crowded.  The  frame  can  be  kept  closed 
until  the  seeds  germinate,  when  a  little  air  will  be  necessary  whenever 
the  weather  will  permit.  The  lights  can  be  drawn  off  altogether  when 
mild  and  replaced  about  3.30.  If  bright,  lightly  syringe  the  bed,  and 
then  close  up  and  replace  mats  as  long  as  cold  weather  lasts.  I  do  not 
think  there  is  much  gained  by  sowing  until  the  middle  of  January. 
Parisian  Forcing  or  Sutton’s  Early  Gem  are  suitable  for  this  work. — 
[ Paper  read  by  Mr.  J.  Mayne,  Bicton,  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Devon  and 
Exeter  Gardeners'  Association  ] 
THE  ROYAL  GARDENERS’  ORPHAN  FUND. 
Annual  Meeting. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  above  charity  was  held  at  Anderton’s 
Hotel  on  Friday  last.  Amongst  those  present  were  Messrs.  W.  Marshall 
(in  the  chair),  W.  Poupart,  R.  Wynne,  G.  W.  Cummins,  J.  Lyne, 
W.  Bates,  G.  Reynolds,  J.  Walker,  F.  Assbee,  A.  W.  G.  Weeks,  and  H.  J. 
Jones.  After  the  usual  preliminary  proceedings  the  Chairman  moved 
the  adoption  of  the  report  and  balance-sheet,  which  is  appended  below. 
The  motion  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Fraser,  and  carried  without  any 
dissension. 
In  presenting  their  ninth  annual  report  the  Executive  Committee  can 
heartily  congratulate  the  subscribers  on  another  year’s  operations  — 
generally  satisfactory  and  encouraging. 
If  the  financial  support  given  to  the  Fund  as  annual  subscriptions  be 
not  as  large  as  the  Committee  could  desire,  yet  from  other  sources  it 
is  evenly  maintained  and  the  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  Fund 
widely  felt. 
The  Fund  was  instituted  in  1887  in  commemoration  of  the  Jubilee  of 
Her  Majesty  the  Queen. 
The  year  1897  finds  your  Committee  assisting  in  commemorating  the 
longest  reign  of  a  British  Sovereign,  and  in  consideration  of  this 
auspicious  event  they  recommend  to  the  subscribers  that  the  whole  of 
the  candidates  be  elected  by  resolution  of  the  annual  meeting. 
To  those  who  have  so  generously,  and  in  not  a  few  cases,  so  constantly 
supported  the  Fund  by  means  of  special  donations,  the  Committee  owe  a 
great  debt  of  gratitude.  By  sums  derived  from  money  boxes,  concerts, 
the  opening  to  the  public  inspection  of  gardens  and  plant  houses,  especi¬ 
ally  during  the  season  of  the  Chrysanthemum,  the  sale  of  flowers,  &cM 
considerable  additions  have  been  made  to  the  Fund. 
The  annual  festival  dinner — presided  over  by  His  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Bedford,  the  President  of  the  Fund — proved  a  most  gratifying  success, 
resulting  in  a  considerable  augmentation  to  the  charity  ;  and  the  Com¬ 
mittee  tender  to  His  Giace  their  most  grateful  thanks  for  bis  able 
advocacy  of  the  claims  of  the  institution  and  also  for  his  generous  con¬ 
tribution.  Among  other  contributions  to  the  Festival  Fund  was  that 
of  the  tenants  of,  and  growers  of  produce  for  Covent  Garden  Market, 
who  subscribed  the  sum  of  £341  15s.  6d.,a  measure  of  support  highly 
appreciated  by  the  Committee ;  and  they  also  desire  to  gratefully 
acknowledge  the  great  assistance  rendered  by  Mr.  J.  Assbee  in  obtaining 
tbis  welcome  gift. 
The  number  of  children  who  have  been  placed  on  the  Fund  since  the 
commencement  is  eighty-five ;  of  this  number  fifty-eight  are  now 
receiving  the  benefits  of  the  Fund,  to  be  increased  by  those  recom¬ 
mended  for  election  this  day.  The  number  of  children  who  through 
the  age  limit  and  other  causes  have  ceased  to  be  chargeable  to  the  Fund 
is  twenty-seven. 
One  most  pleasing  cause  of  gratification  to  the  Committee  is  the 
letters  of  deep  and  earnest  thankfulness  received  from  the  mothers  of 
children  who  have  ceased  to  be  chargeable  to  the  Fund,  acknowledging 
the  great  help  the  quarterly  payments  have  proved  to  them  in  times  of 
necessity. 
The  Committee,  by  means  of  the  special  grants  they  are  empowered 
to  make,  have  also  been  enabled  to  render  timely  assistance  in  starting 
several  orphans  in  life. 
The  total  amount  paid  to  the  children  since  the  commencement  of 
the  Fund  is  £4918. 
The  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  who  retire  by  rotation 
according  to  Rule  IV.,  are  Messrs.  Marshall,  Bates,  Dean.  Herbst,  Jones, 
May,  Reynolds,  and  Weeks,  all  of  whom  being  eligible  offer  themselves 
for  re-election. 
The  best  thanks  of  this  Committee  are  due,  and  are  hereby  tendered 
to  the  Treasurer,  T.  B.  Haywood,  Esq.,  and  the  Auditor,  John  Fraser, 
Esq.,  who  retire  after  holding  office  since  the  establishment  of  the  Fund. 
The  Committee  have  great  pleasure  in  announcing  that  N.  N.  Sherwood, 
Esq.  (a  munificent  supporter  of  the  Fund),  has  kindly  consented  to 
accept  the  office  of  Treasurer,  and  Peter  Barr,  Esq.,  that  of  Auditor, 
and  they  are  hereby  nominated  by  the  Committee. 
Mr.  A.  F.  Barron  is  again  nominated  as  Secretary  at  the  same 
remuneration. 
CASH  STATEMENT  FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  DECEMBER  31st,  1896. 
RECEIPTS. 
To  Balance  from  last  Account . 
,,  Subscriptions,  General  . 
„  Ditto,  Collected  by  Local  Secs . 
„  Donations,  General  (including  proceeds  of  Sales 
of  Flowers,  Boxes,  Entertainments,  &c. 
„  Ditto,  Collected  by  Local  Secs . 
„  The  Emma  Sherwood  Memorial  . 
„  Annual  Dinner  . 
„  Card  Collection  . 
,,  Advertisements  in  List  of  Subscribers  . 
„  Dividends  on  Stock  and  Interest  on  Deposit 
Note  : — Investments 
2f  per  cent.  Consols  ... 
3  per  cent.  Canada  Stock 
s.  d. 
600 
1 
11 
£291 
5 
6 
74 
0 
0 
365 
5 
6 
156 
1 
10 
58 
13 
9 
214 
15 
7 
... 
13 
0 
0 
887 
o 
O 
6 
•28 
8 
8 
27 
14 
0 
225 
17 
7 
£2362 
6 
9 
£7070 
6 
10 
2000 
0 
0 
£9070  6  10 
EXPENDITURE. 
By  Allowances  to  Orphans  . 
„  Emma  Sherwood  Memorial . 
„  Grants  in  Aid . 
„  Annual  Dinner  . 
,,  Secretary’s  Salary  ...  ...  . . 
„  Printing  and  Posting  Subscribers’  Lists  ... 
,,  Printing  and  Stationery  . 
„  Annual,  General,  and  Committee  Meetings 
,,  Postages  . 
„  Bank  Charges .  . 
,,  Sundry  Expenses  (Petty  Cash) 
,,  Purchase  of  £500  3  per  cent.  Canada  Stock 
„  Balance: 
Cash  at  Bankers  ...  . 
Cash  in  Hand  .  . 
Cash  on  Deposit  ...  . 
£850  5  0 
13  0  0 
5  0  0 
... 
... 
16 
14 
13 
3 
16 
10 
4 
1 
6 
2 
18 
9 
8 
492 
4 
3 
7 
7 
7 
100 
0 
0 
8.  d- 
0 
868  5 
161  17  8 
105  0  0 
31  8  6 
66  2 
530  1 
599  11  10 
£2362  6  9 
Having  inspected  the  Securities  and  Examined  the  Books  and  Vouchers 
supplied  to  us,  we  hereby  Certify  the  above  account  to  be  correct. 
(Signed) 
Dated,  January  23rd,  1897. 
PETER  BARR  1 
M.  ROWAN,  Claphamj 
Auditors. 
It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Assbee,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  that  a 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  be  accorded  to  the  retiring  Treasurer  and  Auditor, 
Messrs.  T.  B.  Haywood  and  J.  Fraser.  Mr.  B.  Wynne  then  moved  that 
Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood  be  appointed  Treasurer  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Hay¬ 
wood.  This  proposition  was  agreeably  accepted,  and  carried  unanimously. 
On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Walker,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  it  was 
agreed  that  Mr.  Peter  Barr  be  elected  Auditor  in  place  of  Mr.  J.  Fraser. 
Mr.  Poupart  moved  that  a  vote  of  thanks  be  given  to  the  retiring 
members  of  the  Committee,  and  that  they  all  be  re-elected.  Mr. 
Cummins  seconded  the  resolution,  which  was  carried  unanimously.  On 
the  proposition  of  Mr.  W.  Marshall,  seconded  by  Mr.  R.  Dean,  Mr.  A.  F. 
iBarron  was  duly  re-elected  Secretary  to  the  Institution. 
Mr.  Marshall  then  moved  that  in  order  to  commemorate  the  Diamond 
Jubilee  of  Her  Most  Gracious  Majesty  the  Queen,  the  whole  thirteen 
children  who  were  presented  to  receive  benefit  should  be  placed  on  the 
Fund  without  election.  He  congratalated  the  Fund  on  being  able  to 
do  this,  stating  that  during  the  ten  years  of  its  existence  nearly  £5000 
had  been  spent  in  charity,  and  that  they  had  been  able  to  put  away  for 
future  use  a  sum  of  £10,000.  Mr.  J;  Lyne  seconded  the  motion,  which 
was  carried  without  dissension.  It  was  further  agreed  that  a  copy  of 
this  resolution  should  be  sent  to  Her  Majesty  and  also  to  Her  Royal 
Highness  the  Princess  of  Wales.  There  being  no  other  business  to 
transact,  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Marshall  for  presiding  brought  the 
proceedings  to  a  close. 
