October  21, 1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
397 
elementa  induced  the  “  fixation  ”  of  the  starch  in  the  leaves.  (3)  This 
fixation  prevented  the  transference  of  the  chlorophyll  essential  for  the 
colouring  process,  hence  the  want  of  colour  in  the  Grapes.  As  other 
varieties  do  well  in  the  same  border,  even  produce  prize  Grapes,  there  is, 
as  he  says,  nothing  wrong  with  the  border  stracturally  or  componently. 
That  may  be  for  Vines  generally,  but  some  varieties  do  better  than 
others  in  a  given  soil  and  staple,  and  some  are  not  satisfactory.  Special 
varieties  require  peculiar  conditions  of  soil  and  treatment.  Lady  Downe’s 
being  one  of  them,  and  originated  from  where  the  soil  is  of  an  alluvial 
nature  and  somewhat  ferruginous.  The  berries  are  liable  to  set  very 
indifferently,  scald  more  than  any  other  Grape,  and  the  foliage  is  sooner 
damaged  by  nicotine  vapour.  Nevertheless,  Lady  Downe’s  does  well  in 
some  localities,  and  in  others  is  far  from  satisfactory  in  the  matters 
mentioned,  but  rarely  as  regards  colour,  it  being  one  of  the  best  in  that 
respect,  and  for  retaining  it. 
The  case,  therefore,  is  quite  exceptional,  and  we  advise  the  use  of 
chemical  manures,  which,  perhaps,  are  used,  and  avoid  those  of  the 
stable,  either  in  a  solid  or  liquid  state,  for  this  Grape  under  the 
circumstances,  and  give  it  f  oz.  of  the  following  mixture  : — Sulphate 
of  magnesia,  two  parts  ;  and  sulphate  of  iron,  one  part,  thoroughly 
mixed,  per  square  yard  (1)  when  the  Vines  are  started,  (2)  again  when 
the  Grapes  are  set,  and  (3)  a  third  dressing  when  the  berries  are  half 
swelled.  It  should  be  applied  along  with  chemical  fertilisers,  preferably 
mixed  with  them  at  the  rate  of  f  oz.  to  3^  ozs.  of  the  advertised  fertilisers, 
so  that  the  dressing  of  such  mixture  will  be  4  ozs.  per  square  yard. 
This  will  help  both  as  regards  the  shanking  and  the  defective  colouring. 
ANOMATHECA  CRUENTA. 
This  plant  is  widely  known  and  of  easy  culture.  It  is  quite  hardy 
in  the  south  of  England,  and  it  will  even  survive  ordinary  winters  some 
distance  north  if  a  sheltered  position  be  chosen  or  protection  be  afforded 
when  necessary,  though  they  may  be  successfully  grown  in  pots.  Light 
turfy  loam  and  peat,  with  a  good  proportion  of  sand,  will  suit  them 
well,  and  as  growth  is  advancing  an  occasional  supply  of  weak  liquid 
manure  will  be  advantageous,  improving  the  fiowers  both  in  size  and 
colour. 
The  plant  is  of  slender  and  graceful  habit ;  the  leaves  arc  about  half 
an  inch  broad,  tapering  somewhat  like  Ixias  and  other  similar  plants. 
The  flowers  have  each  a  long  tube  and  six  elliptical  divisions,  bright  red 
in  colour,  with  a  tinge  of  scarlet ;  the  three  lower  divisions  are  broader 
than  the  others,  and  have  a  dark  blotch  at  the  base.  Though  individually 
they  do  not  last  long,  the  scapes  are  produced  in  constant  succession 
during  the  greater  part  of  summer,  and  even  as  late  as  September.  The 
woodcut  (fig.  63)  is  a  representation  of  this  pretty  bulbous  plant. 
UNITED  HORTICULTURAL  BENEFIT  AND  PROVIDENT 
SOCIETY. 
Annual  Dinner. 
'  On  Thursday  last,  October  17th,  the  ninth  anniversary  dinner  of  the 
above  Society  was  held  at  the  Cannon  Street  Hotel,  under  the  presidency 
of  James  H.  Veitch,  Esq.  One  hundred  and  nine  members  and  friends 
sat  down  to  dinner,  the  tables  being  tastefully  decorated  by  Miss  Hudson, 
withstands  supplied  by  Mr,  J.  R.  Chard,  Stoke  Newington.  Amongst 
those  present  were  Messrs.  H.  J.  Jones,  J.  Hudson,  H.  Cutbush, 
J.  Iceton,  G.  Wythes,  A.  Moss,  G.  J.  Ingram,  N.  Cole,  J.  Heal,  A.  W. 
..Weeks,  and  many  other  patrons  of  horticulture,  nurserymen,  and 
gardeners.  After  the  usual  loyal  toasts  had  been  given. 
The  Chairman  rose  amidst  applause  to  propose  that  of  the  evening, 
“Success  to  the  Society,”  and  addressed  the  company  as  follows: — 
Gentlemen,  I  do  not  purpose  to-night  to  weary  you  with  figures,  or  to  enter 
fully  into  the  benefits  to  which  members  of  this  Society  are  entitled,  as 
probably  most  of  you  are  better  acquainted  with  them  than  I  am  ;  but 
there  are  one  or  two  points  I  would  like  to  mention  if  you  will  give  me 
your  attention  for  a  few  moments.  First,  and  most  important  of  these, 
is  the  welcome  news — news  which,  till  this  moment,  has  not  generally 
been  made  known,  though  it  came  into  force  on  July  the  1st,  and  news 
of  which  I  would  beg  all  who  are  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  Society, 
to  take  special  note,  that  the  Committee  have  very  recently  felt  themselves 
in  a  position  to  raise  the  weekly  allowance  in  case  of  sickness  ;  thus  those 
who  contribute  on  the  lower  scale  will  in  future,  should  need  arise, 
receive  weekly  12s.  instead  of  10s.  6d.,  and  those  on  the  higher,  ISs. 
instead  of  16 l  (Applause.)  Striking  indeed  is  this  in  view  of  last 
winter’s  heavy  sick  list,  due  in  part  to  the  severe  weather,  and  in  part  to 
the  then  prevalent  epidemic  of  influenza  ;  but  more  especially  is  it 
noteworthy  in  face  of  the  fact,  well  known  to  the  oificials  of  this  Society, 
that  such  great  institutions  as  the  Foresters  have  had  to  raise  the  sub¬ 
scriptions  to  tbeir  benefit  fund,  though  allowing  no  more  in  case  of  sickness 
than  this  Society.  That  the  funds  are  sufficiently  strong  to  permit  of  the 
weekly  allowance  in  case  of  sickness  being  raised  without  raising  the 
subscription  there  is  no  doubt — never  has  the  Society’s  condition  been 
so  satisfactory  as  at  the  present  time — the  invested  funds  in  trustees’ 
stocks  now  standing  at  £10,300  (though  I  am  told  their  market  value 
to-day  is  close  on  £11,000)  showing  an  increase  of  £600  on  the  last 
balanoeisheet.  (Cheers.)  For  the  past  three  years  the  investments 
have  increased  at  the  rate  of  £1000  per  annum,  whereas  only  ten  ' 
years  since,  when  the  sum  of  £300  was  invested,  the  members  and 
officials  of  the  Society  congratulated  themselves  on  having  invested 
more  in  that  year  than  in  any  previous  one. 
The  cause  of  the  funds  permitting,  as  they  undoubtedly  do,  of  this 
great  move  is  to  a  large  extent  due  to  the  few  cases  of  illness  the 
healthiest  of  all  callings  provide,  and  to  the  fact  that  the  majority  of 
members  are  in  permanent  work,  and  do  not  come  on  the  sick  fund 
when  ill  for  only  a  few  days,  an  advantage  less  felt  by  other  benefit 
societies,  as  the  system  of  work  by  the  hour  becomes  more  and  more 
common  ;  in  which  case,  of  course,  pay  is  stopped  immediately  the  work 
is  left,  no  matter  for  how  short  a  time,  and  the  member  must  in  most  cases 
at  once  seek  the  assistance  of  his  society. 
On  the  necessity  for  thrift  in  general,  and  the  strong  advisability  of 
joining  such  a  benefit  and  provident  society  as  this  when  young,  it 
would  be  easy  to  dwell,  and  much  might  be  said  in  particular  on  the 
necessity  of  thrift  for  the  young  men  and  foremen  in  the  bothies  of  the 
large  gardens  of  this  country,  more  especially  as  the  occupation  they 
have  chosen  has  suffered  so  much,  and  is  still  suffering,  through  recent 
years  of  depression,  and  through  the  very  large  number  who  are  con¬ 
tinually  entering  its  ranks.  Travelling  lately  in  various  parts  of  this 
country  I  could  not  help  being  struck  by  the  number  of  foremen 
capable  in  every  way  of  taking  head  places,  and  who,  even  with  strong 
influence  to  assist  them,  fail  to  obtain  the  much  coveted  post.  Some 
have  been  waiting  for  years,  and  are  apparently  as  far  off  to-day  as  ever 
from  attaining  their  wish.  Of  the  right  age,  with  ample  experience, 
good  characters,  and  with  the  very  best  intentions,  they  must  see  how 
difllcult  it  is  in  the  heyday  of  their  youth  and  strength  to  provide 
even  for  the  immediate  future,  and  they  may  rely,  should  fortune  not 
always  favour  them,  or  should  they,  through  any  one  of  many  possible 
circumstances,  get  thrown  out  late  in  life,  it  will  be  far  harder. 
To  such  would  1  especially  recommend  the  Benefit  and  Provident 
Society.  The  younger  one  joins  the  sooner  a  large  deposit  is  acquired, 
and  the  sooner  one  will  find  oneself  in  the  position  of  certain  members 
at  present,  whose  interest  on  their  deposit  is  greater  than  the  amount 
annually  paid  in  subscriptions.  Of  its  security  and  successful  future 
they  may  feel  assured  ;  and  even  now,  despite  an  average  loss  per  annum 
of  thirty  members,  due  to  death  and  to  some  who  allow  their  payments 
to  lapse,  the  joining  members  average  sixty — a  nett  gain  of  thirty  new 
members  per  annum.  Not  sufficiently  well  known  perhaps  is  one  very 
important  rule — viz.,  that  by  which  a  member  on  attaining  the  age  of 
