January  27,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
87 
receipts  were  £748,  and  a  sum  of  £512  was  awarded  to  thirty-five 
pensioners.  Now  the  pensioners  were  168  in  number,  and  a  sum  of 
£3000  was  disbursed  annually  amongst  them.  Since  the  Institution  was 
inaugurated  £71,000  had  been  distributed  to  deserving  persons.  The 
year  lately  closed  had  been  the  most  prosperous  the  Society  had  ever  had, 
for  while  the  total  receipts  in  1896  were  £4739,  in  1897  they  were  £8575, 
or  nearly  double.  This  was  of  course  due  to  the  special  appeal  for  the 
Victorian  Era  Fund.  Mr.  Sutton  paid  a  great  tribute  of  praise  to  the 
energy  and  business  ability  of  the  esteemed  Secretary,  Mr.  G.  .1.  Ingram, 
and  mentioned  a  case  where,  owing  to  foresight  and  promptitude, 
Mr.  Ingram  had  obtained  from  the  legacy  left  to  charity  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Gibbs  £250  for  the  Society.  In  conclusion  he  expressed 
his  regret  that  the  Institution  could  not  help  even  more  than  it  had  done 
and  was  still  doing.  He  coupled  with  the  toast  the  name  of  Mr.  H.  J. 
Veitch,  who,  in  responding,  said  that  he,  in  common  with  all  the  officers 
of  the  Society,  was  actuated  by  a  desire  to  do  his  best.  He  then  proceeded 
to  supplement  the  facts,  showing  how  well  they  had  progressed,  which  had 
been  given  by  the  Chairman  and  by  others,  dealing  especially  with  the 
last  ten  years.  The  funded  property  of  the  Society  ten  years  ago  was 
£21,000,  but  at  that  time  the  interest  in  Consols  was  reduced,  and  a 
larger  amount  had  to  be  invested  to  make  up  for  this.  Now  the  vested 
funds  amounted  to  £29,000.  Ten  years  ago  they  had  12G  pensioners, 
now  there  were  168,  more  pensioners  having  put  on  the  books  during 
the  last  two  years  than  in  any  other  three.  Ten  years  ago  there  were  no 
auxiliary  societies  ;  now  there  were  several,  including  a  very  healthy  one 
at  Worcester.  He  was  sorry  to  say,  however,  that  practical  gardeners 
did  not  support  the  Society  as  they  ought  to  do.  Mr.  Veitch  mentioned 
the  shadow  that  had  passed  over  them  in  the  loss  of  the  two  Trustees, 
Dr.  Hogg  and  Mr.  John  Lee.  Speaking  of  the  Victorian  Era  Fund  he 
said  it  was  destined  for  the  relief  of  unsuccessful  candidates  who  had  been 
subscribers.  He  had  made  a  calculation  with  regard  to  the  amount  of 
money  to  be  paid  to  those  who  benefited  under  this  fund,  and  it  would 
range  from  £10  downwards,  according  to  the  respective  lengths  of  their 
subscriptions.  They  required  £5000  to  complete  the  scheme,  and 
although  they  had  not  been  able  to  collect  all  this  the  fund  was  still  open, 
and  he  hoped  yet  to  see  the  full  £5000  in  hand. 
Mr.  Bunyard  proposed  “  The  Committee,”  coupling  this  with  the 
name  of  Mr.  Owen  Thomas.  Ho  was  pleased  when  Mr.  Sutton  joined 
the  Committee,  as  he  felt  sure  that  the  Society  would  profit  by  his 
business  ability  and  experience.  Mr.  Owen  Thomas,  in  replying,  spoke 
to  his  regret  at  the  absence  of  Mr.  G.  Munro.  He  thought  t*iat  the 
Society  could  well  congratulate  itself  on  its  satisfactory  position.  It  was 
to  Mr.  H.  J.  Veitch  that  they  were  indebted  for  the  establishment  of  the 
Victor  an  Era  Fund.  In  the  absence  of  the  llev.  W.  Wilks  the  toast  of 
“  Our  Country  Friends  and  Supporters  ”  was  given  by  Mr.  H.  B.  May, 
Mr.  J.  H.  White,  of  the  Gloucester  Auxiliary,  replying.  Although  they 
had  nearly  been  juliileed  to  death  at  Gloucester,  he  said,  their  contribu¬ 
tions  Jamounted  to  250  guineas  during  the  twenty-seven  months  their 
branch  had  been  started,  and  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  send  further 
substantial  sums  in  the  near  future.  He  thought  that  every  county 
should  have  its  auxiliary  society.  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood  gave  “  The 
Chairman,”  who  suitably  responded. 
A  most  enjoyable  evening  was  spent,  and  this  was  largely  due  to  some 
capital  songs  by  Messrs.  Fred  Bevan,  J.  H.  White,  concertina  solos  by 
Mr.  Fred  Bevan,  and  a  cornet  solo  by  Mr.  Edwin  G.  Munro,  all  of  which 
were  much  appreciated  and  heartily  applauded.  The  arrangements 
altogether  reflected  great  credit  upon  those  who  organised  and  executed 
them. 
BRIEF  NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
{.Continued  from  page  18.) 
POLYGALA  CHAMiEBUXUS. 
^  The  Box-leaved  Milkwort,  as  it  is  popularly  termed,  is  one  of  the 
dwarf  evergreen  shrubs  which  are  alike  useful  in  or  out  of  bloom.  It  is 
neat  in  habit,  and  its  little  flowers  are  very  pleasing  with  their  Pea-like 
blooms.  Polygala  Chamsebuxus  is  by  no  means  a  new  plant,  its  intro¬ 
duction  dating  back  to  more  than  230  years  ago.  By  the  seventeenth 
century  botanists  the  plant  was  named  Chamaebuxus,  from  Greek  words 
signifying  “  low-growing  Box.”  On  the  adoption  of  the  name  Polygala 
the  former  generic  name  was  retained  as  the  specific  one. 
The  Box-leaved  Milkwort  is  partial  to  a  peaty  soil  with  a  fair  amount 
of  sand  intermixed.  It  may  also  be  grown  in  soil  of  a  heavier  texture, 
and  in  this  will  grow  taller  and  more  robust  looking.  In  light  peaty  soil 
its  height  is  from  about  6  to  9  inches,  but  in  that  of  a  stronger  character 
it  may  grow  1  foot  high.  It  was  introduced  from  the  Austrian  and  Swiss 
Alps,  and  it  has  been  observed  that  on  the  granite  formations,  and 
particularly  in  the  Southern  Tyrol,  the  variety  with  purple  flowers  occurs. 
The  ordinary  species  has  small  Pea-shaped  looking  flowers,  white  and 
pale  yellow  at  first,  the  latter  colour  afterwards  deepening  to  dark  yellow, 
and  on  some  parts  to  brown.  The  leaves  of  the  plant  are  fairly  well 
described  by  the  popular  name  of  “  Box-like  ”  Milkwort,  and  much  re¬ 
semble  those  of  the  dwarf  Box  used  for  edging  walks.  It  comes  into 
bloom  in  April  (or  in  late  seasons  May),  and  flowers  for  several  months. 
P.  Chamsebuxus  is  not  a  difficult  plant  to  propagate,  the  process 
being  effected  by  taking  off  slips  or  cuttings  with  a  “heel”  of  the  old 
wood  attached,  and  inserting  these  in  small  pots  filled  with  light  soil  and 
surfaced  with  sand.  These  pots  are  then  carefully  watered  and  kept 
close  and  shaded  for  some  time.'  Plants  which  are  of  some  size  may  be 
divided  in  the  end  of  August  or  in  September.  One  cannot  recommend  too 
highly  this  neat  little  Milkwort. 
Leiophylltjm  buxifolium. 
This  little  plant  has  as  many  aliases  as  a  professional  rogue.  These 
have  given,  and  still  give,  a  good  deal  of  trouble  and  annoyance  to 
gardeners  and  others.  It  has  been  named  L.  Lyoni,  L.  prostratum, 
L.  serpyllifolium,  and  L.  thymifolium,  as  well  as  Ledum  buxifolium, 
L.  serpyllifolijim,  and  L.  thymifolium.  I  received  it  under  the  name  of 
Ijcdum  Lyoni,  but  the  authority  of  the  Kew  “Index  ”  is  ample  warrant  for 
the  use  of  the  name  of  Leiophyllum  buxifolium,  which  is  here  adopted. 
To  judge  by  appearance  L.  serpyllifolium  or  L.  thymifolium  (which  latter 
name  Maund  says  applies  to  the  small-leaved  form)  would  be  more  in 
accordance  with  the  leaf  features  of  this  pretty  Sand  Myrtle. 
It  comes  from  Carolina  and  the  Pine  barrens  of  New  Jersey,  and  was 
introduced  in  1736.  Its  full  height  is  about  1  foot,  but  it  does  not  often 
grow  so  high,  and  from  4  to  9  inches  is  more  commonly  its  stature.  It 
belongs  to  the  natural  order  of  Ericaceae,  and  is  of  compact,  bushy,  and 
evergreen  habit.  The  small,  pinkish-white  flowers  open  in  May  or  June, 
and  grow  in  corymbs  at  the  ends  of  the  branches.  The  leaves  are  small. 
and  in  autumn  some  assume  a  reddish  colour.  A  cool  situation  in  sandy 
peat  is  that  recommended  for  L.  buxifolium,  and  care  must  be  taken  that 
it  never  becomes  too  dry  or  the  leaves  may  drop.  It  is  increased  by 
careful  division  or  by  layers. 
Olearia  Haasti. 
It  is  not  every  one  of  the  Daisy  Bushes  which  can  be  safely  planted  in 
the  rock  garden  without  some  winter  protection.  Haast’s  Daisy  Bush  is, 
however,  the  hardiest  of  all  the  Olearias,  and  is  pleasing  in  winter  or 
spring  with  its  glossy  evergreen  leaves,  or  in  autumn  with  its  heads  of 
white  Daisy-like  blooms.  It  comes  into  flower  in  August,  the  flower  heads 
being  arranged  in  cymes.  The  leaves,  which  are  about  an  inch  long,  are 
elliptical  in  form,  and  are  glossy  green  above  and  white  beneath. 
O.  Haasti  grows  from  2  to  4  feet  or  more  high.  It  is  a  native  of  New 
Zealand,  and  seems  to  thrive  well  in  almost  any  soil.  I  think  it  inferior  in 
beauty  of  flower  to  O.  stellulata  (fig.  14),  but  for  the  decoration  of  the  rock 
garden  in  winter  it  has  some  advantages  by  reason  of  the  greater  bright¬ 
ness  of  its  foliage.  It  can  easily  be  kept  within  bounds  by  pruning  or 
cutting  back.  The  recognised  method  of  propagation  is  by  means  of  half- 
ripened  shoots  put  into  sandy  soil,  under  a  bell-glass,  and  shaded.  I  have, 
however,  successfully  struck  slips  or  cuttings,  taken  off  with  a  heel,  and 
placed  in  pots  in  a  greenhouse. — Alpinus. 
(To  be  continued.) 
