174 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  24,  1898. 
ROYAL  GARDENERS’  ORPHAN  FUND. 
Annual  General  Meeting. 
Under  the  presidency  of  W.  Marshall,  Esq.,  the  annual  general 
meeting  of  this  admirable  charity  was  held  at  Anderton’s  on  Thursday 
last,  the  number  present  being  about  two  dozen.  Amongst  others  noted 
were  Ur.  Maxwell,  T.  Masters,  and  Messrs.  Harry  J.  Veitch,  A.  Outram, 
G.  Gordon,  J.  Eraser  (Kew),  G.  W.  Cummins,  J.  Walker,  R.  Dean, 
II.  J.  Jones,  J.  Lyne,  B.  Wynne,  H.  B.  May,  W.  Bates,  J.  McLeod,  and 
A.  E.  Barron,  Secretary.  The  majority  of  those  present  were  members 
of  the  Committee,  and  it  speaks  well  for  the  management  that  the 
subscribers  are  content  to  leave  the  affairs  of  the  Eund  in  the  present 
able  hands,  and  do  not  feel  constrained  to  attend  the  general  meeting  to 
set  matters  straight. 
The  adoption  of  the  report  was  moved  by  Mr.  W.  Marshall  in  brief 
terms,  which  added  nothing  to  the  statements  given  above.  Mr.  W.  Bates 
seconded  the  motion,  which  was  carried  unanimously.  The  Treasurer, 
Auditors,  and  Secretary  were  re-elected  without  a  dissentient  voice,  as 
were  those  retiring  members  of  the  Committee  who  were  standing  again. 
ISIessrs.  A.  Outram  and  G.  H.  Richards  were  elected  in  place  of  Messrs. 
H.  Ballantine  and  H.  Cannell. 
Messrs.  R.  Dean,  H.  B.  May,  J.  Walker,  and  J.  E.  McLeod  were 
appointed  scrutineers  of  the  ballot  for  the  election  of  children  to  the 
benefits  of  the  fund.  Eighteen  candidates  were  presented,  and  the  follow¬ 
ing  were  elected.  Agues  Macintosh,  349  ;  Robert  John  Smith,  332  ; 
Jamesina  Baird,  278  ;  Lydia  Annie  Milne,  275  ;  Hermine  Kosbab,  272  ; 
William  Ewart  Holmes,  269  ;  Ruth  Amy  Worth,  241  ;  Margaret  Annie 
Richardson,  232  ;  and  Constance  Mary  James,  209.  Annie  Kathleen 
Erench,  with  166  votes,  was  elected  to  the  benefits  derived  from  the  J.  W. 
Thomson  legacy. 
The  Report. 
The  Executive  Committee,  at  the  close  of  the  tenth  year  of  the 
existence  of  the  fund — it  having  been  established  in  1887— can  look  back 
with  pride  and  satisfaction  upon  the  substantial  progress  made  during  that 
decade.  The  Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Eund  is  now  firmly  established 
among  gardening  institutions,  and  during  the  period  of  its  operations, 
while  it  has  succoured  a  large  number  of  orphan  children,  all  of  them  in 
necessitous  circumstances,  it  has  also  been  able  to  invest  a  small  reserve 
fund.  Your  Committee  feel  they  can  heartily  congratulate  all  those 
constant  and  earnest  supporters  of  the  fund,  who,  since  1887,  have 
rendered  such  valuable  and  acceptable  aid. 
In  submitting  their  annual  report  and  financial  statement,  your 
Committee  have  to  record  with  some  feelings  of  regret,  that  the  receipts 
of  the  past  year  have  not  been  so  satisfactory  as  could  be  desired,  and 
would,  therefore,  urge  upon  the  friends  of  the  charity  the  necessity  of 
increased  efforts  during  the  ensuing  year. 
One  very  gratifying  feature  has  to  "be  recorded  :  the  receipt  of  letters 
of  deep  thankfulness  from  the  mothers  and  guardians  of  children  who 
have  ceased  to  be  chargeable  to  the  fund,  owing  to  the  operation  of  the 
age  limit.  One  mother,  after  expressing  her  sense  of  most  timely  help, 
observes  : — “  I  sincerely  hope  that  my  children  may  help  the  fund  as  they 
have  been  helped  by  it.” 
Besides  the  ordinary  payments  of  the  sum  of  five  shillings  per  week 
to  orphan  children,  your  Committee  have  made  special  grants  in 
necessitous  cases  to  children  on  leaving  school,  or  being  apprenticed  to 
some  trade,  thus  giving  them  a  start  in  life.  The  sum  of  £22  10s.  has 
been  expended  in  this  helpful  way  during  the  year. 
During  the  past  ten  years  ninety-eight  children  have  derived  benefit 
from  the  fund  ;  of  this  number,  sixty-two  are  now  receiving  a  weekly 
allowance.  This  number  will  be  increased  by  those  fortunate  enough  to 
secure  election  to-day.  The  total  amount  paid  to  children  since  the  fund 
was  instituted  is  £5807  5s. 
Another  most  gratifying  circumstance  is  the  amounts  received  from 
collecting  boxes,  the  proceeds  of  concerts,  sales  of  flowers,  &c.,  at  pro¬ 
vincial  flower  shows.  Among  the  most  important  donations  are  those  of 
£50  from  the  Scottish  Horticultural  Association,  part  of  the  proceeds  of 
the  magnificent  exhibition  of  Chrysanthemums  held  in  Edinburgh  in 
November  last,  and  £26  53.  from  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society.  The  Chislehurst  Gardeners’  Society'  have  contributed 
£23  12s.  6d.,  and  the  Altrincham  Gardeners’  Society  £18  8s.,  proceeds  of 
concerts.  Smaller  sums  from  other  societies  have  been  received  and 
proved  equally  acceptable  ;  such  receipts  have  now  become  an  important 
source  of  income,  and  your  Committee  tender  their  most  grateful  thanks 
to  all  who  have  so  materially  helped  to  swell  the  resources  of  the  fund. 
The  sum  of  £457  5s.  lid.  has  been  received  as  a  bequest  made  by  the 
late  Mr.  J.  W.  Thomson,  of  Hayward’s  Heath,  formerly  a  well-known 
nurseryman,  and  invested  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  will.  This 
legacy  will  henceforth  be  known  as  the  “  J.  W.  Thomson  Trust.” 
The  annual  dinner,  held  at  the  Hotel  Cecil  in  April. last,  was  presided 
over  by  Sir  J.  Whittaker  Ellis,  Bart.,  and  resulted  in  a  handsome  subscrip¬ 
tion  list  of  £635.  Your  Committee  owe  a  great  debt  of  gratitude  to  Sir 
J.  W.  Ellis  for  his  very  able  advocacy  of  the  objects  of  the  fund,  and 
tender  him  their  most  hearty  thanks. 
The  best  thanks  of  the  Committee  are  also  due  to  the  Treasurer, 
N.  Sherwood,  Esq.,  for  the  warm  interest  he  takes  in  the  fund,  and  his 
faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  otfee  he  holds  ;  also  to  their 
Auditors,  Mr.  M.  Rowan  and  Mr.  P.  R.  Barr,  for  their  labours  in  auditing 
the  accounts.  The  retiring  Auditor  is  Mr.  M.  Rowan,  who  is  nominated 
for  re-election. 
The  Committee  have  to  deplore  the  loss  by  death  of  Dr.  Robert  Hogg, 
one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  from  the  commencement  of  the  charity  ;  and 
also  of  an  able  colleague,  Mr.  W.  G.  Head,  an  active  supporter  of  the 
Fund,  and  so  long  associated  with  the  Crystal  Palace  at  Sydenham.  Mr. 
G.  H.  Cuthbert,  of  Southgate,  has  been  elected  in  his  stead. 
The  members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  who  retire  by  rotation, 'are 
Messrs.  Assbee,  Ballantine,  Cannell,  Cummins,  Gordon,  Roupell,  and 
Wynne,  all  of  whom  offer  themselves  for  re-election,  with  the  exception 
of  Messrs.  Ballantine  and  Cannell,  who  retire,  Mr.  A.  Outram  and  Mr. 
G.  H.  Richards  being  nominated  to  succeed  them.  Mr.  A.  E.  Barron  is 
again  nominated  as  Secretary,  at  the  same  remuneration. 
The  Friendly  Supper. 
This  was  laid  for  6.30  in  an  adjoining  room.  Mr.  P.  C.  M.  Veitch 
had  been  announced  to  talce  the  chair,  but  was  prevented  by  illness  from 
doing  so.  N.  N.  Sherwood,  Esq.,  therefore  acted  in  that  capacity,  and  a 
very  enjoyable  evening  was  spent. 
After  the  usual  loyal  toasts  had  been  honoured  at  the  Chairman’s 
invitation  Mr.  Sherwood  gave  the  toast  of  the  evening — “  Continued 
Success  and  Prosperity  to  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Orphan  Eund.”  In 
the  course  of  an  interesting  speech  he  urged  upon  his  audience  the 
advisability  of  interesting  as  many  gardeners  as  possible  in  the  “  Fund,” 
and  assured  them  of  the  readiness  of  the  members  of  the  nursery  and 
seed  trade  to  do  all  that  lay  in  their  power  to  help  and  further  the 
interests  of  the  same.  In  referring  to  the  donations  that  had  been  made 
to  the  charity  during  the  year,  he  spoke  of  £31  sent  by  Mr.  M.  Todd  of 
Edinburgh,  which  had  been  received  since  the  publication  of  the  report, 
which  had  therefore  not  appeared  in  it.  He  coupled  with  the  toast  the 
name  of  Mr.  W.  Marshall.  The  latter  gentleman  suitably  responded. 
The  programme  also  included  toasts  to  the  Chairman  from  Mr. 
W.  IMarshall,  and  to  the  Secretary,  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron,  at  the  instance  of 
the  Chairman. 
CASH  STATEMENT 
Receipts. 
FOR  THE  TEAR  ENDING 
DECEMBER  31st,  1897. 
Expenditure. 
£9492  14  2 
£ 
s. 
d. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
To  Balance  from  last  Account . 
•  •  • 
599 
11 
10 
By  Allowances  to  Orphans  . 
...  £853  15 
0 
„  Subscriptions,  General  . 
£280 
9 
6 
,,  Emma  Sherwood  Memorial . 
13  0 
0 
„  Ditto,  Collected  by  Local  Secs . 
69 
2 
0 
„  Grants  in  Aid . 
22  10 
0 
349 
11 
0 
889 
5 
0 
„  Donations  (including  proceeds  of  Sales  of  Flowers, 
,,  Annual  Dinner  . 
•  * •  ••• 
•  .  « 
126 
9 
2 
Boxes,  Entertainments,  &e.)...  . 
211 
6 
9 
,,  Secretary’  Salary  . 
.*• 
•  « 
105 
0 
0 
„  Ditto,  Collected  by  Local  Secs . 
51 
11 
8 
„  Printing  and  Posting  Subscribers’  Lists  ... 
••• 
«•  * 
31 
4 
6 
262 
17 
5 
,,  Collecting  Cards  . 
•  •  .  •  .  » 
11 
13 
4 
,,  The  J.  W.  Thomson  Trust . 
... 
457 
5 
11 
,,  Printing  and  Stationerv  . 
25  14 
3 
,,  The  Emma  Sherwood  Memorial . 
•  •• 
IS 
0 
0 
,,  Annual,  General,  and  Committee  Meetings 
9  16 
2 
„  Annual  Dinner  . 
•  •• 
.  635 
6 
0 
„  Postages  . 
13  10 
1 
„  Card  Collection^  . 
... 
33 
8 
2 
,,  Bank  Charges  ...  . 
2  7 
1 
,,  Advertisements  m  List  of  Subscribers  ... 
«  «  . 
26 
19 
0 
,,  Sundry  Expenses  (Petty  Cash)  . 
16  18 
4 
,,  Dividends  on  Stock  and  Interest  on  Deposit 
... 
247 
1 
9 
68 
6 
11 
,,  Purchase  of  £422  7s.  4d.  3  Canada  Stock 
...  «  •  • 
... 
457 
5 
11 
£2625 
1 
1 
,,  Balance : 
Note  : — Investments 
Cash  at  Bank  . 
...  835  14 
3 
2f  °/o  Consols  . 
£7070 
6 
10 
Cash  in  Hand  . 
0  3 
0 
3  °/o  Canada  Stock  . 
2422 
7 
4 
Cash  on  Deposit  . 
...  100  0 
0 
935 
17 
3 
£2625  1  1 
Having  inspected  the  Securities  and  Examined  the  Books  and  Vouchers 
supnlied  to  us,  we  hereby  certify  the  above  Account  to  be  correct. 
(Signed)  P.  RUDOLPH  BAER, 
M.  ROWAN. 
} 
Auditors. 
Bated  January  2'2nd,  1898. 
