January  26,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
71 
One  item  in  the  expenses  he  thought  might  not  be  thoroughly  under¬ 
stood — viz,,  that  of  £31  Os.  6d.  for  brokerage,  which  was  incurred  through 
the  death  of  Dr.  Hogg  and  the  retirement  of  Mr.  .John  Lee,  necessitating 
the  transference  of  investments  to  the  new  trustees,  B.  Schroder,  Esq., 
and  the  Hon.  Walter  Rothschild,  M.P.  He  added  that  the  broker  had 
been  generous  enough  to  charge  only  half  fee.s.  It  might,  he  continued, 
be  considered  a  bold  step  on  the  part  of  the  Committee  to  place  six  more 
persons  on  the  Fund  than  had  ever  previously  been  the  case,  but  there 
could  be  no  standing  still,  there  must  be  either  progress  or  retrogression. 
To  maintain  this  high  standpoint,  he  observed,  the  Committee  required 
more  funds.  Mr.  Veitch  adverted  to  the  prolongation  of  life  on  the  part 
of  the  pensioners,  and  thought  it  might  be  largely  due  to  the  benefits  the 
Institution  was  able  to  confer  upon  them.  With  a  brief  word  on  other 
points,  Mr.  Veitch  resumed  his  seat,  and  Mr.  J.  Hill  White  having  come 
forward  as  seconder,  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  balance  sheet  was 
carried  unanimously. 
The  election  of  ofiBcers  for  the  ensuing  year  was  then  proceeded  with, 
and  it  is  superduous  to  say  Mr.  Veit  h  was  unanimously  re-elected,  as 
also  was  Mr.  O.  J.  Ingram,  both  of  whom  made  a  few  remarks.  Dr. 
Masters  proposed,  and  Mr.  .1.  Fraser  seconded,  that  Messrs.  J.  Sexby, 
A.  Watkins,  W.  Iceton,  and  G.  Norman  be  placed  on  the  Committee  ; 
and  that  Messrs.  R.  A.  Milligan  Hogg  and  J.  Rochford  be  elected  in 
place  of  Messrs.  H.  J.  Cutbush  and  H.  Williams,  who  retire  by  rotation 
This  was  carried.  Messrs.  T.  Manning,  T.  Swift,  and  J.  Willard  were 
re-elected  auditors.  Mr,  W.  Denning  proposed  that  John  Collins, 
Chas.  Goodall,  Wm.  Kidd,  Jonathan  Squibbs,  and  Geo.  Yearsley  be 
placed  on  the  funds  without  election,  and  this,  with  Mr.  Melady  as 
seconder,  was  carried. 
Other  purely  formal  business  having  been  disposed  of,  the  customary 
votes  of  thanks  closed  the  meeting. 
DECLARATIOX  OP’  THE  POLL. 
The  result  of  the  poll  was  declared  at  5.12  P.M.  The  candidates 
elected,  and  the  number  of  votes  polled  by  each,  are  appended  :  Joseph 
Shearn,  4829  ;  Alexander  Lee,  4826  ;  .James  Plevy,  4796  ;  Emma  Wood¬ 
ward,  4517  ;  Sarah  Ann  Sims,  4159  ;  Caroline  Wood,  4134  ;  Annie 
Hatch,  3938  ;  Thomas  Cawley,  3851  ;  George  Staples,  3829  ;  George 
Cragg,  3825  ;  Alfred  Barnfield.  3719  ;  .John  Akehurst,  3191.  All  those 
polling  3000  votes  and  upwards  were  elected.  The  totality  of  votes 
polled  was  about  92,000,  and  there  were  no  fewer  than  561  spoiled  votes — 
a  serious  item. 
A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  scrutineers  of  the  ballot  and  to  the  Chairman 
concluded  the  business. 
The  Annual  Friendly  Supper. 
About  seventy  persons  sat  down  to  the  annual  supper,  which  was 
served  in  an  adjoining  room  at  six  o’clock.  iVIr.  George  Monro  occupied 
the  chair.  Amongst  the  notables  present  were  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks, 
and  Messrs.  H.  J.  Veitch,  J.  H.  Veitch,  N.  N.  Sherwood,  H.  B.  May, 
H.  ,J.  Jones,  G.  Bunyard,  Owen  Thomas,  Arnold  Moss,  E.  J.  Monro, 
T.  Rochford,  P.  Kay,  P.  Crowley,  J.  Assbee,  and  C.  Poupart. 
The  well-served  repast  having  been  discussed  with  right  good  will, 
and  the  customary  loyal  toasts  honoured,  the  Chairman  proceeded  to  give 
the  toast  of  the  evening — “  Continued  Success  and  Prosperity  to  Our 
Institution.”  In  succinct  fashion  Mr.  Monro  sketched  the  progress  and 
aims  of  the  Institution  since  its  inauguration  in  1838.  He  drew  particular 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  gardening  press  had  always  given  their 
doings  the  fullest  publicity  free  of  charge,  only  an  infinitesimal  amount 
being  spent  on  advertising.  In  sixty  years  £30,000  had  been  distributed 
to  the  deserving  poor  gardeners  and  their  widows,  and  the  safety  of  all 
pensions  had  been  fully  guaranteed  by  the  investment  of  moneys  bearing 
interest.  This  could  not  have  been  done  had  they  relied  alone  on  the 
help  received  from  gardeners.  The  Victorian  Era  Fund  was  alluded  to, 
and  Mr.  Monro  said  that  as  the  £5000  of  the  original  scheme  had  now 
been  all  collected  or  promised  with  the  exception  of  about  £180  they 
might  consider  the  Fund  as  completed  ;  at  any  rate,  be  felt  certain  that  it 
would  be  completed  in  the  course  of  1899.  He  urged  upon  gardeners  to 
join  the  Society  Referring  to  the  removal  of  the  offices  to  175,  Victoria 
Street,  he  said  that  that  very  afternoon  they  had  had  evidence  that 
prominence  of  offices  was  a  good  thing,  for  a  gentleman  had  called 
and  left  £20  anonymously  in  memory  of  Robert  Fortune.  In  concluding 
his  earnest  and  sympathetic  speech  Mr.  Monro  coupled  the  toast  with  the 
name  ( f  Mr.  H.  J.  Veitch. 
In  responding,  Mr.  Veitch  met  with  quite  an  ovation.  He  con¬ 
gratulated  the  Institution  on  its  continued  prosperity  and  progress,  and 
said  that  if  a  certain  cheque  had  been  sent  in  three  days  earlier  than  it 
was  the  year  lately  closed  would  have  shown  a  bigger  subscription  list 
than  any  other.  The  pensions  given  to  the  aged  and  infirm  had  worked 
incalculable  good,  and  in  some  cases  it  had  undoubtedly  been  the  means 
of  lengthening  the  lives  of  the  recipients,  for  one  had  lived  to  the  mature 
age  of  103,  despite  the  fact  that  when  he  was  seventy-two  the  doctor  had 
averred  that  he  could  not  live  many  months.  Gratified  at  the  success  of 
the  Victorian  Era  Fund,  Mr.  Veitch  proposed  the  formation  of  a 
“  Samaritan  Fund,”  the  interest  of  which  should  be  employed  to  help 
the  immediate  wants  of  candidates  for  pensions  who  had  not  been 
subscribers  to  the  Institution.  About  £2000  would  suffice  to  found  such 
a  fund.  He  also  would  like  to  see  some  alterations  in  the  system  of 
voting,  as  he  thought  a  subscription  should  carry  the  same  number  of 
votes  each  year.  He  was  glad  to  be  able  to  tell  them  that  the  Earl  of 
Derby  had  consented  to  take  the  chair  at  the  annual  dinner  on  .July  28th. 
In  giving  the  toast  of  “Our  Country  Friends.”  Mr.  Owen  Thomas 
spoke  of  how  difficult  and  delicate  was  the  persuading  of  eminent  men  to 
take  the  chair  at  the  important  meetings.  The  rcope  of  the  Institution 
was  greatly  extended  by  the  help  they  received  from  country  friends, 
although  he  was  sorry  to  say  they  got  exceedingly  little  help  from 
Scotland,  Ireland,  or  Wales.  Mr.  J.  Hill  White  ot  the  Worcester 
auxiliary,  whose  name  was  coupled  with  the  toast,  replied. 
Mr.  X.  N.  Sherwood,  in  his  usual  happy  way,  proposed  “  Our  Visitors.” 
Mr.  Jeffries,  Mr.  Bilney,  and  Mr.  W.  E.  Brooks  (who  came  in  late) 
responded. 
Mr.  Arnold  Moss  reminded  the  audience  of  the  favour  Mr.  Monro 
had  done  them  in  presiding  that  evening,  and  he  also  spoke  of  the  quiet, 
unobtrusive,  and  yet  effectual  way  in  which  he  had  worked  for  the 
“  Benevolent.”  Mr.  Monro  acknowledged  in  a  few  well  chosen  words,  and 
then  proposed  the  health  of  their  excellent  Secretary,  Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram, 
Fig.  15. — Meyenia  erecta. 
Several  donations  were  announced  during  the  course  of  the  evening, 
and  included  five  guineas  from  Mr.  Arnold  Moss  and  £10  from  Mr. 
Osman.  Both  Mr.  H.  J.  Veitch  and  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood  promised 
their  help  lor  the  “  Samaritan  Fund,”  and  Mr.  W.  E.  Brooks  announced 
his  intention  of  becoming  a  subscriber. 
Numerous  songs  were  given,  and  Mr.  Poupart  was  a  particular  success 
in  this  direction,  obtaining  a  most  vociferous  encore  for  the  sweet  old 
ballad  “  Mary.”  The  cornet  solos  by  Mr.  E.  J.  Munro  formed  a  pleasing 
addition,  and  were  much  appreciated. 
MEYENIAS. 
The  Meyenias,  “Journeyman,”  constitute  a  small  genus  which  is 
closely  allied  to  the  Thunbergias,  although  the  former  are  by  no  means 
so  well  known  as  the  latter.  The  cultural  requirements  of  the  Meyenias 
are  few.  If  a  light  rich  compost  of  fibrous  loam,  peat,  leaf  soil,  and  a 
small  proportion  of  well-decayed  manure  be  employed,  and  the  plants 
grown  in  a  brisk  moist  stove  temperature,  very  little  difficulty  will  be 
experienced  in  obtaining  vigorous  specimens  that  will  flower  satisfactorily. 
A  position  well  exposed  to  light,  and  yet  sufficiently  shaded  in  hot  sunny 
weather  to  prevent  the  foliage  being  scorched,  or  the  colour  of  the  flowers 
deteriorated,  is  beneficial,  with  abundant  supplies  of  water  to  the  roots 
and  on  the  foliage  while  growth  is  active.  The  plants  have  sometimes  a 
tendency  to  become  rather  straggling  unless  a  little  attention  is  given  to 
pruning  the  too  greatly  extended  or  bare  shoots  ;  but  this  is  a  matter 
that  is  very  easily  accomplished.  As  regards  increasing  the  stock, 
cuttings  are  readily  obtained,  and  if  judiciously  selected  usually  strike 
readily  in  an  ordinary  propagating  frame.  The  moderately  firm  wood 
should  be  chosen,  as  the  tender  extremities  of  the  shoots  are  rather  liable 
lone^of  the  species  of  shrubby  habit,  M.  erecta,  is  represented  by  the 
engraving  (fig.  15).  It  is  a  handsome  plant,  with  dark  green  leaves  and 
trumpet- shaped  flowers,  the  corollas  of  which  have  a  pale  yellow  tube,  a 
throat  of  a  deeper  yellow,  and  a  rich  purple  hmb.  It  is  a  really  useful 
plant,  as  flowers  are  produced  nearly  all  through  the  year,  a  quality 
which  distinguishes  it  from  the  other  forms. 
