153 
Februai^  23,  1899. 
JOUILVA  L 
OF 
HORTTCULTUJIE  AND 
COTTA  GE  a  A  RDENEIL 
ROYAL  GAUDENEllS’  ORPHAN  FUND. 
The  meetinf^  at  Anderton’s  Hotel  on  Friday  afternoon  last,  when  the 
subjoined  report  and  balance-sheet  were  presented,  was  a  comparatively 
large  one.  The  work,  under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  W.  Marshall,  proceeded 
smoothly  and  satisfactorily.  Amongst  the  best  known  participators  in 
the  meeting  were  Dr.  Maxwell  T.  Masters  (who  iinhappdy  does  not  yet 
look  well),  and  Messrs.  II.  .1.  Veitch,  W.  Roupell,  G.  Asshee,  II.  .1.  .Jones, 
C.  Osman,  K.  Dean,  A.  Dean,  II.  B.  May,  G.  Gordon,  I'.  R.  Barr, 
A.  Outram,  W.  Denning,  II.  .1.  Cutbush,  T.  Lyne,  W,  II.  Divers, 
W.  Bates,  G.  .J.  Ingram,  and  .1.  Smith. 
After  reading  the  notice  convening  the  meeting  and  other  formal 
observances,  the  following  report  and  balance-sheet,  which  were  distributed 
to  the  members  several  days  ago,  were  taken  as  read. 
ANNUAL  REPORT  FOR  1898. 
At  the  close  of  the  eleventh  year  since  the  institution  of  the  Fund 
your  Committee  are  enabled  to  announce  that  it  is  gratifying  to  find  that 
there  is  an  increase  in  the  annual  subscriptions,  though  the  Committee 
are  compelled  to  admit  that  they  have  not  hitherto  received  that  measure 
of  support  from  the  gardeners  of  the  kingdom  that  they  had  hoped  for  in 
the  early  days  of  the  Fund.  The  financial  support  received  has  largely 
been  derived  from  sources  the  existence  of  which  was  scarcely  contem¬ 
plated  at  the  outset,  such  as  receipts  from  the  sales  of  flowers  at  horti¬ 
cultural  exhibitions,  the  opening  of  gardens  and  plant  houses  to  the  public, 
concerts,  &c.  Gardeners’  societies  in  particular  have  given  a  generous 
measure  of  support,  which  materially  assisted  the  Committee  in  adminis¬ 
tering  relief  to  the  fatherless,  when  it  was  most  urgently  needed.  In  view 
of  the  number  of  applicants  for  the  benefits  of  the  Fund,  your  Committee 
do  most  earnestly  appeal  for  the  sympathy  and  support  of  the  entire 
gardening  community,  and  esirecially  to  that  section  of  it  for  whose 
orphan  children  the  assistance  afforded  by  the  Fund  is  solely  intended. 
There  are  now  sixty-eight  children  receiving  the  benefits  of  the 
Fund,  in  addition  to  those  to  be  elected  this  day.  Most  gratifying 
assurances  are  constantly  being  received  from  the  mothers  of  orphan 
children,  to  the  effect  that  the  assistance  rendered  during  the  time  the 
child  was  on  the  Fund  proved  of  unspeakable  advantage  to  many  a 
struggling  widow  ;  and  not  less  satisfactory  has  been  the  testimony  borne 
to  the  timely  and  valuable  aid  rendered  to  some  orphans  in  giving  them  a 
start  in  life  after  they  had  ceased  to  be  chargeable  to  the  Fund. 
The  total  number  of  children  who  have  been  placed  on  the  Fund 
•  since  its  foundation  is  103,  and  the  total  amount  paid  to  the  orphans  is 
£6836  153.  Special  grants  in  aid  have  been  made  this  year  to  the  amount 
of  £18  5s. 
The  annual  festival  took  place  at  the  Hotel  Mdtropole  in  April  last, 
and  the  Committee  were  fortunate  in  securing  the  valued  services  o'’ 
Charles  E.  Keyser,  Esq.,  Aldermnston  Court,  Reading,  High  Sheriff  of 
Berkshire,  as  their  Chairman,  whose  forcible  appeal  in  aid  of  the  Fund 
assisted  in  realising  the  sum  of  £557  11s. 
Your  Committee  have  great  pleasure  in  placing  on  record  their  high 
sense  of  the  important  services  rendered  to  the  Fund  by  the  Treasurer, 
N.  N.  Sherwood,  Esq.,  whose  generous  support  of  the  charitable  institu- 
■  tions  connected  with  horticulture*  is  so  keenly  appreciated  by  the  whole 
gardening  community  ;  and  they  gave  hearty  thunks  to  their  Auditors, 
Messrs.  Martin  Rowan  and  1’.  Rudolph  Barr,  for  bestowing  so  much  atten¬ 
tion  in  auditing  the  accounts.  Mr.  Barr  is  the  retiring  Auditor,  and  is 
nominated  by  your  Committee  for  re-election. 
By  the  death  of  Baron  Ferdinand  de  Rothschild  the  Fund  loses  one  of 
its  Vice-Presidents,  and  a  generous  supporter  for  several  years  past.  The 
Committee  recommend  that  C.  E.  Keyser,  Esq.,  be  this  day  elected  a 
Vice-President  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
It  is  with  great  regret  that  your  Committee  have  to  announce  the 
retirement  of  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron  from  the  post  of  Secretary  to  the  Fund 
through  failing  health.  As  one  of  the  chief  promoters  of  the  land  and 
its  Secretary  since  its  establishment,  Mr.  Barron  has  done  much  to 
further  its  interests,  and  merits  the  best  thanks  of  all  interested  in 
gardeners  and  gardening  ;  and  in  consenting  to  be  nominated  for 
election  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  Mr.  Barron  proves 
his  devotion  to  the  Fund,  and  his  ready  willingness  to  continue  to 
afford  assistance  in  carrying  on  the  good  work.  The  Committee  unani¬ 
mously  express  their  sympathy  with  Mr.  Barron,  and  their  best  wishes 
for  his  improved  health  and  well-being. 
IMr.  G.  W.  Cummins  has  resigned  his  seat  on  the  Committee,  and  Mr. 
T.  Peed,  Roupell  Park  Nurseries,  S.E.,  has  been  elected  to  succeed  him. 
The  members  of  Committee  who  retire  by  rotation  are  Messrs.  Cuthbert, 
Laing,  Lyne,  Nicholson,  Gsman,  Poupart,  Smith,  and  Walker.  These, 
with  the  exception  of  Messrs.  Nicholson,  Smith,  and  Laing,  being  eligible, 
offer  themselves  for  re-election.  The  Committee  nominate  Messrs.  A.  F. 
Barron,  Chiswick  ;  J.  Chcal,  Crawley  ;  and  W,  Howe,  Park  Hill  Gardens, 
Streatham,  for  election  this  day. 
The  Committee,  having  advertised  for  a  Secretary,  have  considered 
the  numerous  applications,  and  recommend  Mr,  Brian  Wynne  for  election 
at  a  salary  of  £100  per  annum. 
CASH  STATEMENT  FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  31st  DECEMBER,  1898. 
^  llEClill'TS. 
To  Balance  from  last  Account  . 
,,  Subscriptions,  General  ...  . 
,,  Ditto  Collected  by  Local  Secs.  ... 
,,  Donations,  General . 
„  Ditto  Collected  by  Local  Secs.  ... 
',,  The  Emma  Sherwood  Memorial  . 
Annual  Dinner 
J,  Card  Collection  . 
,,  Advertisements  in  Lists  of  Sub'criber.s  ... 
.,  Dividends  on  Stock  and  Interest  on  Depofit 
£935  17  3 
£282  9  6 
79  16  0 
-  362  5  6 
148  2  7 
64  8  9 
-  212  11  4 
13  0  0 
5.57  lU  0 
29  5  2 
28  9  0 
266  13  8 
£2405  11  11 
Expen  DiTUKE. 
By  Allowances  to  Orphans  . 
,,  Emma  Sherwood  IMeraorial 
,,  Grants  in  Aid .  . 
,,  Annual  Dinner  . 
,,  Secretary’s  Salary . 
,,  Printing  and  Posting  Subscribers’  Lists... 
,,  J'rinting  and  Stationery  ... 
,,  AniiUHl  General  Meeting,  Audit,  &c. 
,,  Hire  of  Room  for  Committee  Meetings  ... 
,,  Postages 
,,  Bank  Charges  ...  . 
,,  Sundry  Expenses  (Petty  Cash)  ... 
...  £898  5  0 
13  0  0 
...  18  5  0 
£1.3  11  9 
9  6  11 
2  2  0 
15  0  10 
118  8 
6  10  0 
£9’29  10  0 
131  16  1 
105  0  0 
29  17  t) 
£18  10  2 
Note. — Investments  : 
23  per  cent.  Consols  . £7070  6  10 
3  ,,  Canada  Stock  .  2000  0  0 
L.  &  N.  W.  Kailwav  Pref.  Stock  ...  ...  340  0  0 
Thomson  Memorial  Trust  : 
East  India  Railway  B.  Annuity  of  £14  (cost)  430  11  0 
Having  inspected  the  Securities  and  e.vamined  the  Books  and  Voucher 
Dated  January  2l8t,  1899. 
„  Purchase  of  £340  L.  &  N.W.  Railway  4  per  cent. 
Preference  Stock .  ^ 
,,  Balance- 
Cash  at  Bank  .  ...  . £558  10  11 
Cash  in  Hand  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  0  2  6 
Cash  on  Deposit  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  100  0  0 
.  ^  - £6.58  13  i> 
.£2405  11  11 
supplied  to  us,  we  hereby  certify  the  above  Account  to  be  correct. 
(Signed)f  P  HUI^LPH  BARR,  )  jiudUors. 
M.  ROWAN.  j 
The  Chairman,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  balance-sheet, 
was  very  brief  indeed,  as  he  considered  that  nothing  remained  for  explana¬ 
tion.  He  commented,  however,  on  the  fact  that  gardeners,  for  whom  the 
Charity  was  instituted,  gave  such  surprisingly  j)oor  support,  and  con¬ 
sidered  they  ought  to  do  a  very  great  deal  more.  Mr,  G.  Asshee  seconded 
the  motion,  which  was  carried  unanimously.  i 
After  the  election  of  Treasurer,  Auditor,  and  Committee,  Mr.  W.  | 
Marshall,  on  behalf  of  the  Executive  Committee,  proposed  Mr.  Brian 
Wynne  as  Secretary,  in  succession  to  Mr.  A.  E.  Barron,  whose  health 
compelled  his  resignation.  Mr.  R.  Dean  was  the  seconder,  and  there  was 
not  a  dissentient  voice — a  fact  that  must  b  •  gratifying  to  Mr.  Wvnnc, 
whose  knowledge  of  the  P'und  and  ability  make  him  admirably  suited  to 
the  position. 
Mr.  Harry  .1.  Veitch  then  rose  to  propose  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  A.  E. 
Barron  for  his  services  since  the  inception  of  the  Fund.  He  referred  to 
his  assiduous  attention  to  duty  from  the  commencement  until  now,  and  ; 
considered  that  the  success  that  had  been  achieved  must  be  largelv  l 
accredited  to  Mr.  Barron.  He  spoke  of  the  general  regret  at  the  enforced 
retirement,  and  trusted  that  the  benefit  from  the  rest  would  assist  recupera-  i 
tion,  and  that  he  would  long  be  spared  to  assist  the  Fund  with  his 
experjepced  advice  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee.  He 
prrqiosed  that  an  address  he  engrossed  on  vellum,  and  be  presented  to  Mr. 
Barron,  which,  with  tlie  vote  of  thanks,  after  being  seconded  by  Dr. 
M.  J'.  Masters,  was  carried  with  acclamation. 
The  ballot  lor  the  election  of  pensioners  resulted  in  the  following 
being  elected  : — Alice  Gilhorne  Seaton,  375  ;  Muriel  Gutteridge,  373  ; 
Daisy  Agnes  Spong,  282  ;  .lohn  Henry  Donaldson,  256  ;  .James  Henry 
Tanlon,  250  ;  Helen  Macdonald  Milne,  217  ;  Isabella  Plmma  P''rencb,  205  ; 
Vanda  Mary  Bartlett,  200  ;  and  Harry  .John  Mason,  195.  The  unsuc- 
cesslul  candidates  were  Arihur  George  Wood,  190  ;  Hilda  Kathleen 
Mary  Rogers,  189;  VV’inilred  Moxhnm,  160:  Aaron  Hall,  91  ;  Arihur 
Gregory  Stephenson,  65  ;  Edward  White.  63  ;  John  Baird,  41  ;  and 
William  Ernest  French,  11.  Two  others,  James  and  Eugenia  Seegar, 
have  left  the  country,  and  are  thus  placed  beyond  the  benefit  of  the 
Charity. 
The  Executive  Committee  recommended  that  Rule  v.  should  be  altered 
to  read  : — 
Line  four,  after  the  tvord  ‘’^purpose,"  omit  the  words  “  All 
donations  and  legacies,"  and  insert  the  following;  —  "All  receipts, 
except  legacies  and  donations  specially  oiven  as  such  for  investment,  'hall  be 
considered  as  subscriptions,  arid  he  available  for  current  expenditure.  Alt 
fcgacici  and  special  dmations." 
