Jiinuary  29,  1903. 
/OURXAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
93 
fruit  is  obtained  from  the  same  amount  of  wall-space.  One 
must  admit  that  these  are  very  tangible  advantages,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  interest  attaching  to  a  collection,  and  the 
opportunities  it  gives  of  learning  the  qualities,  habits,  and 
constitutions  of  a  large  number  of  varieties. 
Newly  planted  trees  in  soil  of  moderate  fertility  do  not 
require  any  manure  for  the  first  couple  of  years  ;  but,  after 
that,  when  the  trees  have  produced  a  heavy  crop  of  fruit, 
and  the  soil  between  the  trees,  and  for  at  least  a  yard  out¬ 
wards,  is  perfectly  permeated  with  roots,  feeding  becomes 
necessary  if  the  trees  are  to  be  kept  productive  every  year. 
Nitrogenous  manures  should  not  be  applied  as  long  as  the 
trees  make  good  growth,  except  some  light  strawy  manure 
for  mulching  purposes  ;  but  basic  slag  in  the  autumn,  or 
superphosphate  in  the  spring,  is  very  beneficial  in  promot¬ 
ing  a  fruitful  growth.  It  should  be  gently  hoed  in  at  the 
rate  of  a  quarter  to  a  half  of  a  pound  to  a  tree,  spreading  it 
over  the  soil  for  6ft  from  the  row  if  against  a  wall,  or  for  3ft 
on  each  side  if  in  the  open.  Half  this  quantity  of  kainit 
applied  in  the  autumn  would  do  good,  but  when  much 
animal  manure  comes  to  be  applied  it  would  not,  as  a  rule, 
be  necessary,  as  animal  manure  is  so  rich  in  potash.  When 
the  trees  begin  to  show  signs  of  exhaustion  from  heavy 
bearing,  either  in  the  form  of  lessened  growth  or  in  the 
failure  of  the  blossom  to  set,  there  is  no  better  manure  to 
apply  than  bonemeal  in  the  autumn,  applied  in  the  same 
manner  and  at  the  same  rate  as  recommended  for  basic 
slag.  As  a  stimulant  when  the  trees  are  bearing  a  heavy 
crop  of  fruit,  a  dressing  of  good,  guano  at  the  rate  of  ^Ib,  or 
less,  to  the  tree,  hoed  in  and  then  well  watered  in,  will  have 
a  mai’ked  effect.  Much  good  manure  is  often  wasted,  and 
sometimes  worse  than  wasted,  by  applying  it  to  trees  in 
vigorous  growth. 
The  Woburn  Fruit  Farm  experiments  go  to  show  that 
the  application  of  farmyard  manure  to  trees  that  were  in 
vigorous  growth  produced  no  beneficial  effects  w'hatever, 
and  often  the  very  opposite  are  the  results  of  such  a 
practice. 
An  advantage  of  the  coi’don  system  not  mentioned  above 
is  the  ease  with  which  the  blossom  can  be  protected  from 
frost.  Pears  bloom  the  latter  part  of  April,  when  the  Black¬ 
thorn  blooms,  about  which  there  is  an  old  saying  that  it 
never  hatches  without  some  cold  weather.  Hence  the 
uncertainty  of  Pears  as  standards.  But  with  cordons  there 
are  certain  to  be  some  in  bloom  every  spring,  and  with  due 
protection  a  crop  can  be  ensured. — A.  Petts. 
Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. 
The  sixty-fourth  annual  general  meeting  of  the  member.s  and 
sub.scribers  of  this  institution  was  held  at  Simpson’s,  101,  Strand, 
London,  on  Thursday,  January  22,  at  3  p.m.  Mr.  Harry  J. 
Veitch  occupied  the  chair,  and  after  introducing  the  formal  busi¬ 
ness  of  the  meeting  he  called  upon  the  secretary  to  read  the  re¬ 
port  of  the  committee  and  the  balance-.sheet  as  audited. 
Committee’s  Report  for  1902. 
The  committee  have  plea, sure  in  .submitting  their  annual) 
report  and  statement  of  accounts,  as  audited,  for  the  year  1902, 
They  are  thankful  to  be  able  again  to  congratulate  the  members 
and  subscribers  of  the  institution  on  its  satisfactory  condition, 
and  the  continued  progre.ss  it  has  made,  as  evidenced  by  the 
increased  benefits  they  have  been  able  to  dispense  to  those  who, 
through  misfortune,  declining  year.s,  and  other  causes,  have  been 
forced  to  seek  its  aid. 
At,  the  commencement  of  the  year  190  persons — 103  men  and 
eighty-seven  widows — were  each  receiving  £20  and  £16  a  year 
respectively,  entailing  an  annual  liability  of  £3,452.  During 
the  year  seventeen  of  that  number  died — seven  men  and  ten 
widows.  Three  of  the  nien  left  widows,  whose  circumstances, 
after  careful  investigation,  proved  to  be  of  such  a  nature  as  to 
warrant  their  being  placed  on  the  funds  for  the  widows’  pension 
of  £16  a  year,  in  accordance  with  the  powers  conferred  on  the 
committee  under  Rule  III.,  13,  thus  leaving  at  tlie  close  of  the 
year  176  persons  in  receipt  of  permanent  aid.  The  committee 
propose  to  increase  this  number  by  recommending  for  election 
this  day  fifteen  candidates  from  a  list  of  forty-six  applicants, 
and  also  to  ask  the  subscribers  to  confirm  their  action,  graciously 
approved  by  their  President,  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales,  iii 
placing  on  the  funds  without  election  all  those  of  the  unsuccc.ss- 
ful  candidates — eleven  in  number — at  the  last  election,  u7io  liad 
prcvioiish/  been  subscribers  to  the  {nstitution,  to  commemorate  the 
t'oronation  of  Tlieir  Maje.sties  the  King  and  Queen,  patrons  of 
the  institution,  and  as  a  thankoffering  for  the  recovery  of  the 
King  from  His  Maje.sty’s  recent  severe  illness.  The  total  number 
of  pensioners,  therefore,  on  the  funds  will  be  202,  twelve  more 
than  on  the  corresponding  date  last  year,  and.  the  lai'gest 
number  at  any  iieriod  in  the  history  of  the  institution. 
Whilst  fully  cognisant  of  the  increased  liability  thus  incurred, 
the  committee  feel  they  will  have  the  practical  sympathy  and 
support  of  every  friend  and  well-wi.sher  of  the  charity  in  their 
forward  policy  of  assisting  more  of  the  unfortunate  people  whoso 
cases  plead  with  such  pathetic  urgency,  and  they  strongly  appeal 
to  all  their  friends  not  to  relax  their  efforts  on  behalf  of  this 
old  and  well  tried  work,  which  for  sixty-four  years  ha.s'  done  so 
much  for  di.sabled  and  decayed  horticulturists,  or  their  widows, 
in  their  time  of  need. 
The  committee  are  glad  to  be  able  to  report  that  the  anniver¬ 
sary  festival  dinner,  which  was  held  in  May  last,  under  the  presi¬ 
dency  of  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  K.G.,  proved  most 
successful,  and  they  desire  to  place  on  record  their  very  gratefuli 
tha,nks  to  His  Grace  for  his  able  and  convincing  advocacy  of  the 
claims  of  the  institution,  which  brought  such  a  substantial  addi¬ 
tion  to  its  funds.  The  committee  also  express  most  gladly  their 
indebtedness  to  the  stewards,  collectors,  donor's  of  flowers,  thq 
horticultural  Press,  and  to  other  helpers,  whose  kind  services  and 
contributions  were  sincerely  appreciated.  They  likewise  grate¬ 
fully  acknowledge  the  services  of  the  honorary  secretaries  of  the 
several  auxiliaries,  which  still  continue  to  prove  valuable  adjuncts 
to  the  institution. 
During  the  year  the  following  amounts  have  been  received  ;  — 
Reading  and  District  Auxiliary  (lion,  sec.,  Mr.  H.  G.  Cox),  £117  ; 
Worcester  Auxiliary  (Iron,  sec.,  Mr.  Percy  G.  White),  £110; 
Bristol  and  Bath  Auxiliary  (hon.  sec.,  Mr.  G.  Harri.s),  £79 ; 
Devon  and  Exeter  Auxiliary  (Iron,  sec.,  Mr.  W.  Maokay),  £33 ; 
and  Wolverhampton  Auxiliary  (hon.  sec.,  Mr.  R.  Lowe),  £20. 
The  committee  have  pleasure  in  reporting  that  in  consequence 
of  a  large  public  meeting  and  concert  at  Liverpool,  which  was 
attended  by  the  treasurer  and  the  secretary,  as  a  deputation, 
an  auxiliary  has  been  inaugurated  in  that  city,  which  gives 
promise  of  being  very  successful,  and  likely,  under  the  able 
honorary  secretaryship  of  Mr.  Waterman,  to  reirder  substantial 
assistance  to  the  institution.  To  the  gentleinen  named  above, 
and  to  other  friends  throughout  the  country  w'ho  have  helped 
forward  the  work,  the  committee  tender  their  best  thanks. 
The  Victorian  Era  Fund  ”  and  the  “  Good  Samaritan  Fund  ” 
are  still  a  source  of  incalculable  benefit.  From  the  first-named 
fund  £104  has  been  distributed  amongst  the  unsuccessful  candi¬ 
dates  at  the  last  election,  who  had  been  subscribers,  and  £120 
has  been  given  from  the  latter  fund  to  the  remaining  unsuccess¬ 
ful  candidates,  who  were  not  subscribers,  and  to  other  applicants 
as  temporary  help  in  their  distress  and  need.  Tliis  latter  func^ 
has  been  particularly  useful  in  enabling  the  committee  to  assist 
eases  of  a  very  pressing  nature,  to  which,  had  it  not  been  for 
this  fund,  they  must  necessarily  have  had  to  turn  a  deaf  ear. 
As  the  interest  alone  of  the  fund  is  available — unless  special 
donations  are  given  unconditionally — the  committee’s  resources 
are  limited,  and  they  therefore  again  commend  it  to  those  who 
have  the  power  to  increase  its  usefulness. 
With  regard  to  the  new  rules  which  were  adopted  at  the 
special  meeting  in  January,  1902,  the  committee  are  hopeful  that 
they  will  prove  satisfactory  in  their  working,  and  to  the  advan¬ 
tage  of  the  institution.  On  the  whole,  general  approval  has  been 
expressed  with  the  alterations,  which  were  inevitable  under  the 
circumstances.  A  suggestion  which  has  been  made  from  several 
quarters  to  increase  the  number  of  votes  at  elections  to  annual 
subscribers  of  twenty  years’  standing  and  upwards' is  receiving 
the  careful  consideration  of  the  committee. 
Unfortunately,  the  committee  have  to  deplore  the  loss  by 
death  of  many  valued  friends  and  supporters  during  the  past  year. 
Amongst  others  who  have  thus  passed  away  may  be  mentioned 
G.  F.  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Weybridge,  a  vice-president;  Mr.  E.  W. 
Cathie,  of  Simp.son’s,  an  old  subscriber;  and  Thos.  F.  Peacock, 
Esq.,  of  Gray’s  Inn,  who  for  many  years  had  acted  as  honorary 
solicitor  to  the  institution,  and  whose  services  on  many  occasions 
will  be  gratefully  remembered. 
They  are  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  W.  A.  Bdney,  Esq.,  of 
Fir  (Irange,  Weybridge,  and  Temple  Chambers,  Temple  Avenue, 
has  kindly  consented  to  take  the  place  of  Mr.  Peacock,  and  to 
help  the  charity  by  acting  as  its  honorary  solicitor. 
In  conclusion,  the  committee  most  earnestly  ask  for  renewed 
effort  on  behalf  of  this  National  Horticultural  Charity.  After 
to-day’s  election  there  will  be  thirty-one  applicants  left  on  the 
list  who  are  appealing  for  aid,  and  of  this  number  several  aro 
totally  blind.  To  help  them  an  increased  income  is  needed,  and 
whilst  being  thankful  beyond  measure  for  the  generous  support 
accorded  to  them  in  their  work  in  the  past,  the  committee  plead 
most  earnestly  for  further  aid  to  enable  them  to  extend  thq 
benefits  of  the  charity  to  those  who  are  so  much  in  need  of  them. 
_ H  J  Veitch,  Chairman;  Geo.  J.  Inguam,  Secretary. 
About  six  o’clock  the  scrutineers  of  the  ball9t  proclaimed  the 
following  applicants  elected : —  Jane  Kent,  with  6,741  votes; 
