June  18,  1903. 
539 
JOUEl^AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  Ai\D  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
join  it,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  well  worthy  of 
support  by  all  young  gardeners;  several  havm  joined  it  since  at 
my  suggestion,  after  comparing  its  rules,  &c.,  with  similar 
societies.  "W  hat  surprises  me  is  that  more  do  not  do  so,  and  I 
would  advise  all  young  gardeners  under  thirty  to’  get  a  copy  of  the 
rules  and  look  well  into  the  matter  for  themselves. 
Nothing  can  be  more  disheartening  than  to  pay  into  a  club 
or  benefit  society  for  a  number  of  years  and  then,  when  one  is 
past  the  meridian  of  life,  to  find  the  society  is  on  a  wrong  basis. 
yet  this  I  must  say  :  I  have  wasted  more  money  than  I  have  paid 
into  two  of  the  societies  named  and  my  Oddfellows  lodge. 
As  showing  that  I  know  something  of  what  I  write  about,  I 
may  mention  that  for  forty-one  years  I  have  contributed  to  the 
last-mentioned  society,  and  am  thankful  to  say  have  not  been  on 
its  funds  for  one  da}'.  I  have  .subscribed  to  the  G.R.B.I.  twenty- 
three  years  and  to  the  R.G.O.F.  from  its  foundation  in  1887. 
To  some  these  remarks  may  savour  of  self-righteousne.ss ;  well, 
let  it  be  so.  Those  who  know  my  many  weaknesses  will  not  add 
Cattleya  Whitei  magnifica. 
I  know  something  of  this  matter,  hence  these  remarks.  We 
hear  a  good  deal  from  time  to  time  about  gardeners  joining  more 
together,  &c.,  Ac.  There  are  three  societies  in  connection  with 
gardening  that  cover  all  the  ground  any  prudent  man  can  wish 
for  in  that  way.  I  allude  to  the  United  Hoi’ticultural  Benefit 
Society,  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution,  and  the 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund.  I  do  not  wish  to  infer  that 
every  gardener  can  subscribe  to  the  three,  but  this  I  do  know, 
that  man}'  hundreds  might,  who  do  not,  do  this.  I  have  known 
something  of  the  cost  and  anxiety  of  trying  to  bring  up  a  family 
in  respectability,  Irence  can  feel  for  my  fellow  gardeners  with  a 
full  sympathy.  While  (I  hope)  I  have  not  been  a  spendthrift. 
this  one  to  the  number.  My  only  wish  is  to  see  gardeners  as  a 
body  put  on  a  higher  standing.  The  first  step  on  the  ladder  is 
for  them  to  do  all  they  can  for  themselves';  the  rest  will  certainly 
follow.  The  weekly  cost  in  joining  the  three  societies  would  bo 
Is.  3d.  In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  suggest  that  in  due  time  the 
title  of  the  U.H.B.S.  be  changed  to  the  National  Horticultural 
Benefit  Society. — Yorkshike  Gardener.  [We  gave  the  address 
of  the  secretary  of  the  United  Horticultural  Provident  and 
Benefit  Society  on  page  513,  and  gladly  do  so  again,  coupling  with 
it  a  seconder  to  the  commendatory  remarks  made  by  “Yorkshire 
Gardener.”  The  secretary  is  Mr.  William  Collins,  and  his  ofiiccs 
are  at  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  London,  S.W. — Ed.] 
