May  30,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER , 
453 
Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  was  founded,  its  purpose  being 
to  succour  aged  and  distressed  gardeners  of  all  sorts,  and  others 
eDgage<i  in  horticulture.  It  has,  during  the  long  period  of  its  existence, 
distributed  £87,000  in  charities.  Annuities  for  life  are  now  being 
given  to  181  persons,  of  whom,  as  we  have  previously  stated,  ninety-eight 
are  men,  and  eighty-three  widows ;  these  annually  subtract  £3288 
from  the  funds.  It  is  thus  apparent  that  the  Institution  requires 
hearty  and  sustained  support,  if  these  poor  forlorn  old  folks  of  the 
gardening  craft  are  to  be  relieved,  and  the  good  work  of  charity 
strengthened  and  extended.  A  day’s  wages  from  each  gardener  in  the 
United  Kingdom  would,  as  we  have  repeatedly  urged,  come  as  “a  boon 
and  a  blessing”  to  many  who  are  in  the  meantime  debarred,  though 
anxious  to  receive,  some  help  from  the  funds  of  this  Institution.  We 
do  hope  gardeners  may  take  the  appeal  into  consideration.  We  do  not 
know  of  any  real  ground  or  cause  for  criticism  ;  and  if  there  is  none, 
why  is  it  that  the  practical  gardener  does  so  little  to  help  ? 
The  only  assured  income  of  the  charity  is  £900  a  year,  the  remainder 
has  to  be  raised  by  subscriptions  and  donations.  The  employers  of 
gardeners,  too,  ought  to  know  more  than  they  do  of  the  Institution,  and 
without  doubt  their  assistance  would  be  assured.  Much  of  the  pleasure 
of  the  upper  classes  is  derived  from  their  gardens,  and  we  are  pleased 
to  record  the  fact  that  this  is  thoroughly  acknowledged  by  the 
aristocracy  and  gentry.  The  foregoing  are  a  few  of  the  statements  and 
sentiments  expressed  in  the  speeches  at  the  annual  dinner.  The 
function  was  well  attended,  and  an  excellent  repast  was  furnished.  The 
tables  were  gracefully  decorated  with  seasonable  flowers,  with  plants, 
and  with  fruits,  all  contributed  by  friends  of  the  Institution.  The 
proceedings  were  enhanced  by  well-rendered  vocal  and  instrumental 
music.  Mr.  H.  J.  Veitch  returned  thanks  to  the  address  and  appeal  so 
ably  made  by  Lord  Llangattook,  and  referred  with  satisfaction  to  the 
fact  that  the  Institution  was  prosperous  even  in  the  present  unfavour¬ 
able  conditions  for  charities  and  societies  depending  on  voluntary 
subscriptions.  The  venerable  and  revered  Dean  of  Rochester  most 
touohingly  responded  to  Mr.  Arthur  Sutton’s  toast  of  “Gardeners’ 
and  Gardening,”  and  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood  also  spoke  to  the  same 
toast. 
We  have  received  the  following  list  of  subscriptions  from  Mr.  Ingram  : 
Lord  Llangattook,  £100;  ditto,  for  two  blind  candidates,  £20;  Messrs. 
Rothschild  &  Sons,  £105  ;  Baron  Schroder,  £50;  Arthur  W.  Sutton, 
Esq.,  J.P.,  £100;  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.,  £26  5s.;  N.  N.  Sherwood,  Esq., 
£25  ;  ditto,  £8  Ss. ;  Leonard  Sutton,  Esq  ,  £25  ;  Worcester  Auxiliary,  per 
Messrs.  J.  Hill  White  and  W.  Crump,  £82 ;  John  A.  Laing,  Esq.,  £28  7s. ; 
W.  Mackay,  Esq.,  £20  14s. ;  Mr.  Baily  Wadds,  £14  ;  T.  Alfred  H. 
Rivers,  Esq.,  £18  18s. ;  W.  Sams,  Esq.,  £13  2s.  ;  Mr.  J.  Lockyer, 
£13  13s  ;  Mr.  J.  Jennings,  £15  15s.  Subscriptions  of  10  guineas  each 
from  Earl  Egerton  of  Tatton,  Lord  Glenesk,  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence, 
Bart.,  James  H.  Veitch,  Esq.,  John  G.  Veitch,  Esq.,  Charles  E.  Keyser, 
Esq.,  Messrs.  Dicksons,  Ltd.,  Messrs.  H.  &  F.  Sharpe,  Anthony  Waierer, 
Esq  ,  Mr.  W.  Howe,  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Thames  Bank  Iron  Co.,  G.  H. 
Richards,  Esq.,  Messrs.  Fisher,  Son,  &  Sibray,  Ltd.  Mr.  C.  R. 
Fielder,  £10;  Mr.  W.  Murray,  £11  3s.;  Mr.  A.  Mackellar,  £10; 
Messrs.  Dickson  &  Robinson,  £10;  Mr.  P.  0.  Knowles,  £10  14s. ;  Mr.  A. 
Porteous,  £9  17s. ;  Mr.  Peter  Blair,  £10  ;  Richard  Dean,  Esq.,  £8  8s. ; 
Mr.  Geo.  Norman,  £6  11s. ;  Mr.  E.  F.  HazeltoD,  £6  6s. ;  H.  E.  Milner, 
Esq.,  £6  6s. ;  Mr.  J.  C.  Mclndoe,  £7  7s. ;  Messrs.  W.  J.  Jefferies  and 
Son,  £6  Is.  Sums  of  5  guineas  came  eaoh  from  Mr.  D.  Inglis,  W. 
Sherwood,  Esq.,  Edward  Sherwood,  Esq.,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Campbell,  W.  J. 
Nutting,  Esq.,  Proprietors  of  the  “  Gardeners’  Chronicle,”  Alfred 
Watkins,  Esq.,  Ernest  T.  Cook,  E  q.,  Messrs.  R.  &  J.  Cuthbert,  H.  J. 
Wimsett,  Esq.,  Mr.  Geo.  H.  Maycock,  W.  L.  Corry,  Esq.,  R.  Sydenham, 
Esq.,  Messrs.  Wills  &  Segar,  Geo.  Monro,  Esq.,  Messrs.  Wood  &  Son, 
Ltd.,  Proprietors  of  the  “  Garden,”  Messrs.  Cutbush  &  8on,  Messrs. 
J.  T.  Anderson  &  Son,  the  Dean  of  Rochester.  The  following  others 
subscribe  each  £5: — Viscount  Powerscourt,  Sir  James  Rankin,  Bart., 
M.P.,  Wm.  J.  Jefferies,  Esq.,  David  W.  Thomson,  Esq.,  Sir  Oswald 
Mosley,  Bart.,  F.  W.  Burbidge,  Esq.,  M.A.,  H.  E.  Tillman,  Esq.,  Mr.  O. 
Roberts,  James  Sweet,  Esq.,  ditto  Good  Samaritan  Fund,  Thomas 
Rochford,  Esq.,  Joseph  Rochford,  Esq.,  ditto  Good  Samaritan  Fund, 
Edmund  Rochford,  Esq.,  John  Rochford,  Esq.,  Peter  Kay,  Esq.,  W. 
Poupart,  Esq. ;  Edwin  G.  Monro,  Esq.,  £6  6s. ;  Mr.  T.  Coomber, 
£4  12s.  6d.  ;  Mr.  M.  Gleeson,  £4  4s.  ;  Mr.  J.  Woodward,  £4;  Mr.  J. 
Markham,  £4,  and  other  smaller  sums,  making  a  total  of  £1761. 
- <♦♦♦» - 
Australian  “  Big-  Trees.” — America  is  in  the  habit  of  boasting  of 
its  big  trees,  but  Australia  would  probably  be  awarded  first  prize  in  a 
competition  between  the  two  continents  under  this  head.  Has  a  ohurch 
service  ever  been  held  in  America  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree  ?  That  event 
recently  took  place  in  Gippsland,  the  eastern  province  of  Victoria, 
where  the  Duke  of  Cornwall  has  had  some  shooting.  A  giant  Eucalyptus, 
or  “  Gum  Tree,”  had  been  out  through  at  a  distance  of  20  feet  from  the 
ground.  The  remaining  part  of  the  trunk  was  then  hollowed  out  and 
roofed  overhead.  A  room  25  feet  in  breadth  was  thus  formed ;  it  was 
found  capable  of  accommodating  a  congregation  of  fifty.  But  it  is  not 
to  be  permanently  used  as  a  church.  Its  owner  intends  converting  it 
into  a  creamery. 
Dwarfing  Chrysanthemums. 
The  practice  of  cutting  back  tall  strong  plants  of  various  free- 
blooming  Japanese  Chrysanthemums  is  an  admirable  method  of 
obtaining  dwarf  compact  plants,  bearing  one  flower  on  each  stem. 
The  blooms  will  not  be  so  fine  as  those  from  plants  grown  in  the 
ordinary  way,  but  still  they  are  fine,  and  of  value  for  cutting  and 
decorating.  Such  plants  are  essential  in  a  group  for  exhibition  where 
a  mixed  collection  of  various  sizes  are  employed,  also  for  decorative 
groups  in  conservatories,  as  well  as  single  specimens  carrying  several 
flowers.  These  plants,  as  it  were,  form  an  intermediate  sized  batch, 
coming  as  they  do  between  very  dwarf  single  stemmed  plants  and  the 
tall  naturally  grown.  The  plants  for  cutting  back  should  be  well 
established  in  6-inch  pots  at  the  time  they  are  operated  upon.  Those 
that  are  well  grown  and  furnished  with  leaves  to  the  base  ought  to  be 
chosen.  Varieties  that  bloom  late  and  are  wanted  to  flower  earlier 
must  be  cut  down  first,  the  midseason  varieties  next,  and  the  early 
blooming  sorts  last.  Specimens  rather  bare  of  leaves  at  the  base  are 
not  suitable  tor  cutting  down  very  low,  but  may  be  shortened  to 
9  inches  ;  others  should  be  cut  at  6  inches,  and  to  obtain  very  dwarf 
and  bushy  specimens  cut  back  to  3  inches.  After  the  cutting  back 
place  the  pots  in  a  frame,  which  may  be  kept  closed,  giving  no  water, 
but  afford  daily  syringings  to  encourage  a  fresh  break  of  growths  from 
the  stems.  Allow  two,  three,  or  four  to  grow  from  each,  selecting 
those  best  placed,  and  rub  out  the  others.  An  increased  amount  of 
air  must  be  given  the  plants  as  soon  as  growth  commences,  water  to 
the  soil  also  being  afforded  more  freely,  maintaining  a  moist,  but  not 
saturated  condition. 
The  next  process  is  to  repot  into  larger  pots.  This  should  be  done 
as  soon  as  the  new  growths  have  advanced  to  an  inch  in  length.  A 
compost  consisting  principally  of  loam,  to  which  add  one-third  of  leaf 
soil,  the  same  of  sweetened  horse  manure,  and  one-sixth  part  of  broken 
oyster  shells  or  crushed  mortar,  should  be  prepared.  To  one  bushel 
of  this  compost  add  a  6-inch  potful  of  soot,  the  same  of  bonemeal,  a 
good  sprinkling  of  burnt  refuse,  and  insure  poroBity  with  sharp  silver 
sand.  Thoroughly  mix,  so  as  to  incorporate  the  whole  of  these 
ingredients.  It  is  advisable  to  prepare  the  compost  when  cutting 
down  the  plants,  placing  it  in  a  heap  and  covering  with  mats.  The 
shift  given  should  be  into  8  and  9-inch  pots.  Stand  the  pots  closely 
together,  and  instead  of  giving  water  for  several  days,  syringe  the 
plants  daily,  a  copious  watering  being  required  later  when  the  roots 
commence  to  work  freely.  Place  a  light  stake  to  each  growth  as  a 
support  against  breaking  or  other  injury.  No  topping  will  be 
necessary,  but  encourage  the  growth  to  extend  until  a  bud  shows  in 
the  centre,  which  will  be  from  the  middle  to  the  end  of  August. 
Secure  these,  gradually  rubbing  off  side  shoots  and  other  buds,  then 
commence  to  feed  with  weak  doses  of  liquid  manure.  If  there  is 
sufficient  room  in  the  pot  to  hold  a  top-dressiDg  of  soil  this  will  be 
beneficial  in  encouraging  new  roots  on  the  surface.  Liquid  made  from 
various  kinds  of  animal  manure,  such  as  cow,  horse,  or  sheep  droppings, 
and  using  alternately,  is  better  than  confining  the  applications  to  one 
kind  only.  Soot  water  may  also  be  used ;  it  is  especially  beneficial. 
Solutions  of  guano  or  of  artificial  manure  may  be  used  as  a  change  of 
diet,  alternating  frequently  with  clear  water,  as  it  is  not  desirable  to 
surfeit  the  plants,  even  with  good  things.  Close  attention  must  be 
given  to  the  watering,  for  on  this  largely  depends  the  health, 
cleanliness,  and  ultimate  success  in  flowering. 
As  previously  intimated,  the  tops  of  the  plants,  when  cutting 
down,  may  be  formed  into  cuttings  in  the  ordinary  way.  Insert  them 
singly  in  2^-inch  pots,  and  stand  them  in  a  frame  on  a  moist  baee, 
keep  close,  and  shaded  from  strong  sun.  In  a  short  time  roots  will 
form,  when  air  must  be  admitted  in  gradually  increasing  quantity 
untd  the  plants  can  be  fully  exposed.  By  this  time  the  pots  will  be 
full  of  roots,  and  a  shift  into  a  larger  pot  is  necessary.  The  final  size 
for  these  plants  may  be  6  inches.  Grow  them  without  stopping  in 
any  way,  confining  simply  to  one  stem.  The  best  attention  must  be 
given  throughout  the  season,  so  as  to  retain  the  foliage  down  to  the 
pots.  As  soon  as  the  flowering  pots  are  full  of  roots,  commence  to 
feed.  Very  useful  plants,  with  fair  sized  blooms,  are  obtained,  coming 
in  convenient  for  many  purposes. —  E.  D.  S.  _ 
