June  30,  1004. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Lselio-cattleya  Dominiana,  Triag  Park  var.  (Hon.  Walter  Roth-' 
schild). — Flowers  very  large  and  strong,  with  splendid  rich  ruby- 
purple  velvety  lip,  edged  lilac,  The  rose-purplish  segments  are 
nicely  disposed,  long  and  handsome.  A.M. 
Cupid  Peas  (Cannell  and  Sons). — Messrs.  Cannell  and  Sons,  of 
Swanley,  were  accorded  an  Award  of  Merit  for  their  strain  of  Cupid 
Sweet  Peas.  We  have  never  seen  plants  of  these  that  anywhere 
approach  them  for  bushiness,  vigour,  free-flowering  qualities,  large 
blooms,  and  good  colour.  The  coloui’s  are  very  varied. 
Pimpinella  magna  rosea  (Mr.  M.  Pritchard). — An  umbelliferous 
plant  with  pretty  rose-carmine  flowers,  grooving  gracefully  to  a 
height  of  2ft.  A.M. 
Philadelphus  Lemoinei  maculatus  (Mr.  M.  Pritchard). — This  seems 
distinct  enough  to  be  made  a  species.  It  certainly  is  very  different 
from  the  typical  P.  Lemoinei.  The  flowers  are  lin  across,  white, 
with  a  light  magenta- purple  centre.  These  are  produced  on  wiry 
stift'  stalks  from  the  woody  shoots.  F.C.C. 
Strawherry  Reward  (Laxton  Bros.). — A  large,  cockscomb  shaped, 
rich  crimson  fruit  of  pleasant,  brisk  flavour,  very  melting  and  juicy. 
It  is  a  cross  between  Royal  Sovereign  and  British  Queen.  A.M. 
Straxvberry  The  Alake  (J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Ltd.). — A  large  Straw¬ 
berry  of  the  Sovereign  type,  be.aring  long  trusses.  We  were  unable 
to  taste  the  fruit.  The  cross  was  between  Frogmore  Late  Pine  and 
Veitch^’s  Perfection.  A.M. 
Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. 
A  Recoud  Festival. 
The  aiiJiual  festival  gathering  at  the  Hotel  Metropole,  Lon¬ 
don,  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution,  was  held  on  Tuesday  evening  la.st,  and  was  presided 
over  by  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.,  the  treasurer.  There  was  a 
large  meeting,  numbering  over  200,  among  whom  were  repre¬ 
sentatives  of  all  the  well-known  horticultural  business  houses 
from  London  and  various  parts  of  the  country.  The  tables  were 
decorated  iiberally  with  beautiful  flowers  and  plants  supplied  by 
the  nurserymen. 
After  the  excellent  dinner  the  chairman  proposed  the  loyal 
toasts  in  terms  pi'eguant  with  the  warme.st  apiireciation  of  the 
nation’s  Sovereign.  Songs  and  recitations  were  interpolated 
between  the  other  toasts.  Tlie  chairman  then  jiroposed  the  toast 
of  the  evening,  “  Succe.ss  to  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution.”  i\Ir.  Veitch  said  that  ga'rdeners  were  after  all 
members  of  one  large  family,  and  it  is  only  by  God’s  goodness 
that  we  are  not  in  need  of  the  society’s  benefits.  A  copy  of  the 
history  of  the  institution  from  183!)  to  1903  had  been  placed 
before  everyone  present  (and  this  had  been  prepared  without 
any  expense  to  the  society),  and  from  it  one  could  trace  its 
steady  development.  The  rules  of  1839  had  been  so  well  drawn 
up  that  with  only  a  few  modifications  they  were  still  in  use. 
During  the  first  year  only  one  pensioner  had  been  irlaced  on  the 
funds,  while  now  there  were  207.  The  original  president  was 
the  first  Duke  of  Cambridge,  father  of  the  late  Duke.  Mr. 
Veitch  went  on  to  say  that  we  need  only  think  of  the  number  of 
gardeners  there  are  now,  compared  with  those  in  1839,  to  see 
that  the  calls  for  help  wei-e  now  infinitely  greater. 
The  Institution  is  truly  a  national  one,  helping  gardeners  in 
Scotland,  England,  Irelaiid,  and  AVales.  It  is  purely  a  philan¬ 
thropic,  charitable  body,  and  by  no  means  a  benefit  society.  All 
deserving  applicants  are  afforded  help  so  far  as  that  is  possible. 
There  are  no  inquiries  as  to  the  religious  views  of  the'  needy 
ones:  they  must  only  bo  really  necessitous. 
The  position  at  the  present  time  is  this,  that  121  men  are 
in  receipt  of  the  benefit,  Avith  8(3  widows.  Five  of  these  are 
totally  blind ;  two  are  over  90  years  of  age ;  46  are  between  80 
and  90  years  of  age,  and  111  are  between  70  and  80  years.  No 
one  is  elected  who  is  under  60  yeai’s,  though  two  were  placed  on 
the  funds  last  January  who  Avere  younger.  One  Avas  53  years 
of  age,  the  other  51,  and  both  suffered  from  total  paralysis. 
The  yeai’ly  expenditure  is  £3,796,  and  all  of  tins  goes  to  the 
pensioners,  except  the  amount  needed  for  the  small  office  and  for 
the  secretary’s  salary,  Avho.se  only  assistance  is  one  youth.  The 
ensured  income  is  £870  yearly,  derived  as  interest  on  invested 
capital,  and  the  subscription.s  amount  to  £1,500  to  £1,600.  Mr 
Veitch  observed  that  the  society  is  morally  pledged  to  support 
those  207  pensioners,  and  he  pleaded  for  contributions.  Bad 
times  may  come  Avlien  the  capital  or  invested  fund.s  might  have 
to  be  encroached  upon,  and  it  Avas  to  avert  anything  like  this 
tliat  farther  moneys  Avere  solicited. 
Besides  the  general  fund,  there  are  tAvo  others,  flie  Victorian 
Era  and  the  Good  Samaritan,  each  of  Avhich  helps  those  who  are 
needy  and  are  Avaiting  for  election.  T^ast  year  £159  2s.  was 
expended  from  the  Victorian  Era  Fund.  There  ai’e.six  or  seven 
mo.st  itseful  auxiliary  branches  of  the  Institution  :  one  each  at 
Bath  and  Bristol,  tVolverhampton,  Reading,  tVorcester,  and 
Exeter. 
The  chairman’s  sjAeech  Avas  certainly  one  of  his  best  oratoi  ical 
efforts,  the  fact  upon  fact  being  deiiA’ered  Avith  great  lucidity, 
and  not  lacking  in  Augour,  AA'hile  the  earne.stness  and  self-abne¬ 
gation  of  his  manner  cairied  the  appeal  to  the  hearts  of  the 
a.sSembly.  The  meeting,  as  Ave  have  said  at  opening,  was  a 
)59 
Avas  in  the  hands  of 
partner  of  Messrs, 
duties  of  gardeners, 
a  very  large  share  of 
one  of  his  remarks. 
record  one,  and  Avill  long  remain  impressed  upon  the  memories 
of  those  Avho  Avere  privileged  to  be  present.  And  it  Avas  to  Mr, 
Veitch,  more  than  to  any  other  person,  that  the  success  Avas  so 
full  and  complete. 
The  response  to  the  chairman’s  toast 
Mr.  George  Dickson,  V.Al.H.,  senior 
Dicksons,  of  Chester,  Avho  imstanced  the 
and  shoAved  that  to  their  efforts  Avere  due 
the  delights  of  the  life.  Mr.  Dickson,  in 
deprecated  the  allusions  to  so  much  science  that  is  thought  to 
be  necessary  for  successful  horticulture  nowadays,  and  while 
he  respected  the  assistance  that  science,  rightly  applied,  could 
give,  yet  he  urged  that  practice  must  be  vigilantly  and  carefully 
pursued. 
The  toast  of  “Horticulture  in  all  its  Branches”  Avas  pro¬ 
posed  by  Mr.  -Jeremiah  Colman,  of  Gatton  Park,  Reigate,  and 
Mr.  -J.  Guiney  FoAvler,  treasurer  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  responded,  impersonating  “  Horticulture.”  Speaking 
of  “  Horticulture,”  Air.  FoAvler  shoAved  Avhat  had  been  done  to 
bring  about  the  high  excellence  of  present-day  gardening  and 
garden  produce. 
The  succeeding  toast  Avas  that  of  “  Our  Chairman,”  by  IMr. 
Arthur  M'.  Sutton,  of  Reading.  ]Mr.  Sutton  began  Avith  a 
reference  to  the  fact  that  the  chairman’s  birthday  occurred  on 
the  morroAv  after  the  Festival,  and  in  the  name  of  the  company 
he  Avished  him  many  happy  returns  of  the  day.  As  many  people 
Avould  be  reading  the  reports  of  the  meeting,  Mr.  Sutton 
thought  that  he  might  be  alloAved  to  say  something  in  regard  to 
Mr.  Veitch’s  career ;  and  this  AA  as  the  more  desirous  because 
that  the  chairman  Avas  so  beloved  and  so  Avidely  knoAvn  by  all 
classes  of  horticulturists,  the  Avorking  gardener  particularly. 
“In  the  country,”  said  Air.  Sutton,  “he  is  spoken  of  as  our 
Harry  A’^eitch,  and  the  Christian  name  is  ahvays  given  thus, 
shoAving  the  free  regard  by  Avhich  he  is  held.”  Mr.  Veitch  was 
born  on  the  29th  of  June,  1840,  and  Avas  educated  at  Exeter 
Grammar  School.  Later  he  Avent  to  Germany  in  order  to 
thoroughly  acquire  the  language,  and  he  also  studied  at  Paris. 
The  JTniversity  College,  London,  provided  the  young  gentleman 
Avith  a  training  in  those  branches  of  science  that  he  has  so 
assi.sted  during  later  years.  It  was  this  early  and  complete 
training  that  fitted  Air.  Veitch  to  become  one  of  the  great 
leaders  in  horticulture  during  our  day. 
In  1866  Air.  H.  J.  Veitch  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  great 
exhibition  ;  and  he  attended  the  first  international  exhibition 
ever  held  in  Russia,  being  received  by  the  Czar  of  that  date. 
In  1870  he  became  head  of  the  firm  at  Chelsea,  Avhere  he 
remained  till  a  year  or  tAA'o  ago.  As  an  author,  there  Avere  two 
Avell  knoAvn  Avorks  produced  under  his  supervision,  the  “  Alanual 
of  Coniferie,”  and  the  “Alanual  of  the  Orchidaceae,”  both  of 
Avhich  are  lai’ge  and  thorough. 
Mr.  Veitch  joined  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  Avhen  it  left  South  Kensington,  and  he  has  remained  as 
a  councilman  till  the  present  time.  Air.  Sutton  alluded  to  the 
chairman’s  revered  father,  and  observed  that  the  son  had  a 
Avider  knoAvledge  of  plants  than  the  late  respected  gentleman  ; 
and  his  outlook  on  the  AA  orld  Avas  also  Avider.  Air.  Veitch’s  ser¬ 
vices  to  science,  he  thought,  had  never  been  half  appreciated. 
The  year  of  the  chairman’s  marriage  was  1867,  and  one  year 
later*  he  joined  the  committee  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Bene¬ 
volent  Institution,  “  aaTucIi  has  had  his  fatherly  care  ever  since.” 
The  assistance  and  encouragement  given  to  her  husband  by 
Airs.  Veitch,  Avas  not  forgotten,  and  to  her  there  is  much  that 
is  due.  The  office  of  chairman  of  committee  was  accepted  by 
Air.  Veitch  in  1894,  and  he  has  continuously  adorned  that' 
responsible  position,  besides  being  the  treasurer. 
Privately  Air.  Veitch  does  an  immense  amount  of  good, 
entirely  supporting  in  his  OAvn  Chelsea  neighbourhood  tAvo  mis¬ 
sionary  institutions;  and  Air.  Sutton  had  seen  a  gathering  of 
400  at  the  chairman’s  estate  at  Burnham  Beeches,  these  being 
invited  for  an  outing  at  Air.  Veitch’s  expense.  Nor  should  his 
services  to  the  si.ster  charity— the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan 
Fun— be  forgotten,  for  the  esteemed  gentleman  actively  engages 
in  its  operations.  t 
Sir  AValter  SniA'the  nroposed  a  toast  to  Air.  Geo.  Ingrain,  tlie 
secretary  (avIio  Ava's  loudly  cheered,  for  he  is  deservedly  popular), 
and  Mr*  Ingram  suitably  replied. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  toast  list  Air.  Ingram  announced 
the  folloAving  subscriptions,  but  aa’c  are  only  able  to  record  the 
list  of  the  larger  sums  in  this  issue  : 
The  chairman,  100  gns ;  Airs.  Harry  J.  Veitch,  25  gns  ;  Air. 
N  N.  SherAVOod,  £500:  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  100  gns; 
Alessrs.  Rothschild,  100  gns;  Sutton  and  Sons,  100  gns: 
Arthur  W.  Sutton,  15  gns  to  Victorian  Era  Fund;  Leonard  Sut¬ 
ton  10  gns  to  Good  Samaritan  Fund  ;  Baron  Sir  Henry  Schroder, 
£100  ;  AY.  L.  Cony,  63  gns  ;  -1.  Gurney  Fowler,  50  gns;  Mr.  Solo- 
nion,  oO  e;ns  ;  Jeremiah  Colman,  50  gns;  Mr.  \\atkin,  £oo  ; 
AY.  Cooper.  £39;  AY.  Roluuson,  £25:  R-  AI.  Hoec.  £2); 
Air  Hio-gs  (Alanchester),  £20  10s.  ;  Hurst  and  Sons.  £21  :  -James 
Sweet,  £20  ;  Air.  Parr,  £20;  Air.  Prophet,  £20  ;  D  AY.  Thomson, 
(Edinburgh),  £20;  Air.  Harrow,  £17  10s.;  H  Hicks.  L)  gns; 
Thames  Bank  Iron  Co..  18  gns:  H.  G.  Cove.  13  gns;  J.  Heal, 
13  gns;  E.  F.  Halves  (Royal  Botanical  Society),  12  gns;  Geo. 
