568 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



from over-watering. To liave a surface of living sphagnum is a factor 

 of considerable importance in keeping the material sweet, and in giving 

 warning when water is needed, especially in the case of such genera as 

 Cypripediums and Odontoglossums. 



Many years ago Mr Turnbull of Bothwell grew some specimens of 

 certain genera of Orchids, such as Miltonias, to the greatest perfection 

 we have ever seen, and the potting material was chiefly the tough roots 

 of Luzula maxima, which plant, to the best of our recollection, Mr 

 Turnbull top-dressed with leaf -mould, to encourage it to make masses 

 of fibry roots for potting with. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



On page 514 of the last issue of the ' Gardener,' Mr Muir's article on 

 this subject will not meet with the approval of all growers of this fine 

 autumn flower. Why should a cultivator, because he has some pecu- 

 liar fancy for one system of growing these plants, write of the training 

 requisite to obtain fine large flowers as useless 1 There are those who 

 do not admire Chrysanthemums unless the blooms are large and 

 symmetrical, and display the real character of the variety. Many 

 kinds, especially amongst the Japanese, cannot be grown to display 

 that peculiarity of form so characteristic of this section, when grown as 

 Mr Muir recommends. Certainly some varieties, as Elaine, James 

 Salter, and others, can be usefully grown for cutting and decoration, 

 and will, when allowed to develop on a semi-natural system, produce 

 a more gorgeous display. While I grow hundreds of useful kinds 

 without subjecting them to much training or disbudding, I also grow 

 many others on the system of which Mr Muir writes disapprovingly. 

 What can be more beautiful than flowers of Elaine 8 inches over, and 

 2, 4, or 6, from one pot — or more, if desirable ? Well-developed blooms 

 are not to be despised; in fact, they quickly arrest the attention of those 

 who do not admire Chrysanthemums. A new Japanese variety named 

 Parosal, is useless if grown on Mr Muir's system ; but when developed 

 under the conditions necessary for the production of exhibition 

 blooms it is a great beauty, and could not fail, I feel sure, to please 

 Mr Muir, if he saw a good bloom. Many others might be enumerated, 

 but this is sufficient for an example, to show that the beauty of 

 many of these varieties cannot be brought out to perfection, when 

 grown as low natural-spreading bushes, without being at the trouble 

 of disbudding them. Some kinds do attain a large height when pro- 

 pagated early, but this is not the case when rooted later ; and large 

 well-developed blooms can be produced in comparatively small pots, 

 the stems varying in height from 18 inches to 3 feet. These are valu- 

 able, and the flowers can be looked down upon, and can be arranged 

 to rise out of low dwarf-growing flowering-plants, and give to the 



