January 12, 1907 



HORTICULTURE 



31 



■derson's in habit, and some "ran" ; these latter I pulled 

 out. A littli? more than li-alC took the true bii^h form. 

 The healtliiest and most prolific were marked separately 

 — ^about 35 per cent. Imagine my surprise when I 

 came to sliell out the seed to find nearly hall' of tliem 

 were black. I had in mind when I selected it to intro- 

 duce the variety. That it could not be depended npon 

 to come true from seed I saw at once was a certain 

 drawback, but 1 felt no doubt, that by selection, that 

 would be overcome. 



In this surmise I was doomed to disappointment. 

 For next seasons trial I selected all the largest white 

 seedfi, and did not sow any black ones. About half 

 cam« black and a few of the white ones "ran," but I 

 pulled out all of these except one or two to test as to 

 whether the running forms would go "black." Further- 

 more, I noted the second season as to whether any plant 

 bore part of each color. No; they were either black or 

 white. Though I planted tliem for five years after- 

 wards, there was still a large proportion of black seeds, 

 and never a black seed planted, or grown anywhere 

 near to my knowledge. I then gave them up for a bad 

 job, but others continued the work later and reported 

 always a few black ones. 



Can any of your readers tell me if the Lima bean 

 in a wild state is black or white? I have a suspicion 

 that this was a case of reversion, and that the black 

 seeded variety is a stronger type. 



WeUcslcy, Mass. 



National Chrysanthemum Society 

 of England 



WINTER EXHIBITION 



The chrysanthemum season in England may now be 

 said to have come to an end. It began with the show 

 organized by "The Evening News" on the 20th of 

 September and terminated with the N. C. S. exhibition 

 of late flowering chrysanthemums at the Crystal Pal- 

 ace on the 5th and (Jth of December. Between those 

 dates there have been, as usual, numerous shows all 

 over the United Kingdom. 



At the final gathering of the "mum"-loving frater- 

 nity jMr. H. J. Jones exhibited a very handsome floral 

 arrangement that denoted the exercise of great artistic 

 skill and ingenuity. It consisted of a large oval 

 shaped group 33 ft. x 12 ft. sot up on a ground of dark 

 green cloth. The blooms were arranged in huge 

 bunches of finely developed examples in tall Japanese 

 vases. Others were staged in bamboo supports, while 

 for variety there were dotted here and there round the 

 margin of the group single specimen blooms in small 

 vases. Mingled with the various masses of color were 

 bamboos and ornamental foliage plants, and the whole 



enclosed, so to speak, with an edging of ferns. The 

 most effective vases of blooms in the group were com- 

 posed of Algernon Davis, Mrs. F. Lunt, Mme, Rene 

 Oberthur, Market Gold, Moneymaker and Mrs. Beech, 

 a grand self-colored incurved, big and solid, pale yel- 

 low. There was a goodly array of singles also shown 

 in masses and these pretty varieties against the big 

 Japanese formed a striking contrast that seemed to be 

 much appreciated by the visitors. 



Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons had a collection of cut 

 chrysanthemums in vases. Nagoya, Embleme Poit- 

 evine. Yellow Lord Brooke, Cannell's Late Prolific, 

 Winter Cheer, Princess Victoria, Heston Wliite, Golden 

 Age and many others being included. The same ex- 

 hibitors also staged one of their well-known brilliant 

 compositions of zonal pelargoniums. 



Messrs. John Peed & Sons had a pretty group ar- 

 ranged for decorative effect. Ferns and palms inter- 

 mingled with big blooms and singles in great variety 

 formed the chief characteristic of this display. 



Mr. Phillip Ladds showed cut chrysanthemums in 

 vases. Mme. Ed. Roger, Mme. G. Rivol, Western King, 

 Snowdrift, Mile. Louise Charvet, Nagoya and Butter- 

 cup were plentifully shown. 



Mr. Wells had a very nice lot of singles and decora- 

 tive kinds also arranged in vases. We particularly no- 

 ticed Mrs. W. J. Harting, King of Siam, Mrs. J. Car- 

 lisle, F. W. Smith. Harold Shaw. Gracie Trower, Ger- 

 trude. 



The floral art was well represented by many exhibit- 

 ors. Handsomely arranged baskets, and epergnes filled 

 with chrysanthemums and autumn foliage in endless 

 variation shared the artistic value of the popular flower 

 at this dull season of the year. 



A class that would probably excite interest in the 

 minds of those wlin visited an English show for the 

 first time was that for six benches of small-flowered 

 chrysanthemums. Quite a long array of vases included 

 these exhibits composed of dainty little button-shaped 

 chrysanthemums not an inch in diameter. Little Pet, 

 Snowdrop, Primrose League, Lilac Gem, and Miss G. 

 Waterer were some of the most attractive of these little 

 floral gems. 



The ordinary conipetitiv.e classes for six, twelve and 

 twenty-four cut blooms in the incurved and Japanese 

 sections, the blooms being shown on boards, were well 

 filled. Other classes were provided for by the schedule 

 in which the competitors staged their exhibits in vases. 



Flowering begonias were a feature of the show, Gloire 

 de Lorraine being set up in an imposing array. Carna- 

 tions were contributed by M. S. Mortimer and Messrs. 

 Cutbush & Son who had a fine table, not for competi- 

 tion. Duchess of Portland, Mrs. R. Norman, Ethel 

 Ward, White Lawson, Fair Maid, St. Louis, General 

 Kuroki and manv rr'hers were staged. 



