October 28, 1905 



horticulture: 



439 



Early Chrysanthemums at the 

 Crystal Palace 



The National Chrysantliemum Society of England 

 held its early show at the Crystal Palace, Sydenliam, on 

 the 4th of October last, when a convention of growers 

 was also held to discuss certain matters relating to these 

 varieties which are much appreciated in England at the 

 present time. Although there were many other things 

 shown we can only notice the best exhibits of the early 

 flowering chrysanthemums as they were the main feature 

 of the show. 



Mr. William Wells of Earlewood had a handsome 

 group of plants grown in the open ground, most of them 

 large sized Japanese, very effective in color and compact- 

 ness of growth. Carrie, a charming yellow variety, was 

 one of the best. Jason, a recent French seedling, was 

 another. Pollie, a large reddish orange colored variety, 

 also made an excellent display. A noteworthy feature 

 of Mr. Wells' exhibit was the entire family of the 

 Massee gi-oup. This comprised free flowering plants of 

 the parent Mme. Marie Massee and the following sports, 

 viz., Crimson Massee, Ralph Curtis, Eobbie Burns, 

 Horace Martin, Wells' Massee, Mrs. Baird and George 

 Bowness — one of the latest — a pretty shade of crushed 

 strawberry. Harrie, a novelty of deep reddish orange, 

 was awarded a first-class certificate. Goacher's pink 

 also gained a like distinction. 



Mr. R. H. Bath showed a handsome group composed 

 almost entirely of French varieties. Chief of these 

 were Fleuve rouge, crimson; Flambeau, fiery red; Fee 

 Japonaise, white with yellow centre; Peril Rose, Ernest 

 Baltet, Eubis, De la Guille, Champ d'or ; Le pactole, 

 one of the largest and most beautiful in color, a rich 

 orange chestnut with golden reverse. 



Mr. W. Sydenham shciwed a collection of hardy border 

 chrysanthemums composed mostly of well known 

 standard sorts. We specially noted good bunches of 

 Harvest Home, Ambroise Thomas, Horace Martin, Par- 

 isiana. Queen of the Earlies, Carrie, Roi des Blancs, and 

 many others. 



Messrs. H. E. Cannell & Sons of Swanley also had 

 a capital collection. Mme. Marie Massee, Louis Le- 

 maire, Goacher's Crimson (very fine). Bronze Massee, 

 Perle Rose, Etoile Blanche were among the number. 



Mr. H. J. Jones, another well known specialist, put 

 up a most attractive table of grand michaelmas daisies 

 and early chrysanthemums. The best were Sydney 

 Peto, a good vellow ; Pollie, Horace Matin, Maxim, Fire 

 Fly, Hilda Blick, etc. 



Mr. Norman Davis, one of the oldest cultivators of the 

 ■early section, had a most artistic circular group. 

 Michaelmas daisies and early chrysanthemums were ar- 

 ranged with most artistic effect. Roi des Blancs, La 

 Parisienne, Rubis, Carrie, Perle Rose, Rabelais, Rosie, 

 Beacon, were the best of the chrysanthemums. 



Mr. Eric Such of Maidenhead is another big grower. 

 He, too, set up a fine display containing most of the 

 -varieties previously mentioned. 



THE CONVENTION 



At 3.30 on the afternoon of the first day of the show 

 in the King's Room there was a large gathering of grow- 

 -ers and amateurs. The meeting was presided over by 

 Mr. Thomas Bevan. 



Mr. Harman Payne read a paper on "The History of 

 the Early Flowering Chrysanthemum" in which he 

 traced its progress from the earliest times to the present. 



Mr. Eric Such i-ead a paper on market varieties, pom- 

 pons, singles and Japanese being dealt with. Special 

 details as to cultm-e, etc., were given and the following 

 recommended : 



Mytchett White, Market White, White Marie Massee, . 

 Queen of the Earlies, Roi des Blancs, Champ de Neige, 

 La Parisenne, White Pet, Boule de Neige, and Wliite 

 Quintus are splendid pure white varieties for early 

 October. 



Autumn Sun, Miss B. Miller, Mytchett Beauty, Ethel 

 Mitchell, Yellow Prince, Lemon Queen, Market Yellow, 

 Sunshine, Horace Martin, Maggie and Miss Ruth Mar- 

 tin are good yellows. 



0. J. Quintus, Gustave Gunnerwald, Mrs. J. R. 

 Pitcher, Mytchett Pink, Reycroft Pink, Blushing Beau- 

 ty, Mde. Marie Massee and Mde. C. Perrier, rank fore- 

 most among the pinks. 



Goacher's Crimson, Crimson Marie Massee, Roi des 

 Precoces, Market Red, Jules Mary, Mina Bliek, Nelly 

 Blake, Harvest Home, Black Prince Gaspard Boucharlet 

 Improved are crimson varieties of real merit. 



Other first-class varieties include: — Mde. E. Morel, 

 salmon ; Orange Pet and Orange Massee, orange ; Coral 

 Queen, coral-pink; Claret Bell, crimson; Arthur Crepey, 

 primrose; Gladys Irene Harkness, crimson; Maggie 

 McLeod, orange shaded red centre. 



Mr. Moorman of Victoria Park read a paper on early 

 varieties for town gardens. Discussion ensued after 

 each paper was read and great interest was taken in the 

 whole proceedings. 



At 6.30 a second sitting of the convention took place. 

 Mr. E. H. Hawes gave his e.xperience with earlies in 

 town gardens. Mr. George Gordon discoursed upon the 

 decorative value of earlies and Mr. D. B. Crane dis- 

 cussed their value for culture in the garden. 



British Horticulture 



THE AUTUMN NURSERY SALES 



The leading auction sales at the nurseries around 

 London have lately been completed. Large quantities 

 of first-class stuff were on offer, and these received good 

 attention from a big muster of London and provincial 

 buyers. It was anticipated that the depressed state of 

 trade during the past season would have left its impress, 

 but this proved groundless. As a rule the lots sold 

 remarkably well, excellent prices being maintained, and 

 in most cases in advance of those of last season. At the 

 sale of Messrs. H. Evans & Sons, formerly Messrs. Greg- 

 ory and Evans, at Sidney in Kent, some 40,000 winter- 

 fiowering heaths, 30,000 solanums, besides roses, ferns, 

 genistas, bouvardias, etc., were disposed of. Erica 

 gracilis in 48's sold at an average of 6s. per dozen, and 

 in 40's at 7s. 6d. — a high figure; E. hyemalis in 48's 

 6s. 6d., and 40's 9s. a dozen, and other varieties in this 

 section realized equally satisfactory prices. Bouvardias 

 in 48's sold at 4s. a dozen, and the same price was paid 

 for some well-berried solanums. A fine lot of roses in 

 32's average as follows : W. A. Richardson, 9s. ; Gloire 

 de Dijon, 9s.; Moreclial Niel, 10s.; Crimson Rambler, 

 10s.; Dorothy Perkins, 12s.; Chestnut Hybrid, 12s.; 

 L'Ideal. 12s.; Climbing Niphetos, 12s.: Reine Marie 

 Henriette, 9s. a dozen. Some specimen plants of white 

 azaleas sold at 28s. to 30s., and genistas in 48's realized 



