440 



HORTICULTURE. 



October 27, 1906 



changing toward the petal edges to silvery rose. The 

 other gold medal seedling was a H. T., Dorothy Page 

 Eoberts, shown by Messrs. Alexander Dickson & Sons. 

 The large blooms are of a soft peach tint, of an at- 

 tractive form. A special feature was the group of 

 roses arranged by Messrs. Paul & Son, the leading va- 

 rieties being represented. A gold medal was awarded. 



THE IMPEOVEMEXT OF GARDEN FLOWERS. 



One of '-the leading" London daily papers lately 

 opened its colums to a discussion of the improvement 

 of flowers by florists. Some of the critics have been 

 rather severe on the operations of the florists in this 

 direction, and urge that the developments in some cases 

 have spoilt the natural beauty of the flower, particu- 

 larly when an abnormal size has been sought, as m the 

 case of some of the later introductions of chrysanthe- 

 mums. In the course of an interesting letter contrib- 

 uted by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, it is pointed out that 

 there is a growing taste evinced for such flowers as re- 

 tain at least some distinct resemblance to their original 

 type. "The florist is no longer encouraged to efEace 

 the characteristic difference in each variety, but rather 

 is desired to accentuate and perpetuate such type whilst 

 obtaining the greatest possible range of variations." 



>^y, /^^^ 



Early Chrysanthemums in London 



The National Chrysanlhcmum Society lield its an- 

 nual exhibition of early varieties on the 3rd and 4th 

 October last. Although somewhat less in extent than 

 that of last year it was interesting in many points of 

 view. Besides the ordinary classes for cut blooms there 

 were manv exhibits showing the use of this popular 

 flower for table decoration, for vases, baskets, etc. 

 There was the usual sight of cut blooms on boards, 

 such as we see at the ordinary November shows, but 

 the real value of the early chrysanthomuin lies in its 

 decorative value and not in its use as a mere exhibition 

 specimen bloom. 



Many of the bunches and vases of chrysanthemums 

 had come from plants grown in the open ground. They 

 were well colored, freely grown, medium sized flowers 

 that are most acceptable at this season of the year. In 

 whites La Parisienne, Parisiana, Mytchett Wliite, Eoi 

 dcs Blancs, Market White and Queen of the Earlies 

 were numerous. Yellows were well represented all over 

 the show bv Horace ^klartin, Champ d'Or, Carrie, Gus- 

 tave Wermig, Miss B. :\[iller, and other well known 

 sorts, while here and there richness was added to many 

 of the exhibits by varieties of higher tones in bronzes, 

 purples and crimsons, such as crimson Marie ilasse. 

 Beacon, Perle Eose, Goaeher's Crimson, Nina Blick, 

 Nellie Blake, I^ Pactole, :SImc. Marie Masse, Ernest 

 Baltet and many more. 



Some of the specialists, such as H. J. Jones and Wil- 

 liam Wells, put up fine groups arranged in a most 

 artistic style in which l)ig bloom culture was very con- 

 Sun, Nivose, Merstham Yello^^-; Mrs. F. J. Duck. Mrs. 

 G. Heaume, Miss Phyllis Chistardcn, British Empire, 

 Mrs. A. T. Miller, an immense white, Mrs. W. Knox 

 (grand), Arthur du Cros, to say nothing of many 

 others similar in build. 



Single and double begonias were exhibited in large 

 numbers and also dahlias of all sections. Tlie peony- 



flowered dahlias staged by Hobbies, limited, seemed to 

 attract much attention. They are huge, broad-petalled 

 varieties of great brilliancy of color. Baron de Grancy 

 is a fine white. Dr. Van Gorkem flesh pink, Germania 

 a vivid crimson. Queen Wilhelmina pure white, Duke 

 Henry purple crimson, Gloiry of Baarn pale lilac rose. 

 One of the most dazzling of this type was the deep red- 

 dish crimson Sr. de Gustave Douzon. 



Carnations also figured at the show, a nice collection 

 being set up by T. S. Ware & Co., and also by Hugh 

 Low & Co. There were many^ other exhibitors. 



A Japanese gentleman, Mr. H. Yoshida, brother to 

 the Secretary of the Japanese Horticultural Society at 

 Tokio, was present and in returning thanks to the 

 toast of the visitors paid homage to the skill of English 

 cultivators of his national flower, which he considered 

 had reached a high degree of perfection in England. 



Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) 



See Frontispiece. 

 A more highly prized shrub than the Eose of Sharon 

 or Althffia, would be hard to find. It blooms at a pe- 

 riod when few shrubs are in flower, and the diversity of 

 color in the various varieties makes it possible to use 

 them in large quantities, even in limited plantings. 

 Not only do they produce good effect as specimens or 

 in the slirubbory liorders, but used as a hedge they are 

 extremely pretty. They thrive in almost any fair soil, 

 preferring, however, good garden loam. No shrub re- 

 sponds more readily to trimming. This should be done 

 in the winter. 



Though there are many kinds, the following can espe- 

 cially 1)0 recommended : Bicolor : White with a crim- 

 son centre. Boule do Feu : A showy, violet-red variety. 

 C'arnea plena : Double white shaded and striped pink. 

 Comte de Flandre: Double dark red, — not so full. 

 Due de Brabant: Double red shading pink. Elegantis- 

 sima: White with a crimson centre; full double flow- 

 ers. Jeanne d' Arc, double and slightly quilled, is the 

 only pure white typo that is double. Lady Stanley: A 

 pretty double white, shading to deep crimson. Leo- 

 jioldi : Flesh shaded to rose with crimson centre ; 

 double. Paeonajflora : Cerise; semi-double. Spcciosa: 

 Doulde, blush. Totus albus: Single pure white. 



New varieties. Coelstis : A beautiful single variety 

 having flowers of a true blue, no trace of purple, and 

 thoy do not fade to a magenta as many do. Tliis is a 

 Frencli variety and merits recommendation. 



Mcehanii : This new variety has come to stay. It 

 has many good points to recommend it. In the first 

 place its pretty variegated leaves arc quite distinct and 

 do not revert to the green, as many variegated-leaved 

 jilants do. The flowers are one of its chief rccom- 

 spicuous. We noted some grand examples of October 

 mcndations. The common variegated-leaved hibiscus 

 Ijears buds which, liowever, never expand. This new 

 type bears large single flowers of a satiny lavender 

 color, and the contrast produced by these againrt the 

 variegated foliage can hardly be overdrawn. It was in- 

 troduced for (lie first time this season and has a good 

 future. 



