674 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[DeCEMBEB g, 1838. 



to place some plants in a certain shed, and there was 

 some lime in a corner that was just falling. This I 

 had always thought assisted in keeping them by 

 absorbing the moisture in the atmosphere. The 

 flowers kept three weeks, and were staged in good 

 condition afterwards. I give this for what it is 

 worth, and think it well worth trying. My last 

 advice is, beware of fogs if real success is to be 

 attained, for in one night they will undo the work 

 of the whole season. 



INFLUENCE OF WOOD KIPENING ON 

 BUDS AND BLOOMS.* 



The ripening of the wood of Chrysanthemums is 

 a very important matter in the growth of these 

 plants for the production of high-class blooms ; 

 indeed, without perfectly ripened wood it is impos- 

 sible to have blooms of the finest quality in all 

 respects. Let it be understood that what I mean by 

 perfectly ripened wood is wood that is ripened suffi- 

 ciently by natural means as the result of correct 

 treatment throughout. Sun is essential for the 

 maturation of plants in all stages of their growth ; 

 but in some seasons and districts there may be too 

 much of it, and in others not enough, and we must 

 make the best of both circumstances. Wood-ripen- 

 ing does not consist in merely hardening the wood, 

 but storing it with nutriment for the blooms. Fore ■ 

 ing the ripening, so to say, by drought or in other 

 ways, contracts the sap vessels unduly, impeding the 

 free flow of nourishment for the blooms at a critical 

 time, and those persons who practise such methods 

 in cultivation act erroneously, and fail to produce 

 the best blooms. 



Seasons vary so much that the locality in which 

 growers reside is a very important factor in the pro- 

 duction of good or bad blooms. Circumstances 

 occur over which cultivators have no control, which 

 prevent them showing the ability they may be 

 admitted to possess. They cannot, for instance, 

 excel during a cold wet summer in a low damp 

 district. The higher and drier the locality the 

 harder the 1 wood and the greater the disposition of the 

 plants to set buds prematurely. Where buds are per- 

 sistently formed long before the time we wish to see 

 them much valuable time is lost in the growthofthe 

 plants in their various stages during the time the buds 

 are forming. Moreover, high and dry localities pre- 

 dispose to narrow petals, and rather small but solid 

 blooms ; while reverse conditions are conducive to 

 the formation of broader petals and larger blooms. 

 Where the locality is high the air, although much 

 rain may be registered, is drier than in the lowlands, 

 and it is this dry air that precipitates bud formation 

 that gives so much trouble to some growers. The 

 proper time to " take " buds of some varieties is 

 upset altogether under such conditions. They form 

 either too early or too late for producing the finest 

 blooms. 



Then the question of dew is important. Daring 

 a hot and dry summer, as in 1887, the absence of 

 dews in high-lying districts is much felt. Dew 

 invigorates, and its scarcity or absence has been the 

 cause of many small blooms. We can regulate and 

 control moisture in the soil, but have practically no 

 power over it in the atmosphere. We may do our 

 best, and may do some good, but, after all, the 

 most we can do is but little in providing compen- 

 sation for what we may consider the shortcomings 

 of Nature. 



When the growth of plants is soft and gross, the 

 latter particularly, and the wood pale green instead 

 of brown in colour, a want of ripeness is evident. 

 Such plants produce blooms large in diameter, but 

 they are usually lacking in depth and solidity of the 

 petals. This is more noticeable in the incurved 

 section than in the Japanese family. Blooms which 

 are composed of extra broad florets are seldom if 

 ever as solid as medium-sized blooms, having nar- 

 rower petals ; neither can the former be considered 

 of such high quality as those deeper in build 



* A paper read at the Chrysanthemum Conference by Mr. 

 E. Molyneux, Stanmore Park Gardens, Bishops Waltham. 



and consequently firm and likely to stand fresh 

 a long time. Blooms having unusually broad 

 florets often show decided roughness and irregularity, 

 and the dresser is not able to present such blooms in 

 the same highly finished condition as when the petals 

 are narrower and the blooms more solid. 



The present season is considered to have been a 

 bad one for the growth of large high-class blooms, 

 especially in the incurved section. This is borne 

 out by examples which have been staged at various 

 exhibitions. It cannot be said they have been of the 

 highest quality, or as they have been shown in some 

 past seasons. Some stands have been extra heavy 

 in the size of the blooms, owing to the immense 

 breadth of their florets, but many of the blooms 

 licked depth in proportion to diameter, conse- 

 quently, they were not so solid as they would have 

 been had the blooms been deeper in proportion to 

 their breadth. After a summer like the past one, 

 we expect to see large blooms which lack solidity 

 and closeness of the petals, a condition which is 

 owing mainly to the unripened state of the wood. I 

 am not in favour of extra large blooms of the in- 

 curved section, which are only large in one way — 

 diameter, for the reasons stated — they lack depth 

 and solidity. My idea of an incurved bloom is one 

 not great in diameter alone, but deep and firm in 

 build, consequently of a better shape. Such blooms 

 are never seen with extra broad petals, but they 

 carry what is known as a good " shoulder," being 

 more Orange-shaped. Such blooms as I have 

 described are the result of perfectly ripened wood, 

 and are seldom met with after a season like the past. 

 Where prizes are offered for the premier incurved 

 bloom in a show, this honour generally falls to a 

 specimen of the character indicated, and not to a 

 flower which has merely two points in its favour — 

 extra width of bloom and broadness of florets 

 Blooms which are generally chosen for this honour 

 are usually remarkable for solidity and high finish, 

 which two latter qualities cannot be obtained from 

 blooms which have extra broad and thin florets. The 

 ripened character of the wood is the all-important 

 factor in the production of blooms of the highest 

 possible standard of excellence, and the complete 

 maturation we seek is obtained, as far as seasons 

 allow, by careful treatment from the beginning. 



Ct/ltdbe. 



The method of culture I advise as the most likely 

 to obtain the desired end is that of growing the 

 plants from the first stage on to the culminating 

 point in a regular steady manner, not by starts and 

 stops, such as applying water regularly for a time, 

 then neglecting the plants for a few days. Regular 

 attention to potting is important, or before they 

 become so root-bound many roots must be broken in 

 the process, causing a check to the steady progressive 

 growth that is so desirable in plants for producing 

 the finest blooms. Crowding the plants in their 

 younger stages of growth is most- hurtful, and 

 antagonistic to the development of vigorous wood 

 and foliage. Sufficient space should always be 

 allowed the plants. When in their summer 

 quarters they should be arranged in an open position 

 where the sun can shine directly on them, but the 

 position should be protected from north, east, and 

 south-westerly winds, which are often so destructive 

 early in the season when the plants are first placed 

 out of doors. Many plants have been so injured by 

 a loss of their lower leaves during May, that they 

 have never recovered the desired strength. South- 

 westerly winds, which are prevalent during the end 

 of August and the early part of September, often do 

 much damage to the buds and leaves where the 

 plants are much exposed. The flower-buds and 

 their peduncles are at that time so tender that 

 the skin may be much injured by being whipped 

 about, so to speak, that a check occurs to the 

 development of the blooms owing to the tissues 

 being broken, thus checking the full and regular 

 flow of sap. 



Some growers set too much store on plants with 

 extra thick stems and gross green leaves. These 



are, perhaps, pleasant to look upon during the 

 summer by the uninitiated, but when the test of 

 good culture comes to be looked for, blooms pos- 

 sessing the desirable characteristics are generally 

 missing. Very exuberant plants produce blooms 

 devoid of solidity and other essentials as a rule. 



It is possible in some seasons to have the plants 

 ripened too much in dry localities. The summer of 

 1887 was a most trying one to contend with in high 

 and dry districts, where not a drop of rain fell for 

 eleven weeks, and scarcely any dew during a greater 

 part of that time. The remedy in this case is to 

 shade the pots from the sun during the hottest 

 parts of the day, by boards set on edge in front of 

 them, by Fern, cocoa-nut fibre, or mats. Thus the 

 roots may be kept in a cooler state than they otherwise 

 would be with the sun shining directly on the pots 

 most of the day. In the absence of shade to the 

 pots the roots on the sunny side are almost sure to 

 be killed, and we all know what that means. Plants 

 in low-lying districts invariably produce the broadest 

 florets, and the largest but not the best wearing 

 blooms. The advantage of those which are more 

 solid in character is often exemplified when the .two 

 kinds have stood two days at a show and borne 

 the heat of crowded rooms. Those which are 

 firm remain so longer than those which are more 

 or less loose. These latter quickly show an " eye," 

 which proves their weakness and non-sustaining 

 form. 



Flower-buds are generally produced upon plants 

 at a more regular time in the various stages of 

 growth when the plants are steadily, hence properly, 

 ripened than when they are not, except in very high 

 and dry localities, where they ripen their growth too 

 early, causing premature bud formation ; this must 

 be counteracted as much as possible, though it can- 

 not always be prevented. Growers in the extreme 

 southern counties often experience too early bud 

 formation, caused by a too early ripening of the 

 wood which their northern brethren are strangers to. 

 This generally occurs with the whole of the Queen 

 group, The plants forming flower-buds at times 

 between the end of March and the same time in 

 April, causing a serious interruption in their future 

 growth, and preventing the formation of buds at the 

 time most desirable for the district in which the 

 grower resides. 



Vegetables. 



The past season, although it has been anything 

 but favourable for fruit, has been one of the best that 

 gardeners have experienced for many years past, for 

 during the whole of the summer months the supply 

 of all kinds, save Tomatos, was most abundant, and 

 had it not been for the early October frosts, Scar- 

 let Runners, Beans, and Peas, would have continued 

 in full bearing to a very late period, and it was rather 

 distressing to see rows of these, so full of blossom 

 and pods, cut off in a night ; but we have reason to re- 

 joice over that that was left, for have we not Veitch's 

 Autumn Giant Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Broc- 

 coli, and Spring Cabbage, in fine order ; Celery, 

 Spinach, Endive, and Lettuce, all looking at their 

 best, and consequently, with a favourable winter, the 

 promise of a full supply for some time to come. 

 The one great danger with Cabbages is, that after 

 the spell of warm weather we have had they may be- 

 come too " proud," and run, as the growth has 

 been very rapid, and, that being so, it will be ad- 

 visable to save all plants now standing on the seed- 

 beds, and prick them out at once, if not already done, 

 as the check from removal will be of great benefit 

 to them, and they will lift with good balls for trans- 

 planting in spring. 



Young Cauliflowers, too, excepting those sown 

 late, are also too vigorous, and are almost sure to 

 bolt, but gardeners now do not place so much depend- 

 ence on autumn raised plants that they once did, 

 as we now have not only earlier kinds, which, 

 when sown in spring, come in quickly, but we have 

 much later Broccoli, and between the two the space 



