132 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



method of tying down the stems, and lacing them over each 

 other, forming a sort of network, with the ends turned up to the 

 extent of 2 or 3 inches for showing the blooms, would almost 

 appear as if not a few exhibitors thought they were of procumbent 

 habit, and therefore endeavoured to improve on nature in 

 finishing the plants. Such exhibits are violations of nature, 

 and are never produced by the best growers of specimen 

 plants. 



The natural habit of the Chrysanthemum is upright and 

 branching, and this character should be preserved in trained 

 plants, not obliterated. For presenting them in the most ap- 

 proved form the length of the stems must often be apparently 

 reduced, and so disposed that the blooms are the most effectively 

 displayed in the aggregate, and the stem on which each is borne 

 should be quite straight for a foot or more, with the foliage in its 

 exact natural position. Though the stems may, and in certain 

 cases must, be depressed, the bent parts should not be visible, 

 but hidden by a wealth of luxuriant leaves, which at once mani- 

 fest high culture and enhance the beauty of the blooms. 



Travelling and judging in various parts of the kingdom, I find 

 the majority of the trained specimen plants are not of that cha- 

 racter, nor such as it is a pleasure to honour with prizes. Some 

 of the best are staged at Birmingham, Southampton, and the 

 surrounding districts, and creditable examples have been seen at 

 Kingston, Walton-on-Thames, Brixton, and in the Westminster 

 Aquarium. The mention of Brixton compels a pause, and I 

 am sure all who were acquainted with the late Mr. W. Hall 

 would, if they could, scatter over his grave a few of the flowers 

 which he loved and grew so well. His grave is in the deep waters, 

 but his gentleness of spirit, kindness of heart, devotedness to his 

 calling, and skill as a grower of specimen Chrysanthemums, will 

 not die while those who knew him best, and the excellence of his 

 work, live to labour in the floral world. When he exhibited a 

 few years ago his were model plants— not widely spread out as if 

 to say, " Look how big I am ! " but massive in stems, leaves, and 

 blooms — compact without being huddled, and in which art and 

 nature were so merged that there was no visible line of conflict 

 between them. Not a twisted stem could be seen in those 

 beautiful specimens, about 2 feet high, and bearing from eighteen 

 to two dozen or more blooms equalling those in first prize stands, 



