190 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and it is a very poor sort, while Sam Henshaw, which is a plant 

 much more deserving of culture, was presented twice before one 

 was granted. This arises because judges decide from the 

 standards of exhibition sorts and the plants and flowers pre- 

 sented to them on committee, but not, on the evidence of 

 growers, from a flower-producing and decorative point of con- 

 sideration. The early kind, Pynaert van Geert, is good when 

 disbudded, but is not if all the buds are left on ; then it is a 

 poor thing when grown naturally. In contrast to this is Mile. 

 Lacroix, which, as a semi-early, is good in every way and for 

 all purposes, even as a moderately dwarf plant from late struck 

 cuttings at the beginning of May. 



There are many varieties that have been rejected from their 

 tall slender way of growing ; Henderson and Son and Hendersomi 

 are instances, the latter bearing such masses of flowers that it 

 is almost impossible to keep the plant up when in bloom. Too 

 much attention of raisers cannot be given in all Chrysanthe- 

 mums, especially in the early sorts, to the obtaining of dwarf 

 varieties, because the most excellent flowers can be grown on 

 such plants, as well as those so very tall. The late Avalanche is 

 an instance of this, and I think American Flora, in the semi- 

 earlies, is another. I am not quite certain on this latter, as this 

 is the first season I have grown it. When a plant has to grow 

 6 or 8 feet high to produce the same results as one 3 or 4 feet, I 

 think it a waste of time, labour, and space. As for cutting down, 

 that is a mere artifice. 



It has been said we want more colour in the early sorts, and 

 so we do ; but at present we have no good early sorts to start 

 from. Koi des Precoces only flowers in October, and William 

 Holmes is in the same position. 



I expect to obtain from America next season an early dark 

 single kind ; and this is what we want in both Pompons and 

 Japanese sorts, as most of the early kinds are Pompons. I should 

 wish to draw the attention of seedling growers to this want, for 

 the door to more colour lies in this direction. Probably someone 

 in the South of Europe, America, or elsewhere will be kind 

 enough to notice this and give us a little help. 



I have not. space here to name the best sorts now in cultiva- 

 tion, and must refer to past papers in the Press and my old lists, 

 but may say that the first good English seedling of the early 



