October 22 



1898. 



GARDENERS' 



MAGAZINE. 



683 



Chrysanthemums. 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLOWERS. 



THE abominable fungus which has recently infested, more or less, almost 

 every collection of chrysanthemums, comes as an additional worry to 

 those in particular who grow specimen blooms for exhibition. Its 

 marvellous rate of increase and the apparent ease with which it is dis 

 tributed amongst the plants are very discouraging facts, and we must 

 meet the trouble in a very determined manner if we are to escape its far- 

 reaching and serious consequences. The initiative taken by Mr. Sanders 

 and Mr. Waterer in suggesting a conference on the subject, to be held at 

 the October exhibition under the auspices of the N.C.S., is deserving of 

 high praise, and let us hope that the outcome may be some readier means 

 of combating the disease than has at present been discovered. Mean- 

 time we must pick off and burn every spot which can be found, and spray 

 the foliage with sulphide of potassium, already recommended in the 

 Gardeners' Magazine, whenever the weather permits such treatment, 

 at intervals of a few days. Everything depends on individual effort in 

 the stamping out of such a disease, and nurserymen especially ought to be 

 alive to this fact, and take especial pains to avoid distributing infected 

 cuttings or plants, otherwise chrysanthemum growing may receive a 

 serious check. 



Complaints reach me from all parts of the South of England of the 

 loss of buds through their dying off when about as large as hazel nuts, 

 and though this applies to several varieties more or less, the worst 

 affected are Madame Carnot and its sports. There is little doubt that 

 this is caused by the hot sun and altogether exceptional weather experi- 

 enced since the buds were taken, and the reason Madame Carnot has 

 suffered most is that its extremely succulent nature has presented too 

 much sap to the buds, which, under the influence of abnormal heat, has 

 resulted in decay. Many of our own plants of the Carnot section were 

 housed early and shaded from bright sun, after which no loss occurred. 

 Simplicity, Duke of York, Lady Byron, and buds of others "taken" 

 early in August are those which have suffered most. With such a gloomy 

 opening to my contribution it might appear to some that there is nothing 

 but trouble in store for those who cultivate chrysanthemums. The 

 advent of the flowering season, however, has brought with it plenty of 

 bright prospects to those who have carefully attended their plants, and 

 we may offer a few hints at this time on the development of the 

 blooms. 



By the time these notes appear, cooler, and we may hope for many 

 reasons, more rainy weather will be with us ; ventilation will need more 

 care, and fireheat be necessary when the outside temperature approaches 

 the freezing point The pipes must also be warmed when rainy weather 

 or fogs prevail. The aim will be to maintain a buoyant atmosphere 

 ranging from 45 to 53 deg. Always give a little top ventilation night and 

 day if there is no risk of driving rains or loo low a temperature injuring 

 the flowers. Fumigate frequently before insects have a chance of doing 

 mischief, and keep all the shoots carefully fastened in an upright 

 position to ensure the blooms unfolding evenly. Flowers which are likely 

 to be rather too early for a given date may be retarded by being kept 

 heavily shaded, and as cool as possible, away from draughts and the risk 

 of a damp air. When these are three parts developed, they may be kept 

 in almost total darkness, and for the last few days are best cut from the 

 plants, stripping the foliage from the stems, and immersing the latter 

 some ten inches in bottles of water. Late buds, on the other hand, need 

 roil light, and to be kept well up to the roof glass in a temperature not 

 exceeding 58 or 60 deg. with ventilation. Sulphate of ammonia will help 



Sin S u aS u l ls c l uickl y taken U P b y the plant, and tends to hasten the 

 growth though, as so often advised, only small quantities may be safely 

 used, which should not exceed the rate of one ounce per gallon ol water. 



nn e ,?ki ing i: eav ^ S and stron # sucker growth need constant removal, and if 

 possible the whole collection should be examined and rearranged, giving 

 ample room to each plant if space can be found. 



the ll ,S an °i ld P ractice and a good on e, to place varieties of 

 imnnrff f peta l ed ^curved section, of which the Queens are the most 



The It ? ° n 1 Stages when the flowers are abou * one-third unfolded, 

 the Kin ? rC removed > and lhe shoots suspended from the roof so that 

 incurv£ m f I head downwards - In this wav the petals maintain their 

 of crnvvrT ? ttcr » and 11 is an eas y matter to attend to the removal 



develonn °a d ? formed florets, which so materially assists a perfect 

 though t^^' m curved varieties need watching for similar deformities, 

 than rnnH orc *P* for this must be ver y carefully used, or more injury 

 of the bud^ the P° ssib,e bruisin g of young florets in the centre 



Maddin^n n ° Velti w have ver y promising buds, notably one named 

 1 .ener-,1 i> ■?> r" ch ' lf 1 am not mistaken, will prove a fine acquisition, 

 are also 1 i f q , U,e ' ^ ada me C. de Terrai), and Madame H. dc Vilmorin 

 Payne v«. y £ be . first - r ate sorts and of exhibition quality. Mrs. C. F. 

 also aoivM Tucker > R °y al Sovereign, Sec. Fierens, and S. W. Gilbert 

 th *t the r.a t f; Watmnt their inclus ion in all collections. We do not find 

 l* 0 Ple exn wea ther has unduly forwarded the flowers, though many 

 varieties : t p ss a contrary opinion. Certainly with the early border 

 Stark i s m h earS *° have had a retarding influence. The useful Ivy 

 think that th* r m b !°°ming than last year, and I am inclined to 

 ai >d made th CXtra sunshlne and dry atmosphere has hardened the buds 

 brill iant in rl ° PCn m ° re sIowI y- The September sorts have been less 

 dre adintr a ^k' and Dy no means so good as usual, and I am rather 

 ^•sfactorv , C h hastlsement from « Lux " if his plants have not been more 

 the supply of an °a T 0wn - However, the later varieties, which carry on 

 "seful W kl„ 'outdoor .flowers to November, are better, and extremely 



*» with M k < l uantIt 'es of cut flowers are in demand. J 

 *e mainVt, C r , as dais ies, rudbeckias, and perennial sui 

 CS ? y / the hard y fl ower borders. 



ar * hardens \ 



LlGUSTRUM WALKERI 



Since the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society awarded 

 Ligustrum Walkeri a first-class certificate the plant has been the subject 

 of a good deal of comment among the habitues of the Drill Hall meetings. 

 There can be little doubt but that the committee overrated the value of 

 this privet ; but, on the other hand, it does not follow that, because a 

 plant is unsatisfactory at Kew, it must be so everywhere else. Ligustrum 

 Walkeri is a native of Ceylon and the Neilgherry Hills, and though the 

 young and shining green leafage is attractive, we have other plants 

 ot winch the same may be said. Young, branching specimens, like 

 those exhibited by Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, are decidedly attrac- 

 tive, but the plant soon grows out of this condition, and becomes some- 

 what straggling in habit Then, also, the species is not sufficiently 

 hardy to stand unprotected throughout the year even as far south 

 as Kew. The next question to decide is w hether this shrub is of suffi- 

 cient value to warrant greenhouse cultnaiioo. We are of opinion that 

 its merits will not justily such care in t .c large majoiity of gardens. It 



01), 



8 2 J* 



Ligustrum Walkeri 



has, however, been suggested as suitable, when propeily grown, and in 

 tubs, for the decoration of large cool conservatories or winter gardens, 

 and for this purpose it may prove of value. The accompanying illustra- 

 tion is reduced from a pen and ink sketch of a small branch, to show 

 form of leaf and growth. 



W. H. Lees. 



Notes on the Crystal Palace Show. 



It appeared to be the general opinion of those best able to judge that apples and 

 nears were not quite so good as usual at this show, which fact may probably be 

 accounted for by the very dry weather that has been so long experienced in the 

 southern parts of the kingdom, from whence the finer and best-coloured fruits are 

 usually forthcoming. Any deficiency, however, there may have been in these 

 was amply compensated for in the classes for stone fruits, as it is seldom that 

 such fine examples of peaches and nectarines as were exhibited are to be seen 

 at shows held some weeks earlier in the season ; and the end of September may 

 be considered rather late for showing these in such good condition, especially after 

 the hot weather that has been experienced this year. Hums, too, were a marvellous 

 display, and it is, I think, correct to say that, taken as a whole, no finer collection 

 nor finer individual dishes of the fruits have ever before been brought together in 

 M% countrv • and how some of these had l>een ripened, protected from waspi and 

 • ; n J\ Ihm hlnnm nreserved so perfectly upon trees in the open air, was to 



' Jferi KsSn of the show alone the Council of the Royal I lord- 

 Sra^Society may justly claim the credit of accomplishing good work by bring- 

 I f e the public and gardeners in particular, the several newer varieties of 

 Ihfse fruits which have been introduced to cultivation in recent years. Many of 

 hese are a great advance in size and appearance upon older varieties, mdbwiE 

 iTfpr in rinenine the season of these popular fruits is considerably prolonged. The 

 Sod of stanine adopted now at the Palace is also a great improvement upon 



metnou in b ^ ^ ^ ^ onJy ^ ^ ^ shown off tQ much r 



advantage ^y being arrayed on long tables with the classes together or 

 Lcutive order, which makes it an easy matter to find any particular number or 

 cS of fruit instantly, but it is also of great assistance to exhibitors when staging, 

 A n immense amount of running to and fro to find any particular number, 



and * . thc officials with inquiries at a time when these are already closely 

 engaged with the proper arrangement and after appearance of th^ Aop. 



Calbzvay House, N.B. James ay. 



in con- 



