733 



GA RDENERS' MA GA ZINE. 



November 12, 1898. 



M. vexillaria and lft, R ezlii. The Continental raised form has been the 

 more interesting of the two hybrids, from the fact that M. Bleu raised 

 a larger number of seedlings than was obtained by the Messrs. Veitch. 

 As with most other batches of seedlings, there has been considerable 

 variations in ML Bleuana, so much so that the Orchid Committee have 

 distinguished no less than five varieties to which they have awarded 

 first-class certificates. Its many forms are very handsome and 

 desirable, and when grown under suitable conditions it is one of the 

 easiest plants we have to deal with. It requires the warm intermediate 

 house treatment throughout the year, with a liberal supply of atmospheric 

 moisture at all seasons. The plant has lent itself readily to multiplica- 

 tions in continental collections, and can now be procured at a reasonable 

 price from any of our leading nurserymen. The general habit of growth 

 and the shape and colour of the flowers are intermediate between those of 

 the parents, both being easily distinguished in all portions of the plants. 



Cambridge Lodge Gardens. 



J 



Chrysanthemum Miss Nellie Byron. 



Mr. H. Weeks, the capable gardener to Lady Byron, Thrumpton Hall, 

 Derby, is now well known as a most enthusiastic and successful grower 

 of chrysanthemums, while in addition he has gained no small share of 

 fame as a raiser of first-rate exhibition varieties. Two varieties that have 

 helped most to make him famous are Lady Byron and Mrs. H. Weeks, 

 while the particularly bold and handsome varieties exhibited on the 31st 

 ult. at the Royal Aquarium will help to maintain his position both as 

 grower and raiser. There were four new Japanese from Thrumpton Hall 

 gardens, named respectively Emily Towers, Lady Crawshaw, Mrs. 

 Coombe, and Henry Weeks, all of which gained first-class certificates, 

 and are described on p. 724 in our issue of November 5. In the present 

 number we give an almost life-size representation of a new and distinct 

 seedling raised by Mr. Weeks, but not yet exhibited, and which chry- 

 santhemum enthusiasts will probably have to wait another year before 

 they see. Mr. Weeks kindly sent us the one available bloom, and it was 

 photographed after a railway journey from Derby, so there is no doubt 

 about its ability to travel well. The bloom was of large size, fully eight 

 inches across, and about the same depth. The florets are broad and 

 slightly keeled, substantial, incurving at the top, and curling somewhat 

 at the base of the flower. The colour is intensely pearly-white, and there 

 can be no doubt that Miss Nellie Byron will be as great a success in a 

 year or two as Mrs. H. Weeks is now. 



Ch 



Rou 



L 



Undoubtedly growers this season of the autumn queen of flowers have had in 

 this district more than their usual course of disappointments to deal with, and so 

 far as can be gathered the reasons for failure are more unaccountable than usual. 

 In this district the growing season appeared to be a satisfactory one, the plants 

 generally being strong with well-ripened wood, points that are generally considered 

 the forerunners of good blooms, but in many cases tMs has not proved the case, 

 one large grower stating 'hat he housed the finest plants, but has only obtained 

 the worst flowers he ever had. Various causes are assigned for the unsatisfactory 

 results, some blaming the slight frosts of September, others stating that the hot 

 weather about the time of " taking the buds " dried the growth too quickly, thus 

 causing contraction in the stems. Although it is generally admitted the season is 

 an unfavourable one, yet many new varieties, especially in the Japanese, are grand, 

 so it may be that the exhibition table will not suffer. Another point against 

 numbers is the lateness of the flowers, whilst the principal show— Liverpool— is 

 earlier than usual. The incurved section promise well. The Corporation of 

 Liverpool continue to grow in large number*, and the exhibition is thoroughly 

 appreciated by the citizens, as evidenced by the throngs of visitors who are in 

 attendance daily. 



Botanic Gardens. 



The principal bouse, one hundred and twenty feet by twenty, recently con- 

 structed by Mr. J. Webster from plans of the city surveyor, contains upwards of 

 two thousand plants, the centre section containing plants bearing two to five 

 flowers, and the outside stages are filled with bush plants of pompons, singles, 

 &Cj The plants show , evidence of good treatment, having large, dark, leathery 

 foliage, without a sign of the many pests that the 11 mums " are liable to. The 

 large flowering plants vary from two to six feet in height, and, as they are placed 

 a little lower than the paths, visitors have the pleasure of having the blooms 

 uncjer the eye, which is a distinct advantage. Mr. Devanney, the grower, has 

 a large number of seedlings of considerable promise, the one named after the 

 esteemed chairman of the Parks and Gardens Committee being a pale lilac colour 

 of reflexed Japanese, an altogether desirable variety. The most noticeable in the 

 general collection are M. Aug. de Lacviver, C. J. Jefcott, S. D. M. Bullier, Etoile 

 de*eu, Mrs. D. Dewar, M. Molyneux, Dorothy Gibson (reflexed), Coun. F. 

 toucher (pompon). A nice bank of cyclamens and some few cattleyas and 

 cypnpediums add to the attractions of these gardens. 



Sefton Park. 



A fine show is presented here with seven hundred plants f jr large blooms and 

 fafteen hundred bush plants, many of which were struck late, and grown on with- 

 out stopping. The house is similar to that in the Botanic Gardens, and the 

 rrangements arc on similar lines with the exception that here the centre is of switch- 

 back iorm, which breaks the monotony of arrangement. The plants will not be 

 at their best for a few days, and the bush plants will be even longer. An advan- 



more suitable for the side stages. Amongst the most noteworthy are E G. Hill, 



5SS*SS T^Kn ^ Palmer ' Lad ? *y*™> Beaut y of Teignmouth, Eva 

 amolt th^ and many of the older varieties of incurved. The best 



l^^^^cJS^? ^ VenS ' Fiberta > Rosinante, Rose Owen, Mrs. 

 uewar, bear let Gem (single), and Mrs. F. Tr«ri« Ut>*M. 



superintendent 

 manner in whi< 



attractive exhi 



carrying 



d gardens, and Mr. Gutteridfj 

 be congratulated upon the ab 



Exhibitions and Meetings. 



NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY 



November 8, o, and 10. 



The great event m the chrysanthemum growers' year has taken place ™a 

 compared with other years it was as great a success as ever. The quality of* 

 Jipanese blooms may sometimes have been exceeded but by very little and 

 sidering the difficulties of the season they were magnificent. The comoetiS 

 throughout was extensive and close, the judges having in most cases to n iinr th- 

 blooms to arrive at a just decision. The exhibition as a whole was a We an? 

 gorgeous display, and perhaps the only falling off was found in the specimen 

 plant classes, our old friend Mr. Donald being absent from the battle Th 

 arrangements were better than usual, as visitors were kept away as much as dos 6 



were good, and the 



non- competitive exhibits formed no inconsiderable put of the general attractive- 

 ness of a great display that was worthy of the National Society. 



National Challenge Trophy. 



The national competition among the horticultural and chrysanthemum so-ieties 

 affiliated with the National Chrysanthemum Society was fairly keen, four societies 

 competing fjr the Challenge Trophy and the handsome money prizes offered 

 The judges had not an easy task to decide which was the superior stand, and 

 eventually pointing had to be done to arrive at the jist merits of each set. ' The 

 first prize was won by the Portsmouth and District Horticultural Society, and the 

 blooms were wholly contributed by Mr. J. Agate, nurseryman, Havant. The 

 Japanese varieties were well coloured, of fair size and good finish, and the'names 

 were: Jane Molyneux, Mrs. Mease, Milana, C. Divis, V. Morel, Oceana 

 Madame Carnot, and Australie in the back row ; Edith Tabor, Lady Hanham' 

 T. Brooks, Mrs White Popham, Ella Curtis, Madame P. Rivoire, J. Chamberlain' 

 and a yellow seedling in the middle row ; with Colonel W. B. Smith, Australian 

 Gold, Mrs. Molyneux, Princess Charles of Denmark, Mdlle. Tberese Rey, 

 Dorothy Seward, Lady Byron, and International in the front row. The incurved 

 blooms were splendid, large, well coloured and finished, the varieties being Mrs. 

 N. Molyneux, Lady Isabel, Perle Dauphinoise, Miss Violet Foster, Globe d'Ot] 

 Duchess of Fife, C. H. Curtis, and Nellie S. Thelfall in the back row ; Baron 

 Hirsch, Miss M. A. Haggas, Ma Perfection, Princess of Wales, Madame Ferlat, 

 Mrs. G. Coleman, J. Agate, and Dorothy Foster in the middle rov ; and J. 

 Kearns, Lord Rosebery, John Miles, Topaze Orientale, Miss V. Tomlin, Mrs. 

 R.^ C. Kingston, Lucy Kendal, and Madame Darrier in the front row. The second 

 prize was won by the Bromley and District Chrysanthemum Society, blooms being 

 contributed by Messrs. Blackburn, Blick, Brisser, Dove, Lyne, Par field, Tapper, 

 and Wheadon ; this was a good set, and the Bromley society made a first-rate 

 fight. The Barnet and District Society won the third piize. 



Holmes Memorial and Turner Cups. 



There were no less than six entries in the class for thirty-six blooms of distinct 

 incurved varieties, the Holmes Memorial Challenge Cup being the leading award, 

 together with ^"io g ven by Sir Eiwin Saunders, president of the society. The 

 premier award wa* won by Mr. W. Hi^g*. gardener to J. B. Hankey, Esq., 

 Fetcham Park, Fetcham ; the best stand of blooms however, was sent by Mr. 

 W. H. Lees, but unfortunately Princess of Wales and Mrs. Heale were associated 

 in this stand, and so the judges had no option but to disqualify it. Mr. Higgs' 

 varieties were Duchess of Fife, M ns. Desblanc, Golden Empress, Dorothy 

 Foster, Globe d'O/, Madame Ferla:, John Lambert, Mrs. R. C. Kingston, Major 

 Bonaffon, Robt. Petfield, and Lady Isabel, in the back row ; Alfred Salter, F. W. 

 Wilkinson, C. B. Whitnall, Mrs. R. King, Queen of England, Baron Hirsch, 

 Lord Alcester, Mrs. J. Eadie, J. Agate, George Haigh, Ernest Cannell, and 

 Empress of India, in the middle row ; D. B. Crane, Austen Cannell, Miss Cole- 

 man, Sir T. Lawrence, Bjnnie Dundee, Miss M. A Haggas, Violet Foster, Jeanne 

 d'Arc, Violet Tomlin, M.P. Martignac, Madame Darrier, and Princess of Wales, 

 in the front row. The second prize was awarded to Mr. J. H. Goodacre, gardener 

 to the Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, D -rby, who had a good even set, in- 

 cluding fine developments of C. H. Curtis, Baron Hirsch, Globe d'Or, and Lady 

 Isabel ; Mr. W. Mease was third, and Mr. F. G. Foster fourth. 



The Holmes Memorial Challenge Cup and £10, offered as first prize for forty- 

 eight Japanese, was won by Mr. W. H. Lees, gardener to F. A. Bevan, Esq., 

 Trent Park, Barnet, who had a magnificent lot of flowers ; in the back row were 

 grand flowers of Surpasse Amiral, Australie, Lady Rid^way, Madame Carnot, 

 Viviand Morel, Louise, Oceana, Mrs. W. H. Lees, Mrs. C. H. Payne, Elsie 

 Teichmann, Phcebus, Madame M. Ricoud, Mons. Hoste, Secretaire Fie/ens, Reine 

 d'Angleterre, and Mrs. H. Weeks ; in the middle row were Chenon de Leche, 

 Souvenir de Petite Amie, J. B.dencope, Mrs. Palmer, Souvenir de Madame 

 Rosetti, Simplicity, N.C.S. Jubilee, Pride of Madford, Mutual Friend, Chas. 

 Shnmpton, C. B. Haywood, Madame Rosseau, Mrs, Lewis, E. Molyneux, 

 Madame P. Rivoire, and Ella Curtis ; in the front row were Nellie Pockett, R. 

 Powell, Edith Tabor, Mrs F. A. Bevan, Madeleine Davis, Miss D. Shea, Lady 

 Byrcn, Col. Chase, Chas. Davis, Mrs. Mease, J. Chamberlain, Pres. Nonin, Chats- 

 worth, Col. W. B. Smith, Seedling, and Madame G. Bruant. Mr. Frederick 

 Vallis, Bromham Fruit. Farm, Chippenham, came second, with a fine set of flowers, 

 Mr, W. Mease third, and Mr. J. McHattie, gardener to the Duke of 

 Wellington, Strathfieldsaye, fourth. 



Mr. Norman Davis, Framfield Nurseries, Sussex, won the Turner Memorial 

 Cup for three dozen Japanese blooms in twelve varieties, three blooms of each ; 

 Mr. Davis has now secured the cup for himself. The varieties shown by Mr. 

 Davis were : Madame Carnot (beau'iful), Joseph Chamberlain, President Nonin, 

 Mutual Friend, Phoebus, E. Molyneux, S. C. Probyn, Oceana, Dorothy Seward, 

 Madame G. Henry, General R ,birts, and G. J. Warren (three magnificent 

 blooms) ; Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, won second prize, his J. Brookes, 

 G. J. Warren, Le Grand D.agj and Mrs. Mease b^ing especially fine. 



Special Open Classes. 



There was a splendid competition in the class for two dozen Japanese blooms, 

 for pnz.s offered by the chairman and directors of the Royal Aquarium to 

 commemorate this the twenty-first exhibition of the N.C.S held at the koyai 

 Aquarium. The first prize was £8 and a large gold medal, and as there were 

 sixteen competitors the winner can afford to fed proud of his po ition. The scbiej 

 honour was won by Mr. R. Kenyon, garden-r to A. F. Hills, Esq., Wexford 

 Green, Essex, who showed a beautiful set of substantial and faaely^o Iourea 

 TZZr* \ * ~ row varieties were Madame G. Bruant, Phoebus, Lady Hannaro, 

 Mdlle. L. Brossfllon, Mons. Hoste, Master Tucker, Soleil d'Octobre, and 

 Weeks ; middle row-Madame G. Henry, John Neville, Edith Tabor >^'£ 

 tt Payne, C. Davis, Mrs. Mease, Viviand Morel, and Mons. Chenon de UcM, 

 front iow-N.CS. Jubilee, Mr. J. Lewis, Secretaire Fierens Mons Desblanc 

 Mrs. Burkess, Mrs. Carrington, Dorothy Seward, and Mrs. G. Carpenter. w« 



