802 



GARDE NE RS' MA G A ZINE. 



December 



Chrysanthemum H. J. Jones. 



Unquestionably the most brilliant-hued Japanese chrysanthemum 



brought forward this season is the grand variety raised by Mr. J. 

 Shrimpton, gardener to W. wSeward, Esq., The Firs, Hanwell, and exhi- 

 bited by him at the Floral Committee meeting of the National Chrysan- 

 themum Society held on November 14. This fine form has been named 



J. J 



Nursery, Lewisham, who, we 



understand, has acquired the stock of it. The illustration in the present 

 issue serves to show the massive proportions of this excellent exhibition 

 variety, and also indicates the elegance of the spreading, broad, substan- 

 tial, and flattened florets. The beauty, distinctness, and brilliance of 

 the colouring is the principal feature of the new comer, and those who 

 know the many grand crimson forms Mr. Shrimpton has already raised 

 will be surprised to hear that the shade seen in H. J. Jones has not 

 hitherto been equalled for effect. The florets are intense and brilliant 

 crimson, a shade in which a good deal of scarlet seems to be mixed ; 

 the reverse side is pale coppery-bronze. It is hardly necessary to state 

 that the variety gained a first-class certificate from the N.C.S. Growers 

 should remember that this new Japanese chrysanthemum is not Mons. 

 H. J. Jones, nor Mr. H. J. Jones, but H. J. Jones ; there is no need for 

 a handle to the name of such a variety. 



Flavour in Pears. 



The flavour of pears has been of a very high quality this season, for 

 which we are indebted in a great measure to the brilliant and extremely 

 warm weather experienced during the latter part of the summer and early 

 autumn. The heat, combined with judicious root waterings and surface 

 feedings in the shape of artificial manures, has also led to many sorts 

 attaining large size, and they have also developed clear and smooth- 

 looking skins generally, while during the three or four weeks previous to 

 the ingathering of the mid-season kinds they attained a high degree of 

 colour. This has been so pronounced in many instances that persons 

 unacquainted with the nature of the soil and locality would incline to the 

 opinion that the fruits had been produced under glass. 



With these few preliminary remarks I will give a list of varieties, with 

 brief comments, which have been found exceptionally high flavoured. 

 This list will be by no means an exhaustive one, but will, as has just been 

 stated, incljde the cream of the sorts which have ripened up to date or 

 are within a few days of being ready for table. The first on the list is 

 Beurr£ Giffard ; in some seasons this is rather insipid, in others mealy, 

 but this year it was exceedingly good and richly flavoured. The fruits 

 were produced by cordon trees, and grown on a south-west wall. Colmar 

 d'Ete, from a pyramid, followed closely, the fruits being fine in size and 

 highly coloured 5 in most seasons this pear is rather crisp eating, but on 

 this occasion it was quite melting and delicious Jargonelle is so in- 

 variably good irrespective of seasons that no further comment is 

 necessary. Williams' Bon Chretien was very large and beautifully 

 coloured, from cordons on a west wall, and was succeeded by those 

 gathered from bush trees out in the open garden. Here again the flavour 

 was all one could wish, and so was that of Souvenir du Congres, a pear 

 somewhat similar in appearance and flavour, though much larger in size. 

 Clapp's Favourite, a very handsome fruit, was also extremely good, 

 especially from a pyramid on the pear stock. Next came Gratioli of Jersey 

 from a bush tree, closely followed by the same variety from cordon trees 

 on a west wall, which receive a good deal of shade from a plane tree 

 growing some distance from them. The flavour in this case was ex- 

 tremely good, and the same remark applies in an equal degree to Beurrd 

 d'Amanlis, the fruits of which were extra large and carried a bright 

 crimson flush on the side exposed to the sun. This is a fairly good 

 keeping pear, and by gathering at intervals the supply can be spread over 

 several weeks. This sort lasted until the extra highly flavoured Thomp- 

 son's came into use. The crop of this was an excellent one, and there 

 still remain a few fruits of it in the pear room at the time of writing, 

 which are in good condition. This really succeeds better either as a bush 

 or pyramid than when grown against a wall. Duchesse d'Angouleme 

 ripened next, and has been a great success. In some seasons it is only 

 half-melting and gritty, particularly if the trees are on the pear stock, but 

 this year the flesh was melting and the flavour rich and luscious. Per- 

 haps it is only fair to add that it is grown here in a bush form, and 

 worked on the quince stock, and it is from such trees that the best re- 

 sults are to be obtained with this variety. Its near relative, Pitmaston 

 Duchess, grew to large dimensions, and has perhaps never been better 

 flavoured. Alexandre Lambre, too, must not be forgotten, as both the 

 size and flavour have been first-rate. 



Beurrd Hardy, which is such a regular cropper, is now in use ; the 

 fruits are very fine and high coloured, the flesh melting, juicy, and rich. 

 Beurre Superfin is ripening fast, in fact some fruits are already fit for 

 table, and are first-rate, which is invariably the rule with this variety. 

 Before these lines appear Doyenne du Cornice will be over ; it has done 

 remarkably well, the specimens being very large, highly coloured, and 

 exceedingly luscious. Durondeau, as usual, is conspicuous by its rich, 

 reddish-brown coloured skin, while in point of size it is equal to those 

 produced in former years. This pear requires a thoroughly warm summer 

 and autumn to render its flesh quite buttery and to free it from the rough 



Ar°x r u W , h !i Cb i Cbaracterises U in some seasons. This year it is first-rate. 

 Marshal de la Cour is now in perfection, and I have sent fine fruits of it 

 to table the last few days. There is a marked distinction in the appear- 

 ance of this pear when grown against a wall and out in the open garden, 

 in the hrst case the skins are quite smooth, and in the latter russety and 

 rather rough, but as regards flavour matters are equal. Marie Louise 

 will be ready in a few days, and, as this is always of high quality, it may 

 be taken for granted that it will this season prove no exception to the 



10, 1898. 



n point of flavour ITo^^^ 



Mane Louise, and to carrv us nn 1 S! 



carry us on to the 



rule. A new pear to me, whi< 

 Beurre Alexander Lucas, which 

 foregoing varieties. To succeed -w 



end of the year, we have Althorpe Crassane^ a good old near" 3£* 

 usually lasts in good condition a considerable length of time ' Z > 

 d'Anjou, Passe Colmar, Nouvelle Fulvie, and Beurr/d'AremW 

 the end of December Winter Nelis, Zepherin Greeoire ^n?^ ^iT 

 Monarch should be ready, to be followed by that erand mid* 1 ? 5 

 pear, Glout Morceau, the fruits of which are extra large and tT^nn 

 heavy one this season. 0 Lro P a 



Stoke Edith Gardens. 



Ward 



New and Scarce Hyacinths. 



New varieties are constantly putting in an appearance, but it is difficult to 

 obtain anything that is a marked improvement upon the fine varieties 

 already in cultivation. Time is required to bring seedling hyacinths into 

 flower, and when they have bloomed, and appear to be of a promising 

 character, they have to be put to a severe test to show actual advance and 

 constancy ; these assured, the work of propagation is then prosecuted 

 with vigour, in order to secure sufficient stock to enable them to be 

 distributed. 



The novelties I have seen during the past two or three years are 

 Atchina, single, red, the colour of Kohi-Noor, but a more massive spike 

 and therefore it may be regarded as an improvement upon it. Cardinal 

 Wiseman, single, red, is of a rich deep pink or pale rose, and throws a 

 massive spike, one of the largest among the single varieties ; it is very 

 pleasing in colour. Enchantress, single, blue, is a lovely pale blue in the 

 way of Czar Peter, but with a longer spike ; a fine addition to a section 

 which already includes some charming types. Isabella, double, white, 

 is a magnificent variety, the blossoms perfectly double, the spikes close 

 and compact, symmetrical, and very fine for exhibition. La Belle, single, 

 blush, also known under the name of Jacques, is something in the way of 

 Grandeur A'Merveille, with a massive spike ; but it is likely to be high priced 

 for a few years. L J Esperance, single, blue, is of a rich dark purple shade, 

 and throws a very fine symmetrical spike ; it deserves to be included in a 

 select collection. McMahon, single, yellow, is pale soft yellow, and for one 

 of this section produces avery fine solid spike, but it is not so deep in colour 

 as City of Haarlem, single, yellow, which obtained an award of merit at 

 one of the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, and is the deepest 

 and most refined yellow. Marchioness of Lome, single, yellow, is of a 

 delicate salmon-buff colour, quite novel, and every way desirable ; it is per- 

 haps a seedling from Due de Malakoff. Pink Perfection, single, red, or soft 

 pink, is an improvement upon Gigantea, and produces a handsome massive 

 spike. Rosea maxima, single, red, is in the same way ; it is of a lovely shade 

 of pale soft pink, and will be generally appreciated. Stanley, single, red, is 

 of a deep pink tint, and throws a compact, handsome spike, not large, 

 but it is one of the best light reds in commerce ; unfortunately the bulbs 

 are small, and it is generally thought that a small bulb produces a small 

 spike. Souvenir, single, blue, is of a rich porcelain blue, and forms a 

 compact, symmetrical spike. Queen of Naples, single, red, is of a rich 

 deep rose, the bells having a pale centre, and it appears to be a decided 

 best over King of the Reds. A decided acquisition, T. Cremar, single, 

 blue, is an improvement on Lord Palmerston, which is of a lovely soft 

 blue, because it throws a bet.er spike ; but those who grow Lord 

 Palmerston will not soon give it up, because of its delightful soft tint. 

 Waterloo, single, red, a name which was given many years ago to per 

 haps the oldest of the double red varieties, is of a rich pale coral pink 

 shade, paler than Norma, and likely to become a general favourite. 



A very fine selection of hyacinths for house decoration and exhibition 

 purposes will be found in Czar Peter, Captain Bovton, Grand Maitre, 

 King of the Blues, the best true blue ; and William III., an improvement 

 on William I., all single blues ; Fabiola, Lord Macaulay, Moreno, a 

 charming and most constant coral pink variety ; pink Charles Dickens, 

 like its blue namesake, always to be depended upon ; and R01 des 

 Beiges, single reds. Balfour and Sir W. Mansfield are two single purple 

 or claret shades, and fV, ~ K ^ c * rtf fhfk s*rtinn. La Grandesse, 



, the best of the section. 



L'Innocence, and Mont Blanc are all pure single whites of great beauty ; 

 also Grandeur A'Merveille and Leviathan, single blush. King or 

 Yellows, Ida, and Heroine are the best single yellows. 



Three-quarters of a century ago the double hyacinths were all the 

 rage, and there were but very few single varieties in cultivation. I ne 

 reverse holds good now, yet there are some who like to have a ttw 

 double varieties in their selection. To such the following may be con- 



fidently recommended: double red, Princess Louise, the darkest and ver> 

 fin.. r, r ,w 1^, ' fine old var iety; Lord Wellington, 



large and handsome bells ; and Noble 

 par Mente, rose j LaTourd'Auvergne, white, also a very o 1 ^ 1161 ^^ 



.».vuuv.u . UUUU1 



tine ; Groot Vorst, blush, a very fine old variety ; 

 a delicate blush pink, with very 



par Merite, rose ; La Tour d'Am _. 0 „, . , , , , KmK _ 



the old Anna Maria, with its fine shaped bells and dark centre ; woks 

 berg, Charles Dickens, Laurens Koster, blue, and Victory, a new ana 

 fine variety of a purple shade. There are no double yellows worth men 



flower early will be found m La Tour 



tioning. 



white : 



Varieties which naturally flower early will be found in 1 

 Auvergne, double ; Alba superbissima, and Blanchard, single, 

 T'nVlT* 1 Pellis s>er, and Norma, single, shades of red and pink , 

 and Bloksberg, blue. The hyacinth still holds its own as a h.gn iy 

 popular spr.ng flowering subject. V 



A Pear within a Pear.-Examples of this not uncommon 



have been recently exhihit^ k„ W J. Clarke, Manor House 



_onstrosity 



Reobrook, 



t in 



Market Rasen, and Mr. T. T Bennett PoS. "The pear has no core, 

 represents the still growing 



