422 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
November 15,1SS3. 
Sarracenia Wxlsoniana (Bull).—A cross between S. Drummondi rubra and 
S. purpurea, similar in shape to the preceding, but with broad, distinctly 
marked crimson veins. 
Trichosma suavis (Bull).—A pretty Orchid, with spikes of small white 
flowers, the lip streaked with claret and tipped with yellow. It is very 
fragrant. 
Iresine formosa (Goldsmith).—A sport from Iresine Lindeni, with leaves 
similar in shape, but broader, green veined with yellow, the stems and 
pstioles crimson. It has been tried for three seasons at Hollenden Park 
ior bedding-out, and proved very constant. 
Violet Comte Brazzi (Allan).—A double white Neapolitan Violet, with 
very large flowers, pure white, and shown in contrast with Marie Louise and 
the old Neapolitan, to both of which it was superior in size. 
Chrysanthemum George Stevens (Mr. G. Stevens, Putney).—A charming 
reflexed variety, shown as Stevens’ No. 1. It is a compact bloom, with flat 
florets, crimson-chocolate, slightly incurved in the centre, showing the gold 
nnder surface. 
Chrysanthemum, Mdlle, Damaud (Laing).—A neat Pompon, with small 
blooms, deep rosy purple, very free, and distinct. 
Chrysanthemum roseum superhum (Laing).—A Japanese variety, with flute 
recurving florets deep rosy purple. Very handsome in colour and form. 
Chrysanthemum Salteri (Veitch).—Very compact Japanese variety, full 
bloom, rich scarlet-maroon, the golden under side of the fluted florets. 
Chrysanthemum Comet (Veitch).—A Japanese variety, with flattish florets, 
orange-red, the centre incurving and showing the golden under surface. Very 
free and attractive. 
Chrysanthemum Bendigo (J. Ridout, gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., 
Reigate).—- This was shown as a fixed sport from Mrs. Heale, which it much 
resembles in petal and build of flower, but is of a clear pale yellow tint. 
Chrysanthemum Mons. Henri Jacotot (Jackson).—A Japanese with flat 
florets, the centre incurving and orange-yellow, the outer drooping and deep 
red. 
Chrysanthemum Mdlle. Le Croix (Jackson).—A handsome Japanese, with 
flat irregularly cut florets, the blooms 6 inches in diameter and pure white. 
Scientific Committee. —Sir J. D. Hooker in the chair. 
Potatoes Protected from Fungus Spores. —The Secretary referred to com¬ 
munications received from Mr. Plowright and M. Jeuser on the subject, the 
experiments and the results obtained by the latter gentleman being given 
in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for July 28th. Mr. G. Murray questioned the 
possibility of the tubers being infected by the spores directly, as the tuberous 
tissue would not allow them to germinate; the only method of attack being 
believed to be by the mycelium penetrating the stem and so reaching the 
tubers. 
Sclerotia in Potato Leaves. —Mr. G. Murray read a report on these bodies, 
and pronounced them to be oxalate of lime—none of the phenomena of 
“ plasmodiation ” or “ myceliation,” &c., were to be seen. They are soluble 
in dilute nitric acid, and insoluble in acetic acid. The excess of nitric acid 
being neutralised by ammonia, crystals of oxalate of lime appeared. 
Narcissus viridiflorus .—Specimens of this plant in flower were sent by 
Mr. G. Moore from Gibraltar, and exhibited by Dr. M. T. Masters. 
Convolvulus tricolor. —Mr. G. S. Boulger exhibited an infloresence of this 
plant, received from Mr. Gibbs, with a terminal flower bud. 
Cephalotaxus Fortunei in Fruit. —Sir J. D. Hooker exhibited a branch with 
fruit of this plant, received from Rev. T. Goring of Wiston, Sussex. 
Ear-cockle in Wheat. —Mr. W. G. Smith forwarded the following com¬ 
munication—“ Whilst examining a number of galls of Tyleuchus Tritici in 
Wheat spikes, I observed one gall with both the transparent lodicules 
present at the base. The idea seems commonly accepted that the galls 
represent these two lodicules and no other part of the flower. Mr. Carru- 
thers, in a paper recently published in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural 
Society, favours this idea. But no doubt Devaine was right when he said 
that any of the central parts of the flower were liable to an attack from the 
Tyleuchus, and that the gall might represent the pistil or stamens. Devaine 
states that he once found one) of these galls growing from the base of (a 
leaf.” 
Isaria fuciformis. —Mr. Smith also sent specimens of this fungus (from 
Australia) from the site of the model farm at Glasnevin. Mr. Smith 
described the fungus as British in the Gardeners' Chronicle, with illus¬ 
trations, last year. The fungus is spreading over the country, and generally 
attacks Festuca ovina. 
EARLY CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Chrysanthemums are grown for other purposes than publicly 
exhibiting their blooms ; and although many persons who never stage their 
flowers have pride in growing them of exhibition quality, yet the vast 
majority of cultivators grow their plants for home-decorative purposes, 
and thousands who are never heard of grow them well. Some of the 
most useful varieties are practically not eligible for exhibition as cut 
blooms, as there is, in fact, no class for them ; and doubtless their 
merits do not consist in the individual excellence of their flowers, but 
rather for the free-growing and profuse-blooming character of the 
plants. In this category are the floriferous and useful Sceur Melanie, 
Julie Lagravere, and some others that might Le named; also varieties 
that flower naturally early and long before the date of even the earliest 
Chrysanthemum shows. Early Chrysanthemums are extremely useful 
and increasing in favour yearly ; new varieties of merit are also being 
produced. 
On page 311 Mr. Piercy of Forest Hill directed attention to several 
excellent varieties, of some of which he sent flowers. Two of these we have 
had engraved—Mrs. Cullingford (fig. 80) ; and Lyon (fig. 81). The 
former is not one of the earliest, but undoubtedly ranks amongst the 
best; indeed, it is not improbably the best white variety for flowering 
in September. It was in fine condition at the National Dahlia Show at 
the Crystal Palace on August 30th, where it was staged by Mr. Davis of 
Camberwell, who had also among others the useful Japanese variety 
Madame Desgranges. There also was the little gem, Petite Marie, for 
which Mr. Ware was awarded a first-class certificate last year, and should 
be grown everywhere. 
Mrs. Cullingford is much taller, larger, and later than the one just 
mentioned. It is a great improvement on White Trevenna, being larger, 
fuller, with broader florets than that variety, and is also earlier. . It 
appears intermediate both in character of blooms and time of flowering 
between the small summer varieties and the larger and later reflexed 
autumn Chrysanthemums. Mrs. Cullingford is likely to be useful for 
early autumn decoration, hence is mentioned here. 
Lyon is essentially different. It is evidently most floriferous, and it9 
dark rosy purple clusters are highly effective. It was alluded to as 
follows by Mr. Piercy :—“ One of the best new (early) Pompons is Lyon. 
It is of French origin; colour, rosy purple, much the tint of Madame 
Piccol, and makes the latter of little value, only that it is rather later. 
Lyon blooms in September from spring-struck cuttings, and is a superb 
Pompon in every respect; an admirable plant.” The flowers that were 
sent to us justified that estimate, and were the finest of the colour wet 
Fig. 80.—Mrs. Cullingford. 
have seen so early in the season. All who desire a profusion of rosy- 
purple flowers at the period indicated may safely try this excellent 
variety. 
GARDEN CHEMISTRY. —SOILS. 
PEATS, VEGETABLE MOULDS, AND HUMUS. 
Like the word “ loam,” peat has an exceedingly indefinite mean¬ 
ing in a gardener’s mouth. It generally means anything turfy and 
black. There are any number of varieties, or rather we might say 
species were such allowable, of peat, each species including several 
varieties ; but it will, perhaps, be more correct to make such a division 
as we did in the case of loam, when clay formed one end of the series 
and sand the other. In the present case we may make moss-peat 
one end of the series, and soil such as results from the decay of 
fallen leaves, dead ferns, and grasses the other. Outside this series 
we still have leaf and vegetable soils and humus, which are not in any 
sense peat. 
First comes moss-peat. Of this there are square miles in our own 
country ; but ignoring the fact, we have begun to buy, and largely 
too, the bogs of Germany, for peat moss is just the dead, half-decayed, 
half-preserved sphagnum moss which grows in bogs and is found 
