December 6, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
489 
until the spring, and perhaps next year will be as unfavourable as this 
was good. By-the-by, I should like to ask “ W. J. M.,” who referred to 
uie in a late article in the Journal, when, after detailing his method of 
storing, he adds, “ I never lose a corm,” does he mean that absolutely, 
or that he never loses one after they are taken up ? If the former I 
cannot understand it, for he is the only grower I have ever heard of who 
could say so. If the latter I can understand it, for I never lose a healthy 
corm after it is lifted. 
Pinks. —It has been a good season for planting out these, and the 
plants look vigorous and healthy, although I am free to confess that I 
have not a very great penchant for them. They are very pretty and 
very sweet, but they are unfortunately so much alike that it is very 
difficult, after you get through three or four varieties, to say where the 
difference exists, and the growers of them, at any rate in the south, are 
few and far between. It is not so with the beautiful Picotee, with its 
ranges of colour and its different edges—from the thin almost invisible 
wire edge to the deep heavy red, purple, or rose. It may be want of 
perception or want of taste, but I can but see much sameness in them. 
Pansies. —Here quite a different state of things exists, especially 
since the wonderful improvement that has taken place in the so-called 
Fancy varieties; for anything more varied, more striking, and more 
beautiful in this way it is impossible to conceive. They are, too, much 
hardier in constitution than the older Show varieties. It has been a 
good time for them too, whether in beds or pots. In the former case 
care must be taken to keep them free from weeds, and if frost comes they 
must be watched, and if loosened in the soil they must be pressed firmly 
in again. Those in pots must also be kept clean, green fly speedily got 
rid of, and air given at all suitable times. 
Ranunculus. —Nothing can be done with these now but to examine 
the roots occasionally to see that they are free from damp, which is fatal 
to them. 
I do not grow Tulips ; and other flowers which have of late years been 
called by some florists’ flowers—such as Pentstemons and Delphiniums 
—I cannot class, with my old-fashioned notions, under this title. 
When the stress of work outside is done, and when frost binds the 
ground, or snow covers it, or wet makes it unworkable, it will be a good 
time to prepare compost for the above flowers when the top-dressing 
and repotting begins. It is well that all this should be placed under 
cover, for heavy rains wash the good out of the soil and render it 
difficult to use when it is wanted. Auriculas will require top-dressing 
in January, then comes the potting into their blooming pots of Pansies, 
and after that the potting of Carnations and Picotees. Having made 
up your mind what you are going to use for these purposes, get all ready, 
well mixed together, and then when the time comes a great saving of 
trouble and annoyance will be saved. A shed where it can be exposed 
to the air without feeling the weather is the most suitable, but failing 
this any covered place will answer the purpose. 
Florists’ flowers do not seem to grow much in favour in these 
southern regions. I am fifty miles from the next Auricula grower, and 
collections of Carnations and Picotees are almost unknown in our 
county ; yet what enjoyment there is in them, and in that which con¬ 
stitutes so great a charm in life—variety, how far beyond those things 
which are so much in favour now ! It may be fashion will change, but 
in this respect it is slow in making the move.—D., Real. 
POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA. 
A VERY distinct form of Potentilla is the one shown in fig. 96, as it 
departs from the low rambling or creeping usual types of the genus in its 
shrubby habit. Upon rockeries it succeeds admirably, forming compact 
little bushes 1 to 2 feet high, and covered with its neat bright yellow flowers, 
which are produced in great numbers throughout the summer months. 
It is occasionally found in mountainous districts of Great Britain, but 
is not common ; and it is also found in various parts of Europe, especially 
in the Pyrenees. In well-drained borders it grows strongly, but much 
the best position is the rockery, upon which it is soon established, and can 
be readily increased by division or by seeds. I have never tried it in pots, 
but I should think it would be very suitable for that purpose, though the 
flowers are somewhat fugitive. Have any readers of the Journal tried 
such an experiment with it ? 
P. fruticosa is also found in various parts of Asia, and even in 
America. In the latter country, however, several shrubby forms have 
been noted, which by some botanists have been regarded as varieties of 
this one, and by others as distinct species. Examples of these are found 
in P. floribunda, a North American plant; P. parvifolia, from the Soon- 
garian desert; P. dahurica, from Dahuria ; P. arbuscula ; P. rigida, 
P. lignosa, and P. Salesovii. This last is somewhat of the habit of 
P. fruticosa, but is easily recognised in the leaves of P. Salesovii not 
having the same silvery appearance, and the leaflets are more sharply 
serrated.— Herba. 
LIVERPOOL CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW. 
It may be interesting to state, as I am informed, that twenty years 
have passed since the first Chrysanthemum Show was held in this town. 
Those who attended the first and have witnessed the last consider the 
latter much the finest that has yet been held. It is the fourth Exhibition 
held under the auspices of the Association, and it is gratifying to be 
able to state it has proved a success horticulturally and financially also. 
Its downfall was prophesied some time ago unless the Committee 
relinquished the system of management adopted for some other gigantic 
scheme, which had never been tested, and which no one appeared bold 
enough to explain thoroughly. The majority of the active members of 
the Association were against the scheme, and it will be proved by the 
figures I intend giving that this young Society is growing in the estima¬ 
tion of the public. Last year the subscribers and members numbered 
868, while this year they are 1020, thus showing an increase of 152 over 
the previous year. The amount of cash taken at the doors in 1880, the 
first Exhibition, amounted for the two days to £166 0.?. 6 cl., the following 
year to £171 Os. 9 cl. Last year there was a slight falling off, owing te 
the postponement of the Show and the inclemency of the weather. I 
would give the amount taken, but I cannot put my hand upon the report 
at the present time. This year £224 has been taken at the doors, 
£184 on the opening day and £90 the second. The entries and 
exhibitors have also increased wonderfully since last year, when the 
numbers were—60 exhibitors, entries 298; this year 77 of the former 
and 385 of the latter. 
To give some idea of the magnitude of the past Exhibition I append 
the following statistical particulars : The number of cut blooms, 
incurved, were between 490 and 500, and amongst them was a grand 
bloom of Lord Wolseley, which keeps well (better than Prince Alfred), 
and will doubtless prove a grand exhibition variety, staged by Mr. W. 
Mease; Japanese about 250, and amongst these was a wonderful bloom 
of Boule d’Or shown by Mr. R. G. Waterman; Anemones and reflexed 
numbered 36, and Pompones 90 bunches. There were 160 dishes of Pears 
entered for competition, and in nearly every instance the fruits were 
very large. Apples, dessert and kitchen varieties, numbered about 500' 
dishes, half this number being staged for competition, and the remainder 
by the nurserymen mentioned in the. report in your last issue. Ther 
schedule only comprised about five classes for Grapes, and it will give 
some idea of the competition when I state 53 bunches of whites were 
staged and 83 of black—total, 136. This includes those shown in the 
collections. The Grapes on the whole were remarkably fine, but the 
individual bunch that attracted the greatest attention was one of Gros 
Colman, splendidly finished, the bunch being large and the berries of 
remarkable size, the largest I have yet had the pleasure of seeing, ihis 
was staged by Mr. Goodacre, Elvaston Castle, in his first-prize collection, 
of twelve dishes of fruit. The trained plants numbered 64, besides a 
