174 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. C August 25 , issi. 
Phylloxera, by Mr. C. H. Perceval, H.M. Consul at Bordeaux, we 
take the following interesting extract:—“ The information which 
I have gathered on this subject from official and other sources 
tends to reduce the methods used to the following three :—Firstly, 
submersion of the vineyard when practicable ; secondly, by 
employing insecticides ; and thirdly, where the vineyards have 
been destroyed, by the plantation of American varieties of Vines 
whose roots offer more resistance to the attack of the insect. 
M. Armand Lalande, the President of the Chamber of Commerce 
of Bordeaux, proprietor of extensive vineyards in the Medoc, a 
gentleman to whom I am much indebted for the information and 
assistance which he has been kind enough to afford mein drawing 
up this report, addressed a meeting of that body held in March 
last on various topics, and I translate the following from his 
remarks regarding the Phylloxera :— 1 The Chamber of Commerce 
has not ceased to show the extreme importance which it attaches 
to all the means employable in combating this dreadful scourge. 
Of the 2.200.000 hectares which composed the vineyards of 
France, 500,000 are destroyed, 500,000 others are greatly attacked ; 
it is a loss of more than three milliards to the country. The 
Gironde is one of the departments which has suffered most ; one- 
third of the vineyards are destroyed, another third is badly 
attacked. We must admit with sorrow that the very sources of 
our commerce and of the well-being of our southern population 
are most seriously compromised. Still we have great hopes that, 
by energetic and intelligent efforts, we may be enabled gradually 
to arrest and repair the evil. For the very important vineyards of 
the Gironde, where submersion is possible, it is a sure remedy, 
which is generally employed, and with invariable success. In 
the cases of vineyards already destroyed, the remedy seems to be 
to reconstitute them by planting American Vines as stocks for 
grafting French cuttings on, which plan has been the subject of 
satisfactory and conclusive experiments for the last few years, 
especially in Languedoc. Where the Vines are not too far gone, a 
judicious use of sulphur of carbon is a certain means of preserva¬ 
tion, and, in most cases, practicable, owing to the moderation of 
the cost.’ He then states that he bases his opinion on astonishing 
and conclusive results, which he has observed in immense vineyards 
in Languedoc, and also in others of the Gironde, and proposes 
that steps may be taken to hold an international congress on 
Phylloxera in the autumn.” The Congress is to open on Sep¬ 
tember 5th. As we intimated last week, another Viticultural 
Congress meets in Milan next w'eek. Mr. Perceval gives some 
valuable details on the various methods of treating the disease.” 
DISBUDDING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Cultivatobs of the Chrysanthemum might safely be divided 
into two classes : the one grows for cutting and decoration, the 
other for exhibiting. Some of the former are very careless in 
many respects in relation to disbudding, while the latter is and 
must be most anxious and careful, as upon this depends to a large 
extent the success of his labours. The two have in view very 
dissimilar objects, and follow two distinct systems of cultivation. 
In gardens where these autumn flowers are grown little or no 
heed is given to disbudding, or it is carelessly performed, and 
perhaps at a stage when the plants would receive no benefit from 
the operation. 
Chrysanthemum cultivation has increased considerably during 
the past few years, nevertheless the plants are only poorly grown 
in many establishments. If these growers would follow in some 
details the system pursued by exhibitors they would profit con¬ 
siderably. Disbudding to a certain extent is as necessary when 
growing for decoration as for exhibition, only the former need not 
disbud so severely and devote all the energy and strength of the 
plant to the production of one or two blooms. The exhibitor 
desires size as well as other qualities, and the strength of the 
plant must be concentrated, therefore careful and judicious dis¬ 
budding is necessary. It is equally so with the other if he re¬ 
quires a good bush carrying a number of flowers. It must be early 
decided how many shoots the plant is to carry, pinching the 
points out of the shoots in its early stages until the required 
number are formed, say from six to twelve, or as many more as 
the cultivator considers essential. These shoots must be allowed 
to extend, and all side growths from the axils of ihe leaves be 
removed as they appear as well as suckers. When the plant has 
one or two stems they often show a bud during the month of May ; 
this must be removed. 
The month of July is rather a critical stage, and many, especi¬ 
ally beginners for whom these notes are intended, fail to pro¬ 
duce fine flowers. The plants during that month show what is 
known to Chrysanthemum growers as the July bud. This bud is 
useless. Chrysanthemum experts glancing through the plants 
about that season of the year quickly form an idea if they are 
right for producing good blooms provided all goes well after¬ 
wards. When the bud alluded to is appearing the points of the 
shoots should at once be removed, and all the side shoots except 
the most promising one, which should be encouraged. 
If the plants have not sufficient shoots they can form two or three 
shoots from this bud to flower eventually on the crown bud, 
which is the next that appears. Remove the three shoots that 
would spring from beneath and grow some 6 or more inches in 
length, and then form other buds which are known as the terminal 
bud. If the flowers are taken from this bud the centre one must 
be selected, and the small buds surrounding it must be removed. 
When growing the plant with one or two stems (incurved varieties 
are alluded to), it is not always wise to select the crown bud re¬ 
commended by many. If the plants are very strong and the varieties 
inclined to be coarse and the crown bud is selected, the flowers 
are sure to be coarse, or what has been termed overgrown. Some 
may be ready to contest this point and assert that the crown bud 
produces the finest flowers. I am willmg to grant that many 
fine well-shaped flowers are produced from the crown bud of the 
Mrs. George Bundle type, and it will with many other varieties 
produce deformed, ragged, and worthless blooms. An intimate 
knowledge of the plants and whether the blooms they produce 
are liable to be coarse or naturally come well-shaped is requisite 
in attaining successful results. The cultivator should also grow 
the same variety in both ways and then note the difference. It 
is difficult in this, as in many other operations connected with 
gardening, to lay down minute rules for guidance, which can only 
be attained by experience and intelligent observation.—W. B. 
SHROPSHIRE FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY.— August 17th and 18th. 
The above Society held their annual Exhibition in the Quarry 
Grounds, Shrewsbury. The morning of the Exhibition was fine, but 
rain fell heavily before noon, yet the public thronged into the grounds 
to inspect the Show. In few provincial towns is an horticultural 
society so popular with the people as at Shrewsbury. The inhabi¬ 
tants of the town look upon the day as a general holiday, and the 
stranger is surprised to see the main streets leading to the Show 
grounds decorated with flags. The Society is in a very flourishing 
condition, and has during the present year erected some handsome 
gates at the entrance to the Quarry Grounds. Some idea of the 
magnitude of the Exhibition will be formed when it is stated the 
number of entries was over 1400. 
The stove and greenhouse plants, considering the lateness of the 
season for many flowering plants, were shown in grand condition. 
The open class is specially alluded to, and the plants this year are 
much better than any we have hitherto seen at this Society’s Show. 
In the open class for twenty plants, flowering and foliage, two fine 
groups were staged by Mr. J. Cypher, Cheltenham, and Mr. Tudgey, 
gardener to J. F. G. Williams, Esq., Worcester. The two collections 
were so nearly equal in point of merit that it was a difficult matter for 
the Judges to decide which was most worthy of the premier position. 
After much consideration they decided in favour of Mr. Cypher, who 
had fine plants of Latania borbonica 8 or 9 feet through, Gleichenia 
flabellata, Cordyline indivisa, good; Thrinax elegans, Pritchardia 
pacifica, Croton Disraeli, 5 feet through and well coloured ; C. majes- 
ticus, very large ; C. Queen Victoria, flat but remarkably well 
coloured ; Ixora Cypheri, Lapageria alba, w'ell flowered : Allamanda 
nobilis, and A. Hendersonii, both superbly flowered ; Bougainvillea 
glabra, Stephanotis floribunda, and Ixora amabile were flowering well. 
Mr. Tudgey was also strong in fine-foliage plants, and his flowering 
plants were remarkably satisfactory. Croton Andreanus ■with its 
large bold foliage was very fine ; Anthurium Schertzerianum, large 
and very attractive. The specimen of Dipladenia Brearleyana was 
one of the finest plants we have seen of this variety, and it was 
flowering profusely. In the class for nine plants with not less than 
five in bloom five collections were staged. Mr. F. Perkins, Leaming¬ 
ton, took the lead with creditable plants of Bougainvillea glabra, 
Statice Blucherii, Dipladenia boliviensis, and a good specimen of the 
Gloriosa Plantii superba. Mr. Farrant, gardener to Mrs. Juson, w r as 
second, having a good Cocos Weddelliana, and a fresh but ratber 
small plant of Erica rernnla. Mr. W. Pratt, gardener to Lord Hill, 
Hawkstone, obtained the remaining prize, showing a good Nepenthes 
Hookeriana among others. In the class for six plants, not less than 
four in bloom, open only to amateurs, Mr. H. Owen, Shrewsbury, and 
Mrs. Wa.ce obtained the prizes in the order as named. 
Ericas were not show'll in large numbers, but the quality of those 
staged was all that could be desired. Mr. J. Cypher took the lead in 
the class for six plants, and staged fresh and well-flowered examples 
of E. Aitoniana, E. Marnockiana,E. Irbyana, E. Austiniana,E. semula, 
and E. Turnbulli. Mr. Tudgey was second, having a very good plant 
of E. ampullacea Williamsi, the other plants being rather uneven in 
size. 
Ferns were not numerous, but the exotic species were in excellent 
condition, while the class for hardy Ferns was represented by very 
small plants that need no further comment. For nine exotics there 
