December 18, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
547 
a peck per rod beinsf sufficient, applied in the fresh slaked state, 
which is different to applying it in the old mortar or chalk 
condition, as we do in the formation of fruit borders, one part in 
ten not being too much, especially for the Yine and Fig. The 
best time to apply lime is in spring or early autumn, and when 
the ground is in good working condition, merely pointing it in, 
as the lime will find its way down quickly enough without putting 
it in deeply in the first instance. 
There is another aspect in which to consider the soil of fruit 
tree borders—viz., when they are under other crops as well. We 
seldom think of having two crops on the same ground at once, 
yet we are not content with fruit trees against a wall or in the 
open in gardens, but we must crop the borders with vegetables. 
This necessitates heavy frequent manuring and digging, the 
surface being kept loose. As a result the trees make much wood, 
causing work for the knife in summer, and considerable winter 
pruning under such circumstances is no light affair if the trees 
are to be kept in proper form and to have the full benefit of 
light and air. The crops are thin through the roots being deep 
and running riot in rich loose material; and though everybody 
knows that to crop Yine, Fig, and Peach borders where these ai'e 
grown under glass is injurious, the old practice still obtains with 
respect to outdoor fruit trees. If a border be necessary for a 
fruit tree grown under glass and kept exclusively for it, surely 
it is equally essential for one grown outdoors. But there is no 
denying the fact that outdoor borders are far too extensive, and 
were they reduced two thirds far better results would follow. A 
tree against a wall 12 feet high does not need a border 12 feet 
wide, as one-half that width would answer just as well, or better; 
indeed one 4 feet wide is ample, and the soil of that part kept 
for the trees, so to allow of mulching, watering, &c., independent 
of other crops, there would be less necessity for the knife, less 
food wasted, and more certain and satisfactory crops attending 
it than the present.—G. Abbey. 
(To be continued.) 
NOTES ON CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
CHBYSANTHEMCrM: Bendigo. —I note on page 505 the remarks on 
the above-named Chrysanthemum and Mabel Ward by Mr. Herrin. It is 
the only corroborative statement I have yet seen on the variety Bendigo 
from anyone, and this statement to my mind only tends to show still 
more the necessity of proving thoroughly a variety in all its stages of 
growth preparatory to sending out under a new name. The two as grown 
and sent out by Mr. Herrin are not from plants under the same treatment. 
Plants from cuttings struck at various times and grown under different 
conditions alter so in character as to be not at all like the parent plant, 
as at the present time we have plants of Alfred Salter grown similarly to 
those by Mr. Herrin, and now they are in bloom are nearly white. 
Plants grown in the ordinary way, too, vary much in blooming, particu¬ 
larly if the buds are taken at different times on the same plant. The 
flowers from the earliest so taken always come much lighter in colour— 
that is, if they are taken rather out of the ordinary course of things. I 
know that blooms of Mabel Ward which are produced very late are of 
a much deeper yellow than those produced earlier in a general way ; as, 
for instance, I send you a bloom of Thunberg which was grown on a very 
late shoot, and you will see the colour is quite different from the one 
grown on a branch and developed much earlier. I think this will in a 
great measure account for the difference in colour of Mr. Herrin’s blooms, 
as he will be able now to procure strong cuttings of both at the same 
time if he grows them exactly under tbe same conditions and blooms 
them from the same kind of bud : he will then have a much better oppor¬ 
tunity of testing them than he has had this season upon the small plants. 
That in my estimate is the correct way to test any Chrysanthemum as to 
its proper character. If the one called Bendigo is distinct why does it 
require so long to prove it as such ? Surely with the great number of 
people that have tried it this season someone must have had representa¬ 
tive blooms to bear out the descriptions given of it. Everyone cannot 
be mistaken, and what can be the object of decrying the variety were it 
correct? As a rule growers are always ready to welcome any addition, 
particularly to the incurved class; take, for instance. Lord Alcester or 
Jeanne d’Arc. 
I noted the bloom of Bendigo quoted by Mr. Herrin, and staged at 
the Crystal Palace and Kingston Shows by Mr. Gibson, that it was a 
particularly well-developed one both in size of the petals and colour. 
Those blooms, to my way of thinking, were contradictory to the variety 
being the true Bendigo, for the simple reason that the florets of each 
bloom bore no trace of Mrs. Heale in shape, as they were very nearly 
round at the point, and, as is well known, the petals of Mrs. Heale are 
particularly sharp-pointed with no trace of roundness in them. This 
variety, Mrs. Heale, we are led to believe, is the parent of Bendigo ; 
why, then, does it not bear some resemblance to its parent in shape of 
flower or petal ? as all the varieties which 1 am acquainted with that are 
sports bear the mark of their parentage, particularly in the shape of the 
florets. I do not know of one that is otherwise. 
I no.v crme to the most condemning point of all in the ma ter - that is, 
habit of growth, colour of the wood, leaves and shape of the same. There 
is not the slighttst trace of Mrs. Heale in the growth, but it is the exact 
counterpart of Eve, I have tested the matter with people that are con¬ 
sidered to be fairly well up in the family of Chrysanthemums, but they 
have failed to detect any difference in the growth of Bendigo, Mabel, 
and Eve, and nothing to connect it with Mrs. Heale its supposed parent. 
The idea I entertain—and I must see more than I have seen to alter that 
opinion—is that Mr. Ridout in the first place had a plant of Mabel 
Ward given him for one of Mrs. Heale, and by the growth he did not 
know that it was not Mrs. Heale. The plant may have had two blooms 
differing in colour on it by having them on buds of different stages, 
hence the confusion.—E. Molyneux, Swanmore Park. 
[There is quite as much difference in the colour of the two blooms 
of Thunberg referred to as was apparent in the two flowers sent by Mr. 
Herrin as Mabel Ward and Bendigo, but the latter was distinct in the 
form as well as the colour of the florets ; these, however, were not pointed 
like those of Mrs. Heale.] 
Late Chrysanthemums —Herewith I beg to forward a fair sample 
of flowers of the variety Miss Marbchaux; and that you may be able to 
form a correct estimate of its merits I send along with it a similar sample 
of Princess Teck. Both varieties are grown entirely for decoration and 
cut-flower purposes without any special care having been given to either 
of them. The flower marked No. 1 was given to me nearly a week since 
by my friend Mr. Grix, gardener to James Kitson, Esq., jun., Headingley. 
This flower will enable you to judge what the variety is capable of 
becoming when under the care of a first-rate grower. 
I may mention that my stock this year numbers 1731 plants, all in 
from 9-inch to 12-inch pots, and comprises most of the varieties that have 
been exhibited at the principal shows. I am wishful to add still further 
to my list, more especially the late-flowering kinds ; if the Journal can 
render me any assistance that way I shall be thankful. 
The following are some of the varieties I have likely to do me good 
service for some time to come. White Incurved—Miss Marechaux and 
Princess Teck ; White Anemone-flowered—Fleur de Marie; White Pom¬ 
pon—Princess Matilda or Snowdrop. White Japanese—Mary Major, 
Meg Merrilees, and Mrs. C. Carey. Crimson Japanese—J. Delaux. 
Yellow Japanese—L’Incomparable, L’Or du Rhin, Thunberg, Grandiflora, 
Boule d’Or, and Bend Or. Crimson Reflexed—Purpurea Elegans, Progne, 
Crimson Velvet, and King of the Crimsons.— Robert FeATHErstone, 
St. Ann's Nursery, Burley, Leeds. 
[The blooms sent are very good for such a late period of the season. 
No. 1, Miss Marechaux, is especially fine, the florets well incurved and 
pure white, and it is evidently a useful variety. No. 2, Princess Teck, is 
also very good, the blooms smaller but very neat and compact.] 
Pompon Chrysanthemums.—As the Chrysanthemum shows of the 
present season are now over, one or two questions with regard to the 
treatment of Pompons for exhibition may not be out of place. The sche¬ 
dules this season, in which prizes have been offered for this section, have 
required “ three stems as cut to form a bunch,” and in most cases these 
have been shown as grown— i.e., not disbudded at all, which seems to 
be the proper method of exhibiting them ; but at the Kingston Show 
the first prize in the class for Pompons was awarded to a stand of highly 
developed blooms, and these had been disbudded to a single bloom on 
each stem. This treatment, I maintain, should not be encouraged, as it 
tends to do away with the true type of Pompon by developing large 
flowers, of which we have ample variety in the proper large-flowering 
sections; whereas Pompons not disbudded but grown with three to six 
or more flowers on a stem make a distinct and attractive class, as the 
exhibits of other eompetitors in this class fully demonstrated. 
It is also a disputed point as to whether Hybrid Pompons, such as 
La Puretb, Sam Slick, Rose Marguerite, and others are eligible to be 
shown in competition with true Pompons. Perhaps some of your readers 
may have something more to say on this subject, which I think should 
be definitely settled and explained before another flowering season comes 
round.—L. H. 
The National Chrysanthemum Society’s Show. — In a general 
sense I am pleased with the work taken in hand and executed by 
the National Chrysanthemum Society—such a society has long been 
wanted; but still many people will continue to argue. What is the 
use of a “National” Society like the one now instituted? Its rules 
cannot be binding on other societies ; stfll I think, now that the love of 
Chrysanthemums is so rapidly increasing, that we ought to have a leading 
society to assist other societies, if necessary, and act as a pioneer in this 
branch of horticulture. 
The meetings held by the select Committee to adjudicate on new 
varieties of Chrysanthemums, award certificates to deserving varieties, 
detect old ones under new names, &c., are all good objects, but I think 
such meetings should not be held at a time when gaslight must be used, 
as judging colours by that light must lead to blunders. If the Committee 
were to choose an hour some time during the day their decisions would 
give much more general satisfaction. Such a committee ought to be 
composed of men thoroughly experienced in the different races, sections, 
and peculiarities of Chrysanthemums. When so formed the public have 
confidence in them that any new flower submitted to their consideration 
will meet with its just reward be it good or bad. Is the Committee of the 
National Society so formed ? 
At a National show we expect everything to be done in the best style 
—arrangement of the various exhibits, &c. I cannot say that such was 
the case at the recent show held by the Society of which I had the privilege 
cf inspecting during the afternoon of the first day, and I thought that 
