268 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 25, 1890^ 
delicate tint. Duchess of Edinburgh is perhaps the nearest approach to 
it, and comes next in order of interest. New York is another, somewhat 
like Marie Louise, but a trifle darker and rather a stronger grower. 
All the above require the protection of a frame in winter to see them at 
their best. Among the hardier double varieties which bloom well in the 
open ground are Patrie, an all the year round Violet, of a deep purple 
colour ; in a damp summer like the present there are always flowers to 
be found on it, and every other month in the year, autumn, winter, and 
spring. Belle de Chatenay coerulea and Carter’s Mazarine Blue are also 
fine dark blue Violets which bloom in spring only. Victoria (Chambers"! 
is perhaps the finest of this class, and it has the merit of blooming freely 
after the frame Violets are all over ; the colour is a brilliant deep blue, 
and the flowers are produced in great profusion. Blandyana is another 
very distinct variety, striped red, white, and blue. Double red Bussian is 
also interesting. There is no really good double white Violet except Comte 
de Brazz?. Belle de Chatenay and La Reine are only called white by 
courtesy, being nearly always much tinted with purple. Among single 
Violets I can speak most highly of Willsiana, sent out some few years 
since by Mr. Charles Turner ; it is the earliest to bloom of all the single 
purple sorts, and the flowers are very large, well shaped, and fragrant, 
with fine long stout stalks. Other good purples are Czar, Russian, 
Victoria Regina, and Odoratissima, the last named the bluest of all, and 
very fine late in the spring. I have one or two sorts of singles obtained 
from a French raiser, which are very fine, especially Sans Pareille and 
Gloire de Bourg la Reine, the latter a very beautiful clear blue colour. 
The best white is White Czar. The reddest Violet is Odorata rubra, very 
rich deep rose. A perpetual bloomer is Argentmflora, purplish white. 
As to cultivation no one can do better than follow the directions of 
'•I. M. H.”-R. W. Beachey. 
Death of Mr. William Holmes. 
With the deepest regret we have to announce the somewhat sudden 
death of Mr. William Holmes of the Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney, 
and Honorary Secretary of the National Chrysanthemum Society. This 
sad event, which will come as a most painful surprise to a large number 
of readers, occurred on Thursday morning, September 18th, after a few 
hours’ illness, for Mr. Holmes was attending to his business on Wednes¬ 
day morning. It was known to his friends and to some members of the 
National Society that he had been suffering from diabetes for several 
months, and last year he had a severe illness, but of late he had seemed 
to recover his usual energy, and he returned early in September in 
excellent spirits from a holiday spent with his family at Lowestoft, to 
complete the arrangements of the Chrysanthemum Centenary Festival, 
and to undertake the management of the September Show of the 
National Society at Westminster. Numbers of his friends who saw 
him at the last named Show heartily congratulated him upon the 
apparent improvement in his health, and hopefully anticipated a busy 
and pleasant season in his company, wishes that were doomed to be 
unfulfilled. 
Mr. Holmes was just in the prime of life, being only thirty-eight 
years of age ; he had for a number of years taken a prominent place in 
the horticultural world, and was widely known and respected. In 
early manhood he succeeded to the charge of his father’s nursery at 
Hackney, and speedily gave proof of his ability as a practical horticul¬ 
turist and skilful manager by considerably developing its resources. 
He applied himself specially to landscape and contract work, and 
acquired an excellent reputation for taste in design and promptitude in 
execution. Several of his more recent works have been referred to in 
this Journal, notably the garden in connection with Dr. Barnardo’s 
Homes in Essex, and the Vauxhall Park, of which a plan was given on 
page 21, July 10th this year. On the occasion of the opening of the 
Park just named Mr. Holmes had the honour of being presented to the 
Prince and Princess of Wales by the Princess Louise, and was personally 
complimented upon his share in the work. 
It was chiefly in his connection with the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, however, that Mr. Holmes was known to the horticultural 
world generally, for to this Society he had devoted a large share of 
his time and attention, and what may be termed the modern history of 
the Society is really a portion of Mr. Holmes’s career. In the year 1877 
the Borough of Hackney Chrysanthemum Society required an Honorary 
Secretary, and to this post Mr. W. Holmes was elected, with the result 
that an energetic course of action quickly changed the character of the 
Society, and rendered it of much more than local importance. The 
shows were removed to Westminster, and in a few years the number 
of members rose from filty-two to 200 in all parts of the country, which 
amply justified the adoption in 1884 of the title “ National.” A 
vigorous policy has maintained the progress, and at the present time 
there are upwards of 700 members, while the income of the Society 
is something like £900. Two provincial shows have been held, 
one at Sheffield, and the other at Hull, a Floral Committee 
was formed, a catalogue of Chrysanthemums was issued, and in 
several other ways the “ National ” has endeavoured to render useful 
service to the growers and admirers of Chrysanthemums. It is only 
just to say that most of these ideas originated with Mr. Holmes, and he 
assisted very greatly in their development. His counsel and guiding 
power will indeed be sadly missed in the deliberations of the Committee. 
Few but those who have been intimately associated with him in the work 
of recent years can adequately judge the time and thought he devoted 
to the various details and projects. He was thorough in all his under¬ 
takings, and he spared no personal effort to ensure success. 
Recognising the valuable assistance rendered to the Society by 
Mr. Holmes, a fund was raised in 1886 for the purpose of according 
him some recognition, and at the annual dinner of that year he was 
presented with an illuminated address and three silver epergnes, when 
Mr. Sanderson referred in feeling terms to the career of his friend. It 
had already been suggested that the Centenary Celebration would have 
been a fitting opportunity for another presentation, as be had seriously 
talked of resigning at the end of the year duties that were undoubtedly 
imposing too heavy a strain upon his health. 
Mr. Holmes was a devoted horticulturist, a Fellow of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, a member of the Floral Committee of that 
Society, and a frequent judge at autumn shows ; but he did not confine 
his energy to these, for he took a prominent part in local affairs, was 
chairman of a political association; in 1888 he was elected Chairman 
of the Overseers for the parish of Hackney ; he was also connected 
with a building society, and had taken office in the Freemasons. 
Our friend has left a widow and six children to mourn the loss of 
an affectionate husband and father, and many associates who will 
unite in the heartiest sympathy with them, have also to regret the loss 
of a true friend and a worthy man.— Lewis Castle. 
Chrysanthemum Madame Desgranges. 
August and September are two months when flowers for the con¬ 
servatory are scarce, and although this defect may be somewhat made 
up by using foliage plants, still they do not wholly make up for a 
sparsity of flowers, neither do they command the admiration, especially 
from the ladies, that flowers do ; therefore, plants that will develop- 
their flowers during these months, and that will bear the ordeal of a 
cool airy conservatory with impunity, are of great service, and is sure to 
be appreciated. Chrysanthemum Madame Desgranges, and its primrose- 
yellow sport G. Wermig, have been in cultivation for some years, but it 
is not grown to the extent that its intrinsic merits entitle it to be, 
neither is it often met with grown to a very high state of perfection. 
Its habit is free, dwarf, and bushy, and a plant 2 feet 6 inches high, 
with twenty-four shoots carrying as many perfect flowers, is a thing 
of beauty at any time, but particularly so during August and September 
when arranged in the conservatory amongst plants which at that time 
are so totally distinct. 
To grow these Chrysanthemums into good bushes for the above 
purpose, strong cuttings should be secured about the middle of October, 
preference being given to those springing from the roots, and place them 
singly into small thumb pots, using loam, leaf mould, and sand in equal 
parts. Plunge them in a half-spent hotbed, and keep them close until' 
rooted, only admitting sufficient air to dispel superabundant moisture, 
and thus prevent damping. When rooted, they should have abundance 
of ventilation during favourable weather, and keep them near to the 
glass, so as to induce a short-jointed, stocky growth, nothing being so 
detrimental to Chrysanthemums as “coddling” at any stage. Grown* 
under airy, bracing conditions, they will bear a few degrees of frost 
without injury, and although the growth will be slower, yet in the 
spring the plants will possess far more stamina than those grown under 
close, warm conditions, and may, moreover, be placed out of doors a 
month earlier in spring. When the plants have grown about 6 inches- 
pinch off 2 inches ; this will induce them to throw out a number of 
side shoots. Select three of the strongest, and rub off all the others. 
At this stage, which will be the end of November, they will require 
placing into 5-inch pots, using a compost of three parts fibry loam, and' 
one part each of well decayed manure, leaf mould, coke, and sand, 
adding one quart of bonemeal and soot to each bushel of compost. 
They should be potted firmly and returned to a cold frame with a south 
aspect, if possible, and as the days are short and damp they will not 
require keeping close, neither will they require watering for at least a* 
fortnight, and every opportunity should be taken to give air, and on 
mild days to remove the lights entirely. During very severe weather 
the lights may be covered in the usual way, but, as before hinted, a 
little frost will not hurt the plants. Damp, however, must be expected 
during the dull days of winter, but this can be largely obviated by making 
a wooden slatted stage for the frame, and arranging the plants on it near 
to the glass, giving them plenty of r om. Watering also should be*- 
attended to during the early part of the day. Early in February the 
shoots should again be pinched back and two growths selected from 
each, which will give six shoots to each plant. Early in March place- 
them into their largest pots, using 8-inch size for the smallest plants,, 
and 9-inch for the largest. Employ the same compost as before, only 
in a rougher state, with a few half-inch bones mixed with it ; also put 
a layer of half-inch bones and soot over the drainage. If the compost is- 
in the right state—that is, not so wet as to remain in a sticky ball, or too- 
dry to show the impression of the fingers when squeezed in the hand—it 
is impossible to pot Chrysanthemums too firmly ; it induces a short- 
jointed, sturdy growth, which invariably results in good flowers, other 
things being equal. Good drainage is also essential, and 2 inches should? 
