822 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 9,1890, 
The number of the plants grown this year for large blooms cannot be 
less than 700. Many others are cultivated to supply cut blooms in 
quantity later on. The plants look remarkably well, just the wood, 
foliage, and buds to produce blooms ; and Mr. Adams, the grower, may 
well feel proud of his charge. The plants are tall and exceptionally strong, 
but the growth is well matured ; the leaves have a bronzy hue from the 
base upwards, which betokens gradual ripening. The buds are what 
most experienced growers would call “ about right,” being “ taken ” at 
various times to prolong the display as late as possible. Very pro¬ 
mising were Stanstead White, Sunflower, Madame Bacco, Boule d’Or, 
11 to He de Lyon, Mr. H. Canned, Mrs. C. Wheeler, Baronne de Praillev, 
and its sport Carew Underwood, Belle Paule, and M. Bernard. I have 
never seen such stems as the first named had, over 1 inch in diameter, 
and quite brown. New Japanese were represented by Marvel, one of 
Delaux’s varieties ; J. Bourne, a reflexed Japanese, rich yellow, from 
Messrs. Elliot, Jersey ; M. E. A. Carri6re, Veil d’Or, Mrs. J. Clark, 
V . W. Coles, and Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. Much has been written against 
this novelty as to its manner of growth, but judging from plants of it 
here it is partly the fault of the cultivator. No doubt the rapid propa¬ 
gation to which it was subjected last season has much to do with its 
general weakness this season. 
The incurved varieties are grown in masses of one sort rather than a 
number, merely for the sake of variety. Whole rows of the “ Queen ” 
family ranged from 7 to 8 feet high, of splendid proportions—Princess 
of Wales, Lady Carey, Prince Alfred, Novelty, and a capital stock of its 
sport Alfred Lyne, which is thought highly of here. The “ Tecks ” were 
full of promise, all the bads being “ taken.” One point in the appear¬ 
ance of the plants generally to which I attach much importance is the 
manner in which the flower stems were swelling ; they were fairly 
u bulging ” out a couple of inches or so below the buds. The size of the 
pots in general use was smaller than is usually employed, many being 
rather less than 9 inches in diameter ; many plants also were growing 
two in one pot—of large size of course. By the appearance of the 
plants large pots are not a necessity. No doubt many of them derived 
assistance from the manner in which they are top-dressed. A collar 
2 inches deep made of zinc is fitted inside the rim of the pot, and gives 
much more space, not only for additional feeding material in top-dress- 
ing, but provides space for a greater water supply. 
Rooksbury Park. 
Until last year Chrysanthemums were grown here in but small 
numbers, but upon the change in the management it was not to be 
expected that Mr. N. Molyneux could rest content with a score or two of 
Chrysanthemums after the numbers grown at Swanmore Park, where 
he received his early training in this phase of horticulture. He has 
increased the number of plants here until he has now under his care 
the usual 500. Those persons who saw the plants in the early part of 
duly would scarcely believe they were the same that are now to be 
seen, so wonderful is the change in their appearance since that date. 
O wing to the pressure of other duties at that time, the Chrysanthemums 
did not progress quite so well as could have been expected, but by c’ose 
attention they now look as well as it is possible. Their wood is perfectly 
ripened, and cannot fail to produce blooms of high quality. The plants 
are arranged on each side of the kitchen garden paths, some running 
north and south and others east and west, which allows of some of the 
plants having the sun upon them the whole day. Some of ihe varieties, 
notably Madame C. Audiguier, Belle Paule, Carew Underwood, and 
Baronne de Prailley, have “run up” exceptionally ta'l; but they are 
stout also, and betoken fine flowers, judging from the manner in which 
the buds are swelling. Such early Japanese as Frederick Marroucb, 
Avalanche. Edwin Molyneux, Mdlle. Lacroix, George Daniels, and 
J. Delaux, by the manner in which they are opening their flowers give 
an indication of what is to follow in the later and better timed buds. 
Ihe “ Queens,” of which there is one long row, promise right well, and 
so do the “Tecks.” An opportunity here will be obtained of proving 
whether the new varieties, John Doughty and Mrs. S. Coleman, are an 
advance upon their parents or otherwise. The plants of these promise 
well. As Mr. Molyneux has a capital place to show off the flowers to 
the best advantage when they are fully developed—a large conservatory 
near the mansion—he will, no doubt, have a fine show of blooms, about 
which more may be heard later on. 
Hinton House, Portsmouth. 
This is the residence of T. Edgecombe, Esq., whose gardener, Mr. 
Adams, has recently made himself renowned for the Chrysanthemums 
cultivated there under somewhat adverse circumstances. It is indeed 
a real town garden, being surrounded by numerous tall trees, that the 
quality of the plants to be found in this garden cime upon me as a 
surprise, and not only shows what an accommodating plant is the 
Chrysanthemum, but proves what can be done under difficulties by a 
painstaking gardener. Mr. Adams grows about 300 plants upon the 
tall system, presumably for large blooms. Good “ bushes,” which 
are much prized here for conservatory decoration ; and capital plants 
in 6-inch pots, mainly of single varieties, which are very effective 
when employed, as they are here, to hide the pots of the taller plants 
when in bloom in groups in the conservatory. Those plants intended for 
large blooms are strong yet not gross, have fully developed leaves and 
nicely ripened wood, the buds are swelling kindly, and promise to 
develope handsome flowers. Some finely half-developed blooms of Lady 
Lawrence I noted in one of the vineries, showing what a substance of 
petal this variety possesses when seen in good condition. 
Victoria Park, Portsmouth. 
Mi. Hatch, the Superintendent, labours well here to obtain success in 
the growth of the Chrysanthemum, which this park has of late obtained 
a name in the neighbourhood of this busy town. About 200 plants are 
grown on the tall system, half that number on the cut-down plan, 
which is found very serviceable here in the low-built houses in the park ; 
about fifty bushes, and as many singles. At the Portsmouth Show 
Mr. Hatch invariably stages the best blooms of this section, the equals to 
which I have not seen anywhere, and by the appearance of the plants 
similar results may be again expected. Taken altogether the plants 
give promise of future development quite up to the previous standard, 
and perhaps superior to many found in places with much more con¬ 
venience. 
Swanmore Park. 
In connection with southern Chrysanthemums a note on their ap¬ 
pearance here will not be out of place in a passing notice on this sub¬ 
ject. Although Mr. Molyneux has not taken an active part in com¬ 
peting during the last two years, nevertheless the number of plants 
grown have not diminished, more attention being given now to the 
growth of new varieties. No less than seventy are on trial this season 
from all sources. One variety, Bouquet de Dame, already gives promise 
of future excellence, it is very much after the style of Avalanche in 
formation, having flat florets, a full flower, a dull white in the earliest 
blooms, later ones promise a pink tint on the outer side of the florets. 
Several new French and American varieties are under trial; one 
point which they possess and is very marked is their dwarf character, 
which is a decided step in the right direction. Experiments are 
being tried with a view of dwarfing the growth of some sorts, and 
proving whether it is possible to do this without depreciation of 
quality in the flowers. If success should follow in this respect 
a decided gain will be the result. The tall growth of many does 
far more to bring adverse criticism upon the method of culture now so 
largely practised than anything else. Many of the Queen family ate 
now but 4 feet high, with their buds “ taken although they are so 
dwarf the plants have not been subjected to the cutting down plan to 
attain the object in view. Etoile de Lyon, which was shown so well 
from here last year, is rather largely grown this season to further test 
its capabilities.— Visitor. 
The Formation of Chrysanthemum Societies. 
Now that the number of Chrysanthemum societies is so much on the 
increase in all parts of the country, it seems a fitting time to discuss 
their formation and constitution. Frequently floral societies fail 
through supineness on the part of their promoters, who seem to have an 
idea that so long as they have a schedule of prizes printed they may then 
rest on their oars, and, like Mr. Micawber, wait for something to turn 
up ; but, as a matter of fact, issuing the schedule is merely the com¬ 
mencement of the work, after which every move has to be thought out 
as carefully and thoroughly as if it were one's private business on which 
wives and families are depending. 
Let us suppose that we are in a town of some size. First obtain a 
good representative working committee, who will not only attend 
meetings and give advice, but who have the success of the movement at 
heart, and will use every exertion to attain that end. Then comes that 
all-important person, the secretary, upon whom depends to a consider¬ 
able extent the welfare of the society. Secure if possible an enthusiast 
who is independent of party clique—one who will work for the sheer 
love of the thing, and give such services us cannot be obtained by 
payment. 
It is very essential to form a good backbone consisting of annual 
subscribers. This is one of the most onerous, but at the same time 
most important tasks in the organisation and maintenance of a 
Chrysanthemum society ; frequently it is left to two or three, instead of 
being, as it should be, the business of every member of the committee. 
What is laborious for a few is comparatively light and easy for the 
many, besides which the interest in the society is spread over a wider 
and more varied area, this doubly ensuring it stability. With an ample 
list of annual subscribers the committee feel, to a certain extent, inde¬ 
pendent of the weather on the show days, and other vicissitudes, and are 
enabled to launch out more boldly than they would otherwise feel 
justified in doing ; they therefore secure a better show, and thus please 
their subscribers and the public. In Chrysanthemum shows, as in most 
other things, it is very true that success begets success. 
In the formation of the schedule, cater for all sections of growers, so 
far as funds will allow, and if either the society or some generous 
individuals offer some cup3 in addition to the money prizes—such cups 
to go the employer—it will be an inducement to the latter to allow their 
gardeners to compete. 
There is a growing tendency among Chrysanthemum societies to 
attach too much importance to cut blooms, and neglect other sections 
of the show ; but though a fine display of cut blooms may gain 
notoriety for a show in the horticultural world, it does not do so to 
such an extent among the money-paying public, and public taste must 
be considered, or failure will inevitably ensue. 
Firstly, in the cut bloom section offer a few large prizes to 
attract first-rate growers, whose exhibits will form object lessons 
for those less expert, inciting the latter to improvement, and 
thus to become eventually themselves among the mainstays of the 
show. Do not at first make the conditions too stringent. Remember 
I that to stage, say, forty-eight blooms, half incurved and half Japanese, 
