880 
[ October 80, 1890, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
- The general Committee of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society held a meeting at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, on October 
27th, R. Ballantine, Esq., in the chair, when there was a good attend¬ 
ance of members. The principal business was completing the arrange¬ 
ments for the Centenary Festival at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, 
on November 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th. Lady Brooke will open the 
Show on November 11th. Lord Brooke will preside at the banquet on 
November 13th ; and Sir Guyer Hunter M.P., with Sir Edwin Saunders> 
will preside at the Conference on the first and third days. 
- Death of Mr. Thomas Cubbon. —It is with regret that 
I report to your notice the death of Mr. Thomas Cubbon, gardener to 
G. H. Pinckard, Esq , of Coombe Court, Witley, on the 17th inst, at the 
early age of thirty-six years, after a few days’ illness. He had been at 
the above place for the past fourteen years, during which time he had 
made a large circle of friends, by whom he was greatly respected. He 
was also a very successful exhibitor at the local shows, and by his death 
quite a gloom will be cast over the Godaiming Chrysanthemum Show, 
where he had exhibited largely since the commencement, some six years 
since.—G. B. Baskett. 
- Amateur Rose Exhibitors.—“ F. R. B.” has perhaps suffi¬ 
ciently answered “ Exhibitor,” but 1 want to ask him one more 
question. He says, “ Large growers, being amateurs, growing say 
8000 Roses, ought to be compelled to exhibit against nurserymen.” 
Now the largest number of Roses I have ever heard an amateur accused 
of growing, and I believe it to be a false accusation, is 10,000, and I ask 
“Exhibitor” what probable chance would that amateur have against 
nurserymen, growing above 100,000, early in the season? True, Mr. 
Pemberton and other amateurs have been successful later in the season. 
Never have I heard of an amateur beating the professional for 72, 
48, 36, or 24 before 20th of July in any year. Remember, from June 
the nurseryman is cutting for sale blooms by the 1000 every day as 
well as for exhibition, and therefore he may occasionally be surpassed by 
an amateur without loss of reputation or less glory to his visitor. I do 
wish, however, that local, especially affiliated societies, would more 
strictly follow the model of the National Rose Society in arranging 
their schedules.— F. H. G. 
- Local Rose Exhibitions. —Replying to your correspondents 
with regard to the statement I made as to the number of plants and 
acreage cultivated by large growers, I regret to say from what has 
appeared that I have been strangely misinformed ; but, however, by way 
of argument we will say if an exhibitor cultivates 7000 plants, are not the 
odds very great against the smaller growers who cultivate from 1000 to 
2000? If so, then I say they ought to be protected by being fairly 
handicapped. This is the bone of my contention. If you take, as an 
instance, a race of any description you will find the competitors are 
fairly handicapped. Why ought it not to be so in the showing of Roses? 
The fact is the matter requires, in my opinion, to be carried out on a 
more equitable footing, and until it is there will be complaints. 
Mr. Raillem says there is protection in all the classes of the National 
Rose Society, but if he will look over the schedule again I think he will 
find a few discrepancies. It matters not how great a grower or how 
great an exhibitor he may be, it is optional if he think fit to infringe 
upon the classes allotted to the small growers. “F. R. B.” says that I 
complain of the unfairness of the leviathans showing against the smaller 
fry, and asks if it has ever occurred when there are large classes avail¬ 
able, and add3 the exhibitor ought to be ashamed of himself for stoop¬ 
ing so low. I think I may venture to say that one of the greatest 
exhibitors who has taken perhaps more prizes than any other amateur 
exhibited a stand of six blooms at Birmingham when there were two 
classes of twelve available—-one open, the other amateur ; so I think it 
proves that the large grower chose to compete for six instead of twelve, 
it giving him a better chance for the prize than the small growers, who 
evidently cannot have so many to select from, and this provides loop¬ 
holes sufficiently large for ambition to creep through. Again, Mr. 
Raillem infers that a man with 1000 Roses ought to be able to show at 
his best as good a twenty-four as the man with double or treble that 
number. I was never more surprised than by such reasoning. I think 
any schoolboy would say that three chances are better than one, and I 
take it that the object of growing a large number of Roses must be to 
have more to select from, and therefore this increases the chances in 
competing with smaller growers. Rose shows may be and undoubtedly 
are protected as a rule in the southern counties, but I do know from 
my own experience several places in the northern counties are not 
so.— An Exhibitor. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM MEN OF THE TIME. 
Having on a previous page referred to a Chrysanthemum pioneer, 
Mr. Robert Fortune, we now give a series of portraits, chiefly from 
recent photographs, which reached us in time for preparation, of men of 
action in the Chrysanthemum world, and as we expect more will be sup¬ 
plied to us for publication during the season, we clear the way for their 
insertion as opportunities occur. Those now given are of men who merit 
recognition for their zeal as officers or skill as cultivators. They are not 
chosen as exceeding in effort or cultural ability all other Chrysanthemum 
men of the time, and we know that everyone of those pourtrayed would 
resent any such proposition. With the pressing claims on our space we 
can say little about them, but that little will show that they are 
workers who in their different spheres have done something in widening 
the interest in Chrysanthemums—making brighter the homes of rich 
and poor, and providing the public with autumn floral festivals, which 
are so highly appreciated, and can do nothing but good. 
Mr. E. Draper (Northampton).—As Secretary of the Northampton 
Society Mr. E. Draper has performed excellent service, and has infused 
much of his natural energy into the business and knowledge of the 
Society. Chrysanthemums are very popular in Northampton, and 
nearly everyone who can accommodate a few plants tries to do so, and 
soon becomes a competitor in some of the classes wisely provided by the 
Society for the encouragement of beginners. 
Mr. W. Furze (Teddington).—When in 1889 Mr. W. Furze of The 
Rose'ands, Teddington, succeeded in winning the challenge vase at 
Kingston, there was considerable rejoicing in the district, and it is 
questionable if even the defeated competitors did not experience some 
satisfaction at the result. Chrysanthemums have for some years been 
admirably grown at The Roselands, and Mr. Furze has been ably 
assisted by his gardener, Mr. Coombs, for in the moderate space of a 
suburban garden Orchids under glass and Roses out of doors are as well 
cultivated as the Chrysanthemums. The example thus set of general 
horticultural enthusiasm has had considerable influence in the district, 
and the effects are rendered evident at the creditable summer and autumn 
Shows now held in Teddington. 
Dr. George Walker (Wimb’edon).—With Mr. Lyne, late of 
Belvedere Gardens, Dr. G. Walker has for some time been associated 
as joint Honorary Secretary of the Wimbledon Horticultural Society; 
but Mr. Lyne has now removed to Chislehurst, and the duty has, there¬ 
fore, devolved upon his colleague. Dr. Walker is not merely an 
admirer of Chrysanthemums, but he is also a cultivator, and his modest 
but interesting display attracts many visitors during the season. He i3 
also a frequent visitor at the principal shows and gardens in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the metropolis where Chrysanthemums are a specialty. 
Mr. LlNNiEUS Cumming (Rugby).—Mr. Cumming devotes all the 
time he can spare from his scholastic duties at Rugby to garden¬ 
ing, and is an earnest amateur, with all the enthusiasm that an 
educated man brings to bear upon such work. He is noted here 
because his position as Chairman of the Rugby Society has enabled him 
to encourage a love of Chrysanthemums and their culture, and at the 
dinner on the Show day he always has some cheery words for the Com¬ 
mittee and the exhibitors. The Secretary, Mr. W. Bryant, who is 
thoroughly practical and experienced, has also assisted greatly in pro¬ 
moting the interests of this Society. In Mr. Cumming’s town garden 
he grows alpine plants, Ferns, &c., remarkably well. 
Mr. F. Power (Portsmouth).—Mr. Power is a great deal more than 
Secretary of the Portsmouth Chrysanthemum Society, for he is a Town 
Councillor, and in many ways has by his labours contributed to the 
improvement of the great seaport, and won the esteem of its inha¬ 
bitants. He believes in the popularisation of flowers, and therefore 
brings the charges for admittance to the great Chrysanthemum shows, 
which he has been mainly instrumental in establishing, within the reach 
of the humblest toilers. The consequence is, that we believe the 
attendance exceeds that of any other similar exhibitions in the kingdom, 
and the Society is in a sound financial state. 
Mr. W. Mease (Leatherhead). — In Mr. Mease we have an able 
energetic gardener, and unquestionably a first-rate Chrysanthemum 
grower. He has engaged in some of the keenest of the Liverpool 
contests, and won ; also he is distinguished as the winner of one of the 
great challenge cups that are offered by a few Chrysanthemum societies. 
This was at Hull, and no man had finer losing stands of blooms to 
compete against than he had in those contests. He is now established 
at Leatherhead in Surrey, and made a good start last year at southern 
shows. He has proved himself a formidable antagonist, and if he takes 
part in the coming campaign the classes will not be weak if he is placed 
outside the circle of prizewinners. 
Mr. W. Tunnington (Liverpool).—For many years Mr. Tunning- 
ton was a leading grower in the Liverpool district, where Chrys¬ 
anthemums have long been produced in the highest excellence. It was 
only by years of persevering effort that he won the high position he 
occupied in the front ranks. He may fairly be regarded as a representa¬ 
tive Liverpool grower, and there is no doubt whatever that the splendid 
incurved blcoms which he brought to Kingston some years ago had a 
