406 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 6, 1890. 
growers of these flowers has been that the value of the prizes has been 
so unequally balanced between the first and the following prizes that a 
second prize collection, which may be only slightly inferior to the first, 
gets but a small compensation as compared to its relative merit with the 
premier collection. In the present instance the Committee have wisely 
prepared for any objection in this direction, as also they have in demand¬ 
ing that such prizes shall be won by distinct blooms, entirely ignoring 
the duplicate system of stipulating for twenty-four blooms in either 
section, but not more than eighteen varieties. There is no doubt but that the 
existing conditions are the correct ones in such a class as this ; it provides 
a surer test of the skill'of any grower to produce forty-eight blooms 
in this manner than where duplicates are allowed. Now with such a 
large increase of varieties in both sections, the task set is not nearly so 
arduous as it was a few years since. Even if no other class was 
provided in the schedule, the Committee of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society deserve a splendid exhibition in these two sections provided for 
cut blooms, for the spirit displayed in offering so much money to be com¬ 
peted for. But it would not surprise me much if competition were 
limited after all to a few of the leading exhibitors. Let us hope this 
will not be the case. 
Class 2 in the schedule is set apart for the competition of Societies, 
known as the “ Trophy ” prize, the handsome sum of £10 going with 
the premier object in this class. In this case the blooms may be the 
production of one or more growers, but to be staged in the name of 
the Society to which each contributor belongs, of course all belonging 
to the one Society in whose name the entry is given. The cash to be 
equally apportioned to the growers of the flowers staged. This class 
will be likely to sutler somewhat this year in consequence of the 
larger one previouly noted. I should not be surprised either if the class 
were altogether dropped in a few years, as beyond the cash prize there 
is no ultimate end for the Trophy. It is a novelty, such novelties 
generally have a short existence. 
Class 3 is for forty-eight incurved blooms in not less than twenty- 
four varieties, neither shall there be more than three blooms of any one 
variety. Splendid prizes are here offered, also £10, £7 and £4 are the 
sums for the three prizes, with the addition of the bronze centenary 
medals for all competitors. Such a class as this provides a splendid 
opportunity for a display of the “ Queen ” family, and now that they 
are so numerous no doubt they will be used in great force in providing 
massive stands of blooms. For those who cannot stage such a large number 
of blooms as demanded in the preceding class others of less numbers 
are provided, classes 4 and 7 being for twenty-four and twelve blooms 
respectively, both stipulating for distinctness of kind. Substantial 
money prizes are offered in both classes. Even another class is available 
for those who cannot stage in these just mentioned. Class 8 being 
for twelve blooms distinct, those competing in previous classes not to 
do so in this. Such an arrangement provides opportunities for all who 
are wishful to compete. 
Classes 5 and 14 are devoted to what 1 will term “ novelty ” classes* 
In both the Yeitch medal and £5 is offered as first prize, with sums of 
£3 and £1 as second and third prizes, for twenty-four blooms of 
incurved and Japanese kinds distinct, “ to be staged with not less than 
8 inches stem above board, with foliage as grown.” From the wording 
of the class there is nothing to prevent the blooms being “dressed” in 
the orthodox manner, excepting, of course, the length of stem 
stipulated for, although I infer such is not the wish of the framers of 
this class. The Yeitch medal is a prize I know highly coveted by 
gardeners in general, and it is to be hoped that good competition may 
be the result of these classes, and something new in the manner of 
presenting blooms to the public may be witnessed in consequence. 
Class 6 provides an opportunity for those who are continually 
“ railing ” at the presence of such large flowered sorts as the Queen type, 
at the expense of smaller and neater varieties on the exhibition table, 
as it provides for the latter to the exclusion of the “ objectionables,” 
as I will term them. I shall not be surprised if those who have 
grumbled the most do the least towards filling this class. The 
particulars are as follows :—Eighteen incurved blooms distinct, ex¬ 
cluding the Queen and its synonyms ; neatness and symmetry to be 
considered of greater importance than mere size of bloom. And as 
there are now so many beautifully formed blooms naturally of the 
Princess and Teck varieties, there ought not to be any difficulty what¬ 
ever in securing the necessary number. Given an equality of flowers 
the person who is the greatest expert with the dressing instruments will 
carry off this prize, and may not inaptly be called the dressers’ class. It 
must not, however, be assumed that good dressing only will succeed. 
The blooms must be available first, no matter how well a dresser may 
act he cannot turn a badly grown bloom into a perfect one ; what he 
can do is to improve those already well grown. This class will no doubt 
prove as interesting to many as any in the schedule. The prizes are 
good, £5, £3, and £1 being offered. 
Similar classes are made for the Japanese section as for those noted, 
and will no doubt cause a greater display. Competition generally is 
more keen than in the incurved section ; varieties to choose from are 
much more numerous, and the forms so variable that a greater number of 
people prefer these to the stiff-looking incurved. Prizes are also offered 
for the usual six blooms of one variety in both sections, and for the 
same number of blooms of certain new varieties. 
Classes are also provided for reflexed, Anemone, and Pompon 
sections, the latter always producing strong competition. In the present 
case there should be no falling off in this respect. The prizes in all cases 
are certainly adequate, and the conditions easy. 
For the first time I note a class has been made for twelve Japanese 
incurved blooms, but without any intimation of what is considered to 
be an incurved bloom of this family or section. No doubt exhibitors of 
experience will stage only those which properly come under the designa¬ 
tion of incurved when fully developed, which is the correct estimate of 
an incurved Japanese specimen. Many sorts incurve their florets when 
unfolding them, but as they develop an alteration is effected, the same 
kinds being then thoroughly reflexed. Such as these in a half-expanded 
state cannot be taken as examples of what is required. 
Amateurs, single-handed gardeners, and metropolitan growers are 
well provided for. Numerous valuable prizes are set apart for them by 
the Society and through the kindness of enthusiastic donors. In classes 
35, 36, 37, and 38 the conditions state that these classes are for those 
who employ one permanent gardener, and also for single-handed gar¬ 
deners. I take it that what is meant is that the employer of a per¬ 
manent gardener may compete in his own name, as also may the single- 
handed gardener with his employer’s property, in the same manner as 
the gardener who has, say ten or more men under him. The two cases 
in the classes referred to here are, as far as the gardeners are con¬ 
cerned, identical, both coming strictly under the heading of single- 
handed. I consider these regulations slightly confusing in the manner 
indicated in the schedule. A class for an unlimited number of cut 
blooms, any varieties, is set apart for foreign growers, of which it is to 
be hoped they will avail themselves, which would provide means, of 
comparison between home and foreign produce. This is a capital 
opportunity for M. Phatzer to show us what can be done in Roubaix.— 
E. M. 
Chrysanthemum Blooms Damping. 
In my opinion the damping of Chrysanthemum blooms arises from 
various causes. Rank immature growth, caused by loose potting and 
the excessive use of stimulants, coupled with taking buds too early and 
leaving the plants out of doors too late in the season, in order to keep 
the flowers back, is, I feel certain, one of the causes of blooms damping. 
This season I left outside a few plants after they showed colour, notably 
Belle Paule, Stanstead White, Queen of England, and some others. 
Since housing they have more or less succumbed to damp. 
Firm potting in good fresh fibry loam, preferably from a limestone 
district, with one-fifth fresh horse droppings, the same quantity of 
burnt refuse, and about one-twentieth dissolved bones or bone dust I 
find the best compost for the final potting. I commence feeding 
as soon as the pots are full of roots, using soot water, farmyard liquid, 
and the liquid from a cesspool alternately in a weak state, and occasion¬ 
ally (say once a week) give a little sulphate of ammonia, 1 oz. in each 
four gallons of the liquid until the blooms are about a quarter open, 
then discontinue feeding. After housing I sprinkle the lower leaves, 
&e., and all available surface of the house with flowers of sulphur, and 
am very careful with ventilating, airing the houses as carefully as a. 
forcing house during the spring months, and in dull damp weather 
always keep the pipes slightly warm. I find that the blooms are more 
free from damping in a dry airy house than one where the atmosphere 
is at all stagnant. 
Watering is always done in the morning, and any moisture from 
the pots is always dried up with a cloth after it has passed through. 
Where practicable I always elevate the pots on wood trellis, staging so 
that plenty of air can play through the plants, besides having the 
advantage of raising them up to the light. I know nothing as a 
cure for damping in blooms, but use the above precautions as a preven¬ 
tive. Plants should always be housed before they show any sign of 
colour in the blooms.—W. J. Ireland, Singleton Gardens, Swansea. 
Dressing Chrysanthemum Flowers. 
Much has been written and said for and against the practice of 
improving the appearance of the flowers by this practice of pulling out 
with tweezers malformed and superfluous florets, and arranging those 
left in the best manner possible, so as to present the flower as Dearly 
perfect in form as may be. Many decry dressing in any form, and con¬ 
tend that all flowers should be exhibited as grown, but were the com¬ 
mittees of Chrysanthemum societies generally to provide a class or 
classes in their prize schedules for such blooms, I am convinced that from 
several combined causes such efforts must soon end in failure. So long 
as judges award the prizes to the most highly finished and perfect 
flowers, and the public by their verdict support them in so doing, so 
long will exhibitors endeavour to secure such finish and perfection.by 
all legitimate means, of which proper dressing—which allows of adding 
nothing whatever to, but only taking from, that which is imperfect or 
superabundant—is one. The aim of the dresser should not be to in any 
way distort the flower, or to alter it from the form Nature intended it 
should take, but merely to assist in perfecting it in such form. 
To do this most effectually, and with the least possible injury to 
the blooms, it should be commenced when they are only partially 
developed, and be continued, doing a little in the matter of the removal 
of faulty florets, seed organs, &c., at intervals of a few days until the 
growth of the bloom is completed. 
What is termed “ centering ” the blooms is a practice now generally 
adopted by exhibitors, and should be performed when the blooms are 
about three parts developed. This consists in taking out with a pair of 
somewhat broad and sharp-pointed tweezers a small portion of the 
centre of the bloom, generally about half an inch across in large 
flowers, and containing an innumerable quantity of small undeveloped 
petals, the taking away of which allows the surrounding ones to develope 
fully, and assume the required form. Many of the largest among the 
