444 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 20, 1890 
the valuable additions we have of recent years it is much more easy to 
obtain a good selection than formerly. The beautiful new Japanese 
seedlings have so enriched the collections that it makes us wish for new 
incurved seedlings besides the valuable sports we have in that class. 
Perhaps the most convenient way to ascertain which are the best 
varieties for exhibition is to take the National Chrysanthemum Society’s 
catalogue for a guide, and then note the varieties in the winning stands 
at the exhibitions. Good novelties possess much interest, and should be 
added when possible. Directly the exhibitions are over, when the 
varieties seen are fresh in the memory, compare the list for the following 
season, marking against each variety the number of plants you intend 
to grow. Additional cuttings should be inserted to allow for losses and 
weak plants. It is much better to have a choice of plants in the spring, 
and be able to reject any that are weak or not quite satisfactory. The 
strong competition of the present time should induce the exhibitor to 
grow specially for the classes in which he has a chance to win. It is 
much better for him and for the exhibition too. A grower who has 
a sma’l number of plants stands little chance of winning a prize in a 
large class ; but by growing a few plants each of the best varieties, and 
entering the smaller classes, he is much more likely to be successful. 
Large exhibitors, too, are more successful in the end by not attempting 
to do too much. 
Having determined Lhe numbers and varieties to be grown, and so 
commenced for the season, make due provision to protect the plants 
from checks of all kinds. The Chrysanthemum is subject to so many 
checks that constant attention is required throughout the year. Injury 
arises through suddenly exposing them to cold draughts, especially if 
struck in heat, by allowing them to become root-bound before repotting, 
and by the soil becoming dry at any period of them growth, or by 
excessive use of chemical manure. I will detail a few points of the 
system of culture I have followed with a fair amount of success. 
Cuttings. 
These are inserted at the end of November and the beginning of 
December, and are placed in a cold pit. I have inserted cuttings much 
later with good results, but it is convenient to have them early, and to 
be able to clear out the large pots. I prefer strong and sturdy cuttings 
about 3 inches long taken off level with the soil in the pot in preference 
to those dug out of the soil or stem cuttings, although stem cuttings are 
used occasionally when others are not to be had. Small 60-sized pots 
are used, placing one cutting in each pot. A crock is placed over the 
hole of each pot, and the pot is filled with soil, consisting of half loam, 
half leaf mould, and a fair amount of sand. The base of the cutting 
resting on a little silver sand, the soil is made moderately firm, and is 
then ready for the pit. Any good varieties that have deteriorated for 
more than a season are obtained from a fresh source, where they can be 
depended on bem? true to name. A change of stock is always desirable 
where good exchanges can be made. The cuttings are placed in a cold 
pit, or with only such heat as is desired from a Melon bed made the 
previous spring, and are arranged a few inches from the glass. The cold 
pit has an inconvenience in the covering it requires, but I think the 
cuttings are improved in constitution by the cool treatment, though it 
would be injurious to cuttings taken out of heat to place them m a cold 
pit. Where large blooms are grown it is necessary to use fire heat for 
two or three weeks to protect them from damp, and in my opinion a 
cool after treatment is beneficial to them when the cuttings are hardy 
and vigorous. As the cuttings are rooted we remove them to an adjoin¬ 
ing pit, where they are gradually inured to air, and when well rooted 
they are ready for 
Potting. 
The strong growing varieties are placed in C-inch pots, the weak 
growers in 4-inch pots. The fallowing I consider weak varieties : —In 
the incurved, Empress Eugbnie, Barbara, Mrs. Heale, Mrs. W. Shipman, 
Lady Hardinge, Nil Desperandum, Princess Beatrice, Cherub, Princess 
of Wales, Miss M. A. Haggas, Violet Tomlin, and Mrs. S. Coleman ; in 
the Japanese, Meg Merrilies, Baiph Brocklebank, Japonais, Madame 
John Laing, L’Adorable, Criterion, and Jeanne Delaux, The shift into 
G-inch pots is a large one, but it succeeds well with me. The plants are 
well watered before potting, and the soil being in a moist condition 
they do not require water for some time, and the roots quickly take to 
the new soil. The pit is kept rather close for a few days ; the plants 
are damped over the foliage occasionally of bright mornings When 
the soil is becoming rather dry they are given one good watering, after 
which the plants are separately watered as required. There is danger 
of the weak varieties not rooting quickly into the 6-inch pots, the soil 
becoming heavy and possibly dry, and that is why the smaller pots 
are used, but they are transferred into the G-inch pots as soon as they 
are fairly rooted, and not allowed to become root-bound. 
The soil at this potting consists of two-thirds loam, one-third of leaf 
mould, a free addition of sand, and a 6-incb potful of bone dust to each 
two bushels of soil. The pots are carefully crocked, and a little rough 
turf placed over the crocks. As the plants are established in their pots 
they are gradually hardened, until the lights are left off night and 
day. The final shift is given from the last week in May unt 1 the 
second week in June, p'acing the strongest growers into 10-inch pots, 
and the others in 9-inch pots. The soil is made up of two parts loam, 
medium for stiffness, half part of well decayed cow manure, half part 
leaf mould from Oak leaves, a liberal amount of sand, and a 6-inch 
pot of bone dust to every barrowful of soil. A little soot and wood 
ashes is added, the whole well mixed together and placed under cover 
for use. 
No detail in connection with the growth of this plant is considered of 
more importance than draining the pots, and it is quite equal in import¬ 
ance to the composition of the soil. Well crocked pots allow all 
superfluous water to escape ; the free passage of air keeps the soil sweet, 
and assists the formation of healthy roots, capable of assimilating 
liberal supplies of liquid manure at a later stage. The soil is well rammed 
as potting proceeds, and the pots are then wheeled out to a sheltered 
position open to the sun, but sheltered from high winds. They are 
placed in rows 8 feet apart, to allow plenty of sun and air to reach them 
to assist in ripening the wood, and they are arranged on boards to prevent 
worms entering. 
Manures. 
Many artificial manures are recommended for application. For the 
use of amateurs, and where the use of natural manures are objectionable, 
they afford valuable aid when used with care. For those unable to get 
a good supply of natural manures, and for application during a long 
spell of wet weather, they are beneficial. I have had the best results 
from natural manures obtained from a cesspool with the drainings from- 
cowhouses and piggeries, to which is added a little soot. After an 
extended practice I am convinced a continued excessive use of artificial 
manures is one of the causes of damping in the lower florets of light 
coloured blooms. 
(To be continued.) 
THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
The Centenary Festival Banquet of this Society took place on 
Thursday evening, November 13th, at St. Stephen’s Hall, Westminster. 
Lord Brooke, M.P., President of the Society, occupied the chair, and 
the presence of ladies proved to be a very pleasing innovation, and one 
which will undoubtedly be repeated in the future. Among those who 
sat down to dinner were : — 
Sir Guyer Hunter, M.P., Major Isaacs, M.P., the Hon. Captain 
Greviile, Sir Walter De Souza, Lady Bouche, Mr. Shirley Hibberd, 
Mr. Pi. Ballantine, Mr. E. C. Jukes, Mr. J. Pi. Starling, Mr. Richard 
Dean, Mr. C. H. Payne, Mr. Lewis Castle, Mr. G. Gordon, Mr. Brian 
Wynne, Messrs. Cates and Wilkinson, Captain Molesworth, Major Cress- 
well, Mr. Gladding, Dr. Spink, Mrs. Thrower (of Tasmania), Mr. and 
Mrs. Canned, Mr. Glendinning, Mr. Pi. B. Laird (Scottish Horticultural 
Society), Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Daniels (Norwich), Mr. and Mrs. J. Wills, 
Mr. and Mrs. Segar, Mr. and Miss Barron, Mr. Ilevan, Mr. Kemp, Mr. 
Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Laing, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Veitch, Mr. H. Turner, 
Mr. Jay, Mr. Nye. Mr. Dawes, Mr. Crute, and Mr. Addison. 
The large hall was tastefully decorated with choice specimens of 
Chrysanthemums and other flowers, and the tout ensemble reflected great 
credit upon those responsible for the arrangements. 
After dinner the usual loyal toasts were proposed and duly honoured, 
and the President next rose, amid cheers, to propose the toast of the 
evening, “ The National Chrysanthemum Society.” He said he felt very 
much the great honour of occupying the position of Chairman on that 
important and interesting occasion. (Hear.) It was a matter of very 
deep regret to him that he was unable to be present on the opening day 
of the Show, owing to the death of a very old friend, but his wife was 
present - (cheers) — and she was very much pleased with the beautiful 
exhibits, and the hearty welcome she received from all. (Cheers.) 
Yesterday he had the opportunity of going the round of the Show with 
Mr. Dean, and he thought he had never seen an exhibition of such 
beautiful flowers. (Hear.) It was needless for him to recount the 
history of the Chrysanthemum. It was one which went back 2000 
years, and even before that time in China and also in Japan this most 
charming flower was cultivated. It was in Japan looked upon almost as 
a royal flower, because it was, he thought, an emblem of the Mikados of 
that country. Although it was known so early it was not until the year 
1790 that the large flowering Chrysanthemum was introduced into 
England, when it first made its appearance in the Botanical Gardens a.t 
Kew. Since that time there had been many growers and lovers of the 
flower who had taken a deep interest in the Chrysanthemum, and 
brought it to the perfection in which they now saw it. He believed 
that in 1820 there were only about twelve different varieties of 
the flower, and now if they looked through the catalogue of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society they would be perfectly astounded at the 
number of varieties. (Hear, hear.) The Chrysanthemum was a very 
satisfactory flower whichever way it was looked at. If they looked at 
the reverse side there was some lovely colour to enhance the beauty of 
the petals. It was beautiful in every shape and form, and many 
growers in the country had brought it to such perfection that it was 
worthy to adorn any palace in the kingdom or in the world—(cheers) 
—and the great merit of the flower was that it could be as successfully 
cultivated by the small as well as the great growers. (Hear, hear.) 
With regard to the exhibitors, of course it was not possible for everyone 
to be successful, but the unsuccessful exhibitors knew that by com¬ 
peting they stood a chance of being, to use an apt expression, “ quite at 
the top of the tree,” and to occupy such a position on an occasion like 
the present must fill every other grower with deepest envy. (Laughter.) 
There had been many additions to their ranks since last year. He had 
the honour of taking the chair at their dinner last year. The members 
then numbered 615, but they had now increased to 734. (Cheers.) It 
was satisfactory to feel that not only the number of growers was 
incieising, but that the number of those who took an interest in the 
flower was also increasing—(hear, hear)—and he trusted that the Show 
