December 11 , 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
521 
the key to such knowledge is in the florist’s hands as regards the 
subjects of his attention, for he possesses records of their varia¬ 
tions, and their life histories are to him familiar, and the habit of 
observation is not only forced upon him as essential to his success, 
but it grows by what it feeds upon, and every daj' reveals to him 
something that is concealed from the botanist, unless he happens to 
be also a florist, which he seldom is, and perhaps never can be. 
Now let us look into this subject of variation. The ligulate 
florets are, as regards actual and direct contribution to the forma¬ 
tion of seed, useless. But Nature is frugal, and all things have or 
have had uses to justify their being. That the ray florets were 
once upon a time fertile female flowers is probable, but if it be 
asked of what use are they now it may be answered that they 
•doubtless serve to attract insects to the flowers that the pollen may 
be usefully removed and scattered. Now what do we see as the 
result of the multiplication of these ray florets at the expense of 
the disc florets ? We see nothing else but this, that the doubling 
of the flower renders it infertile, and from the moment it acquires 
this new character it is actually dependent on man for its con¬ 
tinuance. When man ceases to preserve the double Chrysan¬ 
themums they will absolutely perish, unless, indeed, neglect should 
quickly replace the inner ligulate florets with tubular florets, in 
which case they would save themselves by returning to a single 
form, and even that would be equivalent to destruction, for it is 
the continuance of the double flower we are considering. If you 
pull to pieces a double flower of any kind, whether incurved or 
reflexed, Pompon or Jap, if it has no yellow disk, it will be found 
destitute of pollen and absolutely incapable of seed production. 
One reason, therefore, that the raising of seedling Chrysanthemums 
is a matter of difficulty is that the flowers have become sterile, and 
therefore to obtain seed from them is impossible. I am well 
aware, of course, that seed is obtained not only by accident, but by 
method, and there is what may be called a science of seed produc¬ 
tion in this field of floriculture. But I am striving to get at the 
beginning of things, and must be allowed to set forth both 
generalities, and I repeat that the tendency of all improvement of 
the Chrysanthemum is to render the flower incapable of repro¬ 
duction, and therefore its entire care as a garden flower is in the 
hands of man. 
(To be continued.) 
THE NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of the above Society was held in the 
Horticultural Club room on Monday, December 9th, at 3 p.m., 
Dr. Robert Hogg in the chair. There was a good attendance of members, 
amongst those present being the following :—The Revs F. R. Burnside, 
A. Foster-Melliar, F. H. Gall, J. H. Pemberton, W. Wilks, H. B. Biron, 
and H. H. D’Ombrain (Hon. Sec.), with Messrs. PI. J. Pearson, H. 
Appleby, J. Bateman, R. Bloxham, B. R. Cant, F. Cant, C. E. Cant, 
W. J. Jefferies, E. B. Lindsell, G. Paul, J. D. Pawle, A. Prince, 
G. Prince, H. Wallis, W. H. Williams, 0. G. Orpen, W. F. Cooling, 
J. Burrell, R. E. West, G. Mount, F. T. Strange, S. G. Rumsey, W. 
Rumsey, A. Slaughter and E. Mawley (Hon. Sec). 
The proceedings were commenced by Mr. Mawley reading the notice 
■calling the meeting. The minutes of last annual general meeting were 
then taken as read, and Messrs. Jefferies and Bateman were appointed 
scrutineers of the ballot. Following this Mr. Mawley read the appended 
report, and Mr. J. D. Pawle the financial statement. 
Report of the Committee for the Year 1890. 
During the past year the Society has been enabled, thanks in a 
great measure to the liberal donations of some of its members, to 
inaugurate a special exhibition of Tea. Roses. This, the first show of 
the kind, was held at Westminster early in the season, in conjunction 
with the Royal Horticultural Society, and was generally acknowledged 
to be the finest display of this refined and popular class of Roses ever 
seen in London. At the Metropolitan Exhibition, which was again held 
ut the Crystal Palace, Roses were more numerously shown than in any 
year since 1885. There were fewer exceptionally fine blooms than on 
some previous occasions, but the average size and quality of the flowers 
staged was remarkably good. In one respect this Show stands out as 
unique, in that nearly the whole of the blooms retained their freshness 
throughout the entire day. At this exhibition the Society’s new 
challenge trophy for Tea and Noisette Roses was for the first time 
competed for. The Birmingham Show also proved a great success, 
being the largest and finest the Society has yet held in the provinces. 
In many of the classes the competition was singularly keen. 
The first Supplement to the Catalogue of Exhibition and Garden 
Roses being out of print, an entirely new edition was prepared and 
issued to members early in the summer. This supplement contains 
select lists and descriptions of those varieties which have been intro¬ 
duced since the original Catalogue appeared in 1884. Copies of the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Report on the National Rose Conference 
held at Chiswick in 1889 were also distributed. 
The Committee wish again to direct the attention of their affiliated, 
and also of other Rose societies, to the question of Rose snow fixtures. 
In some few cases during the past season the clashing of dates may 
possibly have been unavoidable, but in others it might, no doubt, have 
easily been prevented. If only all the Rose societies in the same neigh¬ 
bourhood would communicate with each other early in the year and 
come to some mutual arrangement, much of the present suicidal clashing 
of fixtures would, in the opinion of the Committee, entirely disappear. 
They would also point out that there is generally such a run on certain 
particular days, that some of the best dates are often altogether over¬ 
looked. 
There are at the present time 497 members on the Society’s books, 
while the number of affiliated societies is now thirty-one. Both these 
numbers are higher than in any previous year. 
During the last year the Society has experienced several severe 
losses amongst its members, two of its Vice-Presidents—Mr. James 
McIntosh, who has from its very beginning been its most liberal sup¬ 
porter, and Mr. Shirley Hibberd, who, by his pen and active co-opera¬ 
tion has done much to further its interest ; while in the Countess 
of Rosebery the Society loses one of its recently appointed Vice- 
Patronesses. 
Financial Statement. 
Considering the extra expenses incurred in holding a third Show, in 
printing the new supplement to the Catalogue, and in supplying 
members with reports of the Rose Conference, the financial position of 
the Society must be regarded as very satisfactory. The total expenditure 
was £692 15s. 7d., while the receipts, including the balance from last 
year, amounted to £738 Os. 3d., thus leaving £45 4s. 8d. to be carried 
forward to 1891. 
Arrangements for 1891. 
The Committee have entered into the following arrangements for the 
coming year, which they trust will meet with the approval of the 
members generally. An early Show of Tea Roses will be again held at 
Westminster in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society on 
Tuesday, June 23rd, the Metropolitan Exhibition at the Crystal Palace 
on Saturday, July 4th, and the Provincial Show at Hereford on Thurs¬ 
day, July 16th. Although the idea of establishing a National Rose 
Society originated at Hereford fifteen years ago, this will be the first 
time that the Society has ever held a Show there. 
Members’ Privileges. 
Subscribers of £1 will, as usual, be entitled to two private view 
tickets to the Society’s Exhibitions at the Crystal Palace and Hereford, 
and four transferable tickets admitting at the same time as the general 
public ; while suVscribers of 10s. are entitled to one private view and 
two transferable tickets. Each member will also be entitled to a ticket 
of admission to the early Exhibition of Tea Roses. New members will 
receive a copy of the Society’s illustrated catalogue of exhibition and 
garden Roses, together with one of the new supplement. Members 
alone are allowed to compete at the Society’s Exhibitions. 
In conclusion the Committee desire to express their best thanks to 
their local secretaries, also to all those who, by gifts of special prizes or 
in other ways, have contributed to maintain the Society in its present 
satisfactory position. 
BALANCE SHEET, YEAR ENDING 30TU NOVEMBER, 1890. 
Balance at Bankers, December 1st, 1889 84 5 8 
Subscriptions. 344 18 0 
Donations. 5 0 0 
Affiliation Fees, and for Medals from Affiliated Societies . 78 8 0 
From Crystal Palace Company. 105 0 0 
From Birmingham Horticultural Society. 80 0 0 
Special Prizes .. .. ..40 11-0 
£738 0 3 
To Balance, December 1st, 1891 .£38 8s. 
THOMAS BURT HAYWOOD, Hon. Treasurer. 
Expenditure. 
£ s. d. 
Printing, Stationery, and Advertising. 48 9 0 
Postage, Telegrams, and Sundry Expenses. 28 9 1 
Secretary’s Travelling Expenses to Arrange Shows . 8 12 6 
Expenses Drill Hall Show. 2 5 0 
„ Crystal Palace Show. 8 6 6 
„ Birmingham Show . .. 7 16 6 
R.H.S. Rose Conference Reports.22 10 0 
Medals .15 3 6 
„ for Affiliated Societies. 63 3 6 
Prizes Drill Hall Show .38 10 0 
„ < irystal Palace Show. 283 5 0 
„ Birmingham Show. 148 5 0 
Assistant-Secretary and Accountant. 20 0 0 
Balance at BankersJ. 45 4 8 
£ 738 0 3 
Audited with Vouchers and found correct— 
F. T. WOLLASTON i Hon ‘ Auditors. 
The adoption of the report and financial statement was moved by 
Dr. Hogg, who observed that he had every reason to be satisfied with 
the condition and progress of the Society. The Rev. A. Foster Melliar 
seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Other resolu¬ 
tions followed, expressing the thanks of the Society to the Horticultura 
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