538 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 18, 1890. 
C. morifohum), the first two groups being descended from the 
variety gracile, the third from the true sinense, the most robust 
of all. 
It must he observed here that the flower has certainly been cul¬ 
tivated in China three thousand years, and probably five thousand 
years, and we are absolutely without record of the manner in which 
the Chinese obtained it, but the actual vegetation of to-day in that 
country suggests the explanations that have been offered. Now, it 
must be admitted that the two reputed species, indicum and 
sinense, though for botanical purposes distinct, are so nearly 
related that the speculative mind is inevitably carried back to the 
time when one species became two through the influence of cir¬ 
cumstances. The weaker indicum may have produced in travelling 
south the stronger sinense, but it is more likely that the stronger 
sinense in travelling north degenerated to indicum, and that a 
yellow flowered form proved itself the most capable of with¬ 
standing unfavourable influences ; that, in fact, we have here a 
striking example of the survival of the fittest. Another separation 
gives us the sinense in a weaker form, bearing the name gracile, 
and thus we have three possible parental forms to generate the three 
great families—the Pompons, the incurved, and the Japanese, and 
they thus stand in proper order as to relative vigour and the mag¬ 
nitude of their several parts. 
This view of the case establishes the unity afar off, of the three 
forms now known as occurring wild in China. We are to regard 
them as three forms of a species that as such no longer exists, 
having split up into these three sub-species or varieties. Call them 
what you will, the botanist must begin somewhere, and if he 
insists on calling them species, there is no reason in the world why 
we, who view things so differently should dispute with him. 
But even now the matter is not absolutely settled, for I am 
bound to return to the primary proposition and speak to that before 
I conclude. 
You propose to me to declare the origin of the Florists’ Chrys¬ 
anthemum. Now the Pompon forms are not florists’ Chrysan¬ 
themums. The Japanese are perhaps, the incurved certainly are, 
and for present purposes I declare this group to be Chrysanthemum 
sinense. If you ask in what, as regards origin, the incurved differ 
from the Japanese, I answer, The first are from the slender plant 
that is found in north-western China, and the Japanese represent the 
stouter plant that is found in the warmer zona. Here, then, in the 
original geography of the species we seem to have an explanation 
of the reason why our best reflexed and incurved varieties are so 
well adapted for cultivation in this country and in northern Europe 
generally, while the Japanese are more at home in the south, and 
with us are less hardy than the others. The first and hardiest group 
represent the north-western gracile form of C. sinense ; the more 
vigorous and less hardy Japanese represent the true morifolium 
or Central China form of C. sinense ; and thus we establish our 
florists’ Chrysanthemum as of pure descent, its innumerable varie¬ 
ties being of its own making, and all of them being descendants of 
a white-rayed flower capable of sporting to yellow, and by reflective 
sports producing all shades of colour while avoiding the two 
primaries, pure red and true blue. That we shall ever have 
these colours is quite unlikely, and if the theory of the flower 
now presented is a sound one, it may be said in a word that to 
hope for red or blue is but a forlorn hope, and may with advantage 
be abandoned. 
BRIGHTNESS IN WINTER. 
Now that Chrysanthemums, which so well relieve the gloom 
of November and early December, are practically over, what are 
their most varied, bright, and lively successors in the floral world ? 
Are they not Zonal Pelargoniums ? We know what is the answer 
of at least one who has done so much to improve and popularise 
these flowers—namely, “ Come and See.” 1 have for the first time 
been to see Mr. Cannell’s Zonal Pelargoniums in winter, and they 
have placed me in a rather difficult position. If I were to fully 
and faithfully record my impressions they would be suggestive of 
exaggeration, whereas I know how incapable I am of representing 
the collection fairly, and doing justice to the claims of the several 
varieties now at the zenith of their beauty. It may be that many 
gardens have been overdone with the bright masses of Pelargoniums 
in summer, when relief from their fiery glare is refreshing, but in 
winter the case is different. “Warm” colours then are in¬ 
stinctively sought for, and they are provided in Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums. But all the varieties are not dazzling, for there are 
whites and neutral tints which in themselves are charming, and 
which enhance by contrast the brilliancy of glossy scarlets, glowing 
crimsons, and rich magentas, with which they are associated. 
Until seeing the Swanley collection on a sharp winter’s day, 
with snow covering the ground a foot deep, and driving in wild 
eddies everywhere giving one the shivers, I had no idea that the 
plants in question were capable of such development in the dull 
season of the year. When stepping from the snow into one of the 
Pelargonium houses it was a veritable transformation scene. We 
have startling and dazzling changes in Christmas pantomimes, but 
not one has been produced to equal that just mentioned, and it was 
somewhat of a pity one of the great “ spectacular ” artists was not 
there that day to take a lesson from Mr. Cannell. The winter was 
forgotten in a moment, the shivers vanished, and all was warmth 
and beauty, more gladdening than could be produced by flowers on 
a summer’s day. 
Winter is the time for appreciating the full beauty of Zonal 
Pelargoniums without a doubt when revealed as at Swanley. But 
for producing such an effect as is there displayed three conditions 
are requisite—namely, good varieties, good culture, and good 
houses. A combination of these three “ goods ” gives a grand 
result. Good varieties consist of stout sturdy growers, which when 
justice is done to them throw up flower stalks like pipe stems, and 
bear heads of bloom like Hydrangeas. Good culture consists in 
growing the plants generously throughout their career in the fullest 
light when under glass in spring, and in the open air through the 
summer, giving nourishing stimulants judiciously for the produc¬ 
tion of thick leaves, which store flower-forming matter in the 
stems, and keeping it there by the suppression of buds till the time- 
arrives for placing the plants under glass in the autumn. Good 
houses are those in which there is the least obstruction to light,, 
every ray of which is needed in winter, and in which a temperature 
of from 50° to 55° or 60° can be easily maintained in severe weather. 
It may be assumed that practically all gardeners can grow the- 
plants, as can many amateurs, while the inexperienced who desire 
to do so can soon learn, as there is neither difficulty nor mystery in 
the matter, and they can mostly contrive to secure plants ; but all 
who grow them do not succeed in producing the grand winter 
display that was expected. The varieties are then blamed, or 
perhaps writers are for overpraising them ; but the fault is not 
there, for the sufficient reason that the best are so good that they 
cannot be overpraised. When the plants are well grown through 
the summer on the lines suggested and fail to flower satisfactorily 
in winter the misfortune is directly traceable to an insufficiency of 
light or warmth, or both, for continuing the growth steadily and 
sturdily. When the conditions are such as to insure this flowers 
are bound to follow. The plants have been trying to flower for 
months, but were prevented by the removal of the buds ; but at 
last they are afforded a fair chance—are given the reins, so to say— 
and burst out into a blaze of beauty. That is their condition at 
Swanley in three large houses, which anyone who can do so may 
“ go and see.” 
Where conveniences are not afforded for flowering Zonal 
Pelargoniums in winter the best varieties are now so fine, distinct, 
and many of them novel in colour, that they are worthy of being- 
grown anywhere and everywhere for flowering under glass in- 
spring or at any time. They are far too good for growing out¬ 
doors, are easy to manage, and seldom troubled with insects. But 
which are the best varieties some readers may be wanting to know. 
I can tell which I think are some of them. Of the brand new 
ones to “ come out ” in the spring the following compelled admira¬ 
tion ; they are all single—Lady Brooke, delicate pink and white ; 
Mr. Robert Cannell, the deepts; salmon ; Lord Rosebery, crimson, 
white eye, very fine ; Maud of Wales, purple pink, fine form, one 
of the largest flowers yet seen ; Lord Salisbury, a grand variety, 
magenta, purple shaded ; Brilliantissima, crimson scarlet, very 
bright ; Sunray, orange, the largest of its colour ; and Hercules, 
scarlet, extra large pips. The following singles are in commerce 
and now flowering splendidly :—Beauty of Kent, mottled salmon ; 
Cannell’s Favourite, light magenta, large white eye ; Parker’s 
Favourite, reddish scarlet, very large truss, extra fine for winter ;- 
Mrs. Wildsmitb, the largest rose pink in flower and truss ; Wink- 
field Gem, rosy scarlet, very distinct and attractive ; King of the 
Purples, very large trusses and distinct in colour ; H. Cannell, jun., 
deep crimson, very dwarf and free ; Swanley Single White, the 
purest white ; Souvenir de Mirande, quite a novelty in Zonals, 
shrimp pink, bluish white at the base of the top petals ; N. Y. 
Noulans, of the same type as the preceding variety but deeper in 
colour, very distinct and effective ; Stella Massey, blush white, and 
as the ladies say, “ sweetly pretty Mrs. Norman, mottled salmon, 
enormous truss ; Launcelot, one of the best scailets, grand trusses, 
very free. 
As a few of the finest and new double Zonals the following 
may be named :—Turtle’s Surprise, a sport from F. Y. Raspail, 
but much freer in flowering, habit like West Brighton Gem ; 
Californie, oraDge shaded, very distinct ; Silver Queen, the best 
white yet produced ; Beaute Poitevene, semi-double, but very large 
flowers of a salmon shade ; Sombre Horizon, the finest deep 
crimson ; Salamander, light shaded purple, fine trusses ; Ten- 
dresse, delicate pink, a great favourite ; Nydia, mottled salmon,. 
