546 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 18,18?0. 
in a forest where Oaks predominated, and specimens were by him sent 
to the Royal Horticultural Society. 
P. biformis (Disocactus bi/ormis, Lindley).—Though not equal in 
attractions to other Phyllocactuses, this is an interesting plant, forming 
in appearance a link between those species and the Epiphyllums, but it 
is not likely to become of much garden value, and will only be grown to 
make a collection complete. The plant was introduced to England 
from Honduras at the same time (1839) and by the same persons as P. 
crenatus, and was described as a Cereus, but was subsequently consti¬ 
tuted a genus by Lindley under the name Disocactus, and by Salm Dyck 
under the slightly different title of Disisocactus. The selection of these 
names was doubly unfortunate, first because there is a genus termed 
Discocactus quite distinct from this, and secondly because the plant 
does not possess sufficient characters to separate it from Phyllocactus, to 
which it is now referred by botanists. Plants in cultivation are usually 
rather small, but they will attain the height of 3 feet, branching freely 
and forming a rather graceful fleshy shrub. The branches are narrow, 
flattened and leaf-like, reddish on the margin, and bear the flowers at 
the points. The petals are narrow, 2 to 3 inches long, and partially 
combined into a kind of tube of a pale rosy pink colour. The flowers, 
however, do not last long, and are followed by bright red fruits about 
half an inch long, which, being produced abundantly, have a rather 
pretty effect.—L. Castle. 
(To be continued.) 
Large Anemone Classes. 
It is evident by the experience of the past exhibition season the 
present classification of the large Anemone section has caused much 
dissatisfaction, and not a little confusion amongst exhibitors. In many 
cases disappointments through disqualifications have been the result 
with the affiliated societies where the exhibits were judged according 
to the classification in the National Society’s catalogue. 
When the Japanese Anemones was first introduced to the public 
they were exhibited in juxtaposition with the large Anemones in their 
respective classes. The introduction was to such fine varieties as Mdlle. 
Cabrol and Fabian de Medians, so distinct in their character and fan¬ 
tastic in the arrangement of the centre and guard florets that many 
growers rightly thought that they were quite out of place exhibited in 
the same class as the more formal florist’s Anemones. They at once 
took the public taste, and many looked hopefully forward to the time 
when the same strides of improvement would be developed in them as 
in the other Japanese section, both in colour and size. The time might 
soon come when prizes could well be offered for stands of twelve, 
eighteen, or twenty-four distinct varieties, as the case might be, and 
which would form a very great attraction at an exhibition. 
But this hope has not yet been realised, and the prophesied improve¬ 
ments of the Japanese character have not taken place, but quite the 
reverse. The stock of Mdlle. Cabrol and Fabian de Mediana seems to 
have deteriorated, for we seldom see such good blooms of them now 
as we used to see, and most of the varieties that have been sub¬ 
sequently introduced are so inbred with the formal type, that it is 
now very difficult to draw the line or explain the difference between 
them. 
It is only a few years since some blooms of the old variety Emperor 
were exhibited at the Crystal Palace in a stand of large flowering 
Anemones, from which the Japanese type was excluded ; being flowers 
from early buds they had developed an irregularity in the guard 
florets as is common with that variety, which gave it somewhat a 
Japanese character, and the stand was disqualified. This caused an 
outburst of indignation among those that had for a long time exhibited 
that same variety in the florist Anemone class. This and another 
variety, Acquisition, will develope the same irregular character in the 
blooms from an early bud. But although with these two varieties the 
guard or ray florets sometimes show an irregularity the cushion of 
centre florets retain the true character, a point of very great considera¬ 
tion and distinction in the Anemone classes. For instance, contrast the 
smooth, honeycomb like florets of a Fleur de Marie or Prince of 
Anemones with the rough-toothed florets of a Mrs. Pethers or Lady 
Margaret. Although the two latter varieties have splendid guard florets 
and are large, well built flowers, the ragged centre florets detract 
from their merit as a florist Anemone, and is a s’ight development of 
the character we should look for in a Japanese Anemone, of which I 
take Fabian de Mediana to be a good type. 
Some of the more recent introductions of the so called Japanese 
Anemones are as smooth in their centre florets and as regular in their 
guard florets as many of the other section. Mons. Charles Lebocqz 
and Nelson are very smooth flowers, although perhaps they have not 
the depth of guard petals as some of the others. Mons. Pankoucke, 
Sabine, and Minnie Chate are hybrids that have as much of the one 
character as the other. Ratapoil and James Weston come a little 
nearer to what we would like to see in the Japanese section, but take 
them altogether is a very unsatisfactory class, and I would strongly 
advise societies when comparing their schedules for next season to allow 
all the large Anemones to be shown together, and make no distinction 
between them. 
This would prevent a recurrence of what we have witnessed this 
season at the last Crystal Palace Exhibition. Some good stands of 
blooms of large Anemones were judged, and awarded prizes, and ulti¬ 
mately disqualified when found to contain blooms of M. Pankoucke an<J 
M. Chas. Lebocqz, both classed as Japanese. At Gosport a fine stand of 
twelve large Anemones was disqualified through containing two fine 
blooms of the variety Nelson. This also is classed as a Japanese Anemone 
in the National Chrysanthemum Catalogue,and, the Gosport Society being- 
affiliated with the National, the flowers were to be judged as therein 
classified. The exhibitor was undoubtedly to blame for not referring: 
to the recognised guide, but as he had exhibited the same varieties and 
won prizes at two exhibitions just previous he thought he was acting: 
right. Another instance, my brother writes me from Chertsey that he 
was disqualified at Egham, and the same varieties took first prize at 
Staines. There are two or three of the many instances that have taken 
place this season through the confusion of many varieties that have- 
been introduced, certificated, and classed as Japanese Anemones, and 
ultimatelv not developing sufficient of that character as is generally- 
understood from the original type, to distinguish them from many of 
the other section. 
If prizes were in future offered for twelve, eighteen, or twenty-four- 
large Anemones, distinct varieties, without any definition as to section,, 
but let them all be shown together, the advantage to the exhibitor 
and to the Society would be mutual, and it would avoid any unplea¬ 
santness caused by confusion of the sections, which is bound to result in. 
misunderstanding and disqualification.—C. Orchard, Bembridge, I.W.. 
Chrysanthemums at Cardiff Castle. 
Some of the finest bush plants that I have ever seen were in the- 
gardens at Cardiff Castle this year. Large-bushv plants freely flowered 
are much appreciated for decoration in the Castle beside the larg& 
quantities of bloom needed in a cut state for the vases, therefore Mr. 
Pettigrew finds this system of growing the plants the best for his 
purpose. What impressed me most were the small pots in which such- 
large plants were growing. Many in 9-inch pots were 4 feet high, nearly 
as much in diameter, and masses of flowers, making charming specimens. 
They were arranged in a large span-roof greenhouse, which afforded 
abundance of light and air to the p'ants, a decided point in their favour 
in assisting a free development of the flowers. The plants were well: 
clo:hed with foliage, showing that they had received the necessary 
attention to watering during the summer, also with suitable stimulants- 
to obtain so much luxuriance without grossness of either foliage or 
stems. The plants generally had been topped twice, once when 4 inches- 
high, and again when the shoots resulting from the first topping had 
extended about 6 inches in length. Afterwards all growth was'allowed' 
to remain and all buds to develop flowers. Each plant, therefore, was 
furnished with from six to ten branches, which threw out many small 
side growths, which terminated at the point in numerous flowers. 
Japanese varieties were the most in favour on account of their graceful 
character and the general brightness of their flowers. Conspicuous 
amongst many were such as Madame de SeviD, Mdlle. Louise Leroy, 
Fair Maid of Guernsey, Florence Percy, Madame Baco, Mdlle. Lacroix, 
Mrs. J. Wright, &c.—E. Molyneux. 
Japanese Chrysanthemum W. H. Lincoln, 
Mess s J. Lying & Sons of Forest Hill have given special atten¬ 
tion in the past season to new varieties of Chrysanthemums, both im 
ported and home-raised seedlings and sports. It is well known that the- 
Messrs. Laing have been very successful in raising new varieties, for- 
several could be named that have originated in the Stanstead Park 
Nurseries which now take a foremost place on the exhibition table.. 
That represented in the engraving (fig. 73), W. H. Lincoln, is, however, 
of American origin, though it is likely to become a great favourite, as 
the colour is a very rich shade of yellow, somewhat like Jardin des- 
Plantes, and not too common amongst Japanese Chrysanthemums. The 
engraving is from a reduced drawing, and represents the bloom about 
half its full size, as it forms a very handsome flower wheD developed, 
the florets twisting and slightly incurving irregularly. One strong 
recommendation is that the plant is of dwarf habit, about 3 feet high. 
A first class certificate was awarded for it at the meeting of the National 
Society on October loth of the present year. 
Revising Judges’ Awards. 
Relative to the competency of judges discovering faults in cut 
blooms, we have to remember that sometimes all the blooms staged have-, 
not been grown by the exhibitors of them. Some have been acquired as 
gifts, and even less questionable means are not unknown, therefore it is- 
necessary on this ground, if on no other, that there should be power of 
disqualification any time before the prize money is paid.— Alter Ego. 
[Certainly there should on the grounds indicated ; but this is not a 
question of judging blooms, but of discovering men, if there are any left, 
who indulge in such practices.] 
