132 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 12, 1886. 
such a defect as the one in question was unknown. Some beginners 
in the culture of these plants may not know what is meant by 
“ damping.” I will explain how it affects the flowers, give my 
opinion as to its cause, and state the remedy I have found the most 
effective in checking it. Take, for instance, a large bloom of any 
of the Queen family which is, say, three parts expanded. The 
Fig. 18.—Travelling Box. 
florets appear to be quite solid, and the prospect of a handsome 
"flower quite cheering. All of a sudden, upon a closer examination 
several brown specks resembling dust in appearance are plainly 
seen. In a short time—the next day, for instance—it will be found 
that the dust-looking specks have increased considerably, quite 
half the florets being attacked in the same manner ; and after the 
lapse of a few days the damping spreads so rapidly that large holes 
'can be seen in them, and if this continues a few days longer the 
flower is spoilt entirely. This is what is meant by “ damping,” 
and those growers who have experienced much of it know well 
what the consequences are. It attacks the Japanese varieties 
exactly in the same way. Sometimes it begins upon the very first 
attempt of the flower to unfold. I have seen buds of Fair Maid 
of Guernsey which never expanded beyond the first struggling 
floret or two, but decayed. M. Ardene is a variety very susceptible 
to this. Damping is more prevalent in wet foggy weather than in 
a dry frosty air, thus proving that the atmosphere has something 
to do with its more rapid spread that takes place then than when 
the air is clear and dry. Where houses are not tightly glazed and 
rain drips in upon the plants and flowers the evil is most felt ; but 
I have seen very bad attacks of damping take place where water 
could not possibly touch the flowers, and the air at the same time 
was kept in a dry state by fire heat. 
I will endeavour to explain what in my opinion is the cause. 
Having closely observed plants which were grown under various 
conditions, I have come to the conclusion that overfeeding the 
plants is the principal cause of the trouble. The plants are gorged 
with artificial stimulants to make them as gross and thick as pos¬ 
sible ; the roots are crippled with excess of various manures ; and 
though while wood and foliage are being made it is all right, when 
that growth ceases then a breakdown occurs in the system of the 
plants, and they fail to produce what is expected of them. I am 
more convinced of this after having seen collections of plants which 
were grown for no particular object except for home decoration. 
Such plants had never received any artificial manures as stimulants, 
nothing being given to them but weak liquid manure from farm¬ 
yard tanks in addition to clear water, and damping there was 
unknown. 
How to stop at once the spread of this pest is perhaps more 
than I can explain, but I will describe the manner in which I have 
seen it checked. As soon as it makes its appearance some growers 
think it is caused by a lack of ventilation. They at once throw 
open all the ventilators and doors and cause a thorough draught. 
My plan has been almost the reverse of this, giving a fair amount 
of air to the plants, but in such a manner that a direct draught is 
not caused. We warm the pipes, ventilate freely in the front 
of the house and a little at the top to let out excessive moisture. 
It is not the quantity of air, it is the manner in which it is applied 
that answers best. All drainings from the pots after watering 
should be dried up as quickly as possible, and everything done to 
render the air light and sweet, but overfeeding is probably the 
direct cause of damping in most cases. 
TRAVELLING BOX WITHOUT CUP3. 
Persons who have reason to send blooms of Chrysanthemums 
a distance by rail are often puzzled to know how to pack them to 
preserve them from injury. When packed in the way adopted 
with other flowers seldom it is that they are presentable for the 
show table when they reach their journey’s end. I'or the informa¬ 
tion of those who do not know how to pack these flowers securely 
without the aid of the cups and tubes which are generally used 
for exhibition purposes I have had a drawing prepared, show¬ 
ing the best method I have yet seen. Flowers secured in 
that way will travel by rail 500 miles without being in the least 
damaged. It is a capital way to take a few extra blooms when 
goirg to a show in case of accident, and when no space in the 
exhibition box for auxiliary flowers is available. A careful culti¬ 
vator never goes to compete without one or two extra flowers in 
case of an accident. The annexed engraving (fig. 18) represents 
a box packed with two blooms as an illustration how they should 
be secured. The size of the box must be determined by the number 
of flowers to be conveyed. If the box is to be sent alone, a stout 
packing case should be selected, but if it accompanies the exhibitor 
a box of lighter construction is all that is required. Take, then, 
an ordinary packing case, lay it on its side, fasten to each end (by 
means of a nail driven through the end into each) a lath or stick at 
about equal distance from top to bottom of the box, cut the 
flowers with a stem of say 1 foot long, and to the cross sticks fasten 
the stem of the flower securely, first wrapping around the flower 
a single fold of very thin tissue paper, securing it at the top by a 
twist in the paper. Should the box by any means get turned upside 
down no harm can happen to the flowers packed in this manner. 
If they have to be carried a long distance, tie some wet moss 
securely around the bottom of the stem. This retains the blooms 
Fig 19. 
fresh much longer. Double rows either in height or width can be 
fastened precisely in the same manner if a greater number is neces¬ 
sary, as the stems need not be cut so long, but when they are less 
than G inches in length the process of cupping the blooms is ren¬ 
dered more difficult, hence my reason for selecting 12 inches of 
stem to each. The double rails to which the stems are fastened 
make them much firmer than when one only is used. The flowers 
