September SO, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
801 
and who they are exhibited by : this is all useful matter for future 
reference. Some growers do not do this, but depend upon the 
opinions of others, but I can assure all young beginners that it is 
time well spent. 
Note-taking at home is also of much value. Young growers 
especially should note in separate columns the names of varieties, 
the date when propagated, when crown and terminal buds were 
taken, and how the blooms developed from each ; at what time, and 
how the plants were fed with stimulants ; when they were housed ; 
what size the buds of certain kinds were at that period ; the time 
from the date of housing each variety required to develope, and how 
long the blooms remained fresh after expansion, also the size of 
each. All these items are most useful. I do not think that any 
grower can become proficient in the culture of the Chrysanthemum 
without taking copious notes, and referring to them very often 
during the following season. By such observance the peculiarities 
of varieties are ascertained, a repetition of former mistakes avoided, 
and the end in view more easily attained. My practice of register¬ 
ing observations is the following :— 
Name. 
Propagated. 
Crown Bud. 
Remarks. 
Queen of England.... 
Peter the Great. 
December 8th 
» ^h 
„ 26th 
„ 26th 
September 1st 
August 9th 
„ 25th 
September 8th 
Right date. 
Too early. 
Right. 
Too late. 
I strongly urge on all who are striving for superiority in Chrys¬ 
anthemum culture to adopt some such system, and. they will be 
certain to find their notes of great service in the work in hand. 
THE LEAVES OP CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The leaves of the plants can be studied with advantage. Sup¬ 
pose a grower of Chrysanthemums has varieties sent to him that he 
is wishful to procure, and they are not sent true to name ; he ought to 
be able to detect the mistake by the leaves in time for the error to 
be rectified, instead of losing a season in finding it out. Or, if by 
chance labels get removed and misplaced, as they often do in 
potting, the mistake can be detected and corrected at once, as an 
observant cultivator knows all his varieties by their foliage as well 
as by their blooms. A few examples of leaf and growth peculiari¬ 
ties may be adduced. 
Refulgence has dense green, deeply cut foliage with green stems, 
which assume with age a purple green. Soliel Levant is easily 
known by its leaves, which have very long stalks and droop much, 
giving it the appearance of suffering by want of water ; the stems 
are quite dark in colour. Venus, both the pink and white varieties, 
are known by their short leaf stems, and the leaves overlapping 
closely, giving the plants a dense appearance. Thunberg has stems 
the darkest in colour of any variety ; the leaves are long and droop 
much, which gives it the appearance of being unhealthy. Peter 
the Great has green stems, large broad leaves with short stalks, and 
the leaves are cut but little compared to some varieties. Cherub 
is easily known by its light green wood ; the leaves grow in an up¬ 
ward direction, the veins of which are plainly seen, as they are 
generally much lighter in colour ; this variety is quite distinct from 
all others. Grandiflora has leaves very thick and heavy in sub¬ 
stance with a drooping character, and assume bronzy shades of 
colour early. Meg Merrilies, Golden Dragon, and Boule d’Or aie 
distinct from others, by reason of their leaves being, as a rule, of a 
pale colour during the growing season ; this is more noticeable in 
some localities than in others, owing possibly to the soil. These 
few varieties and their peculiarities will suffice to show what is 
meant by a study of the leaves. 
HINTS TO SOCIETIES ON OFFERING PRIZES. 
Chrysanthemum shows are increasing yearly, and are being estab¬ 
lished in nearly all populous towns and cities. In and about London, 
where there are so many exhibitions, the dates must, in a few in¬ 
stances, clash with each other. This necessitates a liberal schedule 
of prizes to tempt exhibitors to compete. The first consideration of 
every society ought to be the exhibitors, because without these 
there can obviously be no show. There is, in my opinion, no prize 
which incite so much competition and bring so many good speci¬ 
mens as challenge vases. These create a stimulus both to exhibitors 
and visitors, and the annual floral tournaments are looked forward 
to with great interest, and not without anxiety, as those exhibitors 
know who have had the custody of a costly trophy for a year, and 
other able men striving to relieve him of the responsibility. A 
good prize in money with the challenge vase is calculated to en¬ 
courage the best growers to enter the lists and thus make a good 
show. 
Some societies offer prizes for forty-eight blooms, composed of 
twenty-four incurved and the remainder Japanese varieties, all to 
be distinct. This number prohibits many persons from competing. 
It is most difficult for even the largest growers to stage forty-eight 
distinct varieties in the best condition. What is better and calcu¬ 
lated to make a better show is a class for forty-eight blooms, 
twenty-four to be incurved, in not less than eighteen varieties, and 
not more than two of one sort ; the Japanese to consist of the 
same number and under similar conditions. There is no comparison 
in the ease with which this class can be filled to the other class, 
where all are to be distinct. More uniform stands can also be 
obtained by duplicating some of the blooms, and the general public 
are better satisfied—a matter which societies cannot entirely over¬ 
look. Unfavourable comparison is often made between stands, one 
containing all the flowers distinct, and the other thirty-six varieties 
only. It is not possible to compare them, as the addition of twelve 
duplicate blooms in the place of twelve weak ones makes a marked 
difference in the appearance of tio stand. Another class requiring 
attention is that for Anemone flowers. Since the advent of the 
new type (Anemone Japanese) the older varieties, of which Gluck is 
a fair representation, are fast being elbowed out of the shows by 
their more attractive rivals, simply because these are more appre¬ 
ciated. The remedy, to retain both sections, is to offer prizes in 
separate classes, whereby both are encouraged without detriment 
to either. 
It is most important that the classes in schedules be so worded 
that only one meaning can be attached to them. It is not possible 
to be too careful in this respect, a3 indefinitely expressed stipula¬ 
tions lead to confusion and mistakes, as well as discourage entries, 
for many exhibitors would rather keep their blooms at home than 
incur the risk of their being disqualified at a show, and of these I 
am one. 
SUMMARY. 
A summary of hints which are essential to success in the culti¬ 
vation of the Chrysanthemum can be placed in a concise manner. 
The first thing is the necessity of acquiring a knowledge of each 
variety and its peculiar requirements ; this can be obtained only 
by close study on the lines previously indicated. Incessant watch¬ 
fulness and strict attention to their wants are absolutely essential 
at all seasons. Any person having the necessary means can grow 
Chrysanthemums up to a certain date—say the end of June. After 
that time a failure often follows. The reason in nine cases out of 
ten may be traced to neglect. At the time of the shows and for a 
few months afterwards the plants receive every attention, but when 
other work presses heavily the fever and excitement of exhibiting 
wanes, the plants are neglected and quickly go wrong. It is the 
unceasing attention bestowed upon them at all times, and more 
particularly during the hottest days of summer when much labour 
is required in watering and other cultural details, that goes a 
long way towards developing the blooms in all their beauty. To 
an enthusiastic cultivator who attains his object the hard work is 
little thought of when success has been achieved. 
ADDENDUM. 
Taking the Buds of Chrysanthemums. —In writing upon this 
subject (page 485) as a part of my treatise on the culture of the 
Chrysanthemum, I advised that the buds be “ taken ” from about 
August 10th to September 1st. I have always tried to impress 
upon beginners that there is no necessity to do certain things on the 
same date exactly ; indeed, it is impossible to “ take ” Chrysan¬ 
themum buds on any given day of the month, for the reason that 
buds do not always show on the same date each year ; therefore, 
should they show on the 5th of August one year instead of the 10th, 
it is hardly likely that I should advise the removal of such buds 
because of their being five days too early. It has been suggested 
that the time I advised for “ taking ” the buds was quite too late 
for northern growers. Through the kindness of friends I am 
enabled to give the opinions of growers in various parts of England 
as to the time they find best suited for “ taking ” the bucis. As 
will be seen from their reports my advice is substantiated, 
and as an addendum to my notes on Chrysanthemum culture I 
trust it will not be the least interesting of the series. From letters 
before me I quote the following :— 
Mr. W. Mease, The Gardens, Wyncote, Allerton, Liverpool, 
says :— 
« I have read your articles on the Chrysanthemun in the J ournal, in 
which you advise ‘ taking ’ the buds from August 10th to September 1st, 
and from my experience I do not think safer advice could be given.” 
Another noted Liverpool grower, Mr. W. Lindsay, The 
Gardens, Otterspool, writes :— 
“ Substantially your dates are the same as ours with this little excep¬ 
tion : If any of the late-blooming varieties show their buds earlier in 
August we take them ; the bulk of the varieties, particularly the Empress 
family, about August 20th ; our last bud, and that a Cherub, was taken 
September 8th.” 
