October 21, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF E0RT1GULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEEER. 
863 
Taking Chrysanthemum Buds. —On this important point in the culti¬ 
vation of these plants 1 would like say a few words, for whether or not 
the time specified by Mr. Molyneux for taking the buds be too late for 
northern growers, it is decidedly too early for growers in Devon and 
Somerset, at least such is my experience. 
We grow about 180 plants for big blooms, and throughout the season 
they were treated as nearly as possible as Mr. Molyneux directed in his 
excellent articles that have appeared in the pages of the Journal. By the 
1st of August several of the plants were showing their crown buds, but 
none were taken until August 6tb, when, thinking four days could make 
but little difference, and not caring to lose the crown buds, we commenced 
taking them, and continued to do so as they showed until all were taken, 
the last being on September 13th. From previous experience in the south 
of Devon, where I had charge of some 400 plants, I felt assured we were 
too early, and so it has proved, for already some varieties—noticeably 
La Triomphante, Mons. Henri Jacotot, Com'e de Germiny, Soeur 
Dorothea Souille, M. Mousillac, and Mons. Tarin—are fully expanded, 
whilst many others are showing colour, and promise to be open by the 
end of this month. Amongst these I may mention M. Moulise, Fanny 
Boucharlat, La Nymphe, Bismarck, Duchess of Albany, Album Plenum, 
Jeanne d’Arc, Mons. Freeman, Criterion, John Laing, Fabias de Mediana, 
Soleil Levant, and Golden Queen of England. 
This is not by any means an isolated case, as I am acquainted with 
three growers in Devonshire who have found from experience how diffi¬ 
cult it is to obtain blooms in the middle of November from crown buds, and 
have consequently to depend upon terminals, except in the case of a few 
very late varieties, such as Meg Merrilies and Boule d’Or. A gardener 
in this neighbourhood, who is both a gowerand exhibitor of these flowers, 
on seeing we had taken some buds when he called here during the last 
week of August, said they were too early to be of any use in November, 
or he had always found them so. At that time he had taken none of his, 
so from this I conclude the time mentioned by Mr. Molyneux is quite a 
fortnight too early for growers in this district. I should be glad to hear 
the opinion of others in the two counties I mentioned.—C. L., Bristol. 
Deformed Chrysanthemum Blooms. — I have some Japanese 
blooms now opening which are like Hen-and-chicken double Daisies. 
They are on well-grown plants, crown buds having been set early in 
August. A number of distinct small blooms surround the main bloom at 
the base of the crown. The centre is now half expanded, and the small 
offset blooms are showing colour. The varieties this has occurred in are 
Fair Maid of Guernsey, James Salter, Agrements de la Nature, and 
Curiosity (the last two are identical with me). Is this very uncommon, 
and do you think they will develope into perfect blooms ? I also have 
some crown blooms of blush Queen of England the centre of which show 
a number of embryo buds, but they are opening well, and promise to have 
great depth.—T. P. 
Chrysanthemum Belle Paule. —It is generally believed that 
human nature derives much satisfaction from the contemplation of other 
people’s misfortune, and I am not, I fear, entirely exempt from this failing, 
a)jl read with considerable pleasure the letters in your columns com- 
psaining of failure in blooming Belle Paule this season. Last December 
Ilprocured two good cuttings of this variety from Mr. N. Davis, which 
having been struck in a cold frame, grew strongly till May, when one 
suidenly went ‘‘blind.” After cutting down in June it seemed to 
flourish amazingly till about the end of August, when it again went 
blind, and notwithstanding all our efforts it remained inactive till quite 
recently, when it started, though it has not yet shown a bud, and hardly 
will now, I should think. The other plant gave no trouble, was not cut 
down, broke at the proper time, and seemod most promising till early in 
August, when all three buds seemed to become blighted, and it has never 
moved since, though showing vitality at the roots by sending up suckers 
in abundance. We syringe our Chrysanthemums with water forced 
direct from a well through a hose on to the plants, and I thought this 
might have chilled the young growths. But all having been treated 
alike, and Belle Paule only having shown this tendency to blight, we mu3t 
ascribe our failure to natural coyness of the variety, or, as Mr. Molyneux 
does, to the hot weather when the buds were fornrng, which is, I think, a 
most likely explanation, for with me during those oppressive days at the 
end of August, Meg Merrilies, Liciniatum roseum, and Souvenir d’Am- 
sterdam collapsed entirely, while Cossack, Madame John Laing, Fleur de 
Marie, and several others were seriously injured. The plants were not 
allowed to be dry at the root- 1 , but the heat of the sun was such that they 
seemed unable to support the enormous evaporation from their leave 3 , 
which were scorched. 
Mr. Davis, in your lad issue, complains of the public taking little or 
no interest in the compilation of the National Chrysanthemum Society’s 
catalogue and affording the Committee no assistance. But how could 
they when about 90 per cent, of the new Japanese “ Chrysanths ” are of 
foreign origin ? It was to the French that the National Chrysanthemum 
Sicitty Committee should have applied if they wanted accurate informa¬ 
tion. Take, for example, the variety we have just been discussing, Belle 
Paule. List year it was generally known aB Belle Pauline. Why is that 
now changed ? Pauline is a very common female name in France, and 
therefore likely to be the true one. The question might have b;en settle ! 
conclusively by applying to M. Marroucb. Was this done? Another 
plant is variously named as Triomphe de la Rue des Chfi'ets or des 
Cba'elets. I suspect the latter is the correst designation, though she 
favours the former. Has inquiry been made of M. Pertuzes ? AgaiD, 
Why has the “ Madame ” been taken away from poor “ Bertie Bandatler f” 
What has she done to deserve such degradation ? The absurdity of calling 
a French-raised Chrysanthemum “ Messrs. Thibaut et Keteleer,” has been 
already demonstrated in the columns of a contemporary, but why in 
addition to this blunder has the second name been altered from “ Keteller ” 
as it was spelt last year? Lastly, I find the terminations of all quasi 
Lxtin names changed from “ um" to “a” in the new Catalogue, as 
Alba plena, Rosea superba, for Album Plenum, Roseum superbum, &c. Is 
this correct ? 
These are a few cases which I have noticed in looking through the 
work, but doubtless there are many others, and it is only with the assist¬ 
ance of the French that we can ever hope to obtain a correct list of all 
the foreign names. But as Mr. Davis and other members of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society must be frequently in communication with the 
raisers one would think that any information could easily be obtained, 
though Mr. Davis may not be in very good odour with his Gallic corre¬ 
spondents, owing to his acuteness in detecting the efforts of our neigh¬ 
bours to foist on the British public old varieties under new namss. For 
his pluck in denouncing these floral frauds he deserves the warmest thanks 
of his countrymen,—B. D. K. 
We learn that the Marquis of Bute is so well satisfird with the 
results of his Vineyard Experiment in South Wales, that he 
intends considerably extending ths cultivation of Grape i in the open air 
for wine-making purposes, and we believe several acres will be planted 
with Vines in the spring. Toe vineyard at Castle Coch has been increased 
to twice its original size, and we understand a new and favourable site 
has been selected for extending the cultivation of Vines in fields. 
-Messrs. James Carter & Co. have sent us a head of the 
Standard Bearer Celery, a variety of which they have recently 
become the possessors. It is a red Celery, very fine indeed, containing 
much stalk in proportion to foliage. It is remarkably solid and heavy, 
the sample before us being such as is coveted in private gardens and 
markets. 
-Much has been written from time to time on the Extension 
System of Vine Culture, but it is just possible that few, if any, 
of its advocates have seen a better exemplification of the method than 
in the case of a Vine at Manresa House, Roehampton. This is a re¬ 
markable, and probably a unique specimen. The Vine was planted 
twenty-three years ago by the present gardener, Mr. Davis, and rods 
trained at int.rvals of 2 feet in a horizontal po ition along the roof 
of a lengthy structure. These now cover a length uf 224 feet, o 
total length of rod of 1568 feet. Bearing laterals are only allowed on 
the upper side of the rods, and these are a foot apart. Each bears a 
bunch of excellent Black Hamburgh Grapes. The growths are singularly 
regular from end to end and uniform in strength. They are cut back to 
spurs at each winter’s pruning. This year 007 bunches have been cut 
from the Vine weighing 840 lbs., the beir.es being of full size, and 
excellent in quality and colour. We shall hope to see this splendid 
Vine when bearing its crop. It is not the only noteworthy Vine at 
Manresa House where Grapes and other kinds of fruit are extensively 
and well grown by the able and courteous gardener. 
- We are informed that the Council of Administration of the 
French National Society of Horticulture decided, at a special 
meeting on October 4h, called with the view of aiding, in the most 
effectual manner, the horticulturists in the surroundings of Paris who 
were sufferers by the hailstorms of the 10th and 23rd of August, that 
independently of the subscription open under its patronage, a “ lombola 
(a sort of lottery) of which the drawing will take place on October 29th, 
1886, shall be organised for iheir benefit, at th ? same time as the Exhibi¬ 
tion to be held from the 23 rd to the 29th of October. The Society appeals 
for contributions to this work of succour by the gift of plants, fruits, 
horticultural implements, objects of art, &c., to constitute the lots. They 
th iuld be addressed to M. le President de la Socidtd Nationale d Horticul¬ 
ture de France, Pavilion de la Ville (Champs-Elyesds), 1 aris, from the 
20th to the 25th of October. Gifts in cash will be devoted to the purchase 
of various lots. The price of the tickets is 50 centimes (51.). We are 
informed that the losses by the hail around Paris alone amount to over 
5,500,000 francs, or £220,000. 
