368 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEk. 
[ October 21, 1886. 
healthy but small; while in the other houses which I have seen there is 
not half a crop. What branches there are come very small, the foliage 
is healthy, and the wood of fair size and ripening off well ; but, as your 
correspondent states, from the fourth bud and onwards to the extremity 
of the shoot the buds are three or four times the size of the one nearest 
the main rod. Such buds, if ripened firmly, may reasonably be ex¬ 
pected to have stored sufficient nutriment to produce fair bunches of 
Grapes ; at all events, it is not difficult to try the two systems of pruning, 
and I should not be doubtful of the result, yet if I had my own way I 
should not hesitate to adopt the semi-extension plan, and prune to a good 
bud, ignoring the spur system in such cases as those I have stated, 
where a gardener is not regularly employed ; and there are hundreds of 
places about the country similarly situated with regard to their Vines, 
where good and sound judgment is required to manage them properly.— 
—Thomas Record. 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM OUTLOOK. 
As the coming compaign of the great autumn favourite approaches, 
interest in the condition of the plants and probable character of the 
blooms deepens. A brilliant season is generally anticipated, and grand 
blooms expected in consequence of the well-ripened growths following 
an unusually bright autumn. It is just possible, however, that the 
abnormally hot weather duriDg the early part of the present month may 
not have been the most suitable for all growers and all plants. Not a 
few blooms, and these, of course, the “ best,” may be forced out too early 
and lose their freshness before the “ day ” comes on which it is desired 
to stage them. Complaints of “ hard centres” are, moreover, somewhat 
frequent, and scorched florets not unknown; but it is just within the 
bounds of possibility that these evils are in some cases intensified, if 
not mainly caused, by too generous feeding at a critical time. Much 
good is done by such “ chemicals” as sulphate of ammonia, for instance, 
when rightly applied; but it is none the less true that very decided 
injury follows its injudicious use, more especially to the Japanese varie¬ 
ties, the roots of which are, as a rule, more tender than those of the 
incurved section, and once “ brown ” the roots by an overdose and 
drooping foliaere and withering florets will inevitably follow when the 
sun shines bright. Perhaps brief notes on a few collections of Chrysan¬ 
themums may not be unacceptable at the present time to readers of the 
Journal, so many of whom are cultivators and admirers of well-grown 
plants and blooms. 
8T. JOHN’S ROAD NURSERY, PUTNEY. 
Mr. G. Slevens not only grows Chrysanthemums extensively, but has 
raised and introduced some excellent varieties. He is alike a raiser of 
plants for distribution and grower of blooms for market. His small 
nursery, being close to Putney station, is easily reached, and from the 
present time onwards four or five large houses will be gay, for hundreds 
of blooms can be cut without sensibly affecting the display. Five 
thousand plants are grown here, of which a thousand are of Elaine, and 
fine strong plants they are, with “ fat ” buds and rapidly expanding 
blooms. But a “ fog” has already been cruel to Mr. Stevens, and a few 
of the early blooms were injured on the hot bright day succeeding. His 
incurved varieties promise to be even better than usual, and the Japanese 
about the same in character as last year. Miss Stevens, the new delicately 
tinted and fine new Japanese variety that was recently certificated, is fast 
fading, and it is only necessary to say that the plant is a good grower, 
attaining a height of about 6 feet. Maiden’s Blush, certificated last year, 
has been in great demand, and it is satisfactory to observe that it is one ot 
the most sturdy and vigorous in the collection. Martha Harding is one 
of the brightest and most useful, reddish yellow, a full and attractive 
bloom. Mr. Stevens regards this as one of the most serviceable, giving 
fine blooms early and late in the season. Mrs. G. Stevens, old gold 
colour, is extensively and well grown in 5-inch pots for margins to groups 
and other appropriate decorative purposes. Madame Lacroix is charming 
by its purity and full handsome blooms, and in rich companionship is the 
new and beautiful William Holmes, one of the most effective October 
varieties yet raised, and will probably find its way into most conserva 
tories in the kingdom. This and Madame Lacroix, well grown and 
arranged together, cannot fail to evoke general admiration. Mr. Stevens 
is a great grower of the old double white Primula, but has almost over¬ 
whelmed himself with plants, which number some thousands, and they have 
consequently overflowed from houses into frames, and it seems a pity to 
see them in imminent danger of destruction by frost, since if potted and 
grown under favourable conditions they would give a wealth of pure and 
lasting winter flowers. 
BRISTOL HOUSE. 
Situated on Putney Heath, about a mile from the station, this collec¬ 
tion is not difficult to reach, and will be well worthy of inspection in 
about a fortnight. The proprietor, T. D. Galpin, Esq., intends having a 
“ home exhibition ” this year, and Mr. Harding has endeavoured that it 
shall be a good one. The plants are remarkable for their firmness of 
growth, stout fleshy peduncles and heavy buds, which foreshadow superior 
blooms, not a few of them probably excelling those of previous years, 
which is saying a good deal, when it is remembered they won one of the 
great cups of Kingston. The show house is a light three-quarter span 
structure, 50 feet long, and of adequate width for an imposing “bank of 
blooms ” being formed. The plants range in height from 3 feet or less 
t-o 6 or 7 feet, and the varieties are well timed to be in beauty from the 
first week in November. Jeanne d’Arc is full of promise, and will just 
he in right, this heing managed by topping the plants in July, and taking 
crown buds towards the middle of September. Those taken in August are 
too early, and late hlocms from terminal buds small. It may be stated 
that this house is devoted to Tomatoes in the summer, and as soon as the 
Chrysanthemums are over tne space will be occuped with Tea Boses, 
splendid bushes, grown in 16-inch pots, now bristling with buds. This is 
what may be termed profitable culture—Tomatoes in summer, Chrysan¬ 
themums in autumn, and Roses in winter and spring—an excellent idea ad¬ 
mirably carried out. Of the Chrysanthemums now open in another house 
the bright and elegant Agrements de la Nature is particularly attractive, 
what may be termed “ second row ” blooms for exhibition, and beautiful 
for conservatory decoration. Madame Lacroix is extremely fine, half a 
dozen blooms on a plant; Flamme de Punch, large and bright; Mons. 
Desbrieux, rich, a magnificent bloom ; and Marguerite Marrouch, unusually 
fine. But of especial interest and great promise is a buff rose-tinted 
sport from Baronne de Prailly, which originated here last Beason,of which 
Mr. Harding has now many plants. It will in all probability prove a 
distinct acquisition, but whether Mr. Beckett’s sport from the same variety 
certificated by the Committee of the National Chrysanthemum Society 
last week is identical is an interesting point to determine, as should this 
be the case it will be another instance of the same variety sporting for the 
first time in two places in the same year. Everything in this not large 
garden is done well, and among other things was noticed what is cer¬ 
tainly one of the finest trees of Dryden Nectarine in the kingdom, a 
variety of which Mr. Harding speaks in terms of the highest praise. It 
is one of Mr. Rivers’ seedlings not yet widely known and cultivated. 
DOVER HOUSE. 
Dover House, Roehampton, the suburban residence of J. S. Morgan, 
Esq., is only a few minutes’ walk from Bristol House. The gardens, 
which rank amongst the best kept in the kingdom, are under the skilful 
management of Mr. Forbes. Indications of wealth are very apparent 
here, and not less so its judicious application. The highest order and 
utmost cleanliness prevail indoors and out, and the various and extensive 
glass structures are well occupied with Vines, fruit trees, Tomatoes, and 
plants. Chrysanthemums are remarkably well grown, blooms being pro¬ 
duced worthy of a place in the best competition ; but this is not the 
object of the proprietor. A large light span-roofed house is now filled 
with plants, arranged to slope from the centre to the two sides, and from 
the end to the door ; and as the majority of these are in full bloom the 
effect is very imposing. As these fade others will take their places, and a 
prolonged display maintained, about 700 or 800 plants being grown for 
this purpose. One of the richest is L’Isle des Plaisirs, velvet crimson 
suffused with gold, broad flat florets, and very telling. Wonderfully broad 
petalled and fine are blooms of Mrs. G. Rundle, while Madame Lacroix 
and the following, among others, are bearing splendid blooms :—Japanese : 
Val d’Andorre, Bouquet Fait, Elaine, Mons. Tarin, Comte de Germiny, 
Margot, Chang, James Salter, J. Delaux, and Madame de Sevin. In¬ 
curved : Beverley, Mr. Bunn, Lady Hardinge, Jeanne d’Arc, Refulgence, 
Lord Derby, Prince Alfred, Emily Dale, Venus, Empress of India, and 
Mrs. Dixon. The foliage is dark, thick, glossy, and clean, and altogether 
the display is worthy of the excellent garden in which it is produced ; 
more need not be said. 
ROEHAMPTON HOUSE. 
Adjoining the grounds of Dover House is this, the residence of the 
Countess of Leven and Melville, a fine old mansion overlooking delight¬ 
ful and well wcoded pleasure grounds, in which some grand old Cedars 
of Labanon are conspicuous ornaments. Mr. Berry has been the head 
gardener at Roehampton House for upwards of twenty years, during 
which time he has proved a formidable competitor at many Chrysanthe¬ 
mum shows and the winner of numerous prizes. But ardency for ex¬ 
hibiting wanes with advancing years, and he is now one of those 
Chrysanthemum veterans, though still in his prime, who content them¬ 
selves with showing if they happen to have creditable blooms at the right 
time, not moving the plants from house to house for retarding or ad¬ 
vancing to “ bring them in ” on a given date. His plants are now mostly 
arranged in a conservatory, not in the form of a sloping bank, but 
sinuously, and very effective the display will be about “ show time.” 
That he will have good blooms is certain, because such strong and well 
matured plants are bound to produce them. The leading varieties are 
grown in exhibition style—that is, three or four blooms on a plant from 
crown buds, and the majority will be “ in ” early in November. In Mr. 
Berry’s cottage silver cups are more plentiful than usual, mostly left by 
his relative, the late Mr. Rowe, who, with his wife, was suddenly taken 
away ; and Mr. Berry, having made himself responsible for the support 
and education of some of the family, will be justified in disposing of these 
trophies. They do not bear inscriptions. In a case of this kind—true 
charity—this allusion is permissible, and societies may desire to procure 
small cups for prizes at a moderate cost. 
Our theme may be departed from for a moment to note that Mr. Berry 
appears to grow Roses od the extension system—dwarfs pushing up shoots 
6 to 8 feet long, which will be bent down and secured to break and produce 
flowers from every bud, the old or flowering wood of last year being, 
Raspberry fashion, cut out. That is the way to get armfuls of Roses for 
vase and general decorative purposes, and the reminder, for it is a good 
old plan, may perhaps be usefully recorded here. 
DOWNSHIBE HOUSE. 
This is “ just over the way ” from the place above named, and is the 
charmingly situated residence of D. B. Chapman, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
Sullivan). It is evidently a much-cherished garden, and certainly well 
managed, houses and frames being filled with clean and well-grown 
plants; grounds beautifully wooded, artistically arranged, and most 
