390 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 28, 1688, 
two last very dwarf and neat, and some others. C. Lawsoniana erecta 
viridis is of upright habit, of a beautiful green hue : the variety stricta 
is very fine, forming very handsome specimens. The Lawson’s Cypress, 
though it succeeds most anywhere, does not do in exposed bleak situations. 
It is indeed a valley tree, or needs shelter from strong winds; large tree 
in favourable situations. Varieties described as vigorous also require 
space. 
The Nootka Sound Cypress (Cypressus nutkaensis).—Erectness with 
gracefulness are the characteristics of this tree. It is of darker hue than 
C. Lawsoniana, and a tall beautiful tree, none finer for specimens. It is 
very hardy. There is a variety viridis with brighter green foliage very 
pleasing, and there are dwarf forms that are beautiful. The variegated 
form affords variety of a kind that may well be dispensed with. Charm¬ 
ing as they may be in other trees, the variegation in Conifers is not taking. 
Large tree, or medium large.—G. Abbey. 
(To be continued.) 
APPLE AMERICAN MOTHER. 
Two years ago I wrote to you about this splendid Apple. Again I 
have some beautiful fruit, the colour not quite so rich as before perhaps, 
but you will judge from the specimens for yourself. Archdeacon Lea 
(my archdeacon), was surprised at the wonderful flavour of this Apple 
when he tasted it here last week, and we are most of us aware of his 
experience in fruit culture, and his refined “taste” in matters horti¬ 
cultural.—J. A. W., Alderminster. 
[The fruits are of good average size, but only one of them well 
coloured, the others possibly having been shaded. It is undoubtedly a 
rich Apple, and not being very firm in the flesh, is esteemed by persons 
advanced in years. Dr. Hogg describes this variety in the “ Fruit 
Manual,” and publishes a word of caution in respect to “Mother” 
Apples which may perhaps be usefully cited here:—“American Mother 
(Mother Apple ; Queen Anne ; Gardener’s Apple).—Fruit medium size, 
2f inches wide, and the same in height; conical, even, and slightly 
undulating on its surface, and generally longer on one side of the axis 
than the other. Skin golden yellow, covered with mottles and streaks of 
crimson on the side next the sun, and strewed with russet dots. Eye 
small, closed and tapering, set in a narrow basin. Stamens median ; 
tube conical, inclining to funnel-shape. Stalk half an inch long, very 
slender, inserted in a deep cavity. Flesh yellowish white, remarkably 
tender, crisp, and breaking, very juicy, sweet, and with a balsamic aroma. 
Cells elliptical, abaxile, wide, and Codlin-like. One of the finest dessert 
Apples in October. In shape it resembles Adams’s Pearmain. This is an 
American Apple, and one of the few that ripen well in this country. 
I may here state that the indiscriminate introduction and recommendation 
of American fruits has led to grievous disappointment, and growers 
cannot exercise too much caution in the reception of advice on this 
subject. I have distinguished this as the 1 American ’ Mother Apple, as 
there are other varieties in this country known as the Mother Apple. It 
originated at Boston, Massachusetts.”] 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM OUTLOOK. 
In the north of London the Chrysanthemums are somewhat late, 
especially as regards the trade collections, but in private gardens a great 
difference is observable in the respective forwardness of the blooms, for 
while some seem likely to be well timed for the show season others will 
be past their best before the competitions commence. Mr. B. S. Williams, 
Upper Holloway, and Messrs. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, have extensive 
collections under glass, but as they have only been recently housed it 
will be fully a fortnight before they can be expected to be in their most 
effective condition. At both nurseries the principal object is to show the 
value of. the principal varieties for conservatory decoration, and with this 
end in view the plants are grown freely and informally, with very little 
disbudding, and they thus indicate characters that are lost under the more 
rigid system of cultivation as trained specimens, or to yield “ show ” 
blooms. Abundance of flowers, bright, fresh, pleasing colours, and com¬ 
pact habit are characters that can be appreciated in scores of gardens 
where no effort is made to produce sensational blooms. 
FINSBURY PARK. 
Amongst the public displays of Chrysanthemums that have obtained a 
high reputation for the good culture of the plants and their fine blooms, 
that at Finsbury Park, under the superintendence of Mr. Cochrane, has 
gained a prominent position, and its credit is well maintained this season. 
A convenient structure with a glazed span roof, contains about 1600 
plants in 500 varieties of all types, Incurved. Japanese, Anemones, and 
Pompons, the plants remarkable throughout for their sturdy, healthy, 
ample rich green foliage, and general compact habit. They are arranged 
in two bank-bke groups, one on each side of a central path, extending 
the whole length of the house, with a margin of Pompons that supply an 
agreeable finish to banks. In previous years there has been a row of 
pillars in the centre of the path supporting the roof, but by employing 
metal ties across the rafters the roof has been rendered sufficiently 
firm to enable the pillars to be safely removed, so that an un¬ 
interrupted general view can be obtained of the exhibition fr m either 
end of the house. This is a great improvement, and by keeping the very 
numerous visitors passing in one direction only, all crowding and incon¬ 
venience are avoided. That some regulations are needed may be judged 
from the fact that on fine Sundays the show is visited by 9000 to 10,000 
persons. 
The plants are somewhat dwarfer than usual this year, being thus 
better adapted for arrangement, and the varieties have been very taste¬ 
fully disposed to insure the harmony or contrast of colours. Numbers of fine 
blooms are now open, but the majority are not yet expanded, and a good 
display will be maintained for at least three weeks from this date if the 
weather prove favourable. The Japanese varieties are the best repre¬ 
sented at present, and the great feature just now are the enormous blooms 
of Comte de Germiny, huge globular specimens from 20 to 24 inches in 
circumference. There are about four dozen of these great blooms, and 
as the plants are placed in two groups on opposite sides of the path they 
have a most telling effect. Many of the florets are 1 inch in diameter, 
and some are lj- inch across, incurving almost as regularly as in that 
type. The skilful grower, Mr. Mardlin, states that blooms of this variety 
can be had still larger, and thinks he can produce some astonishing 
results another season. Other Japanese that contribute materially to the 
display are Marguerite Marrouch, deep red, yellow reverse ; La Charmeuse, 
deep purple crimson: M. Moussilac, intensely dark red; La France, a 
large full bloom with flat florets, rose crimson, white beneath ; Gloire 
Rayonnante, long tubular florets, rose mauve ; MAd. Eugene Pourquie, 
fluted twisted florets, gold and bronze; Bouquet Estival, narrow fluted 
florets, pink and white, very free and early, useful for decoration ; Agrei- 
ments de la Nature, bright clear yellow; M. Henri Jacotot, intense crim¬ 
son maroon, L’Or du Rhin, deep gold, medium size, but free ; Gloire de 
Toulouse, crimson ; Brise du Matin, James Salter, Lady Selborne, and 
Margot. Of the incurved, Mrs. G. Rundle, G. Glenny, Lord Alcester, and 
Refulgence are very satisfactory. The Pompons are scarcely out yet, but 
that useful variety Soeur Mdlainie is expanding fast. All who wish to see 
a really well grown and representative collection of Chrysanthemums 
should visit Finsbury Park within the next week or ten days, and they 
will find ample to repay them for their trouble. 
SWANLEY. 
Whatever plants Messrs. Cannell & Sons take in hand are certain to 
be grown extensively and well. Not a few scores or hundreds, but 
thousands are needed to make a display proportionate to the resources of 
the establishment. So it is with the Chrysanthemums; 6000 plants are 
grown for the annual show in the Swanley Nursery, and to these are 
appropriated four span houses, three 100 feet long each, and one 150 feet 
long. The plants are arranged to form a large central bed in each house, 
with smaller specimens at the sides. Some hundreds of varieties are 
represented, comprising all the leading novelties ; but a careful system of 
selection is adopted, and in consequence many of these new introductions 
have to be discarded each year, or are found to be too much like other 
older varieties to merit distinct names. At the same time any improve¬ 
ment is instantly noted, as often by a little extra care in cultivation 
another year the difference may be intensified, and beauties more highly 
developed. 
The Japanese are also the most forward in the nursery at this early 
date, and although the bulk of the plants are still in the bud stage, there 
are numbers such as James Salter, Lady Selborne, Mdlle. Lacroix, 
M. Henri Jacotot, Bouquet Fait, Madame de Sevin, M. Moussilac, 
Alexandre Dufour, Beaute des Jardins, and the early La Yierge that help 
to make an interesting floral display. The early Japanese, William 
Holmes, which has been honoured with four certificates this season, has 
been in excellent condition, with fine deep richly coloured blooms, but 
it is now past its best, and will evidently be useless for the November 
shows. As a conservatory plant it will be greatly valued, for it is of 
compact habit, flowers freely, and the colour is bright and fresh, con¬ 
trasting admirably with the early white decorative varieties like La 
Yierge and Mrs. Cullingford. A new Japanese variety from De Reydellet, 
named La Triompbante, is promising, and likely to make a good exhibi¬ 
tion bloom. The florets are broad and flat, streaked with purple on a 
silvery white ground, very full and of good size. Mr. W. Clark, one of 
Delaux’s novelties, is a pleasing Japanese of a rosy salmon or fawn colour, 
with a yellow reverse ; it varies in tint on different plants, but is very 
distinct in all stages. Madame Rozain, another new Japanese, has 
broad bronzy red florets and a yellow reverse, bold and fresh in colour. 
Two Japanese said to be named Samuel Henshaw and Mr. W. Barr are 
worthy of mention. The former is of a purplish mauve tint with a white 
reverse, the florets curious, flat at the upper part, but with a tendency to 
quilling at the base. Mr. W. Barr is of a fine reddish bronze colour, 
likely to make a good bloom, but was not sufficiently expanded at the 
lime of our visit. 
In Anemones, single varieties and Pompons, Messrs. Cannell & Sons 
also have several novelties of merit, to which we shall have occasion to 
refer another week. 
SWANMORE PARK. 
All the plants here are arranged effectively in a series of houses. 
Complaints bad reached Mr. Molyneux of hard buds in the Queen 
family, but his blooms appeared to be expanding freely. The 
plants are generally not so tall as in other years, but ihe wood and foliage 
indicate thorough ripeness, while the blooms promised to be as good in 
quality as in former years. There was not nearly so many expanded as 
at the same time last year. Madame C. Audiguier, M. Astorg, Balmoreau, 
Soleil Levant, Meg Merrilies, Peter the Great were the most advanced 
among the Japanese ; and incurved were represented by Prince Alfred, 
Bronze Queen of England, Refulgence, Mr. Bunn, Jeanne d’Arc, very 
fine. Mr. Molyneux was evidently much pleased with the notes of your 
reporter when visiting Morden Park, anent his remarks on the manner in 
which Mr. Gibson carries his honours and his extremely happy mood 
when losing. He said, “ Gibson is the best loser I know, and perhaps I 
