November 4, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
415 
variegation. In this garden it does not come out quite so well as I have 
seen it in some places, but of the hundreds of plants which have come 
under my notice I have not yet seen a green one. Should anyone desire 
to dwarf their plants which are growing in the borders (not those in¬ 
tended for potting) it may be done by cutting the stems half way through 
near the soil and carefully bending the plants down, making secure with 
a stout hook-peg.—T. S. 
P-S.—I would not advise this laying down to be done so late in the 
season as this, nor would I attempt it on very large plants having stems 
as thick as one’s leg, but I have often seen tall plants with good heads, 
which would look better a foot or two lower. 
CKATaEGUS TATARICA. 
At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tuesday, 
October 26th, this year, Messrs. J. Yeitch Sc Sons of Chelsea exhibited 
Fig. 60— Uratiegus tatarica. 
fruit-bearing branches of a small tree or shrub named Crataegus tatarica. 
It is notable for the large size and bright colour of the fruits, which would 
render a specimen of moderate height very ornamental at this time of 
year. The Floral Committee awarded a first-class certificate for it, and 
as it is seldom that we have to chronicle additions to really useful trees or 
shrubs, the accompanying illustration is given to pourtray the chief 
characters of the plant. 
The leaves are large and deeply cut, almost triangular in outline in 
some cases, as shown in the lower left-hand leaf in the woodcut, but in 
others more rounded or oval, the segments sharply serrated. The fruits 
are an inch or more in length, about three-quarters of an inch in trans¬ 
verse diameter, rather ovoid in form, with a small protuberance at the base 
on one side of the stalk, such as is seen in some varieties of Pears. The 
calyx tube at the apex of the fruit forms an open deep narrow cavity, 
slightly puckered round the mirgin. In c< lour the frui's are a deep clear 
scarlet, and they are borne on long slender stalks in clusters of six to 
twelve at the apex of the branches, their weight giving them a slightly 
drooping appearance. 
The plant from which the specimens were obtained has been growing 
in Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ Coombe Wood Nursery, but the exhibitors are 
uncertain when it was introduced. 
REVIEW OF GRAPES. 
After Mr. Taylor’s letter upon the subject of the two bunches of 
Gros Maroc exhibited by him at the Crystal Palace and South Kensington 
Shows, and your remarks on those of the same variety sent you by Mr. 
Stephen Castle, surely “ Exhibitor ” and his party of “skilled gardeners” 
and “ competent judges ” will be convinced that their allegation of the 
large bunch being a Gros Colman is, to say the least of it, entirely a 
mistake. 
I observe “Exhibitor” lauds Mr. Taylor on the one hand, and is 
pleased at his success, while, on the other hand, he at least implies dis¬ 
honesty. No one can pretend to say that a man of Mr. Tayloi’s experi¬ 
ence and knowledge of Vines and Grapes could possibly grow Gros 
Colman and Gros Maroc together and say he did not see any difference 
between them. There can be only one inference drawn from “ Exhibi¬ 
tor’s ” remark about a bunch of Alicante being staged between the two 
bunches of Gros Maroc. 1 ask your correspondent if it is not question¬ 
able taste for one exhibitor to try and discredit another because he happens 
to be a successful rival, and is it not aggravated when the attempt is 
made anonymously ?— J. McIndoe. 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM OUTLOOK. 
FOREST HILL NURSERY. 
Amongst the specialties in Messrs. J. Laing & Co.’s nursery at 
Forest Hill the principal place is occupied just now by the Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, although the Tuberous Begonias which have made such a won¬ 
derful display this season are not yet over. A spacious span-roof house, 
100 feet long, is devoted chiefly to the Chrysanthemums, about GOO plants 
being arranged in a central bed sloping to each side, the side stages being 
filled with Tuberous Begonias. The new varieties are numerous, both 
introduced and home-raised seedlings, some of the latter being very 
promising, and the continental novelties also seem better generally than 
usual. The plants have been well grown, compact, and healthy, and are 
producing good blooms and buds, very fresh and bright in colour. The 
Japanese are the most advanced, and the following varieties are very 
noticeable, chiefly novelties of the present year or previous season. M. 
Cossart, bronze or reddish yellow, rather flat florets, good bloom; 
Charlotte de Montcabrier, fluted drooping florets, rose streaked at the 
edge, of fine substance and beautiful; Dominique Pertuzes, bright 
yellow, very long florets faintly quilled at the base; Jenny Mestre, a 
small Japanese, something like a reflexed, bright bronze red; Gabriel 
Porte, yellowish with a bronze reverse, distinct ; J. H. Laing, creamy 
white, yellowish centre, varying in quality, but a good variety when seen 
as it is at the Temple ; Coquette de Castille, very handsome bloom, with 
long fluted florets ; Annie Clark, a large bloom, pink, flat florets, white 
or yellowish in the centre ; Lady Mathieson, very delicate tint blush rose, 
a good variety ; L’Ebouriflee, a fine variety, the florets long, yellow, and 
bronze red; Mdlle. Paule Dutour, very beautiful, white shaded with 
rosy purple, and tipped with purple. Five seedling Japanese raised by 
Messrs. Laing Sc Co. deserve notice—namely, Rose Beauty, of a clear 
rose tint, the blooms of good substance; Punctatum, florets flat, deep 
rose, spotted with white at the upper part, white at the base, curious and 
distinct, the florets crossing each other; Pearl, white with a lemon tinge 
in the centre ; Titania, blush or white recurving florets ; and Mrs. Foster, 
crimson drooping fluted florets, silver reverse, very distinct. To these 
may be added of better known Japanese the following useful varieties :— 
Alexandre Dufour, free; John Laing, excellent; M. Tarin, good; Dr. 
Macary; Beaut6 des Jardins. fine crimson; L’lncomparable, Mandarin, 
Lakmb, Jeanne Delaux, M. Henri Jacotot, M. Moussillac, and the bright 
clear yellow Frizou, one of the best of its colour. 
Incurved are coming on well, but there are not so many blooms out at 
present, though good examples of Emily Dale, Queen of England, Jeanne 
d’Arc, Nd Desperandum, Empress of India, Golden Queen of England, 
and Mr. Brunlees are included amongst them. Anemones and Pompons 
are all duly represented, but of the latter, two are especially good— 
namely, Flambeau Toulousaine, pink and white, and Mdlle. Elise Dordans, 
with fine symmetrical globular blooms, both of which have been certificated, 
stand out prominently from the others as excellent varieties. 
Any reference to Messrs. Laing’s nursery would be incomplete without 
a word or two about the Tuberous Begonias, especially as just now the 
thousands of seedlings are being lifted from the beds out of doors. 
About 100,000 have been so grown, carefully marked when in bloom, and 
are now assorted iu their colours to supply the increasing demands for 
cheap seedling varieties for bedding. During several months a most 
brilliant show has been formed with these plants, hoth indoors and out. 
Orchids receive much attention, and the general stock of stove and 
greenhouse plants is in capital condition. 
THE CHELSEA NURSERY. 
In the Camellia house at the Brompton Road end of the nursery, and 
in a large span-rot f J home ne r tr it, Mes'rs. J. Yeitch & Sons have an 
