March 17,. 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
203 
with a very stout large irunk fit to carry a tree of large dimensions, but 
the actual tree was comparatively very small and stunted, and every 
twig of every branch was ended in this way, the diseased part being 
always downwards underneath the line of the stem bearing it. The 
tree at a distance looked almost like some evergreen, so densely was it 
crowded with these diseased parts.” In the specimen the ends of the 
branches presented oblong or club-shaped swellings irregularly cracked 
on the surface, as well as deeply fissured in places. Internally it con¬ 
sisted of woody tissue of harder consistence than usual, the deep fissures 
being lined with dead wood, around which the new and harder wood 
was deposited. A similar condition is not very uncommon in the Haw¬ 
thorn, but the determining cause is unknown, and can probably only be 
ascertained in the young state, which unfortunately rarely comes under 
observation. The deep tunnel-like cracks are suggestive of insect injury, 
and of subsequent efforts to repair the damage. 
Three years ago, if my memory serves correctly, there was a 
discussion in the Journal of Horticulture upon early bud formation 
in young plants of Chrysanthemums, and several correspondents were of 
the opinion that it was principally caused by too early propagation. I 
was not of that opinion then, nor am I now. With the exception of a 
few late varieties of Japanese, which were inserted on December 19th, 
1891, no cuttings were put in before December 28th, and many varieties 
not before January 12th, 1892, and now we have them showing this 
early bud again, even those of the second and later date equally as 
much as the former. In the last two seasons we have been free from 
these early buds, but they have re-appeared. I do not think anyone 
may fear any difficulty about them, for on the last occasion our plants 
carried blooms equal to any we have ever had, and they came at the 
proper time for the November exhibitions. I would advise pinching out 
the shoot three or four joints below the bud ; they are not so apt to 
again form another early bud, but will in most instances continue their 
growth until May. In my opinion it is due to atmospheric effects 
in the autumn and winter upon the young shoots which we take to 
form our cuttings. 
The Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society. 
Beading the Chrysanthemum column of the Journal on March 10th 
I was much pleased to see the new departure which the Birmingham 
Society has ventured upon with regard to dividing their large classes. 
Admitting the attraction of large classes at the various exhibitions as I 
do, I still feel confident that greater satisfaction will be given to both 
exhibitors and judges alike. In small societies where the funds are not 
sufficient for attractive prizes a class for twenty-four blooms in an equal 
number of Incurved and Japanese is desirable ; but when we come to 
national competition, it is another thing, for one exhibitor may have 
excellent Japanese and another equally good Incurved. This places 
the judges in an awkward position, for let them be ever so competent for 
their duties, and take all the pains they may, there is sure to be dissatis¬ 
faction if the competition is close, one exhibitor declaring his Japanese 
carry so much weight and another that his incurved have it easily. 
The classes set out in the National Society’s schedule are excellent in 
that way. I heartily wish the Birmingham Society success in their new 
departure.—J. Doughty. 
Watford Chrysanthemum Society. 
The annual meeting of this Society was held recently at the Bose 
and Crown Hotel. Dr. A. T. Brett was voted to the chair, and there 
were also present Mr. D. Hill, Mr. H. Hill, Mr. Cutbush, Mr. G. Sterman, 
Mr. C. B. Humbert, Hon. Secretary ; Mr. Beckett, Mr. Deane, Mr. Neve, 
and other gardeners. The report and statement of accounts was sub¬ 
mitted to the meeting. The report said, “ The sixth annual report of 
the Committee, which is now presented to members, will, they trust, be 
considered equally as satisfactory as those of previous years. The 
subscriptions have increased from £102 5s. to £107 19s., and the gate 
money taken at the doors is also £8 in excess of last year, so that not¬ 
withstanding the prize money actually paid to exhibitors shows an 
advance of £12, the sum of £5 5s. 4d. has been added to the reserve 
fund. The Show was very well attended, and was up to if not above 
the average in merit, the cut flowers and vegetables being especially 
prominent features. In the schedule for the ensuing year the Com¬ 
mittee are of opinion that increased inducements should be given to 
those members in a position to exhibit groups, which are undoubtedly 
a great attraction to the show. The exhibition dates for 1892 will be 
Tueslay and Wednesday, the 1st and 2nd of November. The Com¬ 
mittee are desirous of tendering their best thanks to the Earl of 
Clarendon for the loan of his magnificent group of plants, and for the 
interest taken by him with the Society.” The balance-sheet showed 
receipts amounting to £268 12s. 6d., with a balance at the bank of 
£46 38. lOd. A discussion ensued with regard to the Committee’s 
recommendations as to altering the schedule. The members offthe 
Committee to whom the matter had been referred reported against it,’and 
with some other modifications, it was resolved that the schedule should 
stand as before. The report as amended was then carried. The officers 
of the Society were then unanimously re-elected, and a hearty vote of 
thanks passed to the President, the Earl of Clarendon, for the interest 
he takes in the Society and the magnificent group he sends the show. 
Thanks were also passed to the Vice-Presidents, and to Mr. C. B. 
Humbert, the indefatigable Hon. Secretary. The Chairman proposed 
“ Success to the Watford Chrysanthemum Society,” which was seconded 
by Mr. Beckett, with a few practical remarks upon the success of the 
Society, due to the businesslike management of the Hon. Secretary. 
Mr. Beckett also moved a vote of thanks to the donors of special 
prizes, when Mr. Cutbush of Highgate and Barnet replied, and spoke in 
the highest terms of the Society’s Show. After a discussion and 
resolution that no exhibitors should be in the proximity of the judges 
daring the process of judging the exhibits, the meeting concluded with 
a very hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman. 
Sheffield, Hallamshire, and West Biding United Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society. 
The usual monthly meeting of the above was held on Wednesday, 
March 9th, in the Museum, Orchard Street. Mr. W. Harrow, Curator 
of the Sheffield Botanical Gardens, occupied the chair, and there was 
an extraordinary attendance of members. They were drawn together 
to hear a valuable paper on “ The Chrysanthemum, from the First 
Potting to the Exhibition Board,” by C. E. Shea, Esq., of Sidcup, 
Kent. Unfortunately Mr. Shea was not able to attend, but he sent a 
capable substitute in the person of Mr. H. J. Jones of Byecroft 
Nurseries, Lewisham, who did full justice to the paper by an admirable 
delivery, and the complete manner in which he replied to points raised 
in discussion afterwards. 
Mr. Shea’s paper was full of valuable hints on every detail of 
Chrysanthemum culture comprised within the title of the subject. In 
an interesting discussion which followed Mr. Jones gave some valuable 
hints on keeping blooms when cut. He said they should be placed in 
water in which a little salt was dissolved, and kept in a cool dry dark 
place. Each day they remained a little of the stem should be cut 
away. He also referred to getting buds to time when they seemed 
likely to come too early. He explained this by showing that when a 
bud appeared too early, and it was requisite to take it, he should first 
take out the growth nearest the bud, leaving the others to be taken off 
at short intervals, until the proper time came when it was usual to take 
the buds of any particular variety, and then the last shoot might be 
removed. By this method the bud was retarded in an easy manner, and any 
excess of sap to it diverted into the side growths. This was called getting 
buds to time. In answer to an amateur’s question on the probability of 
plants raised from the first base cuttings and those which spring up 
afterwards, forming buds and flowering at different times, Mr. Jones 
gave an example of Mons. B. Bahuant, which, to increase the stock, 
had been propagated from both kinds of cuttings, and amongst fifty 
plants he had not found six days’ difference in the time of blooming. 
Mr. Pidsley asked what time Mrs. Alpheus Hardy should be stopped 
to bloom during the first week in November. Mr. Jones advised that if 
Mrs. A. Hardy was stopped at all it should be done before the new year. 
When grown on the stopping system cuttings should be rooted as soon 
as possible, even, he observed, if it had to be done in the summer ; then 
stop early, keep the plants a little on the dry side in rather poor soil, in 
a smallish pot, and in a warm spot ; then, when you get buds, begin to 
feed. In America they flower this variety easily because of the warmer 
climate, and it grows there like a weed. 
Mr. Newsham asked a question on fowl manure. How far was it 
safe to use it ? In reply Mr. Jones said, horse manure and fowl manure 
were very heating. The time to use them was in cold dull weather. In 
hot weather give cow manure, which is cooling. Give liquid manure 
with care. The plants cannot take up much food at a time, and should 
not be dosed with the same kind every day. It should, however, be 
borne thoroughly in mind that it is necessary to use all liquids in a clear 
state, or air cannot possibly enter the soil. Plants cannot live without 
air at the roots, and the Chrysanthemum likes air at the roots as well as 
any plants living. 
In proposing a resolution of thanks to Mr. Shea for his paper, and 
to Mr. Jones for delivering it, Mr. Newsham remarked that it was a 
splendid paper, and Mr. Jones had given it in an excellent manner, and 
he could carry back to Mr. Shea the information that this was the 
largest meeting ever held in connection with the Chrysanthemum 
Society in Sheffield. The Society was indebted to Mr. H. Broomhead 
for his efforts in enlisting the co-operation of Mr. Shea. In regard to 
the paper, he fully endorsed the remarks given to exhibitors and others, 
and thought such valuable advice was very important. 
Mr. John Haigh seconded the resolution, saying he had listened with 
the greatest interest, and had found the paper most exhaustive in all 
important details. His remarks on potting were very valuable, pointing 
out as they did the importance of potting just when the plants called 
for it. Another little matter Mr. Shea alluded to was that of burning 
the old Chrysanthemum stems and adding the ashes to the soil, thus 
returning to it the constituents the plants required. With regard to the 
insects which were found upon the Chrysanthemum there was one little 
friend which did more good than harm, and that was the larva of the 
ladybird, which fed upon the green fly, and to destroy it meant 
destroying one of the cultivator’s best friends. 
