800 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 21, 1892. 
Chrysanthemum Analysis. 
In my opinion a more correct method of compiling an audit of the 
number of times varieties are exhibited in one season would be to take 
the exhibitions of the leading societies throughout the entire country 
held at different dates rather than confine the analysis to the Show of 
the N.C.S. If the varieties staged only in the winning stands were 
tabulated such a list would prove of more value to those persons who are 
wishful to enter the ranks of exhibitors, and it is these we are the most 
desirous to assist. To exhibitors of long standing such lists are also 
interesting. When an audit is confined to the exhibition of one society 
only, although that may be the leading one, it is hardly a true test of 
varieties as exhibition flowers ; those that last over a longer space in 
good condition are of more value than those which are enumerated from 
one date only. It must not be understood that I infer from this that the 
arena of the N.C.S.’a Exhibitions receives no fresh combatants yearly, 
because I know it does ; but in a broad sense the principal exhibitors are 
the same year after year, like all other leading societies who have their 
followers. 
Eeferring to the remarks of “ A. D.,” page 282, cn the merits of 
Etoile de Lyon as compared with those of Viviand Morel, it is generally 
conceded that the latter is by far the more handsome. Viviand Morel 
is the best Japanese Chrysanthemum, new or old, and if the audit had 
extended over a wider area this variety would have occupied a much 
higher position, but of course it could not be expected to compare with 
Etoile de Lyon in the number of times shown, on account of the limited 
stock at the time in existence. The finest blooms I saw of it were three 
on a plant not more than 3 feet 6 inches high. Etoile de Lyon grows 
freely and gives blooms in abundance, hence the cause of its being 
staged so many times. _ 
I suppose it will remain a matter for debate what really constitutes 
beauty and quality in Japanese Chrysanthemums. Not so in the 
incurved section ; a standard is there fixed, and those which do not come 
up to it are at once pronounced faulty. In the Japanese section such 
varieties as Fair Maid of Guernsey, Carew Underwood, Comte de 
Germiny, Elaine, Thunberg, and many others, must give way to newer 
and certainly improved forms, such as Avalanche, Sunflower, A. H. Neve, 
W. W. Coles, Mrs. Falconer Jameson, and W. H. Lincoln, for instance. 
These possess depth of floret, which constitutes fulness of flower without 
stiffness; for example, compare Avalanche with Elaine, W. W. Coles 
with Carew Underwood, Mrs. C. Wheeler with Comte de Germiny, and 
Sunflower with Thunberg, all varieties somewhat similar in colour. 
Florence Davis, Gloire du Rocher, and Puritan will be found much 
higher if a list is compiled at the end of 1892 than they now are. 
With a slight reference to the incurved section I will bring to a close 
this brief notice of the analysis of 1891. It is not possible for members 
of the Queen family to be other than at the top of the list when they 
are well cultivated, possessing as they do all the characteristics of 
perfect specimens in this section. Lord Alcester is, in my opinion, the 
finest variety in existence, and who can fail to admire globular examples 
of the pure white Empress of India or the delicate rose blush of the 
Queen of England 1 but, unfortunately, this variety is less often seen in 
its proper character than any other. The main reason for this is the 
great “ craze ” nowadays for size. In striving for this growers select 
the buds of the Queen too early, and in consequence have to depend 
upon blooms very “ washy ” in colour as compared with those obtain¬ 
able from later formed buds. These, although perhaps not so large, are 
superior because they represent the variety in its true character, and 
this ought to weigh heavily with judges. I am pleased to see that Mr. 
Mawley has placed all the supposed varieties of Golden Queen of 
England under that name, dispensing with those which are but synonyms. 
I allude to Emily Dale, John Lambert, and others, for many names are 
bewildering, and serve no good purpose.—E. M., Sioanmore. 
CARNATION SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON. 
Few plants are more useful for cutting than the above, flowering, as 
they do, all the year round ; and those who can give them a suitable 
position in the plant house will be amply rewarded for the care and 
attention bestowed upon them. The most suitable structure in which to 
grow the plants is a span-roof running north and south, and heated 
sufficiently to maintain a minimum of 40° without overheating the 
pipes. A maximum of 50°, with plenty of air, is a very suitable 
temperature for them during the winter months, but no hard and fast 
line need be drawn. In summer they must be kept as cool as possible, 
the aim being to secure strong sturdy growths; fine flowers are then 
sure to follow. 
Cuttings may be inserted in July, placed in a frame facing north, 
and kept air-tight until rooted, when they should be removed to a shelf 
in the plant house. If a frame is not available when the cutUngs are 
inserted they may be placed in the plant house at once, but will be 
longer in taking root. When well rooted they must be potted singly 
into 3 or 4-inch pots, according to the size of plant, using a compost 
of equal parts loam, peat, and half-decayed leaves rubbed through a 
three-quarter-inch sieve, with a liberal addition of sand, taking care to 
have the drainage perfect. As the plants grow and the pots become full 
of roots they must be shifted into others 2 inches larger, until they are 
finally placed in 12-inch pots, in which they will make grand specimens. 
They must be very carefully watered at all times, never allowing them 
to suffer from the want of water, or they will lose the bottom leaves, the 
other extreme quickly causing yellow sickly spots to appear. A happy 
mean as regards moisture is essential to success. Great caution must be 
exercised in the use of stimulants. The flowers forwarded last week 
were grown without manure, except what they have obtained from the 
atmosphere, the floor and staging being occasionally sprinkled with 
liquid from the cow byre. iGreen fly must be kept down either by 
fumigation or dusting tbe points with tobacco powder. 
The foregoing is an effort to convey the details of our practice, 
which I hope will be sufficiently clear to be of service. If I have 
omitted any point on which your readers would like more information I 
shall be glad to supply it if I can. I may add the largest flower sent 
was cut from a plant eight years old.— Chas. Portsmouth. 
THE FRUIT GROWER’S GUIDE. 
Though this serial work, published by Messrs. Virtue «& Co., is not 
sent to the Press for review, we have had so many inquiries relative to 
it that the time has arrived when the opinions of some admittedly 
practical authorities in the fruit world may not be inappropriately 
published in these columns. _ 
Having looked through a specimen number of “ The Fruit Grower’s 
Guide,” by Mr. Wright, the well-known practical lecturer on Fruit 
Culture and Assistant-Editor of the Joxirnal of Horticulture, I have 
great pleasure in saying it is well got up, the illustrations being faithful 
and excellent, the paper and type good, and the price moderate. As 
this work, by such an able author, will include the best of all the 
leading hardy fruits, it will be found most useful, not only to the 
market grower, but also to the private gardener, the amateur, and the 
landlord, at last alive to the fact that fruit farms well stocked with the 
best varieties will pay much better than corn growing.—W. Coleman, 
Eastnor Castle Gardens. 
The first division of “ The Fruit Gro'wer’s Guide ” has reached my 
hands. The book is far in advance of anything of its kind in existence, 
and it contains a fund of useful, sound, practical knowledge, which 
should be read profitably by intelligent amateurs as well as the gardener, 
and is specially recommended in this published form to the notice of young 
men probationers in the profession. Thorough practical knowledge, and 
the power of expressing it, are special features in Mr. Wright’s most 
valuable work, and the diagrams are also plain and well conceived. Had 
this excellent book been brought forward earlier and followed by 
cultivators, British-grown Apples would never have reached their 
present low standard of quality, and less foreign ones would have reached 
our markets. The price is extremely moderate for such a well got up 
book.— William Crump, Madresfield Court Gardens. 
After a very careful perusal of the first portion of “ The Fruit 
Grower’s Guide,” by Mr. J. Wright, I have no hesitation in stating it is 
really what its name indicates, and should be carefully read by all 
interested in fruit culture. I venture to say that if the highly practical 
advice were acted upon generally, British orchards would not long 
remain in their present disreputable condition. The work is valuable 
not only to the gardener and farmer, but also to the landowner, 
indicating as it does how much the land may be increased in value by 
the judicious planting of fruit trees. In fact, the work supplies a long- 
felt want, and I hope it will meet with the success its merits so richly 
deserve.—S. T. Wright, Glewston Court Gardens, Boss. 
I have looked through the introduction and general preface of “ The 
Fruit Grower’s Guide ” with much satisfaction. The information 
furnished by the author is practical and comprehensive, embodying the 
newest methods of culture and management. Nothing is more simple, 
but at the same time more injudicious, than the indiscriminate recom¬ 
mendation to plant fruit trees without specifying the conditions of 
cultivation. Mr. Wright, the author of this valuable work, is a practical 
man, and clearly la;^s down the conditions upon which depend successful 
fruit cultivation. —[Joseph Marston, ex-Mayor of Evesham and 
Secretary of the Evesham Fruiterers' Society. 
I beg to say that I duly received the first division of “ The Fruit 
Grower’s Guide” (Wright’s), and having carefully perused it I can safely 
say it is the most complete work of its kind I have read—it is so 
thoroughly practical, every page teeming with useful information, not 
only to the gardener and farmer, but also to the landlord, and indeed to 
everyone interested in the important industry of fruit growing. T hope 
