506 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jvme 18#i» 
rcHi^ 
NXH EtVlU' 
MODES OF CHEYSANTHEMUM CULTUEE, AND THE 
BEST VARIETIES, 
IA pajer read by Mr. Woodcock, Syston Nurseries, Leicester, at a recent meeting of the 
Sheffield Chrysanthemum Society.] 
At a meeting of a Society like ours no apology should he needed 
for treating this subject on broad lines, as the Society embraces amongst 
its members and supporters not only exhibitors or those who grow only 
on the lines usually adopted for producing exhibition flowers, but many 
w’ho do not attempt sueh modes of culture, and still are lovers of the 
flower in whatever form it may be produced. Although the present is 
what may be termed a dual Society, composed of what were two distinct 
Societies, I have a very clear recollection of the formation of both, 
and also of their respective prospectuses, setting forth the aims and 
objects of each of the two Societies, which were issued at their forma¬ 
tion, and in these two documents there was a very strong argument in 
favour of that amalgamation which has taken place and is working so 
well. They both agreed in stating it as being one of the main objects 
of the Society to assist in popularising the flower and in improving the 
cultivation thereof. Now such being the objects with which each 
Society commenced operations, it is worth while to inquire how these 
objects have been achieved, and I certainly think that neither Society 
is open to reproach in that matter. When the first Chrysanthemum 
Show was held in the Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield, gardeners certainly could 
not boast of the excellence to which they had then attained as culti¬ 
vators ; but now there are not lacking those amongst them who are not 
afraid to compete against the best growers in England. Also such 
excellent cultivation is by no means confined to the limited few who 
are exhibitors at one show, but may be met with in—I had almost said 
—hundreds of gardens, the allotment gardens of the artisan as well as 
the conservatories of the rich. This condition of things also is not by 
any means singular to Sheffield, but is the rule almost throughout 
England, especially in those towns where societies like the present 
have been for some time in existence. 
These facts are, I think, sufficient testimony to the value of such 
societies as ours and to the good works they are achieving ; but I have 
as yet not stated the whole case, and I may say that it is only during 
the last season since I have been more fully engaged as a market grower 
that I have fully realised that for five months out of the twelve of each 
year the Chrysanthemum has become the most important and principal 
flower in our markets, and consequently the principal flower in use 
for all purposes of wear and decoration, wreaths, &c., those months 
being September, October, November, December, and January. Who 
shall gainsay the fact, then, that the Chrysanthemum is our autumn 
queen ? and my wish is that long may be her reign. In September rve 
commence by taking in cut flow^ers, cut from bushes in the open gardens 
of the earliest of what are known as the summer flowering varieties, such 
as Early Flora, Nanum, Madame Piccol, Early Blush, and Blushing 
Beauty, and, although at that time there are not lacking in the markets 
plenty of good summer flowers, such as Roses, Carnations, Mignonette, 
and Asters, yet we found that these bunches of small Chrysanthemums 
were preferred by many. Not many purchasers are, however, found 
for these varieties as pot plants in flower. With the advent of October, 
however, there commences a brisk trade for good pot plants of such 
varieties as Madame Desgrange, Mrs. Hawkins, G. Wermig, and Roi 
des Precoces, with cut flowers of later types of summer flowering sorts 
which are sold readily, especially varieties having decided colours, such 
as Roi des Prdcoces, dark crimson ; Bladame Desgrange and Mrs. Culling- 
ford, white; and Alice Butcher, terra cotta, a favourite colour with 
ladies. 
With November comes what is known as the Chrysanthemum fever, 
when everybody who is anybody talks about Chrysanthemums and wears 
Chrysanthemums. Throughout December the Chrysanthemum continues 
the principal flower in our markets, and practically the only one which 
can be obtained in any cons’derablo quantity. The varieties principally 
on sale at Christmastide last season were Princess Teck, Lady Dorothy, 
Mrs. Norman Davis, Jardin des Plantes, Fair Maid of Guernsey, and 
Ethel, also large quantities of Mdllo. Lacroix, mostly imported from the 
Channel Islands. With January there came a considerable reduction in 
the number of varieties obtainable, as also in the quantity offered ; but 
even then a glance at_ the windows of our leading florists sufficed to 
show that through this month Chrysanthemums continued to be the 
principal stock flower, and to be largely used for room decoration, 
and for the making of wreaths, crosses, and bouquets. White is theti 
almost the only colour obtainable, and Ethel appears still to be the 
variety principally grown for January flowering. The fact, then, that 
Chry.santhemums are required and are obtainable in quantities over 
such a large slice of the year is jiroof in itself that the modes of culture 
adopted must be various, and I trust I may usefully spend the short 
time at my disposal in reviewing some of these. 
I will first mention the early summer flowering varieties. These are 
indeed a very useful section, and give a good return in cut flowers, with 
a less expenditure of time and labour in the production thereof, tha» 
does any other section. Blost of the varieties do not as a rule succeed 
well if kept in pots throughout the summer, but are much more satis¬ 
factory when planted out, and if necessary care is taken in lifting them,, 
and for a fortnight after so doing, whilst they are getting established 
again, they scarcely appear to suffer at all by the process. Last season I 
planted out about 300 which did so well and gave us such good returns- 
that I have this season planted out nearly double the number. 
My mode of cultivation is as follows ;—The cuttings are struck at 
any time from Christmas to the end of January. (I do not care to take- 
them earlier, as if I did so they would become much root-bound in the- 
3-inch pots in which they are kept until it is safe to plant them out.)> 
I root them in 4-inch pots, six or eight cuttings in each, and as soon as 
rooted they are potted separately in the 3-inch pots, in which they 
remain until it is safe to plant them out (usually early in May). The- 
top is pinched out of them as soon as they commence to grow freely, to 
cause them to break, and they are again pinched when the breaks are 
3 to 4 inches in length, after which they are not again pinched or 
stopped. I need scarcely say they are kept in a cool airy temperature 
from the time they have commenced growth after potting until they are 
planted out. The work required to be done to them during the summer- 
consists almost solely and alone of an occasional use of the hoe amongst 
them to keep do-wn the weeds. A fortnight before I want to lift them,, 
which is usually late in September, a man goes round each plant with a 
spade, and cuts down all round the plant to the full depth of the spade, 
and about 6 inches from the stem, thus cutting through all roots 
extending beyond that distance, so that the roots left are comprised 
within a ball of about 1 foot in diameter. When the spade is in the 
ground it is given a little pressure, forward and backward, and carefully 
withdrawn, thus leaving a slight open cavity round each plant. Whert 
a few rows have been thus treated he commences with the watering 
cans, and gives to each plant a thorough soaking of clear water, 
pouring it into the cavity, left open all round, which is thus soaked 
to the bottom, and causes the cut roots to quickly form bunches 
of small rootlets, which are of great assistance to the plant when it is 
lifted. 
Before commencing lifting we clear out a good sized Cucumber 
house, the plants in which are by that time pretty well exhausted ^ 
and then in lifting a selection is made of the neatest and best plants for 
potting, all the remainder being carried straight into the Cucumber 
house, and planted somewhat thickly together on the benches in the 
mould which has composed the border for the Cucumber plants. The 
house is shaded and kept rather close with a moist atmosphere for a 
few days, until they begin to take hold of the soil, the result being 
that under this treatment last season they scarcely ever showed signs of 
distress or flagging. A fortnight after planting that house was a picture- 
to behold, being a perfect mass of flowers from end to end, and I am 
speaking well within the mark when I say we cut bushels of useful 
flowers therefrom during October. Those potted are, of course, given 
similar treatment in another house. 
The most useful varieties for this work are Alice Butcher (orange). 
Blushing Bride (rose), Flora (yellow, very early), Fred. P416 (crimson), 
Fiberta (yellow). Golden Shah (yellow), Grace Attick (white), Lyon 
(crimson purple). Miss Davis (pink), Mrs. Cullingford (-vhite), Madame 
Desgrange (white), G. Wermig (primrose), Mrs. Burrell (primrose),. 
Blrs. Ha-^'kins (yellow), Alexandre Dufour (violet),and Roi des Precoces 
(crimson, tipped gold). The last six varieties, commencing with- 
Bladame Desgrange, are the only ones in this list of any use to take into 
the market as pot plants, the others, however, being all useful for cut 
flowers. We have quite a large number of newer French varieties of 
like character, we are growing this season for the first time, several of 
which have received certificates, and I expect from them will come some- 
useful and permanent additions. 
A -^vord in passing as to Grace Attick, a new introduction of last 
year, and said to be the earliest of all. I did not find it so. With me 
last season it did not flower until late in October, but one could not but- 
admire it when it did come—a large, pure white, quilled flower, 
produced freely from the top, with smaller neat useful flowers on short 
laterals all down the stem, produced simultaneously with the larger 
ones at top. It is of dwarf wiry habit, rather weakly growth until the 
plants have attained size, and a difficult variety to propagate ; but it i& 
certain to become a useful and popular variety for producing cut flowers- 
in quantity when better known. 
Eaely Japanese and Incueved Vaeieties. 
Leaving behind us now the strictly early autumn and October- 
flowering section we are met with a number ot w^ell-known varieties, 
both Japanese and incurved, which follow them very closely, and may 
readily be had in bloom by the end of October if such is desired. In 
Japanese the best are Lady Selborne, James Salter, Margot, Bladame La 
Comtesse Foucher de Careil, Wm. Holmes, and L’lle des Plaisirs. In- 
incurved the best are BIrs. G. Rundle, BIrs. Dixon, and George Glenny» 
Quite a large number of these three varieties are grown in many market 
establishments specially for producing the best class of cut flowers- 
at the end of October and early in November, and when well gro-um they 
sell freely and for good prices, being much appreciated j-ast then by 
ladies for use as single flowers in specimen glasses for table decoration, 
and also for personal wear. The mode of culture adopted for them is to 
strike the cuttings in November and grow them as stiff and sturdy as 
possible, pinching them twice, or in some cases three times, to secure 
sufficient breaks, so that when each plant has been disbudded it- 
