154 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 17, 1893. 
Batley and Disteict Chkysanthemum Society, 
We have received the schedule of the forthcoming show of this 
Society, to be held on November 11th. In the principal open class for 
twenty-four Chrysanthemum blooms, twelve incurved and twelve 
Japanese, in not less than nine varieties of each, a first prize of £5 is 
offered, to which will be added the Society’s silver cup, value £6 Gs., 
also the National Chrysanthemum Society’s silver medal. Mr. Allen 
Hall, 4, High Street, Batley, is the Secretary. 
Honours foe a Chrysanthemum Raiser. 
The readers of the Journal of Horticulture are, no doubt, aware 
that on the Continent it is customary for the Governments of various 
countries to recognise special service in horticulture by conferring 
decorations upon those who are considered worthy. Many eminent 
French, Belgian, and other nurserymen have been the recipients of the 
Legion of Honour, the Order of Leopold, and the Merits Agricole, 
without naming other orders less familiar here. Notwithstanding the 
enormous advantages that must have accrued to French horticulture by 
the labours of such Chrysanthemum specialists as MM. Diilaux, Louis 
Lacroix, De Eeydellet, Dr. Audiguier, and M. Boucharlat, whose efforts 
have so materially advanced the cause of Chrysanthemum culture 
throughout Europe and America, we do not remember ever yet seeing 
any announcement of their work being rewarded in this way. It is 
pleasing, however, to record that M. Ernest Calvat, a raiser of quite 
modern times, has just been appointed a Chevalier of the Order of the Merits 
Agricole. M. Cal vat’s seedlings have been shown in England with 
conspicuous success during the past two or three years, and are, it will 
be remembered, chiefly characterised by their heavy massive blooms of 
the Japanese incurved type. He is the only Frencfi exhibitor that has 
successfully obtained first-class certificates of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, and he is to be congratulated on having so soon won 
■distinction in a way that is dear to the heart of every Frenchman. 
Chrysanthemums in New Zealand. 
A correspondent writing from Christchurch (N.Z.) reports that 
the frozen blooms sent out to the Wellington Horticultural Society 
by the N.C.S. have recently been exhibited at Christchurch also. He 
adds that the lovers of Chrysanthemums have good reason to be proud of 
the steady progress that is being made in the cultivation of that flower 
in the colony. The localities where the leading growers are to be found 
are Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru and 
Dunedin, and besides these places there are other districts in which 
attempts are being made to encourage and extend a taste for the culti¬ 
vation of this popular favourite. 
In Christchurch alone there are several very able cultivators who 
have demonstrated by the excellence of their exhibits that they 
thoroughly understand the art of the big bloom method. Most of these, 
however, are amateurs who, being employed in shops and offices during 
the day, find an enjoyable recreation in growing the Queen of Autumn 
as a hobby and relief from business cares. The trade generally have 
not yet found time enough to devote themselves to this phase of Chrys¬ 
anthemum culture, but are contented to stage mixed exhibits at the 
shows. Among new varieties Vi viand Morel, R. Kingston and W. 
Tricker have excited most attention and been much admired. The 
Christchurch Chrysanthemum Show, held May 11th and 12ch last, was 
a remarkably gooi one in spite of the extremely unfavourable weather 
that preceded it. In fact all over the Australasian colonies the weather 
just previous to the Chrysanthemum season seems to have been 
eiceptionably wet. In various parts of New Zealand there are growers 
busily engaged in raising new seedlings, and we have no doubt but that 
something will be heard of them here in EngUnd before very long. 
American Chrysanthemum Society. 
We have not hitherto been able to record much concerning the 
progress of this Society, for its chief work seems to have been confined 
to the registration of the names of new varieties. Founded about four 
years ago, there has never to our knowledge been any show held under 
its auspices, and we were beginning to wonder whether it had ceased to 
exist. A friendly correspondent in the States has, however, just sent 
us a little pamphlet, entitled “ Report of the Committee on Classification 
of Chrysanthemums before the American Chrysanthemum Society,” 
which shows very clearly that the Society is attempting a useful work. 
The report is practically a catalogue of the varieties grown in the 
States drawn up in a form that has no doubt been suggested by the 
catalogue of the National Chrysanthemum Society of London. There 
are select lists wholly devoted to American seedlings and importations, 
together with an A.B.C. list at the end of the work. The catalogue is 
neatly printed and contains thirty-seven pages, and does not state upon 
it whether it is for sale or only for private circulation among the Society’s 
members. 
Yokohama Gardeners’ Association. 
This Association, which is a purely commercial body, have issued an 
illustrated catalogue this year of fruits, shrubs, and flowers. Among the 
Coloured illustratioas are seven of new Chrysanthemums. They are 
fairly well executed, but the types of flowers depicted do not differ in 
any essential points from those already in cultivation here.— P. 
Chrysanthemums—Bud Formation. 
Judging from the notes which are weekly appearing in the Journal 
Chrysanthemum growers and exhibitors are evidently much concerned 
over the abnormally early appearance of crown buds. The cry seems to 
come generally from growers in the south, and I feel certain that those 
living in the midland or northern counties will this year have a great 
advantage over their southern friends in the production of blooms for 
exhibiting at the earlier shows. During ordinary seasons I find crown 
buds show themselves fully a fortnight later in this district than they do 
in Wilts or Hampshire, and during a season like the present the one 
advantage thus gained is great indeed, for provided crown buds are taken 
at the right time the flowers resulting therefrom generally win when 
pitted against others from terminal buds, excepting the cases of special 
varieties. 
I have comparatively few buds appearing too early this year. 
Violet Tomlin, Miss Haggas, Mons. Bahuant, Princess of Wales, Prince 
Alfred, and Lord Wolseley from autumn-struck plants showed their first 
crown buds about July 25th, while spring-struck plants are (August 
12th) showing them now. The former were removed, the latter are being 
taken. Several plants of the Queen family showed buds during the 
first week in August; they were, however, exceptions of the bulk of our 
plants, the buds are now visible, and they could scarcely have appeared 
at a more opportune time. Many of these plants were not struck till 
the last week in January. They are now from 4 to 5 feet in height, the 
stems being very thick and hard at the base. It seems to me that this 
spring propagation is a point which will in the future receive great 
attention, as its effect in delaying the formation of crown buds is a 
matter of vital importance to Chrysanthemum growers, especially in the 
case of early varieties when grown in the south of England. If those 
who send notes on this subject to the Journal will record the difference 
noted between autumn and spring-struck plants, their contributions will 
be extremely valuable. 
Turning to Japanese varieties. It is curious to note that Boule d’Or 
showed buds about the usual time, during the first five days of August. 
Etoile de Lyon from autumn-struck plants, July 22nd ; from cuttings 
inserted at the end of January, buds showed from August 1st to 10th. 
Mrs. F. Jameson, W. W. Coles, from autumn-struck plants, showed buds 
July 29th. Viviand Morel, from cuttings put in at the end bf January, 
showed buds about the same date, a few of these were taken, the others 
removed. W. H. Lincoln, F. Davis, Sunflower, W. Tricker, and Mrs. 
E. Beckett, from cuttings inserted at the same time, preceding variety 
showed buds from the 1st to the 12th of August. Avalanche is the only 
Japanese variety which, with me, produced the whole of the crown buds 
too early to be taken. On plants of many other varieties not specially 
mentioned crown buds are now daily becomins visible, and by the 
20th of August I hope to have every bud taken. Unless we are favoured 
with an exceptionally warm autumn I believe the buds taken on the 
dates above given will produce the finest flowers for exhibiting during 
the first three weeks of November.—H. Dunkin, Castle Gardens, 
WarwicTi. 
NOTES FROM BRISTOL. 
(^Continued from page 123.') 
Henbury Hill. 
These gardens are in charge of Mr. Thomas Smith, one of the most 
genial and practical of gardeners. Mr. Smith has acquired quite a 
local fame for his Tuberous Begonias, which after years of careful 
selection and cross-fertilisation is now equal to almost any of the best 
trade collections. His ideas, however, do not bind him to any hard and 
fast rule as to form and character in either plant or bloom. Equal 
pleasure is derived from the drooping as from erect standing bloom, and 
his standard of excellence do not lead him to discard all but smooth 
petalled flowers. He is fond of form and variety. 
In the stove are healthy plants in variety, and among them I noticed 
some promising seedling Crotons. A batch of Adiantum farleyense, 
occupying a moist corner, seems quite at home, and furnish a good 
groundwork for displaying Calanthes in flower to the best advantage. 
Orchids share a portion of this house, Cypripedium Sedeni being repre¬ 
sented by a good healthy plant which had just finished blooming. 
Dendrobiums in variety, Phalasnopsis, one plant of P. amabilis having 
a spike of flowers now open, with other species and varieties too nume¬ 
rous to mention. Of Freesias there were a good batch of very dwarf 
plants, which will make a good display later on. Mignonette in the 
same house is a partial failure, the first time for eighteen years, this 
being attributable partly to a change in their autumn quarters, this and 
other instances convincing Mr. Smith that plants have a partiality for 
certain positions. Mr. Smith is an adept with Mignonette, one standard 
sort which has been in cultivation now some few years being raised by 
him. 
Eucharis plants standing over a tank of warm water in another house 
have flowered three or four times during the past twelve months, and at 
one time these were so badly infested with mite that drastic measures 
had to be adopted to stamp it out. The leaves were cut away and the 
outer skin of the bulbs removed and thoroughly washed with warm soapy 
water. Following this they were placed in the pots they now 
occupy, and plunged at once into a hotbed, and from that time no mite 
