516 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Decembor 7, 1893. 
In Ibeland, 
It is very kind of “ Paddy ” (page 497) to refer to me and my visit 
to Ireland. I can assure him that I am not so unfavourably impressed 
by what I saw as he imagines. True, I did not find Chrysanthemums in 
that condition that would enable their owners to be bold enough to cross 
over to England and “sweep the decks” of the best prizes at the lead¬ 
ing shows. The same remark applies to other countries, where I have 
gone upon the same errand, therefore this may be some consolation to 
“ Paddy.” 
If I did not find Chrysanthemums in the condition your corre¬ 
spondent thinks they should have been upon this occasion, I found 
several things that cannot be excelled in England, viz. enthusiasm 
coupled with a desire to emulate the successful, and a hearty acceptance 
of defeat without the slightest attempt (publicly), and far as I know 
privately, to cavil at the awards or to entertain acrimonious feelings 
towards the successful exhibitors. This is a trait in the character of an 
exhibitor to be proud of, and one that could with advantage be copied 
by not a few on this side of the Channel. 
I did not expect to find Chrysanthemums of the highest order of 
merit, therefore was not disappointed. The date was rather late 
for the finest blooms to be seen, and this is some excuse. I knew that 
the exhibitors were mainly amateurs, but from blooms that were staged 
at the show, “ not for competition,” that had a few days before won 
prizes at the exhibition of the R.H.S. of Ireland held in Dublin, I could 
very well gauge the Chrysanthemums produced in Ireland, and I would 
advise English cultivators not to rest on their laurels or they may find 
a “dish” of Irish-grown blooms set in front of them upon an English 
exhibition table that might be “humiliating” to the latter. If the 
blooms at the Dalkey Show were not entitled to rank as first-class, it is 
only fair to che cultivators to say under what conditions some of these 
said blooms were produced. Especially do I allude to the exhibits of 
the worthy Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. M. Ross, who last year fairly “ cleared 
the board,” but this season was not so fortunate, while his successful 
rival, Mr. J. Smallman, took all before him. 
To return to Mr. Ross and the difficulties he has to encounter in growing 
Chrysanthemums. Rarc-an-ilan, the residence of Mr. Ross, is situated 
on the edge of a clifiE in Dalkey Bay, facing east, about ten miles from 
Dublin. The house is but 40 feet above sea level, and within that dis¬ 
tance from the sea at high water. During the storm which prevailed 
on the 18th, three days before the date of the show, it was not possible 
to see through the dining room windows. The glass was thoroughly 
encrusted with the salt deposit from the spray which was lashed against 
them by the fury of the gale. Within 20 feet of these windows, and 
facing south, stands the greenhouse in which the blooms unfolded their 
florets. The summer quarters of the plants are situated on the western 
side of the house, and but 60 feet from the said dining room windows. 
So enthusiastic is Mr. Ross about his Chrysanthemums that for the 
summer quarters he has appropriated part of his lawn, so that they 
might enjoy more space than hitherto. What would our leading English 
exhibitors say if they were told to produce blooms equal to their present 
standard under similar circumstances ? Surely this is Chrysanthemum 
culture under difiiculties. When these facts are known I doubt not 
but that Chrysanthemum growers generally will agree with me that 
“ Paddy ” need not take so desponding a view of my first impression 
of Ireland. 
With regard to the Show itself the competition was very keen. 
Specimen plants were really well shown, and would have done credit 
to many English meetings. The class for nine distinct specimens 
brought out three exhibitors. Mr. Tower, gardener to J. E. McCormick, 
Esq,, Monkstown, Co, Dublin, was an easy first with plants from 3 feet 
to 4 feet high, not formally trained, but carrying on an average 
thirty to forty blooms each, and of really good quality. Mr. W. 
M’Comas, The Grange, Monkstown, was a good second. In other 
classes for plants Mr. J. Smallman, Shamrock Lodge, Dalkey, was the 
principal prizetaker with excellent examples of W. Holmes, Etoile de 
Lyon, Mdlle, L. Leroy, E. W. Clark, and Source d’Or. So numerously 
were plants staged that a tent had to be requisitioned at the last 
moment, the Town Hall not being nearly large enough to contain all 
the exhibits. This is the first time that I have seen Chrysanthemums 
shown under canvas. 
The cut bloom classes were well represented. In the open classes for 
cut flowers, Mr. Knowldin, gardener to J. G. Nutting. Esq., Gortmore, 
Dundrum, was the principal prizewinner, his exhibits being much in 
advance of any other, the blooms showing good culture, and were neatly 
staged. Mr. Smallman won several first and second prizes, his blooms 
of Florence Davis, E. W. Clark, Viviand Morel, Col. B. Smith, Golden 
Empress, Violet Tomlin, Queen of England, Lord Wolseley, and Jardin 
des Plantes were really creditable. The Anemone blooms from Mr. 
Robert M’Mullen were quite up to English form, being full in the 
centre and neatly staged. Prizes were offered for baskets of Chrys¬ 
anthemums arranged with Ferns and other foliage. Several com¬ 
mendable exhibits were forthcoming, the best coming from Mrs, 
Findlater.—E, Molyneux. 
National Chbysanthemum Society.—Annual Dinnee. 
The members of the National Chrysanthemum Society held their 
annual dinner at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, E.C., on Thursday 
evening, November 30th, and, as on previous occasions, resulted in an 
enjoyable gathering. Sir Edwin Saunders, President of the Society, 
occupied the chair, and he was supported by many influential gentlemen 
interested in the culture of the Chrysanthemum. About 140 persons 
sat down at the tables, and amongst others present we noticed Dr. Low, 
Professor Aguilar, E. Trimmer, Esq., S. Hutchinson, Esq., W. F. Forsyth, 
Esq., Ashley Gibbings, Esq., J. G. McKinlay, Esq., C. E. Shea, Esq., 
J. Halse, Esq, J. W. Wilkinson, Esq., J. T. Berridge, Esq., Messrs. 
C. E. Pearson, R. Ballantine, C. H. Payne, T. W. Sanders, D. B. Crane, 
H. J. Jones, R. Owen, S. Mortimer, and many well-known horticul¬ 
turists. The room was tastefully decorated with large Palms and other 
foliage plants kindly lent by Messrs. E. D. Shuttleworth & Co., Albert 
Nurseries, Peckham Rye, and the tables were embellished with flowers 
sent by Messrs. T. Bevan, G. Langdon, H. Cannell, and others. The 
arrangements were carried out in an efficient manner by Mr. R. Dean. 
Sir Edwin Saunders, after the customary loyal toasts had been 
rendered, proposed the toast of the evening, “ The National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society.” On rising the Chairman observed that he was sure 
the toast would meet with a ready response. He thought it might with 
great propriety be termed “ Continued Success to the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society,” inasmuch the progress made during the past few 
years left nothing to be desired. In proof of this he would give a few 
statistics which had been placed before him. Already 150 new members 
and twelve Fellows have been elected during the present year. (Hear, 
hear.) In addition to this fact nine more societies were recently affiliated. 
The growth of Chrysanthemum societies in Australia and at the Cape 
was a stirring instance of the popularity of this flower. Regarding the 
exhibitions held under the auspices of the N.C.S. during the present 
year, he might say that these had been most successful, not only in the 
extent of the exhibits, but the quality of the flowers. It was acknow¬ 
ledged by experts that some of the Japanese blooms staged at the 
October Exhibition rivalled those generally seen a month later. The 
November Exhibition was one of the finest the Society has ever held, 
there being nearly 500 entries. The meetings of the Floral Committee 
in October and November had been the means of bringing together a 
large number of new varieties, showing the increased interest taken in 
the Chrysanthemum by various raisers. They had received flowers for 
examination from the continent and other parts of the world. Early in 
the present year the Society sent, as they were well aware, blooms 
frozen in ice to New Zealand, and he had reason to believe they created 
much interest there. The educational work of the Society, including 
the papers read at conferences and meetings, had played an important 
part in disseminating a love for this flower. He considered this was a 
record of which those who were mainly instrumental in bringing it 
about may justly be proud. The Society wes established at a period 
when the Chrysanthemum was not in very good favour, but it has 
made marvellou.s progress, and he ventured to think that the world 
was greatly indebted to the N.C.S. for the wonderful improvement 
made in the flower. (Hear, hear.) While occasional spasmodic exer¬ 
tions of a few growers may be useful, it was to the emulations of 
exhibitions held under the auspices of the Soc'ety that one must look 
for advancement. He viewed the Chrysanthemum from three points 
—sesthetic, educational, and commercial. In the first he included the 
improvements in size of flower, form, cultural details, to say nothing 
of the numerous insect pests with which growers had to contend. 
Then the arrangement of the flowers was an important feature, 
seeing that colours were not brought into juxtaposition, but blending 
them harmoniously. With reference to the second point, he had already 
remarked upon the educational work being taken forward by them; 
and as to the commercial side of the question, he hardly dare tread 
upon that ground further than saying that the trade growers merited 
all that could be said in their favour, whether they be actual or potential 
millionaires. (Laughter.) The Chairman concluded by remarking that 
the Chrysanthemum, as we now see it, was a modern flower, and he 
doubted not that the ancient Romans would have given much to have 
possessed such splendid blooms as were so plentiful now for decorating 
the tables at their banquets. (Applause.) 
Mr. R. Ballantine gave the next toast, that of “The Affiliated 
Societies,” and in doing so remarked that they had been a great strength 
to the National Chrysanthemum Society. When the idea was started 
eight years ago fifteen societies became affiliated to the “National,” and 
they had gone on increasing by leaps and bounds until there were now 
102 affiliated societies. Many of these were in Wales, a few in Scotland, 
and, he was glad to say, one in Ireland ; there was also one in the Cape, 
but the greatest pleasure of all was in announcing that they had ten 
affiliated societies in that “ England over the sea ”—Australasia. They 
had been favoured with the presence of representatives from such 
societies on these occasions, and he well remembered the centenary 
festival when a lady representative from Tasmania was present. The 
result of this, and the excellent manner in which their indefatigable 
Foreign Secretary, Mr. C. H. Payne, carried out his arduous duties, was 
that the Chrysanthemum had increased in popularity in the colonies. 
It was from New Zealand that they received the first consignment of 
frozen flowers, and he had the pleasure that of assisting to reciprocate 
by despatching some frozen blooms from one of their exhibitions. These 
flowers had been exhibited in New Zealand and several parts of Australia, 
and were much appreciated. He was pleased to couple with the toast 
the name of Mr, W. Ratchelous, who represented the St, Neots Society, 
which had won the challenge trophy for the third time. (Cheers.) 
Mr. Ratchelous briefly responded, and said that although St. Neots 
was one of the smallest Chrysanthemum societies in the kingdom, most 
people would agree with him that it had been well represented at the 
exhibitions. The members of it had won the trophy three times, and he 
hoped the Society would win it again. It was specially gratifying to him 
to hear that there was an affiliated Society in Ireland, because he had 
