224 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 7, 1893. 
Chrysanthemums in the Parks. 
Chrysanthemums are somewhat extensively used for bedding 
purposes in many of the public parks in London, and with good effect. 
At Regent’s Park I recently noticed several beds filled with the early 
flowering varieties, and these on a dull day are very striking at this time 
of the year. In Hyde Park, too, summer Chrysanthemums form a 
feature, and are usually much admired, the same applying to those in 
other public places around the metropolis.—C. 
National Chrysanthemum Society. 
A MEETiNGt of the General Committee of this Society was held on 
Monday evening at Anderton’s Hotel. Fleet Street, Mr. Harman Payne 
occupying the chair. The minutes of the meeting of April 12th, and of 
the special meeting of July 2l8t, were read and confirmed, after which 
the Chairman read a suggestion from New Zealand that inasmuch as 
certain colonial growers were of opinion that their cultivation of 
Japanese varieties was little, if at all, behind the home growers, the 
N.C.S. should offer a medal or other prize open to all growers or societies 
in the Australian Colonies, these exhibits to be sent over at the exhi¬ 
bitor’s expense, and staged at one of the Society’s exhibitions. It was 
resolved that the matter be referred to the Schedule Sub-Committee. 
The Gosport, Crediton, and Tenby societies withdrew from afSliation. 
The Secretary announced that the receipts up to the present amounted 
to more than £150, and that the promises to the reserve fund had nearly 
all been fulfilled. An election of a member to the Floral Committee in 
place of Mr. E. Sanderson, deceased, was then proceeded with, resulting 
in the appointment of Mr. Edwin Molyneux by a substantial majority. 
The unsuccessful candidates were Mr. D. B. Crane and Mr. Witty. 
Mr. Pearson of Chilwell and Mr. Shea being desirous of laying their 
views before the Committee in regard to certain matters concerning the 
working of the Society, it was, after some discussion, resolved that the 
former be invited to attend one of the meetings in October, and the 
latter a meeting in December to do so. Eleven new members were 
elected, and the Port Elizabeth Chrysanthemum Society (Cape of Good 
Hope) received in affiliation. A vote of condolence to one of the 
Society’s Vice-Presidents, Sir John D. Llewelyn, was passed on the 
occasion of the melancholy fatal accident to his son. 
COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
Some weeks ago a writer in this Journal remarked that a note-book 
was “ a record of impressions which pass away as rapidly as they come, 
leaving behind them nothing but a memory.” Such is not exactly the 
case, for “ impressions ” occasionally leave something more than “ a 
memory; ” but it frequently happens, as your correspondent observed, 
that many useful hints are hidden away between the pages of a note¬ 
book, long forgotten it may be by the owner. There are exceptions, but 
these only go to prove the rule, and how much important matter is thus 
kept hermetically sealed from the world it would be difficult to say. 
One thing, however, is certain, and that is if readers were to turn over 
the pages of their records, sifting the corn from the chaff, and let the 
bright light of publicity shine upon anything that might be useful to 
the gardening community, they would be benefactors. 
In this matter 1 am not altogether blameless, for it is my custom to 
fill many note-books. Some of my observations are recorded for the 
benefit of the public, others sink into oblivion. For the purpose of 
adding to my store 1, in common with others interested in horticulture, 
wended my way to the great Show held under the auspices of the Royal 
Horticultural Society at the Agricultural Hall last week, and there 
made a few notes, but observed more. Some of my impressions, I 
concluded, would be worth “ putting into print,” but after reading the 
detailed report of the Show which appeared in the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture last week, second thoughts suggested themselves, and the old 
German proverb, “ Speech is silver and silence is gold,” came uppermost 
in my mind. However, the pleasure of writing conquered, and there 
can be no harm in referring to a few points that to me were specially 
interesting. _ 
The first question that suggested itself to me was. Is the Show a 
success ? From an artistic point of view it undoubtedly was, for, not 
even excepting the display in the Temple Gardens, it was one of the 
finest fruit, flower, and vegetable exhibitions ever seen in London. The 
exhibits as a whole were of a high-class character, and the arranging of 
them perfect. There were, it is true, one or two hitches in regard to 
the staging, but these were alluded to last week, so let them pass. Yes, 
the Council of the R.H.S. did their part well so far as getting together 
a niagnificent collection of garden produce was concerned; but were 
their efforts appreciated ? In other words, was the Show financially 
speaking a success? Judging by the number of visitors present on 
most days a negative reply might safely be given. On the opening day 
the attendance was decidedly poor, and on Thursday afternoon—from 
3 o’clock to 7 in the evening—it was miserably thin. There were on the 
latter occasion perhaps not more than 200 people—truly a sorry number 
for such a grand Show. It is reported that only £40 were taken at the 
barriers on the opening day. How does this compare with £535 taken 
at Shrewsbury on their opening day, and on a subsequent day £1400 ? 
Some persons present were puzzled to know why the exhibition was 
so poorly attended, and were busily suggesting various causes. “The 
Show has not been advertised enough,” mournfully observed a stand- 
holder, who parenthetically informed me that he had paid a sovereign 
per foot of floor for his stall; but a champion of the Agricultural Hall 
Company close by remarked that it was the people who did not respond. 
That is so, and as we all knew it was the true cause of the thin attend¬ 
ance. The Agricultural Hall is a grand place in which to hold a large 
flower show, but for this purpose the hall itself is in the wrong position. 
Everyone who knows the north-east of London as well as I do will 
agree with me that flower shows are not consistent with the tastes of 
the inhabitants of ” Merrie Islington.” The Islingtonians will flock in 
thousands to see a Military Tournament or a “ World’s Fair ” with all its 
monstrosities; but they will not pay a shilling or sixpence to see a 
magnificent display of fruit, flowers and vegetables. That I predicted 
long ago, and, now it is too late, perhaps those responsible for the affair 
will agree with me. Had it been possible to have induced a member of 
the Royal Family or some other notability to open the exhibition 
formally, it might have proved some impetus to the attendance, but as it 
is from that point of view a failure must be recorded. 
At the risk of being set down as an incurable pessimist there is 
another point to which I should like to refer—namely, the difficulty 
exhibitors had to obtain passes. Whether this was so in every case I 
am not prepared to say, but a report reaches me that a representative of 
one of the largest exhibitors had some trouble in this respect. More 
than one unlucky attendant with exhibits had to remain in the hall 
the whole day, for his ticket only permitted him to enter once. Surely 
this is short-sighted policy on someone’s behalf, and can do no good. I 
could not ascertain what arrangements were made between the R.H.S. 
and the Agricultural Hall Company, and am therefore at a loss to know 
whom to blame. That matters but little, however, for the error is 
equally as apparent, and should not have been committed. 
But while pointing out these little failings one must not forget the 
many good things that were observable. As already mentioned, it was 
a grand show, and worthy of a better attendance. Fruit formed a 
notable feature, the long tables of gigantic Apples of perfect shape and 
colouring reminded one of the splendid exhibition in the Guildhall a 
few years ago. The Apples, Pears, Plums, and Peaches exhibited by 
Messrs. T. Rivers & Son were magnificent, and had such a splendidly 
finished appearance about them as to “ make one’s mouth water.” 
Growers no doubt made a note of the valuable Monarch Plum, which 
was conspicuous in this exhibit, as being one of the best late varieties in 
cultivation. Messrs. Bunyard, Veitch, Cheal, and Paul likewise, in 
putting forth their best efforts, gave visitors a proof of what they are 
capable of doing in growing fruit. The majority of the Apples staged 
were remarkable for their colouring ; in a few cases the fruits were as 
rich-looking as Pineapple Nectarines. Some of the Apples were not 
quite so large as I have seen them, perhaps owing to the prolonged 
drought, but Mr. Woodward, Barham Court Gardens, Maidstone, staged 
a fruit of Peasgood’s Nonesuch which, according to a notice on the 
exhibition card, weighed 23 ozs. 
Grapes were beautifully coloured, and as a whole shown in splendid 
condition. This was the general verdict of many experts present. One 
curious fact, however, appeared to have escaped the notice of many 
observers, and it may be worth recording. As reported in your last 
issue, Mr. S. T. Wright, gardener to C. Lee Campbell, Esq., Glewstone 
Court, Ross, exhibited some magnificent 6 lb. bunches of Black Alicante 
Grapes, which for perfect finish could not be excelled. So far so good, 
and, as they should be, the Grapes were much admired. But when 
visitors read printed in bold type on a placard placed in front of the 
Grapes, “ These Vines were winter-dressed with ‘ Killmright,’ 4 ozs. to the 
gallon,” it appears as if something was wrong. “Would it not have 
been better to have substituted ‘Feedmright’ for ‘Killmright?’” 
sensibly remarked a bystander. Perhaps it would, for if Mr. Wright 
had dressed his Vines with the “ Killmright ” insecticide, it was 
obvious that he had also “ fed ’em right! ” 
In glancing over the numerous cut flowers one class in the competitive 
section struck me as being somewhat out of the common. I refer to 
“ a collection of Dahlias arranged for effect.” There were two exhibitors 
in this class—Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons and Messrs. Keynes, Williams 
and Co. As already reported, the first-mentioned firm secured the 
premier award for a really meritorious exhibit. The Dahlias com¬ 
prising the various sections were arranged in sprays, and being fresh 
and clean on the opening day made an imposing display. But was it 
not a little out of place to use Maidenhair Ferns and small Palms in 
pots among these flowers ? Asparagus sprays were also employed which 
would pass muster, these being grown out of doors, as the flowers were ; 
but I cannot help thinking that the Palms and Ferns looked a little 
ambiguous. True, nothing definite was stated in the schedule, and 
under these circumstances exhibitors were at liberty to use what they 
