September 14, 1893, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
249 
National Chrysanthemum Society. 
I DO not know who is responsible for the wording of the last paragraph 
re N.C.S. on page 224 of your last issue, but the impression it conveys is 
distinctly incorrect, as my offer was in response to a personal invitation 
by the Secretary. Kindly correct.— Chas. B. Pearson. 
Chrysanthemum Show at Bordeaux. 
The 118th Exhibition of the Horticultural Society of the Gironde 
will be held on the 11th to the 18th November next. It will be devoted 
to Chrysanthemums and fruit, in the former of which are classes provided 
for plants in pots, seedlings not already in commerce, cut blooms, &c. 
Entries must be made by the 30th prox. The Secretary is Mr. G. 
Michel. 
Early Flowering Chrysanthemums. 
Visitors to the recent Aquarium Show, and especially such as are 
interested in the Chrysanthemum, must have felt much disappointment 
at the meagre and far from satisfactory display that the early varieties 
made on that occasion. When we think that we have now hundreds of 
varieties to choose from, is it not strange that the exhibits were almost 
wholly confined to old-established sorts ? As is usual at the September 
Exhibition, there were a few of the later sorts prematurely pushed into 
bloom to provide examples for the Show board ; but this is a mere com¬ 
ment by the way. 
In the best collections novelties were scarce, and the competitors 
seemed to prefer to rely upon varieties of old standing, the principal 
ones being the Desgranges family, Early Blush, Mrs. Jolivart, St. Mary, 
Golden Fleece, Fiberta, Mrs. J. K. Pitcher, Higham, Mr. Selby, Little 
Bob, Blushing Bride, Pynaert van Geert, and the like. The only flowers 
of modern introduction were Arthur Cr4pey (a small yellow Japanese), 
Gustave Grunerwold, Samuel Barlow, and Mr. B. Kowbottom, the last 
two receiving first-class certificates. 
Perhaps the prize list was not sufficiently attractive to induce 
exhibitors to stage the best new varieties of recent introduction, but 
even if it had been I cannot help feeling that it is anything but 
encouraging to arrange Chrysanthemums beside the glowing brilliant 
colours of the Dahlia and Gladiolus. It makes them look tawdry, 
washed out, dingy flowers, and out of place with such gay companions 
close at hand. Seen beneath a dull November sky of the orthodox pea- 
soup-coloured hue the Chrysanthemum is intensified in colour, or is 
apparently so, and possesses a charm which it never seems to have at 
any other season of the year. It is invaluable then ; but when Dahlias, 
Asters, Gladioli, and other flowers can be had in galore, the question 
arises. Are Chrysanthemums wanted 1 I for one cannot help thinking— 
No 1 and the more strongly if the dull unattractive washed-out blooms 
we saw on the solitary table devoted to Chrysanthemums at the Aquarium 
last week represent all that is fairest to look upon in the way of early 
flowering Chrysanthemums.—P. 
THE ROMANCE OF A GARDEN. 
In an iold-fashioned garden, sufficiently modernised to prevent the 
existence of too much shade at the expense of light and air, we are at 
once, as I often feel myself, in the present and in the past. Surrounded, 
not too closely, by the venerable trees which our grandsires planted 
and our fathers greatly loved, each of these perhaps having through 
long associations with human experiences a history of its own, we 
breathe a tranquillity as if of other days. To watch from day to day, 
as the lover of Nature who possesses such a garden can always do, the 
development, so beautiful in its indefinable gradations, of plants and 
flowers ; to witness the ffinotheras or Evening Primroses unfolding 
their beauties when they are touched by the cool, freshening, energising 
twilight, while they kept folded by day under the influence of the sun ; 
to behold in early dew-glittering hours of summer the fresh splendours 
of the Lily, the Carnation, and the Rose ; this, more than all Romeo 
and Juliet romances, constitutes, to my consciousness, the purest poetry 
of life. It is not long since a great general, to whom I have often 
spoken, with his perfect approval, of the mental elevation which horti¬ 
culture can confer, said that flowers were to him the very fragrance of 
an existence that had seen much of strife, and the conceptions to 
which 1 have given expression are the echo of his words. 
At no period are our gardens more luxuriant in their aspect than 
during the tranquil season of autumn. Then the dark Roses, no longer 
scorched by the withering heat of summer, assume their exquisite 
velvety hue, not difficult to discern, but difficult to deflne. Then, in 
my own garden at least, every aged tree is covered to a height of 
15 feet with the glorious blossoms of the great Tropmolum, the Scarlet 
Runner, and the fragrant Sweet Pea, the last mentioned blooming— 
in consequence of the prevention of seed pods—from the end of June 
till the beginning of December, when the frost comes suddenly and cuts 
it down. Here also, at this season, border Carnations, the yellow 
Germania, crimson Clove, the pink-hued Raby Castle, and the fragrant 
white Gloire de Nancy, combine with the autumnal Roses by which 
they are surrounded to produce a splendidly artistic effect. 
The Carnation has been described by the Dean of Rochester as 
“First Lady-in-Waiting to the Rose;” but during the last month, 
notwithstanding all her efforts to keep pace with her, the queen of 
flowers has been completely in the shade. Twice during the seasons of 
summer and autumn does the Rose assume the royal sway ; during her 
period of repose the Carnation reigns supreme. But both have powerful 
rivals in Lilium auratum and Lilium speciosum, which contribute 
powerfully to the fragrance and beauty of the garden in their season.— 
David R. Williamson. 
LITTONIA MODESTA. 
Although this Littonia is said to have first flowered at Kew about 
forty years ago it does not appear to be generally grown in gardens, 
inasmuch as a young gardener writes to say that he has “ never seen a 
specimen, and should like an illustration of it to appear in the Journal” 
We comply with the request, and add a few particulars concerning the 
plant. 
Although nearly related to the well-known Gloriosa superba, this 
little plant is quite distinct enough to take generic rank, and though of 
an unassuming character as its name indicates, it is of graceful habit, 
and the freely produced flowers are brightly blurred. Littonia modesta 
is a native of Natal, where it was found by Mr. John Sanderson during 
a journey in 1851 from Port Natal to Maritzburg. In habit it is much 
like the Gloriosa, having tapering leaves terminating in a tendril-like 
point, which aids it in climbing stems or twigs. The flowers are borne 
in the axils of the leaves, are drooping, and bright orange coloured. The 
