292 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 28, 1893. 
wrowin" they form somewhat large tubes, not unlike erineum, but 
stouter, shorter, and blunt-ended, and from these the mites emerge. 
The tubes are easily seen, and being hairy on the outside are readily 
distinguished from the erineum, which is not hairy on the surfaces. 
The mites at once commence depositing “ buds,” which are almost as 
much in diameter as the four-legged mites which shed them. These 
“ buds” produce more four-legged mites, and all, or such as survive— 
for they have many enemies when they become full fed—pass from this 
into the six and eight-legged stages, and it is the four-legged mites that 
do all the mischief ; or rather they do the work mapped out for them 
by the perfect mite, which deposits its eggs where the succeeding gene¬ 
ration will find the needful food ready for its sustenance. 
What becomes of the mites after they leave the Chrysanthemum buds 
I do not know, but this I do know, they will return at the appointed 
time of breeding and deposit eggs in the flower buds then formed. This 
is seldom deferred beyond July, and as regards Chrysanthemums is 
usually restricted to the king or crown buds, though the side buds are 
occasionally infected. There is one peculiarity about this mite which 
deserves notice, it does not, like other bud mites, cause the buds attacked 
to become abnormally large, and their presence cannot be detected by 
any external sign until the mischief is done—that is by the buds not 
swelling as they ought. 
The only thing likely to be of any use is to syringe the plants with 
bisulphide of calcium (see page 223), 1 pint to 12 gallons of water, 
immediately before or directly the Chrysauthemum buds appear, and 
repeat occasionally to August. Dusting with tobacco powder would 
also act as a preventive. The only remedy is to cut off the early 
crown buds and rely on side buds, which is very plainly set forth in 
“ Chrysanthemums and their Culture,” by Mr. B. Molyneux ; but this 
has no regard to mites, only the practice cuts short their career, as the 
four-legged mites must perish in the decapitated buds, and they certainly 
cannot leave them and enter others. The best thing is to make sure 
and burn every crown bud removed, also cut off every “deaf” bad 
without delay and serve it the same. 
Some people like the large white Daisies, Chrysanthemum Leucan- 
themum maximum. When the plants have the buds “ deaf ”—that is, 
cease to swell and develop flowers, cut off all such and burn them. 
Pursue this with all the buds appearing in a similar condition, and it 
will be found that the plants will produce flowers as well as leaves.— 
G. Abbey. 
Early FLOWEEiNa Chrysanthemums. 
In my former note I am afraid I did not make my meaning clear, 
for 1 do not want to see better things than Chrysanthemums at a show 
where they are supposed to form a leading feature. It was solely for 
the purpose of seeing the display of early Chrysanthemums that I went 
to the Aquarium, but they were unquestionably far less attractive than 
in previous years. The fault, if there be one, scarcely lies with the 
N.C.S., but rather with those who have sung the praises of the early 
section. So much of late years has been said and written about this 
new race and the value of them for outdoor decoration, and I know not 
what else beside, that any true lover of the Chrysanthemum must have 
shared my feelings of disappointment at the very few varieties of 
modern introduction that were staged on the occasion of a show where 
one naturally expects to see a first-class assortment of the best new 
flowers. 
From what I know of the Chrysanthemum circle I should say there 
is a very small percentage of the members of the National Society who 
are ardent admirers of early varieties, and I question whether they are 
wanted. The November Chrysanthemum makes itself beloved on its 
own merits, the early kinds appear to require being subsidized. If that 
be so they are not wanted, and the sooner they cease to exist the better. 
This appears to me to be the more strongly manifest when such dull, 
colourless blooms are placed in striking contrast with Dahlias and 
Gladioli. No flower can hope to retain its hold on the public if it has 
to be propped up with pecuniary assistance; it must assert its own 
inherent value, it must be loved for itself alone, for its form, its colour, 
its beauty, and usefulness. Herein lies the difference between the 
early and the November Chrysanthemums, the latter having all the 
qualities that appeal to the affections of the flower loving community, 
chief of all perhaps being its seasonableness. At the time of year when 
it comes to us in all its fulness it is indeed a thing of beauty, if not a 
joy for ever, and has many thousands of admirers.—P. 
EASTERN LILIES. 
The Duchess of Sutherland, who is an earnest amateur horticul¬ 
turist, writes me to say that the Japanese, Indian, and Levantine Lilies 
which she planted at my suggestion at Trentham last winter have proved 
a gratifying success, and that Her Grace intends to give them a trial 
at Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland, where she is at present residing. Among 
those which have succeeded admirably at Trentham, where I saw them 
recently, are Liliums auratum, longiflorum, speciosum, Kraetzeri, 
Wallacei, Kramerianum or “ Krameri,” and giganteum cordifolium, of 
which the last mentioned, the emperor of Liliums, is grown under glass, 
though this is not requisite to ensure its success. Lilies have been at 
least three weeks earlier than usual this year, but, though in many 
instances they flowered splendidly, they did not grow to their average 
dimensions for want of rain. 
In my own garden L. davuricum, also called umbellatum, flowered 
in May; the beautiful Madonna Lily, Lilium candidum, in June; 
longiflorum and giganteum early in July, closely followed by the 
majestic auratums, the later flowering varieties of which have now the 
harmonious companionship of the exquisitely formed and delicately 
fragrant Lilium speciosum. The cultivator of Eastern Lillies is, mani¬ 
festly, to be envied ; for if even moderately successful he may have 
from the period of the Narcissus to that of the latest autumnal Chrysan¬ 
themum one long, continuous, and infinitely varied bloom. Their 
reign is, therefore, as impressive in its duration as that of the Rose. 
The infamous sparrow has, in my garden, occasionally attacked the 
Gclden-rayed Japanese Lily, and destroyed its noble buds when pre¬ 
paring to expand, but that I may add was before the adjoining corn fields 
were ready for his always unwelcome incursions, since which period he 
has left my Liliums alone.— David R. Williamson. 
Liliums from Colchester. 
We send Lily blooms mostly from plants growing out of doors, viz., 
L. speciosum Kraetzeri, L. s. Melpomene, L. s. macrantha, and L. tigri- 
num Fortune!. Owing to the drought Lilies have had a bad time, the 
flow'er spikes are short and the substance of the blooms thin where 
grown out of doors; but as regards pot culture where moisture has 
been freely given it is quite different, and the blooms and spikes this 
year are very good. We also have included bloom of Lilium neilgherrense 
and L. Henryi. The former Lily has flowered with us very freely 
this year, but requires the aid of glass both to start it and finish 
its growth. Imported bulbs arriving in a shrivelled, poor condition 
late in the spring, plumped up rapidly, and to our surprise grew 
to the flowering stage much better than could have been expected, 
showing that it is really a very vigorous Lily under proper treatment; 
its scent is peculiarly like honey. L. Henryi has been grown by 
us both in pots out of doors and in the open ground. It is a grand 
grower. We received our bulbs from China in the middle of March 
last; they soon began to stir, the growths appeared some six weeks later 
than those established at Kew, and are now in full flower, those at Kew 
being over some six weeks since. It has evidently a hardy constitution, 
and roots very freely, has dark green foliage and numerous flowers. It 
is from these points and from its novel colour a grand Lily for the 
hybridiser. Two points about this new form seem not to have been 
brought forward—its broad beautiful dark green central axis, translucent 
like deep sea water; second, the number of large processes of an 
orange yellow colour which fringe these green axes. It is a beautiful 
flower for ladies to wear, specially for those of a dark complexion, or a 
couple of blooms well backed by the foliage of the scented-leaved 
Pelargoniums are very decorative in a room. We feel convinced that 
this Lily will become a great favourite with the fair sex. 
We are bound to express our surprise on reading the paragraph on 
page 265 reflecting on ourselves in copying your illustration without 
permission. So far from that being correct, we purchased the block 
from your office, and as no stipulation was made as to the use to which 
it might be put we thought, and still think, we had a perfect right to 
use the block in our catalogue.— Wallace «fc Co. 
[The flowers referred to were beautiful. Many of the buds 
expanded on being placed in water, and others are still opening, showing 
the great value of Liliums as cut flowers for decorative purposes. In 
reference to the illustration Messrs. Wallace & Co. had the undoubted 
right, under the circumstances, to use the block in their catalogue. 
Had we known they had purchased it the paragraph would not have 
been written, and it may now be considered as withdrawn. The block 
was sold in the publishing department without the fact being made 
known to the Editor — a purely accidental omission that occurred 
during a moment of pressure in business. Our rule is only to supply 
blocks to the owners or exhibitors of the flowers illustrated, and it is 
not departed from except by special arrangement equitable to all 
parties concerned in their reproduction.] 
GRAPES SHANKING. 
Mr. Richardson’s article on this subject (page 238, September 14th) 
is in some respects a remarkable one. 
1, He says about a dozen bunches left unthinned in 1892 had not 
a shanked berry in them. Nothing is said about the variety left 
unthinned, nor anything stated as to the condition of the thinned 
bunches in that year ; but it is assumed that his subsequent statement 
—namely, “ In previous years there was not a bunch but was more or 
less affected by the disease ” applies to the thinned bunches in 1892. 
This being so, it is clear that the thinning was considered in 1892 to be 
the cause of the shanking, hence the decision to leave the whole crop 
unthinned in 1893. 
2, In anticipation of the prospective heavy erop in 1893 measures 
were taken in advance for its support. A heavy dressing of fresh cow 
manure was given to the borders in the early part of November. 
Inside it could only benefit to the extent of the washings from it 
by artificial watering, Outside there would be washings by rains, 
and the consequent enrichment of the soil. The removal of the 
November dressing of cow manure in February, and the supply 
of another dressing then, left till the first week in May, is a 
method of enriching the soil with one of the most soapy, close, 
and retentive of manures in the winter season. It is an old and 
bad practice. 
3, The feeding twice a week with the undiluted drainings of the 
