404 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 2, 1893. 
the finest buds are incautiously given an overdose of stimulants, which 
causes many of the surface roots to be destroyed, and a corresponding 
loss of foliage. The florets then for a time expand so slowly that with 
the best of attention it is seldom possible for the flower to become fully 
developed before the lower petals begin to decay through age, conse¬ 
quent upon impeded root action having prevented the flower from 
opening in its usual time. In such instances it is a good plan to remove 
as much of the centre of the flower as is thought will not expand while 
the lower petals keep fresh ; although this kind of damping is usually 
caused through over-watering, combined with a damp and stagnant 
atmosphere, it is sometimes brought about by the opposite extreme. 
Knowing the evils which arise from over-watering, some cultivators 
nervously avoid the medium course, and allow the plants to become too 
dry at the roots, especially during bright weather. When in this 
condition, if the flowers are examined before water is given, the florets 
will be found to have temporarily lost their crispness, and feel soft and 
flabby to the touch. The application of water renders the stem crisp 
and firm again, but the following day a slight discolouration of the 
lower fiorets may be noticed, the whites and yellows frequently become 
tinted with pale pink, which most of us know is a sure indication that 
their freshness is on the wane. 
Perhaps the most destructive form of damping is that which shows 
itself in spots or blotches over the whole or only certain parts of a 
flower. Almost every flower in a house is sometimes more or less 
affected in this way. This wholesale damping, which is indeed calami¬ 
tous, may, I believe, be almost entirely prevented if no mistakes are 
made in the management of ventilation and artificial heat, and a little 
shade is judiciously given. The condensation of moisture upon the 
flowers is the cause of this damping. If the moisture is allowed to 
remain upon them for any length of time they become much discoloured. 
On the other hand, should evaporation take place very quickly many of 
the flore s shrivel as if they had been scalded, and indeed the disaster is 
brought about in much the same way as that which induces scalding 
in Grapes. Oar remedy, therefore, is to prevent the condensation of 
moisture upon the flowers. This may undoubtedly be accomplished by 
keeping a little heat in the hot-water pipes whenever the weather is 
dull or damp, and at all times leaving the top ventilators slightly open 
wherever they are so arranged as to prevent rain entering the house. 
So long as the heat remains in the pipes I have never found any harm¬ 
ful effects from leaving air on at all times, and it proves as if even the 
safety valve through which superfluous moisture is dispelled. If on 
entering the house early in the morning moisture is seen hanging in 
drops upon the glass and sashbars, it may be taken for granted that 
the heat has not been kept regular. Should the hot-water pipes be 
found quite cold the first thing in the morning it is a mistake to push 
the fire on sharply and get them very hot. This should be done 
gradually, otherwise a great amount of drip will take place. 
Those who have houses with iron sashbars will find the greatest 
difficulty in preventing the condensation of moisture on the roof, and 
consequent drip, but with continual ventilation and steady heat it may 
in all instances be reduced to a minimum if the more air is admitted in 
the morning before the temperature begins to rise. This is important, 
as I find many are inclined to delay the admission of more air till 
too late. Whenever the day promises to be bright it is advisable 
to have the pipes cool by the time the sun strikes the house, otherwise 
the rapid evaporation caused by the action of sun, air, and fire heat 
combined will assuredly cause the florets to scald, and although shading 
plays an important part in preventing this it will not do so entirely. 
There is one other form of damping which is happily not very frequent. 
Sometimes a flower may open in a satisfactory way up to a certain stage, 
when it ceases to make further progress, but to all appearance is quite 
sound; closer inspection will, however, reveal the fact the centre at the 
base of each floret is quite decayed, and the flower useless. Drip falling 
into the centre of the flower would, I have no doubt, produce a similar 
effect, but I think it is seldom caused in that way, because I have never 
noticed this happen in the case of a plant which was quite healthy and 
vigorous up to the time of the occurrence. Its advent is usually marked 
by the soil not drying so quickly as formerly. This I think is cause! 
by overfeeding to the extent of bringing about a complete breakdown in 
the constitution of the plant, or by persistent over-watering, which in 
time kills many of the young roots. 
At all times the plants should be arranged as thinly as the space at 
command will allow. Packing them closely together, so that after 
watering the soil is so long in getting dry again renders the work of 
preventing (lamping all the more difficult. I am firmly convinced that 
if many cultivators would grow fewer plants, and thus avoid crowding 
when the time arrives for housing, they would produce a proportionately 
greater number of really good flowers.—D. H. 
Chrysanthemum Prospects around Bolton. 
Once again has the season come round to record the prospects of the 
Chrysanthemums, and from a visit that has been made to the many 
excellent collections grown in the neighbourhood of Bolton, it is gratify¬ 
ing to note that there is no abatement in the enthusiasm in the cultiva¬ 
tion of the “ Autumn Queen.” The plants are the finest ever grown in 
the locality, showing that whatever may have been the effect of the 
excessively hot summer in other parts, it has been conducive to the 
well-being of Chrysanthemums in this rather uncongenial climate. 
It is not my intention to enumerate what I found in each collection 
separately, further than saying on all sides, both where they are 
grown for home decoration as well as where cultivated for exhibition, 
very fine displays are anticipated. Foremost amongst the Japanese are 
Viviand Morel, Mdlle. Marie Hoste, W. H. Lincoln, Mrs. F. Jameson, 
W. Tricker, Florence Davis, Stanstead White, W. W. Coles, Puritan, 
Gloire du Rocher, Edward Molyneux, Avalanche, and J. Stanborough 
Dibben. Of the new kinds the most promising are William Seward, 
John Shrimpton, Lord Brooke, Col. W. B. Smith, G. W. Childs, and Mrs. 
E. D. Adams. 
Amongst the incurved those of the Queen family are remarkably 
fine, so also are the Princess of Wales and all its sports. The same 
applies to John Salter, Lord Wolseley, and Jeanne d’Arc. Of the new 
kinds Mrs. Robinson King, Madame Barrier, Mrs. Clibran, Ami Hoste 
are the most promising, and Mons. R. Bahuant is grand. 
In many cases I fear the bloom will be too early for our forthcoming 
Show, November 17th and 18th, for which a very comprehensive sehedule 
has been prepared and liberal prizes are offered. The great event to 
Bolton people is the President’s (R. K. Cross, Esq.) prize, a handsome 
silver cup for twelve incurved and twelve Japanese eut blooms. This 
class is confined to growers residing within eight miles of Bolton. The 
leading class in the open section is for twelve incurved and twelve 
Japanese cut blooms, and the prizes are £5, £3, £2. For a similar class 
of twenty-four cut blooms, miscellaneous, the prizes are £3, £2, £1. We 
hope the Show this year will be the best we have ever had, for in 
addition to our ordinary prizes we are giving two medals of the Rojal 
Horticultural Society, and every endeavour is being made to make it a 
success by the Committee and its Secretary, Mr. Hicks, Markland Hill, 
Bolton.— Visitor. 
Chrysanthemums in the South. 
Now that the exhibition season is close at hand a few notes on the 
prospects of the leading growers and exhibitors from any neighbourhood 
are interesting, and being lately in the Portsmouth district I had a 
glance over a few collections of plants. 
Rooksbury Park. 
This, the seat of J. Carpenter Gamier, Esq., produced the winning 
blooms at the exhibition held at Portsmouth last year. Mr. N. Molyneux 
has some promising plants, not too robust in growth, but with wood fully 
matured and likely to give blooms of high quality, it not of exceptional 
size. The Japanese varieties are more advanced than their compeers— 
the incurved—and include all the novelties of last year as well as some 
promising kinds for this season. Such varieties as G. Savage, Princess 
May, L’Ami Etienne, G. C. Schwabe, Mrs. C. H, Payne, W. K. Wood¬ 
cock, Princess Victoria, John Shrimpton, W. Seward, President Borel, 
Le Verseau, Lord Brooke, Le Prince du Bois and Charles Davis are 
worthily represented. The incurved section are later. All the time 
available will be needed to develop the blooms fully by the early shows. 
The second week in November should see here a fine display. 
Leigh Park. 
This, the country residence of Sir F. Fitzwygram, is a few miles 
from Portsmouth and close to Havant, another centre of Chrysanthemum 
interest. Mr. Penford has for some years past been a leading exhibitor 
at the shows in the district, as well as at Brighton and Southampton. 
He has excellent plants this year—in number about 500. The Japanese 
section promised to afford some grand blooms. Florence Davis was 
remarkably fine ; the same remark applies to Edwin Molyneux which 
was especially rich in colour. Excelsior, Anna Hartshorn, Marquise 
de Paris, Mrs. C. H. Payne of huge size, Stanstead White, Beauty of 
Castle Hill, W. Seward, and Sunflower. The leading kinds in the 
incurved section were naturally later but most promising in appearance. 
Nowhere in the south have I seen the Anemone sections better shown 
than from here. This year bids fair to be no exception to the rule from 
the present appearance of the plants. 
Havant. 
Mr. Agate’s Chrysanthemum nursery is well known, not only for the 
quality of the blooms produced, but for the number of new sorts yearly 
on trial. Prominent amongst these carrying good blooms were Charles 
Davis, the new sport from that now universal favourite Viviand Morel, 
Madame Octavie Mirbeau, Duke of York, Golden Wedding, Miss Watson, 
Lord Brooke, G. Savage, The Tribune, W. H. Atkinson, G. W. Childs, 
Robert Owen, Mrs. Hubbuck, and Beauty of Exmouth. The incurved 
section were later, but promised well. Several new sorts are on trial, 
of which more may be heard later. 
Stanstead Park. 
Mr. Hoskins, the gardener here, although not an exhibitor, grows 
not less than 700 plants, producing blooms of show quality. The Queen 
family are very late, many of them being run on to terminal buds. 
Prince Alfred, Jeanne d’Arc, Nil Desperandum, Refulgens, and Novelty 
are very good. Bouquet des Dames is here a great favourite in the 
Japanese section, and so are Avalanche, Sunflower, Viviand Morel, 
and Edwin Molyneux. It seems a pity that with such fine plants Mr. 
Hoskins does not exhibit the produce at some of the neighbouring 
shows. 
SwANMORE Park. 
Although not at the present time an exhibitor, Mr. Molyneux culti¬ 
vates quite as many plants as when he tried to win prizes. The 
majority of the new sorts are grown with a view of testing their 
capabilities. Owing to structural alterations the plants are later than 
usual, but judging from the moderately strong yet firm wood and stout 
