December 29, 1892. ] 
563 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
which was grown for decorative purposes, certainly looted curious with 
five lilac and four white blooms. The average size of these nine blooms 
was about 8 inches in width.—A. Harding. 
Vi viand Morel for Grouping. 
This is undoubtedly one of the finest varieties we have for grouping 
purposes. At the Brighton Show this year the first prize group con¬ 
tained no less than seventeen large massive blooms of this sort alone. 
As they were placed together in the centre of the group, the display 
was remarkable. The plants were about 4 feet high from the ground 
including the pots ; the colour of the blooms was extremely rich tor 
the variety. The foliage was all that could he desired, and made 
a delightful setting for the blooms, which were large and full, with 
sufficient droop in their florets to make them unusually showy. 
The group in question was composed of decided colours, such as 
Fair Maid of Guernsey, Peter the Great, Etoile du Midi, Jardin des 
Plantes, and Elsie. All were massed in their several colours, and a 
striking effect was produced, and by none more than Viviand Morel.— 
E. Molyneux. 
Mrs. L. C. Madeira. 
The Chrysanthemum bloom I left at your office is an American 
incurved, raised, I think, by Mr. It. Craig of Philadelphia. It is named 
Mrs. Lewis Childs Madeira or Mrs. L. C. Madeira. It was first imported 
into this country last spring. It bears the reputation of being the best 
incurved show flower ever raised in America. It appears to be rather 
late in blooming, but that may be owing to its late arrival on this side. 
It is of fairly good habit, splendid in colour, deep orange yellow deepen¬ 
ing at base of the petals to apricot. The blooms are solid, but a little 
irregular in petal, and like Jardin des Plantes. The bloom is the first 
that opened from rather a weak plant. When fairly grown from good 
cuttings I am of opinion it will make a good show flower. Robert 
Owen. 
[The bloom exceeds 4 inches in diameter and 3J inches deep. It is 
very solid, rather too full of florets, and a little confused. The colour is 
extremely rich, and the variety appears worthy of trial by the 
fraternity.] 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. 
In reply to “ R. M.” (page 532) this grand variety requires very care¬ 
ful treatment to secure good exhibition blooms. It does not require 
such large pots as are generally employed. Great care must also be 
taken by artificial feeding. I prefer taking the buds two or three weeks 
earlier than the general varieties.—C. F. 
This interesting Ja panese variety is still the best of the hirsute section 
in spite of the numerous introductions. There is something so chaste 
about it which is not seen in others. A white sport from Louis Boehmer 
is claimed to be superior, but in my opinion the florets are not massive 
enough to eclipse the original variety when seen at its best. The new 
comer may be a better “doer.” Mrs. A. Hardy has been exhibited 
numerously during the past season, but the general quality lias not been 
good. The finest blooms that I met with during a rather extended tour 
of the best shows was at Windsor, where a special prize was offered for 
six blooms, and, strange to say, every one of the twelve blooms exin bite, 
were perfect. Is not this an instance of what the offering of prizes will 
do towards the cultivation of any particular variety, even when it is 
difficult to produce. The blooms referred to at Bristol.were the result 
of the offering of a special prize. The habit of this variety is naturally 
weak, it being necessary to insert the cuttings in good time ; they should 
be strong. Smaller pots than are usually employed are the best, those 
8 inches in diameter being large enough. Neither does this y ar i et y 
require so much feeding as any other. By topping the plants the first 
week in April, buds will be produced in August ; these give the best 
blooms. As the wood is rather tender keep the plants longer than usual 
in the house in spring.—E. Molyneux. 
National Chrysanthemum Society—The “ Beauty of 
Exmouth” Case. 
Verily the ways of the N.C.S. are peculiar. A Sub-Committee is 
appointed to “investigate” a charge made against a member of its 
Floral Committee ; the result of the “ investigation ” is, that atter 
meeting three times, its members consider the matter settled by accepting 
from the member complained of a statement to the effect that the mam 
facts of the charge are false. Truly, “the mountain hath laboured, &c. 
What a saving of time and expense if all our judges and juries 
would adopt the same course ! But would the public feel that justice 
to both sides had been done? Apparently the majority of the Committee 
are satisfied with the result of the “ investigation.” But all fair-minded 
persons must consider the case is not done with until the charge is either 
proved or refuted by facts. 
In answer to the report of the Sub-Committee, permit me to state 
that I am prepared to swear in the most solemn form of oath which can 
be administered that the main facts of the charge are true, and learning 
some weeks ago the substance of the report I wrote Mr. Dean to this 
effect, but I do not gather that he stated as much to the Committee on 
the 19th inst. , 
What a dread that Sub-Committee has of “ libel.” V e are informed 
that they could not publish the name of the (alleged) offending member. 
I did not understand they were appointed to consider this question at 
all, but simply to investigate a charge which they had before them in 
precise and definite terms. Why the cry for publication of the name 
of the individual ? The matter docs not affect the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture, but the N.C.S., and the Committee know as much now as they 
would if the name were published. 
Perhaps it may not be amis3 for me to quote the concluding para¬ 
graph of a letter which was received by me from Mr. Dean : “ I am an 
older man than you are, and can therefore presume to give you a 
little wholesome advice. Do not throw about charges against com¬ 
mittees and men wildly as you appear disposed to do. You may not 
be able to substantiate these if called upon to do so, as is not unlikely 
you will, and then your position may become one of considerable 
embarrasment to you.” To this I replied I was most anxious to be 
called upon, and I have always been ready for examination. 
Since then 1 have been favoured by Mr. Wells with the corre¬ 
spondence between Mr. Dean and himself respecting “ another member.’ 
Among it I find the following from Mr. Dean “ The enclosed letter 
appears to me to contain a serious libel upon a member of the Floral 
Committee of the above Society, and in mercy I return it to you, and 
advise you not to write in such a way again.” With this was returnel 
a letter which Mr. Wells had requested Mr. Dean to place before the- 
Committee of the N.C.S. , , 
Although Mr. Wells repeatedly requested his case to be brought 
before the Committee, he was informed by Mr. Ballantine (the Chair¬ 
man of the Floral Committee) and Mr. Dean that his matter was a 
“ personal one.” However, Mr. Wells was of a different opinion, and 
ultimately did get his case before the Committee, with the result that 
the member Mr. Wells complained of “ was condemned for his action, 
and this in spite of the Chairman’s and Secretary’s opinion that he 
(Mr. Wells) had no case. T .. 
By the report of the Sub-Committee, I consider I am stigmatised as a 
person who has brought an unfounded charge against another. Grant 
me space to add that I personally had no grievance with anyone, as my 
“ Beauty of Exmouth ” was certificated. I only considered I had a 
duty (unpleasant though I find it) to perform towards the N.C.S. and the 
Chrysanthemum world generally; but the result of the investiga¬ 
tion ” compels me now to leave no stone unturned untd I have 
cleared my own character.—W. J. Godfrey, The Nurseries, Exmouth. 
[We have other letters on the cases referred to, but extreme 
pressure, consequent on the holidays, with the preparation and publica¬ 
tion of the index, forbids their insertion this week.] 
The National Chrysanthemum Society. 
Mr. Dean has invited Mr. Pearson to supply him with the names 
of any’ candidates he considers fit to serve on the Floral Committee of 
the National Chrysanthemum Society, and promises to see they are 
duly nominated for election. I hope Mr. Pearson will promptly avaiD 
himself of this offer, and make a good choice of well-known good 
growers, as it will not only add preBtige to the Society, but test the 
“ circle ” or clique question. Surely other members are entitled to the 
same privilege as Mr. Pearson. I do not know the duties of the present 
Secretary, but the late Mr. Holmes used to apprise country members of 
the principal meeting. . ,. 
As a member of the National Chrysanthemum Society ot some yearn 
standing I naturally feel interested in its welfare, and feel sure if the- 
Committee wish to retain the confidence of its country members their 
doings must be strictly fair and wholly above suspicion. They need' 
not exclude the Press from their meetings, and destroy the only medium* 
available to absent members to know the Society s transactions. 
If we consider the endless number of certificated varieties that are- 
consigned to the rubbish heap after the first year’s trials amongst the 
growers, it seems to suggest the important necessity of some improved 
method of awarding certificates to new untried sorts. But instead of a 
first-class certificate being a genuine guarantee for a first-class variety, 
the certificates appear to be about equally distributed between a few of 
the trade ; but if the Floral Committee were composed more of growers, 
they would not risk their reputation by giving awards to worthless sorts. 
The “ National ” holds two Chrysanthemum shows yearly at the same 
nlace both to suit the southern climate. Why not hold a show to suit- 
the northerners, where the colour of the Chrysanthemum is rarely seen 
before all the southern shows are over? This reminds me if the farce 
of a National man, who has never grown a Chrysanthemum out of the 
London smoke, writing to a northern affiliated society the most suitable 
time to hold their show, instead of recommendsg them to consider their 
own climate and locality. He thought the day following the Aquarium 
Show the most suitable. As the advice was from London it was 
accepted, and the society had the satisfaction to see their prizes going 
away from their best supporters. When at the Aquarium Show last 
November I asked the opinion of one qualified to know whether he 
considered the present show up to the usual standard. He repliet 
without hesitation, “ Certainly not. What would this be if it was not 
for trade exhibits ? ”— J. H. Good ACRE. 
\ 
New Chrysanthemums. 
(Concluded from page 532.") 
Col W B Smith —Were it not that William Seward supplies a 
colour much wanted I should he inclined to give this variety the first 
place in point of merit. The blooms are each 8 inches m diameter and 
5 inches deep without any sign of coarseness. The florets have a semi- 
drooping tendency, the centre quite full. The colour is ntw-a golden 
bronze with a term cotta suffusion. The florets as they unfold meuive 
slightly with a twist, but on development this gradually passes away, i 
do not think the engraving in the Journal of Horticulture (page 42 ) 
