402 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ November 3, 1892. 
tions might be thrown open to the public expressly to aid the garden 
charities. It is too late to work this field fully this season perhaps, 
but local or show committees and private or trade growers may take 
the hint now and accomplish something. The time for the election of 
candidates on to the Funds is coming near, and the greater the pecuniary 
help the more candidates can be elected.—A. D. 
Calls on Celebrities. 
On the eve of the Chrysanthemum season its prospects are always 
discussed with interest, and the condition of each grower’s plants is a 
matter of lively speculation ; a Journal representative has therefore 
made calls on some of the leading growers, with a view to gathering 
readable information for the benefit of fellow cultivators. He finds a 
general complaint that the plants are late, but everything points to a 
season of quite average excellence, and of more than average interest. 
The number of new varieties is greater than ever. The air is full of 
rumours about extraordinary novelties, but that is a chronic condition 
after all. The American, French, and German contributions are liberal 
to a degree, and there will also be a considerable number of British 
seedlings to take stock of. The latter is a welcome feature, and the 
products of home hybridisation will be looked for with special interest. 
Mr. H. J. Jones. 
If there is one man in the Chrysanthemum world more than another 
who may view his work with pride it is Mr. H. J. Jones. A little 
boastfulness might even be pardonable in the face of what he has 
accomplished, but Mr. J. is as modest as he is able, and leaves ethers to 
do the praising. So extraordinary has been the growth of his business 
and the development of his collection that it might almost be styled 
phenomenal. Two grand houses, each 103 feet long by 25 feet wide, are 
filled with plants in robust health. The structures are of a most 
substantial character, and the system of ventilation is a splendid one. 
The main show house now contains about 3500 plants, arranged in two 
broad banks, with a central path between them, and the effect they 
produce may almost be described as magnificent even at this early period. 
What it will be about the middle of November every Chrysanthemum 
lover should see for himself. The Ryecroft Nursery is at Hither Green, 
Lewisham, and a very good way of getting to it is to take the train to 
Lewisham Junction from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, or London 
Bridge, then walk or take the tram to Hither Green. A few minutes 
suffice in either case. Mr. Jones has not been settled there long, but his 
place is already famous, and there is no difficulty in finding him. During 
the years that he has been struggling for the position in the Chrysan¬ 
themum world there is one thing that his worst enemy could never deny 
him, and that is the credit of being a tremendous worker. His career 
has been chequered, but through good and evil report he has striven hard 
and unceasingly ; all the more pleasant is it therefore to record that 
fortune is now carrying him forward to such brilliant success. 
All that money, work, and energy can do to get a complete collection 
of Chrysanthemums together is being done by Mr. Jones. He has all 
the leading varieties, together with a large number of novelties. The 
season being somewhat late, many of the best kinds were not out at 
the time of our representative’s call; nevertheless, there was plenty to 
admire. It will be more interesting, no doubt, to make a few’ brief 
references to the novelties than to devote space to the varieties which 
are familiar. Mr. J. Lyne will perhaps be considered an improved 
Mons. Elliott. It is a dwarf, strong grower, with large bronze coloured 
flowers. White Louis Boehmer at once arrests attention. Mrs. Alpheus 
Hardy has given us a considerable amount of trouble, but here we have 
a pure white with hairy florets having the sturdy growth and strong 
constitution of the “ pink Ostrich Plume,” and there is no doubt that a 
great demand will spring up for it. Mr. Jones has a good many plants, 
and the character is the same in them all. President Carnot is a pro¬ 
mising incurved. It was sent out as a crimson, but that colour is in 
the upper surface of the petal and hidden through the incurving ; the 
flower appears, therefore, as a greyish buff. It is large and massive. 
Mrs. Harman Payne, a deep rose Japanese, is coming very fine, and 
another most promising variety of the same section is Comte F. Lurani, 
which has long broad pale florets with a rosy lilac margin, and is dwarf 
and sturdy. Ethel Paul (J), though one of the now numerous army of 
whites, is distinct in character, having broad incurving florets. Sylphide 
(J), is notable for its beautiful and perfectly distinct shade of yellow, 
which charms everyone who sees it. Amos Perry (J), is another pro¬ 
mising yellow. It is of the character of Coronet, but comes better. 
Ami Jules Chretien (J), is noteworthy from its rich maroon colouring. 
Ryecroft Glory (J), will prove to be a leading market sort. It is dwarf 
and bushy, with abundance of bright yellow flowers. It was in bloom 
seven weeks ago, and now has an abundant second crop. The seed was 
sown on the 2nd of February. Mons. Bredernier (J), is a rich carmine 
flower, and Gaetano Guelphi (J), a fine white with curled florets. The 
“yellow Lacroix,” Mr. C. E. Shea, is in fine condition. It is remark¬ 
able, like the old white, for its freedom of blooming. Colonel Smith 
was not fully out, but was giving rich promise of future excellence, and 
the same may be said of J. Stanborough Dibben, a wonderfully dwarf 
and sturdy grower. Miss Watson (J), is a yellow with the characters of 
Avalanche. 
These are but a few out of many. Let everyone who has an oppor¬ 
tunity or can make one go and see for himself what Mr. Jones is doing. 
A visit will be richly repaid, and the general verdict will probably be 
that the Lewisham grower has secured a long lead amongst metropolitan 
Chrysanthemum growers. 
Messrs. Reid & Bornemann. 
Trewsbury Road is a broad and pleasant thoroughfare, half a mile, 
or a little less, from Sydenham station, and in it is situated the nursery 
of Messrs. Reid & Bornemann, who have in a very short time made them¬ 
selves a reputation in the Chrysanthemum world. They began with 
ideas of grouping which differed fr, m those usually prevailing, and 
success smiled upon their efforts to carry them into effect from the first. 
They believed, for one thing, in quality of bloom, which to many had 
been a consideration of very little importance. Thus not only were 
their plants always effectively arranged, but there was something in the 
groups which repaid a close as well as a general survey. Next they 
attached due weight to finish. Instead of a “ beggarly array ” of bare 
stems in the front, their groups were conspicuous for lines of dwarf 
plants 1 to 2 feet high, well clothed with foliage and carrying excellent 
flowers. These imparted an appearance of completeness which was at 
once pleasing and natural. Their good deeds of this nature were 
rewarded with a shower of first prizes and a reputation that has doubt¬ 
less proved still more valuable to them. 
Messrs. Reid & Bornemann grow about 2500 plants, to afford se’ec- 
tions for showing. This may seem a very large number, considering 
that they practically restrict themselves to grouping ; but they have a 
very good foreign connection, and at the present time have four 
important continental exhibitions to engage their attention apart from 
those which they will compete at in England. They have several houses 
of plants, and assuredly will be even harder to beat this season than they 
have been previously, for they have a great variety of material, admir¬ 
ably grown, and carrying fine flowers. The exhibitor who sets up a 
group good enough to defeat them will achieve a noteworthy feat. The 
J'ournal representative paid a somewhat early visit, and the collection 
was not, therefore, in full flower; but there were many new and old 
varieties, either open or opening. One of the specially good things of the 
collection was Gloire du Rocher, which has turned out to be a splendid 
acquisition. It is a fine grower, and the beautiful chestnut red flowers 
have a very marked individuality. Avalanche is good, as usual—dwarf, 
sturdy plants, bearing beautiful blooms. Hamlet, with its distinct rosy- 
red flowers, very freely produced, is also noteworthy. W. H. Lincoln is 
very fine ; it is a dwarf strong grower, may be had either in September, 
October, or November, and is rapidly earning the character of being the 
best yellow Japanese in cultivation. Alberic Lunden is another sterling 
acquisition ; it is carrying some splendid blooms, and the rich purplish 
crimson hue is most effective; Viviand Morel and Jeanne Dblaux are 
coming on well, and so is Mr. A. H. Neve ; Yiviand Morel has white 
and pink flowers on the same plant, the former being produced by the 
early bud ; Sunflower and Etoile de Lyon are two other old varieties 
that promise well ; and W. Tricker should be noted as consistently good 
—it is a valuable early bloomer, and one of the most useful of all the 
Japanese. The dwarf plants so effectively used by the firm are looking 
remarkably well. They range from 6 inches to 2 feet high, and have 
excellent flowers. Val d’Andorre, Avalanche, Mons. Freeman, G oire 
du Rocher, E. Molyneux, and Alberic Lunden are amongst the best of 
them. 
The new varieties are very numerous and of the usual character, a 
few good, many moderate, some bad ; a few of the most promising 
ones which are well worth further trial, are noted. W. Roessing is a 
pure white Japanese of great size with very broad florets. Director 
Kowallek, a tall incurved Japanese, white flaked with rose, may prove 
to be good. Uranus and Mons. J. Moulins are decorative varieties with 
divided antler-like florets, the former white, the latter light chestnut. 
Colonel Smith is the best of all the novelties, it is a real acquisition. It 
will be remembered as a large Japanese with distinct bronzy amber 
flowers exhibited a year or two ago. It is very vigorous, its only 
fault being too tall growth. Madame Leon Hasse is a decorative 
Japanese with long slender pointed florets of a tawny bronze hue. 
Duchess of Anhalt Dessau is a seedling Japanese of Messrs. Reid and 
Bornemann. It is of the Condor and Etoile de Lyon type, having long 
broad florets, white with a rosy purple margin. Madame Elizabeth 
Labah is a creamy Japanese with very large flowers, and Belle Hickey 
is a promising American importation. It is a pure white Japanese with 
narrow incurving florets, is an excellent grower and blooms freely. 
Messrs. Cannell & Sons. 
A home for flowers would be a dull and cheerless one at this season 
of the year if it contained no Chrysanthemums, and as that at Swanley is 
never dull and never cheerless it goes without further saying that they 
are well represented. Messrs. Cannell & Sons are not in the habit of 
doing things by halves, and they have taken a bold step in the erection 
of a splendid show house 160 long by 25 feet wide. This being now full 
of plants is merging into a dream of beauty. There are over 3000 of 
them in robust health and developing fine blooms. The season is late, 
and so the flowers were backward on an early call being made, but 
many were open or opening. 
The king of the novelties beyond all doubt was Colonel Smith, which 
Messrs. Cannell sent out a year or two ago. It is a Japanese of 
commanding excellence, the growth being very sturdy, the height 
medium, the flowers large, and the florets a beautiful bronze hue tipped 
with gold. It is one of the greatest acquisitions of recent years. The 
Swanley growers have a large stock of it, and the plants arranged here 
and there in the collection all stand out distinct and effective. Mrs. 
Harman Payne (J.) is a dwarf strong grower, and is bearing some fine 
blooms. The colour is rosy lilac, the outer surface of the florets rosy 
mauve. Mohawk (J ), a dwarf American with bronzy flowers, seem3 
