120 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 7, 1896. 
RuGBy Cheysanthemum Show. 
The annual show of the Rugby and District Chrysanthemum 
Society will, this year, be held on Wednesday and Thursday, November 
the 13th and 14th. 
Chrysanthemum Show at Coventry. 
At a meeting recently held at the Craven Arms Hotel it was 
unanimously resolved to hold a Chrysanthemum, Fruit, and Flower 
show in the Corn Exchange, Coventry, in November next, and a Com¬ 
mittee was appointed to solicit subscriptions to start the show on a firm 
basis. Mr. F. Curtis of 9, Cross Cheaping, Coventry, was appointed 
Secretary. 
A Plea for Anemone-flowered Chrysanthemums. 
Your correspondent, “ F. G.” (page 101) thinks the blooms in this 
section do not please the ladies. Did he attend the last Crystal Palace 
show? If so, did he notice the crowds of ladies and others round the 
tables containing the twelve fine stands of eighteen varieties of Ane¬ 
mones and Japanese Anemones, and hear the remarks made about them ? 
If not, I can tell him that those stands were acknowledged to form one 
of the most striking features of that fine show, the crowds lingering 
round them made it very difficult to get a second look at the 
beautiful blooms. The general verdict was unanimous in their favour. 
—H. Harris. 
The N.C.S. Year Book. 
I HAVE an idea that this book will be considered by many readers 
to be disappointing. With very few exceptions the articles are behind 
the times. One chapter I am particularly struck with—viz., the “ List 
of Japanese Novelties for 1895.” This is by a trade grower, a very 
prominent member of the Floral Committee, and almost every other 
Committee of the N.C.S. The writer of the article begins by informing 
us that he has tried a large number of novelties in his nursery, besides 
1000 selected seedlings of his own. 
The list of novelties for 1895 contains varieties introduced in 1892- 
'93-94-95, some of which were certificated by the N.C.S. in 1894. To 
show how very apt some of us are to consider our geese swans, I would 
point out the fact that out of the twenty-seven varieties mentioned, and 
which were raised or introduced by seven of the English trade growers, 
no less than sixteen were or are being sent out by the writer, four 
varieties by another, two each to two other growers, and the remainder 
one each. The exhibition Japanese illustrated throughout the book are 
five, the whole of which were, or will be, sent out by the writer. 
Again, although nine of the sixteen varieties, and three others men¬ 
tioned which are only catalogued by the trade grower in question, have 
not been .certificated by the N.C.S., some varieties which have been 
certificated by that Society, but were introduced by other growers, are 
not mentioned. If Niveus, Th. Dennis, Souvenir de Petit Ami are 
novelties of 1895 so are Louise, Duke of York, Cecil Wray, and others, 
and should not be excluded because they are popular and plentiful. 
Philadelphia, which has caused such a sensation here and in Americ.^, is 
described in such a meagre manner that would lead many to suppose it 
a second-rater only. If the book is to be of substantial value it must be 
written by those who are above trade interests.— Fairplay. 
The Chrysanthemum Election. — Decorative Varieties : 
Princess Blanche. 
I HAVE been much interested in the elections of Chrysanthemums, 
as recently published in the Journal of Horticulture, and the latest for 
decorative varieties (page 70) shows a wide difference of opinion. 
I think a variety to be classed as decorative should be not only free 
flowering, of good quality, and decided colour, but the habit of the 
plant should be considered. Had this been done, a great many of the 
varieties enumerated would have been left out altogether, as pointed 
-out by “ F. G,’' (page 101). The list should be divided into early, 
■midseason, late, and the first twelve are all early and midseason 
varieties. There is one late white variety—viz.. Princess Blanche—that 
I see only receive 1 three votes, but which deserves a much higher place. 
I have grown and tried scores of varieties for a late white, but have for 
five or six years past discarded all others for this. 
I have heard it said it has not a good constitution, and some have 
discarded it. I have no hesitation in saying the fault is not with the 
variety. I grow yearly from five to six dozen plants in 7 and 8-inch 
pots, each pUnt producing from three to five dozen blooms, the 
plants seldom exceeding 3 feet 6 inches high, and from 2 to 3 feet 
through. As regards cuttings, soil, and potting they are treated 
the same as other varieties. I never pinch or stop them, but thin the 
growths and let them grow as they will until the third terminal bud. 
They make the first break when about 9 to 12 inches high, the second 
and last from 12 to 15 inches. 
As the shoots grow they are looped up to a stake in the centre of 
each planf, this being all and the only support they require. The 
plants are fed liberally until the bloom commences to expand. The 
peculiarity of this variety is that about the time it makes the last break 
occasionally a kind of rust attacks the points of the shoots. All I do in 
any case is to turn the plant over and dust the under side and top of 
foliage with sulphur. This is done about three times—in August and 
September, and again when housing the plants. This prevents both 
rust and mildew. I commence cutting blooms from this variety a few 
days before Christmas, and on February 2nd I cut down the plants. 
The blooms were required, or they would have kept at least ten days 
longer. There is in existence a sport from Princess Blanche, which, 
excepting colour, is the counterpart of its parent. It opens a bright 
yellow, and with age changes to a deep primrose. It is named Jannette 
Sheaham, and received an award of merit from the F.C. of R.H.S. on 
15th January last. When this can be obtained I would advise all who 
require a quantity of white and yellow flowers during the latter part of 
December and January to give a trial to these two varieties, and if 
treated as I have described I feel sure they will not be disappointed 
with results.—J. Lyne. 
Chrysanthemum Viscountess Hambledon. 
This comparatively new Japanese incurved variety is a welcome 
addition. The fine ivory-like substance of the fiorets stands out and 
forms a striking contrast to the more feathery varieties. It is a grand 
keeper when cut. I had some blooms quite fresh for more than a month 
in a vase in a living room. It is most peculiar in the growth, being very 
floriferous, and may be rightly called a perpetual flowering variety, 
resembling in this respect Miss Anna Hartshorn, to which I should 
think it is closely related. It is a very difficult one to get stock from, 
so no wonder the majority of the trade announce plants only, no cuttings. 
What cuttings or side shoots are produced have a bud about every third 
leaf ? and one of my objects in writing is, whatever objections one might 
have to inserting bud or stem cuttings of other varieties, not to be 
deterred from this one, but take advantage of what pieces you can pro¬ 
cure, though of course suckers would be preferred. Pot them firmly 
near the side of a small thumb pot in light sandy soil, and as soon as the 
cutting is well callused or has commenced rooting nip out the top flower 
bud, when it will produce side shoots from the base of the other leaves. 
These in their turn will produce other buds, some more than others, and 
they also must be removed. The laterals produced should also be cut 
out, leaving three or four main stems. The buds showing about the first 
or second week in August should be taken, as on account of the great 
substance of the flower it takes a long time to develop.—0. Orchard, 
Benibridge, I.W. 
Sheffield Chrysanthemum Society. 
Perhaps nothing has done more to further the interests of horti¬ 
culture in this country than the formation of such societies as the 
above. It is at the meetings of these that growers congregate for the 
purpose of comparing notes and discussing knotty questions relating to 
the cultivation of various plants, by which all are benefited. In addition 
to this they are the means of establishing exhibitions of fruits, fiowers, 
and vegetables, where prizes and diplomas of merit are offered, and in 
many cases keenly contested for. Thus the standard of cultivation in 
these localities is raised considerably. An excellent illustration of the 
success of such societies was the annual dinner of the Sheffield Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society, held at the Masonic Hall on January 28th. 
Smoky Sheffield itself had anything but a prepossessing appearance. 
However, any dull forebodings that might have arisen were instantly 
dispelled on arrival at the hall, where a hearty welcome was accorded by 
more than one hundred members and friends, all interested in horti¬ 
culture. ^mongst the guests were E. G. Jeffcock, Esq., President; and 
Mr. H. Broomhead, Hon. Treasurer; Mr. Housley, Secretary; and Mr. 
Haigh, Accountant to the Society. 
The Midland Railway Company was represented by Mr. A. S. Jarvis, 
and Mr. Jones of Ryecroft Nurseries, Lewisham, was also welcomed. 
The kindred societies in the locality were well represented by delegates 
from Wakefield and Leeds Paxton Societies, the Rotherham Gardening 
Society, and the Sheffield and Walkley Floral Societies, each of which 
are doing good work to further the interests of gardening in their several 
localities. 
Mr. Jones, when proposing the toast of the Society, said that of 
Sheffield was recognised as being one of the best in the country, their 
shows being well arranged and conducted on the best principles, though 
he had a few suggestions to make which he thought might be acted on 
with advantage at the next exhibition. The Chrysanthemum show, 
instead of the dull sameness of row after row of blooms on boards, might 
be varied by the introduction of such classes as mixed groups of flowers ; 
vases of Chrysanthemum blooms arranged for effect, with a limited 
number of blooms in each. The seconder also presented medals for 
premier blooms at the recent show to Mr. Broomhead of Sheffield, and 
Mr. Alderman, gardener to J. D. Ellis, Esq., Sparken House, Worksop, 
each of which were acknowledged by the recipients. 
Mr. Housley, Secretary, in responding said he was glad to be able 
to present such a satisfactory balance-sheet. They had commenced 
the season with only the small sum of 99. in hand, owing chiefly to 
the inclement weather on the day when the show was held in 1893. 
This year, however, things were in much better form, as they had now 
a balance in hand of £63 Ss. 9d. This capital result had been brought 
about by the amicable and energetic manner in which the Committee 
had worked, and by which efforts an excellent show had been established, 
resulting in such good financial returns. Mr. Housley’s declaration 
’ was received with loud applause. 
