224 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[March 22,1894 
Japanese Chrysanthemum Election—Wales. 
“ Sassenach ” (page 206) appears to have misied the fact that 
Wales was represented in the late collection in no less a person than 
Mr. Lambert, gardener to Earl of Powis, Powis Castle, Welshpool, who 
was two or three years since a noted grower. 1 regret very much that 
Ireland was not represented by our friend “ E. K.,” who, in my opinion, 
was most able to take part in the election.—E. Molyneux. 
Japanese Chrysanthemum Election and National Trial. 
Various readers of the Journal seam to liave misunderstood my note 
(page 150) respecting this and a trial by the National Chrysanthemum 
Society. I had no idea that the trial should supersede the audit, rather 
I would say let us annually have an audit of the best twelve and twenty- 
four Japanese varieties. In spite of all that has been said I still contend 
that no elector is justified in including in the first twelve three or four 
varieties which he has not grown. The audit gives Madame E. Rey and 
Primrose League three votes each, and Elmer D. Smith only two votes, 
and yet I think it would be safe to predict these varieties will attain a 
high position and replace others which are now included in the first 
twenty-four. I believe the conditions of election were—that each 
person was to include those varieties which he could recommend to a 
beginner, and bearing this in mind I fail to understand how he would 
be justified in recommending varieties of the growth of which he had 
no knowledge.— Omega. 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. A. Hardy. 
I THANK Mr. Molyneux for his kind reply (page 188). No doubt till 
the grower gets to master its culture Mrs. A. Hardy must be classed as a 
variety with a weak constitution. Regarding suitability of soil, I should 
say water is a more important factor in its well-doing. The plants were 
potted with the same compost as the others, and grew quite robust, 
decidedly stronger than some kinds. From the time the buds were taken 
(August 11th to 28th) they made rapid growth, were more satisfactory 
than some varieties that are recognised as being easy to grow. I 
attribute our success to careful watering, evidently it is most im¬ 
patient of too much water. 
But the most serious objection is its being described as '• dingy.” 
Amongst the best whites it more than holds its own. Avalanche, Mdlle, 
L. Leroy, do not approach it for purity of whiteness ; and only the very 
best whites, as Empress of India and Elaine, can equal it. Neither do 
I attach much importance to its hirsute appendages, but to its broad 
petals and noble build ; and last, but not least, to its snowy whiteness. 
In this I do not give my judgment, but the unbiassed opinion of visitors 
that have come to see the “ Mums ; ” people who do not know the kinds 
by names, but who, nevertheless, are competent in the decision of 
colour only, and amongst the many persons who saw them everyone 
selected Mrs. A. Hardy as the best white, staged side by side with 
the best-known whites. 
I should also add we have experienced no difficulty in procuring 
cuttings, but in weakly plants no doubt it is a difficulty ; neither does It 
seem more subject to mildew than the average varieties.—J ohn Rainbow 
New Continental Chrysanthemums for 1894. 
There is always a peculiar interest in perusing the lists of the 
foreign raisers early in the year. To read the descriptions of the new 
flowers and then to compare these descriptions with the flowers them¬ 
selves some nine or ten months afterwards is frequently an object lesson 
in colour and form, and sometimes one which is of considerable service 
to those who endeavour to be literally accurate in similar work. Most 
of the early lists are now to hand, but they cannot be regarded as 
complete until the end of next month, when the last of the Chrys¬ 
anthemum raisers’ catalogues are sent out. It is worthy, however, of 
mention that the advance lists from France announce the distribution 
of 272 new varieties as yet. Simon Delaux, Boucharlat, Lacroix, Calvat, 
and several others are all well to the front, as usual, and of this number 
there are fifty early flowering varieties, twenty-eight hairy sorts, and 
the remainder presumably belong to the ordinary November blooming 
type. 
Those of us who make a point of attending the floral meetings and 
trade displays next season may look upon ourselves as fortunate if we 
succeed in obtaining a glimpse of fifty of these newly announced 
Chrysanthemums at the most, and probably ten or a dozen more in the 
course of the following season of 1895. Competition among novelties is 
now so keen that it is doubtful whether any importer can afford to test 
the new varieties as a whole more than one season, and for those which 
do not show some signs of excellence in the first year of their cultivation 
there is only one remedy, and that is to cast them aside directly the 
new year’s stock is laid in. Occasionally a good variety gets overlooked 
in this way, and a few years afterwards it comes to the front by having 
been placed in the hands of some good grower, who turns it out in good 
form, but this is probably rather the exception than the rule. To 
become popular a novelty must make its merits known the first season of 
its introduction. 
On the whole the names of the continental novelties for the present 
year are fairly distinct, and the leaning towards lengthy ones seems to 
have been rather suppressed. It is a pity, however, to find that we are 
to have another Phoebus, Marie Cr6pey, Louis Vozaz, La Folie, General 
Dodds, Figaro, Etoile Folaire, Dame Blanche, Distinction, Ceres, 
Coquetterie, Toison d’Or, La Fraicheur, Mignon, Caprice, Attraction, 
Argentine, all of which are borne or have been borne by older flowers. 
It is just this want of a little precaution on the part of our Gallic 
friends that causes so much confusion both here and in America. 
The Americans are most careful in this respect, for it is a rule of 
their National Chrysanthemum Society that no new seedling can be 
registered by them that bears a name similar to one already in use. If 
a grower in that country chooses to act independently of the Society 
the name is not officially recognised. In a matter of this kind we have 
good reason to be thankful for the efforts of the American N.C.S., 
especially as their standard catalogue is the one issued by our own 
National Society here in London. Unfortunately there is no Chrys¬ 
anthemum society in France, nor does there appear to be any kind 
of unofficial organisation among the growers there. Until this is done 
we may expect to find the nomenclature of French Chrysanthemums 
go from bad to worse. Private correspondence and public remonstrance 
in the press appear alike to be of no avail, and indeed it seems to be a 
hopeless task to attempt it any further. In spite of that, however, I have 
for some time past usually indicated at this season of the year the most 
glaring instances to be observed in the novelties for the year. 
I am hopeful of seeing some degree of improvement in the new 
French seedlings in future. Most of the raisers on the other side of the 
Channel are keenly alive to the importance of keeping pace with the 
demand for large show flowers. Numerous inquiries are now raised 
every year for the names of the best English and American seedlings, 
and they are annually added to the French collections. With their 
climate and the intelligent cross-fertilising of such material, there 
should surely be no reason for the decline of seedling raising in 
France.—C. H. P. 
THE SHAMROCK. 
With these few notes from Ireland is posted a small box, 
enclosing some sprays of a humble plant gathered from an Irish sod, 
which may be Trifolium minus or may not, a doubt which doubtless 
the Editor can remove ; yet with us during the festival of St. Patrick 
the botanical name is of but secondary importance, for it is “ the 
dear little Shamrock of Ireland.” Would that I could convey with 
it that subtle charm, that those to whom it is known only by repute 
might for a brief space be under its magic spell, and by such influence 
better understand how much this simple plant has entwined itself in 
the affections of a people. Modest as is the chosen emblem of the 
Emerald Isle in comparison with the Rose of England, the Lilies of 
France, or the Chrysanthemum of far Japan, it appears for the time 
being to outrival them all, though later on in the season it is but a 
Clover, or whatever the Editor decides. I question whether even 
those who admire it most watch its development to the flowering 
stage. In its early growth it attains its exalted position, in maturer 
age it takes its place with the humble and meek of the herbs of the 
field. I|t is no party emblem, all shades of opinion meet on the one 
ground to gather the fehamrock ; nor class emblem, for from peer to 
peasant is honour paid to the lowly spray immortalised by the patron 
Saint of Ireland ; and those in the country, not of it, pay that respect 
in wearing it which others by birth consider a duty. 
The practical ideas of the age we live in, with their tendency to 
shake belief in legends and traditions which this country is peculiarly 
rich in, appear to have made but small progress. True, all in these 
days have not the gifted vision to see fairies, leprechauns, or banshees, 
that is rather their misfortune than their fault; in the Shamrock 
there is something more tangible to grasp, seen by all, and all 
believing, only on the question of variety do they agree to differ. 
Amongst the lesser Trefoils claiming the distinction of being the 
symbol used by St. Patrick are T. minus, T. perenne, T. repens, and 
also Cxalis acetosella. I have in different localities endeavoured to 
arrive at the truth, for “ Magna est Veritas.” In the last attempt I 
am probably as near to it as I ever shall be, or perhaps it is possible 
to be. In the first attempt, made in a purely country district, where 
the old beliefs are strong, the results were not satisfactory, perhaps 
attributable to my incautiousness as an interviewer. Old JJ., now 
taking his long rest under the shamrocks in an ancient Irish grave¬ 
yard, had for nigh on fifty years been employed in the one garden. 
I’o him I appealed thus :—Did you get me the true Sbamrot k, H. ? 
“ Bedad, they’re good ones, mister.” Well, but is this the right 
thing? “Why wouldn’t it be?” Is it Clover? “ Begorra it’s 
not.” Docs it flower ? “ It may and it mayn’t.” Does it fruit ? 
Here some vision of Apples or Pears must have crossed the poor old 
man’s mind, for he indignantly replied by asking, “ Was it 
humbugging him I was ? ” So ended my first search after truth. 
Lately I procured some specimens, and from past experience 
interviewed more cautiously. The most likely piece I first submit to 
Andy K. Is this Shamrock, Andy p “ Bedad it is, I think.” The 
