March 2fi, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
245 ' ‘ 
as undergrowth, are encoaraged to thrive, these serving to prevent drought 
daring the summer. The specimens, in most cases, are planted in 
groups of from five to ten, one plant of each kind being allowed sufficient 
space to develop properly. Many of the trees, although not long planted, 
are 20 feet high, but the Conifers as yet have not made much growth. 
In the private grounds of Professor Sargent, as well as other places in 
the district, the essayist remarked that he had seen some splendid trees 
during his visit in June and July of last year. 
Among the many species of rare trees and shrubs which Mons. de 
Vilmorin referred to in his excellent paper were the Magnolias. These, 
he said, are as yet only to be seen in the grounds of the botanical school 
connected with the Arboretum, but there is a very fine collection, M. parvi- 
fiora. a new kind from Japan, grows well at Boston grafted on a stock 
of M. acuminata and flowers profusely every year. Clematis paniculata 
planted against a south wall also blossoms freely in August and Sep¬ 
tember, and this he thought would prove a suitable climber for the south 
of England. Berberis Thunbergi and others are grown extensively, and 
he was surprised to see the Stuartias flourishing, because he was not 
acquainted with a single successful grower of these in France. The 
Maples, Vines, and Ilex are well represented, the small black fruits of 
Ilex glabra being very interesting. Wistarias and Sumachs are 
favourite plants, the first named being grown as standards several feet 
in height. Specimens of Prunus pendnla and P. pumila form beautiful 
objects when in bloom, as do the many species of Roses, Spiraeas, Pyrus, 
Weigelas, and Lilacs that are cultivated. Styrax japonica he noticed 
does well, whereas near Paris it would not thrive, and the Rhododendrons 
are very distinct. In some private grounds near he observed a singular 
Wa'nut, which Professor Sargent considered a natural hybrid between 
Juglans nigra and an American species. 
Dr. Masters remarked, that Mons. de Vilmorin’s paper, whilst being 
full of interest and giving every satisfaction, brought feelings of regret 
that once the R.H.S. had an arboretum as fine as that at Arnold. It 
was gratifying to know, however, that a splendid arboretum existed at 
Kew. Mr. Nicholson briefly alluded to his recent visit to the United 
States, observing that Prunus pendula was one of the floral treasures of 
the world. 
Votes of thanks to Mons. M. de Vilmorin for his essay, and Sir John 
D. Llewelyn, Bart, for kindly sending some Rhododendrons, concluded 
the proceedings. 
Rugby and District Chrysanthemum Society. 
We are informed that the eighth annual exhibition of the Rugby 
and District Chrysanthemum Society will be held in the Town Hall, 
Rugby, on November 14th and 16th, Liberal prizes are offered, and a 
good display will, no doubt, be forthcoming. Mr. W. Bryant, 8, Barby 
Road, Rugby, is the Secretary. 
M, Francois Delaux and Madame Simon Delaux. 
Chrysanthemum growers will join with us the feelings of regret 
with which we record the death of M, Francois Dtilaux of Toulouse, 
which took place on the 3rd inst. M. Fran 9 oi 8 Delaux was in his 80th 
year, and was the father of M. Simon Delaux, the well-known French 
Chrysanthemum raiser. We understand that this sad event has 
proved doubly disastrous to M. Simon Delaux, for on the 10th inst. the 
wife of the latter suddenly fell down dead. Madame Delaux for 
twenty years past assisted her husband in his great Chrysanthemum 
work. 
Promised Novelties in Chrysanthemums. 
Much of the present popularity of our favourite flower depends 
upon the ever-varying form, colour, and new departures which it makes 
almost every season. Scarcely a year goes by without something 
unexpected turns up, and as long as this continuous uncertainty and 
frequent surprises are maintained the Chrysanthemum will retain its 
hold upon popular esteem. In looking over the new catalogues of 
seedlings for the current year I notice Louis Lacroix promises us a new 
Anemone of a velvety blood-red colour, a variety which if it answers its 
description would materially help to brighten the show-boards in that 
class. So many of these, especially the Japanese Anemones, were of 
the rosy lilac, or undecided mauve tints, that it was a positive relief 
when Sabine, M. Charles Lebocqz, M. Pankoucke, appeared upon the 
scene. There is plenty of room for some good crimson Anemones. 
M. Boucharlat, who has not sent out anything of surpassing excellence 
since 1888, when he gave us Etoile de Lyon, Geo. Daniels, and Condor, 
announces the distribution of several gigantic varieties, Aug, Pelissier, 
Madame Gindre and Cardinal Vaughan being those most worthy perhaps 
of being looked out for next autumn. 
Amongst M. Ernest Calvat’s seedlings, which most of our introducers 
will be sure to have, Le Colosse Grenoblois is an enormous flower. 
Those who saw the bloom he staged at one of the N.C.S. floral meetings 
will be anxious to see it when grown by capable English cultivators 
and without coarseness. For mere size there is nothing like it, 
the colour is a rosy white striped lilac, and a note should be made of it 
by those on the qui vive for large show flowers. Madame Carnot, a large 
white Japanese from the same raiser, is also promising.—P. __ 
Stopping Chrysanthemum for Timing the Blooms. 
No one values more than I do the useful information elucidated by 
discussing knotty points of culture. Many diverse opinions have lately 
been given on this subject which will, without doubt, be productive of 
much good, and I fully believe there is a great deal to be learned in the 
matter of “ timing the buds ” by practising a judicious system of 
stopping, and by rooting the cuttings at intervals, but it is quite a new 
idea to me that the latter is a more haphazard way of bringing about 
the desired result than the former. 
Even Mr. Fergusson (page 206) makes no attempt to prove the point, 
but is satisfied with making the assertion. All known methods of 
“ timing ” Chrysanthemum buds are to a certain extent haphazard, 
because the erratic variations of seasons affect the plants so much, and 
I think will always do so, no matter what system is practised. I have 
tried the plan of stopping with several varieties during the last five years, 
but find it by no means so reliable as Mr. Fergusson maintains. Daring 
some seasons it answers well enough, in others the desired result is not 
attained. Chrysanthemum growers in the north are, I believe, quite 
independent of terminal buds. Not so with growers in the south, for 
this reason. They may manage to get their crown buds at the right 
time, but in consequence of a spell of hot weather in September find 
their flowers come so rough or deformed as to make them useless for 
exhibition purposes. i nvRrOMJ 
The best and most successful growers in the south each year stage 
many good terminal flowers, for the simple reason that they often find 
it impossible to obtain deep solid blooms from crown buds. The great 
depth to be found in terminal flowers from really strong plants caused 
them to be fancied rather than despised. Stopping may answer very 
well in some localities and seasons, but I venture to advise growers not 
to be too hasty in adopting the plan largely till they have proved how 
it will stand the test of different seasons.—H. DUNKIN, 
A NATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE SOCIETY. 
Mr. Rivers’ proposal, page 220, of the formation of a National 
Bornological Society may be good or otherwise, but the proposed title is 
objectionable, not one tithe of the public would understand the appella¬ 
tion or comprehend its objects. If we could have a “ National Society 
for the Promotion of Fruit Culture,” or “ A Society for the Promotion 
of Fruit Culture in Great Britain and Ireland,” everyboiy would, in 
either case, understand what its objects were, and the raison WHre of 
its existence. All the same, do not let it be forgotten that some previous 
efforts in the same direction have not proved successes. We had the 
"Fruit Growers’ Association,” I think it was named, but it has collapsed. 
There was another body that had about it a strong flavour of Covent 
Garden, and was thought to have a membership of one man. That, too, 
seems to have collapsed ; and were our judgment to be guided by these 
examples, we should say that Mr. Rivers’ proposal is bound to fail, even 
if for a time realised, either becauss such a society really be not wanted, 
or else because it fails to find pecuniary support. 
Obviously the proper Society for the promotion of fruit culture in 
Great Britain should be the R.H.S., but it by no means rises to the 
occasion, although it may plead that it does its best. The great diffi¬ 
culty in the way of any new society is the getting of funds to carry on 
whatsoever of work they have to do. We have of horticultural societies 
now a myriad, and their maintenance becomes a heavy burthen to those 
who wish to see them useful. Many of these exist more for the 
pecuniary benefit of exhibitors than any other very useful purpose, 
and, presumably, no society could exist a year even without holding 
a competitive exhibition of the particular produce it favoured, To 
organise these exhibitions and pay the prizes at once swallows up nearly 
all the resources of these societies, and no other tangible benefits follow. 
I think it is nearly time subscribers to all sorts of societies did ask 
themselves whether some other results from their subscriptions might 
not be looked for than the mere benefiting of exhibitors. 
Coming back to fruit, however, the suggestion which comes from 
Mr. Rivers reads oddly in face of the intimation you give that the 
R.H.S. is proposing to hold a great fruit show at the Crystal Palace in 
the autumn. Here is evidence that the old Society is desirous of doing 
something for the promotion of British fruit culture, even though it be 
but a competitive exhibition. But then could any national society do 
much more ? There have been fruit conferences at the Palace. The 
R.H.S. could surely organise one at the same place again next autumn 
if the said show should take place. Could a national society do much 
more ? But what does Mr. Rivers mean by a national society being 
soon formed into a Royal society ? Does he mean that it should be 
incorporated by Royal charter, and be hampered as the R.H.S. is with 
its charter ? That seems absurd. Not 10,000 Royal cbarters can 
galvanise into life a society that has no national life, or fails to secure 
popular support. National Chrysanthemum, Rose, and other special 
societies cover very limited areas and subjects after all, but a national or 
British society for the culture of fruit or improving it must have very 
wide and great aims. The work would not have to be seen in mere 
exhibitions, but in thousands of unpretentious ways, and it would need 
not only a huge membership but a large income to enable it to do useful 
work. Neither of these is probable. The public pocket is now strained 
to the very uttermost. Meritorious objects are failing for lack of 
monetary support, and it would in such case be folly further to add 
pecuniary burthens.—A. D. 
