October 6, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
289 
•depredators. I have seen many clubbed and fasciated stems with 
imperfect buds; what are such the result of ? A friend showed 
mao to-day very fine plants 10 feet high and seemingly well grown 
■of Belle Paule, and on which he found it impossible to “set ’ a 
•crown bud. This is not the first time this capricious beauty has 
been complained of in this way, and I am not sure if it is not less 
disappointing to depend on terminal buds. What has been your 
readers’ experience so far ? In the same collection, grown for large 
blooms, I saw a cut-down plant of Madame C. Audiguier, with 
large solid fine buds half an inch through ; while another, with the 
same treatment, grown unchecked, 11 feet high, had most unpromis¬ 
ing buds on the top. I mention this peculiarity because the reverse 
would be expected. It is so of Soleil de Levant, Aurore Boreale, and 
Balmoreau, so that there seems good reason for the contention that 
"those tall-growing varieties might in many cases do better as cut- 
•down plants. Mandarin, creamy rose, set down among early 
flowering, I have not found at all so. Alexandre Dufour, Isidore 
Feral, and Pynaert van Geert, come next after Madame C. Des- 
granges and its sport, G. Wermig, as the largest and best early 
bloomers. Of new ones most promising with me are William Holmes, 
Phoebus, La Triomphante, L’Ebouriffee, Bronze Queen, Martha 
Harding, Brazen Shield, Le Cid, and F. Wilcox.—W. J. Morphy. 
Prospects of the Chrysanthemum Season. —If the pro¬ 
spects of a good Chrysanthemum season can be gauged by the ap¬ 
pearance of the plants at this season of the year in various parts of 
the country, then I consider a capital result will be forthcoming. 
I have lately had opportunities to inspect collections of plants in 
several different localities, and a few notes on their present appear¬ 
ances may interest some growers. I consider that northern growers 
will have an advantage over their southern brethren this year by 
reason of the excessive drought prevailing for so long a period this 
year. Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants, but when there is an 
excess of heat accompanied with such a drought the plants suffer. In 
addition to this, where the supply of water is scarce and the whole 
after a time has to be drawn from wells or water companies’ pipes, 
and used direct on the plants without means of airing it in the sun 
for a short time, it is a great disadvantage. In the northern counties 
the sun has not been so scorchingly hot nor the drought so long 
continued ; the night dews are also more numerous and heavy 
during the summer months. This is proved by the appearance of 
fhe crops in the fields of Turnips, Potatoes, and grass land, which in 
the southern counties during August and September were generally 
dried up. Chrysanthemums to produce fine flowers must have 
well-ripened wood, but some growers affirm it can be too ripe. The 
present season will go a long way towards testing the accuracy 
of this. In nearly all instances where grown for large blooms 
plants are dwarfer than usual ; particularly was this noticeable in 
the Queen family, as owing probably to a cold sunless spring the 
plants did not make the usual progress. Under these circumstances, 
if the flowers are equally good so much the better, yet I noticed 
one or two collections where the usual heights of varieties were 
reached. It is strange that there should be this difference in plants 
in different places. 
To commence with the plants as I saw them, Trafford Park, 
Manchester, the seat of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, first claims 
attention. Here about 700 plants are grown for all purposes, most 
of course upon the large-flowered method. The whole stock was 
characterised by a healthy appearance, more so by their great size 
of either stems or leaves. Many fine flowers no doubt will develops 
from these, but another season Mr. Lowrie will have much finer 
plants, as he has only lately taken charge of these gardens. What 
struck me most was the very dwarf nature of the plants. Fair 
Maid of Guernsey was oidy about 3 feet high, but carrying stout 
flower buds, yet the cuttings were struck at the ordinary time 
(December). 
Darlington.—The collection belonging to Mr. T. B. Morton, 
Mowden Bridge Nurseries, came next under notice. Mr. Morton 
has made himself famous in the north of England in the cultivation 
of Chrysanthemums ; in fact, he has done much more in his 
neighbourhood and for fifty miles around than any other person by 
showing good blooms, thus stimulating others to grow the flower 
well. He is an annual importer of new varieties, and has this 
season many promising under trial, many being of a dwarf habit of 
growth. Mr. Morton grows about 1030 plants, all for large blooms. 
They ranged in height from 3 feet to 10 feet, Val d’Andorre being 
the shortest, w T hile Belle Paule and Madame C. Audiguier were the 
tallest. Mr. Morton is favoured considerably in the position 
which his plants occupy in such a summer as the past, the ground 
•upon which the plants are arranged being low-lying, a brook 
running close past. In other seasons he has had wood and leaves 
so large that a difficulty was experienced in getting it sufficiently 
ripe. This year his plants are not so stout, consequently they are 
much more ripened. Healthier looking plants could nowhere be 
found. The buds, too, are well formed, and on the whole promise 
well for future flowering, reflecting much credit on Mr. Morton. 
Another garden in the neighbourhood of Darlington demands notice, 
that of A. Pease, Esq. Hummersknott. Mr. Short, the gardener 
here, grows 400 plants on the tall-flowered principle, which are 
moderately strong, with fair leaves, wood pretty well ripened, and 
promise to make a good show at the proper time, the buds appear¬ 
ing to be well timed. 
The Liverpool district has long been looked upon as a centre for 
Chrysanthemum growing, and right well do the plants in the neigh¬ 
bourhood look. Nowhere in England could so many plants be 
found in the same area as about Liverpool. So enthusiastic are 
the gardeners of that place in the cultivation of the Autumn Queen 
that it is no wonder such good results have to be chronicled from 
time to time. 
Wyncote, the seat of the late C. W. Newman, Esq., in Allerton, 
has long been noted for this flower. Although all other plants have 
been sold since the death of Mr. Newman the Chrysanthemums 
have been retained ; therefore, with any amount of house room 
Mr. Mease will have ample accommodation for his plants, which 
look remarkably well. The plants are tall, strong, possessing stout 
leathery leaves, the wood also being well ripened. The buds were 
plump, of good form ; in fact, the whole appearance of the plants 
betokened much care having been spent upon them. 
Dove Park is the seat of G. Cope, Esq., where about 300 plan’s 
are grown. The whole have a particularly healthy appearance, 
being short-jointed with ample foliage. Considering that M". 
Carling did not take charge of these gardens until January, no 
doubt another year, when he can set about their propagation sooner, 
his plants will be better. Still, he will have many fine bloon s 
judging from the flower buds. Here the Queen type was very 
dwarf as compared with what they are in some seasons. 
Camp Hill, the residence of F. Gossage, Esq., is well situated 
for the growth of Chrysanthemums, being open to the sun and 
well sheltered from north and easterly winds in the spring. Mr. 
Jellicoe has here some grand plants carrying fine foliage, as they 
always do under his system of treatment. With a view this yearto 
reducing the height of the plants generally, many were stopped 
in their early stages of growth by pinching out the point of each 
leader. By this means many are shorter than they are in some 
seasons when left to grow naturally. The plants generally under 
Mr. Jellicoe’s charge are shorter this year than usual. Some grand 
examples of Princess of Wales gave promise of developing that 
grand variety in its best form. 
Otterspool, the residence of Sir T. Edwardes Moss, has of late 
years become famous in the Chrysanthemum world, and judging 
from the appearance of the plants is likely to remain so. Good 
wood and leaves right through the whole collection were noticeable. 
Princess of Wales, Fair Maid of Guernsey, and the whole of the 
Queen family were particularly robust. Mr. Lindsay had some 
plants pinched in February and March, but there was no difference 
between the height of such plants and those grown naturally. 
Many of the plants are intended to produce more flowers than the 
orthodox number (three). 
Glen Hall, Wavertree, the gardens here are under the charge of 
Mr. Cox, who during the last few years has taken a leading position 
amongst Chrysanthemum growers, and he has this season a collec¬ 
tion of good plants not particularly strong in growth, but having 
stout leaves and promising buds, all compactly arranged in two 
blocks; the wood is wiry and capable of producing blooms of good 
^ Sandfield Park, West Derby, the residence of W. D. Holt, Esq. 
Mr. Roberts, the gardener here, is well known as one of the best 
growers of the Chrysanthemum we have. For many years he has 
been a persistent worker. Old in experience, but young in years, 
he is much respected among the “fancy.” He has this season about 4 >0 
plants, all grown on the natural method of culture—that is, without 
pinching the points to induce a dwarf habit of growth. Mr. Roberts 
is not a believer in extra strong growth ; rather a medium strength 
of wood with vigorous leaves, the whole plant well ripened, is what 
he believes in and strives to produce, and it might be said he has 
secured this year. His plants had a capital tone of colour and 
leathery texture of leaf. He w"ill no doubt be heard of later on 
when the shows come around. 
Childwall Hall, the seat of R. Brocklebank, Esq., has lately 
become known to Chrysanthemum fanciers from the golden sport 
from Meg Merrilies having originated here. Beyond a doubt it is 
one of the best introductions of late years, and judging from the 
number of plants grown of it, a fine show r of blooms will be on 
view. As many as fifty plants grow'n in 7-inch pots, cuttings of 
which were struck in April, grown with one stem, looked remarkably 
healthy, being of course dwarf in growth owing to the lateness o 
the time at which the cuttings were struck. Several other pla it 
