October 25, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
387 
Queen is one of the small plum-shaped varieties that I consider 
veil worthy of a place in any collection. It is a heavy cropping 
variety, and when ripe is very attractive. It is also a first-rate 
flavour and does well for mixing with salad without being cut up. 
I observed a week or two ago Mr. Iggulden was condemning the 
small varieties as not worth growing and not nearly so good in 
quality as the larger growing sorts. I send herewith a few fruits 
of Queen, and perhaps you will kindly give your opinion as to 
quality. In my opinion it is the best flavoured of all I have 
named. I readily admit it would not be so profitable to grow for 
market, but for home use I think a few plants worth a place.— 
G. Hilton. 
[Our opinion was given in answers to correspondents last week, 
before this communication was read. We stated' the variety was 
Nesbit’s Victoria or a selection from it. A few plants are well 
worth growing in private gardens.] 
HINTS TO INTENDING EXHIBITORS. 
The following remarks are intended mainly for these who purpose 
becoming exhibitors for the first time at some of the coming shows. 
The greatest mistake made by exhibitors is that of attempting to do too 
much at once—that is going to too many shows in one season, and 
entering and staging in too many classes at one date. Much better 
would it be if exhibitors contented themselves with fewer classes, which 
they might fill far more creditably to themselves as well as to the credit 
of the exhibition. Of course if the means—a sufficient number of 
blooms—are at hand to fill many classes at one show, so much the better, 
as the expense of taking a lot is not much more than taking a few. “ A 
name” is much more easily made by “sweeping the decks” at one show 
than by competing at several places in one or two classes and possibly 
taking second and third prizes in many instances. See that the entries 
are carefully made on the proper forms accompanying the schedules and 
punctually sent in to the Secretary. If possible send in the entry two or 
three days before the appointed time, as this is of assistance to the 
officials in preparing the necessary cards and positions. Attend early 
to procuring suitable stands, boxes, cups and tubes, tweezers and proper 
labels, on which the names should be plainly written. The work of 
arranging the blooms in the stands must of necessity be tedious and 
often perplexing to the beginner, but by studying closely the infor¬ 
mation given by others the work is simplified. 
It is a good plan to practise on blooms that are useless for exhibi¬ 
tion, or upon such that are not needed for competition. The right 
method of staging is much more easily obtained by practice combined 
with studying other people’s ways. Dressing blooms of the incurved 
section requires much practice and patience before efficiency is gained. 
Dressing the blooms consists in arranging the petals in a straight, even, 
smooth manner, removing damaged or imperfect florets, filling up the 
centre of each flower by cupping them sufficiently tight with the tube 
placed under the bottom row of florets. When many blooms have to he 
cut and staged some method must be employed to properly carry out 
the work. The best plan is to note the varieties available. Selections 
can be made from this list of varieties that are best suited for the back, 
middle, and front rows, so as to insure uniformity throughout the stand. 
The largest blooms should be placed at the back, and so on in proportion. 
If the list be marked with figures 1, 2, and 3, indicating the blooms 
that are intended for each row in the stand, the work of staging will be 
facilitated considerably. A glance at the list suffices to show the position 
each variety will occupy in the stand. An early start should be made 
in preparing the blooms, so that the work be not hurried at the last 
moment. Packing the stands in the boxes should be performed carefully, 
or some damage may be done to some of the blooms during transit, such 
as one flower chafing against its neighbour when they are placed in the 
stands in a loose manner. Prizes have often been lost through faulty 
packing.—E. Molyneux. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN IRELAND. 
I FIND that in this locality most of the growers complain that their 
plants are likely to come into bloom much later than last year, particu¬ 
larly those grown as specimen plants. The plants grown to produce 
large show blooms are also rather backward. Some growers fear they 
will not be ready in time for our local show, to be held on November 
13th. It is also noticed in most of the collections that damp is seriously 
affecting the blooms which are now opening, particularly white and 
pink varieties. I should like to know what reports growers in other 
localities have to give.— Thomas Phelan, Clonmel. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 
Frosts are of nightly occurrence here accompanied by dense fogs. 
My plants were caught in the frost three weeks ago, but were not 
very much damaged, Peter the Great suffered the worst, and the 
Japanese collectively more so than the incurves. A new exhibitor has 
arisen in Staffordshire, but I must not divulge his name yet. He will 
commence his career this season all being well, but he will make it 
“ hot ” for somebody next year. He has 1000 capital plants for large 
flowers, but is short of incurved varieties—plenty of plants.—A Grower. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM TUBES. 
In the woodcut (fig. 45) some con¬ 
venient Chrysanthemum tubes are re¬ 
presented, each being furnished with two 
springs at the base of the tube by which 
it can be steadied in the water tube 
and fixed at any requisite height. We 
understand that they have been in¬ 
vented and patented by Mr. Lindsay of 
Otterspool Gardens, Liverpool, who is 
well known as an accomplished stager ; 
and, as advertised last week, they are 
being supplied by Messrs. Cannell and 
Sons of Swanley. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY'. 
A MEETING of the Floral Committee was held in the Royal 
Aquarium on Wednesday last, October 24th, when numerous novelties 
were exhibited. The members present were E. Sanderson, Esq., in the 
chair, and Messrs. W. Holmes, G. Gordon, Lewis Castle, II. Cannell, C. 
Gibson, Bevan, R. Ow r en, Stevens, Mardlin, C. Swift, j. P. Kendall, R„ 
Dean, and S. Gilbey. 
Certificates were awarded for Sunflower (Japanese) and Nelson 
Japanese Anemone from Mr. W. Holmes ; Violet Tomlin, an incurved 
sport from Princess of Wales, much darker in colour, from Mr. Doughty, 
Angley Park Gardens, Cranbrook, Kent ; Magicienne (Owen), a 
Japanese ; H. Shoesmith (Davis & Jones), incurved, a beautiful bronze 
sport from Mr. Bunn ; and Stanstead Surprise (Laing) a large Japanese 
with long rosy crimson florets and lighter reverse, very handsome and 
distinct. Commendations and vote of thanks were also awarded for 
several varieties from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, W. & G. Drover, W. K. 
Woodcock, R. Owen, G. Stevens, W. Piercy, and W. Holmes. The best 
of the varieties thus recognised were May Tomlin, a sport from Mdllc. 
Dutour, Lincolns Inn, and Sam Henshaw. 
AT CAMBERWELL. 
The interest in Chrysanthemums is rapidly re-awakening, and those 
devoted to showing and growing, both amateurs and professionals, are 
preparing for a busy season. Inquiries are being made respecting 
neighbours’ and possible rival competitors’ collections, and the nurseries 
are attracting their usual visitors, who are desirous of learning what 
promising new varieties may be worthy of notice, what recent intro¬ 
ductions maintain their characters, and what old varieties still keep 
their places as indispensable. Owing to its proximity to railway 
stations, its short distance from the city, and the fact that Chrysanthe¬ 
mums constitute the exclusive specialty, the Lilford Road Nurseries, 
Camberwell, is usually selected as one of the establishments to be in¬ 
spected, and Messrs. Davis & Jones always succeed in rendering their 
collection well worthy of a visit. This season seven houses are devoted 
to Chrysanthemums, ranging in size from small compact span-roof 
structures to the spacious show house, 65 feet long by 30 feet wide, 
and proportionately lofty. Some of the houses have been occupied 
with plants grown for cutting, such useful varieties as Roi des PrScobes 
and Lady Selborne having prominent attention. The former is An ex¬ 
cellent early and free flowering Chrysanthemum, the light graceful 
blooms of a rich crimson hue, quite distinct and capital for arranging 
in vases or stands. It makes a good companion for Madame Desgranges, 
yielding an astonishing number of blooms, and its value has been 
already well proved as a market plant. 
The collection comprises all the leading varieties in the different 
sections, together with most of the continental and American novelties. 
The incurved are promising well, and Mr. Davis ventures on a prophecy 
that these varieties will be found more generally satisfactory than usual,, 
perhaps because a cool damp summer is less trying to the plants than 
an excessively hot and dry one. Certainly substantial buds and blooms 
are expanding steadily but freely, the “ Queen family,” the “ Dixons,” 
“ Rundles,” and “ Glennys” looking capitally, while of the later varieties 
Princess Teck and Charles Gibson are in strong force and excellent 
condition. Of Mr. Bunn there are numerous fine blooms ; but the most 
notable in this section is a bronze sport from Mr. Bunn named H. Shoe- 
smith, wdiich, w'hile possessing all the chief characteristics of its 
parent in style of bloom and habit, is distinguished by its bright 
bronzy orange hue. It appears to be well proved and fixed, and for 
the earlier show's, where Mr. Bunn can be shown to advantage, this 
will be found useful as a companion. Beverley, Golden Beverley, 
Mr. Bunn, and H. Shoesmith now form quite a family in the same 
way that Princess of Teck, Hero of Stoke Newington, and Charles 
Gibson constitute a family type. With regard to the incurved, it might 
be added that Bronze Queen appears to be developing much better 
blooms than it has done before, and judging by those at Camberwell 
it may yet become a favourite exhibition variety. 
The Japanese are as usual very numerous, and some most interesting 
comparative trials of new varieties have been carried out, with the 
result that unquestionable identity has been established between several 
FIG. 45.-CnRYSANTnF.MUM TUBES. 
