November 1,1818. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
403 
that Sir Guyer Hunter, M.P.. be requested to open the Exhibition at the 
Koyal Aquarium, on Wednesday, November 7th. A cordial vote of 
thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close. 
LADY SELBORNE. 
This variety has again this season maintained its reputation as a 
capital producer of white flowers at a time when Madame Desgranges 
and its relatives are past, and before Elaine comes in, which is an 
advantage, because the plants can be cleared out to make more room for 
the general collection. Two plants in a 10-inch pot will produce ten or 
twelve good sized pure white blooms if the plants were topped when 
4 inches high, afterwards selecting that number of shoots, removing all 
side growths and retaining one bud on each stem. 
SCEUR MELANIE. 
We have had abundance of flowers on dwarf plants of this variety 
in small pots. Plants that were topped once at 4 inches high, allowed 
to retain all their branches afterwards, are now 2 feet 6 inches high from 
the top of the pot, which need not be more than 7 inches across, are now 
developing a fine show of blooms of a delicate pink shade of colour 
which will change to pure white as they expand. The great character 
of this variety is the manner in which it blooms simultaneously, render¬ 
ing the branches so useful for cutting with long stems without sacri¬ 
ficing many buds and partly unexpanded blossoms. More than this, it 
carries its foliage so well. This being of a deep dark colour at once renders 
it valuable to edge the fronts of groups. Soil of a good quality should 
be provided, and where pots of the size named are employed abundance 
of water will be needed several times a day to keep the foiiage fresh and 
develope the blooms in the best possible manner. 
TEMPERATURE FOR DEVELOPING THE BLOOMS. 
Inexperienced growers of Chrysanthemums are often at a loss, to 
know the temperature required for the plants at a time when the blooms 
are developing. I find there is a prevailing opinion that a fixed tem¬ 
perature is necessary at that time of the year. Circumstances must 
guide the cultivator in this, such as how the blooms are expanding 
according to the date at which they are required. The weather must be 
taken into account in admitting air to the plants. During bright sunny 
weather, if the plants are sufficiently forward for the date required, 
abundance of air should be admitted to dry the atmosphere, which is of 
great assistance in preventing the florets damping, causing disfigurement 
of the blooms, also reducing their size considerably. If wet or foggy the 
amount of air should be reduced and the pipes warmed. Blooms requir¬ 
ing this treatment should be partly expanded, say one-quarter developed 
if the show is in about three weeks’ time. If the buds have not yet 
shown colour the plants must be kept closer, making use of sun heat 
early so as to avoid forcing the plants by fire heat later on. Chrysan¬ 
themums will bear a temperature of 60° during the night by fire heat, 
but a ibetter development is effected in a temperature 10° lower if 
possible. In all cases where forcing the plants into bloom with fire heat 
is necessary a small portion of air should be admitted to the plants 
always ; this prevents the petals damping somewhat, which is a serious 
hindrance to the proper development of the blooms.—E. Molyneux. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN IRELAND. 
Since my notes of last week I have a bad report to give of prospects 
of growers in this neighbourhood. The damp which made its appear¬ 
ance during the bright dry weather in the middle of this month 
increased rapidly since the present muggy weather has set in. Fine 
blooms, half expanded, which appear all right to-day get touched all over 
by to-morrow. The collections which have been best grown seem to 
have suffered most. It is very disheartening to see plants which have 
had the most careful attention since December last from the most ex¬ 
perienced growers in Ireland now going to the bad, and apparently 
nothing can be done to save them. The plants looked splendid when 
being housed, having foliage down to the pots, and well set plump buds 
of great promise. Plants grown with a quantity of bloom for decora¬ 
tion, such as the Rundles, have escaped up to this. The varieties most 
affected are Ed. Audiguier, Madame Audiguier, J. Delaux, Jeanne d’Arc, 
Belle Paule, Fair Maid of Guernsey, the Empresses, and Blush Queen, 
&c. Some sorts, such as Comte de Germiny, Elaine, &c., are keeping 
well. I can only account for this result by thinking the cool wet 
summer prevented the foliage and wood ripening sufficiently, and the 
plants are now overcharged with sap. I shall be glad to learn the 
opinions of more experienced growers at your side of the water.— 
Thomas Phelan, Clonmel. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT SOUTHWARK PARK, S.E. 
We are desired to announce that to-day (Thursday) an exhibition 
of Chrysanthemums at the above park will be opened for the first time 
in the new house recently erected by the Board of Works. The public 
will be admitted free of charge from 10.30 till dusk daily. This is 
another addition to the free public exhibitions of Chrysanthemums in 
the metropolis, and the second provided by the Metropolitan Board of 
Works. 
AT FOREST HILL. 
Messes. J. Laing & Sons have their annual display of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums in one of the long span-roofed houses at the Stanstead Park 
Nurseries, which a few weeks ago were filled with brilliant Tuberous 
Begonias. Now, though with less brightness of colour to attract, there 
is equally as much to interest in the large collection of varieties, both 
old and new. Last year Messrs. Laing’s plants were distinguished by - 
their dwarfness, and good quality blooms were obtained from specimens 
that for grouping purposes were invaluable. This season, although 
there are sufficient dwarf plants for the margins of groups, the general 
stock has been allowed a little more extension, and a few experiments- 
have been tried in another direction. Much smaller pots have been u=ed 
for many of the plants than are usually recommended, and by restrict¬ 
ing the blooms proportionately very satisfactory results have been 
obtained. Thus specimens in 48-size pots, both of incurved and Japanese,. 
are in several cases bearing from two to three blooms of exhibition size 
and quality, and few would expect to secure such returns from plants in 
pots so small as that. Possibly the experiments may be extended in 
this direction another season. The plants are all in capital health, and 
notwithstanding the fact that in common with many others they were- 
partially caught by the early frosts in October, they look very promising, 
the buds fine, mostly expanding freely, and apparently likely to come in 
well for the show time. 
The collection comprises some hundreds of varieties, but we need 
only mention a few of the recent introductions or the nresent year’s 
novelties. Foremost amongst these is Stanstead Surprise, the Japanese 
variety certificated at the last meeting of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society. It is a seedling of last year raised from imported seed, and is 
distinguished by its bold handsome blooms, with long, drooping, and 
curled florets, rich rosy crimson at first, slowly fading to pink, with a 
silvery reverse. Most of the blooms have been taken from crown buds; 
several others are advancing on the terminal buds that indicate similar- 
characters, and which will come at the right time. One merit the 
blooms evidently possess—namely, good keeping properties, for some 
have been expanded two or three weeks, and do not seem much the 
worse now. Another seedling Mr. W. H. Burbridge raised a year or 
two before is coming in better condition this season than we have yet 
seen it. The blooms are of the Japanese reflexed type, with white 
fluted recurving florets, pure, full, and deep. A new Japanese from 
Delaux, named Madame Louise Leroy, is likely to be a good addition 
to tbe white varieties, the florets very pure, broad, and slightly fluted.. 
It is considered as one of the best of the continental novelties sent out 
this year. There is quite a family of “ Japanese Laings,” the sterling 
qualities of which will be well displayed later on judging by the 
substantial appearance of the buds. M. John Laing and Madame J.. 
Laing stand most appropriately at the head of the family both for 
size and merit ; then come M. J. A. Laing and M. H. J. Laing, which 
should be followed by something extremely good in honour of Madame 
J. A. Laing, and then we may soon expect a Madame H. J. Laing. As 
regards the first four members of the family we were informed by the- 
foreman, in strict confidence, that he had given them special attention 
for the credit of the firm. 
Amongst other varieties worthy of note the golden yellow Japanese 
Gorgeous is very conspicuous, and should be useful for exhibition. 
Anatoli Cordinier has medium sized blooms with narrow drooping 
purplish florets, a rather distinct shade of colour. Album fimbriatum, 
Criterion, Yal d’Andorre, W. Stevens, Mdlle. Lacroix, T. S. Ware, Mrs. 
Wm. Mencke, and Sarah Owen are also noteworthy in the Japanese- 
group, while the incurved comprise good representatives of all the well 
proved varieties. 
RICHMOND. 
It is somewhat strange that a town like Richmond cannot support a 
Chrysanthemum show, yet it would seem to be the case, for this year a 
dog and cat show has been substituted for the autumn display of 
Chrysanthemums and fruit. The district has so long been noted for its 
summer exhibition and the strong local enthusiasm, that it is to be 
hoped the substitution mentioned does not indicate a decadence in horti¬ 
cultural interest. The contrast, to say the least, is an unpleasant one, 
and it might be worth the while of those who still have a preference for 
the Chrysanthemums to endeavour to revive the autumn show. The 
best plan, where two shows are managed by one Society, is to keep the 
funds quite distinct, having a separate account for each. This has been 
found satisfactory in several such cases, as those who wish to support 
only one of the shows can readily do so, and it will soon be ascertained 
which is the more popular. The private collections of Chrysanthemums- 
in Richmond itself are not very numerous, but the district around com¬ 
prises many excellent growers who might be easily induced to compete. 
In the nurseries the plants are chiefly grown for cutting, and for this 
purpose Mr. W. Brown, St. Mary’s Grove Nursery, has a large stock of 
plants. Elaine and other white-flowered varieties, with a few bright 
coloured sorts, are the leading favourites. Mr. Kinghorn also has several 
large groups grown with the same object in view, and abundance of 
blooms are obtained. But in both these nurseries the Chrysanthemums 
do not form the principal stock. Mr. Brown has an extensive, healthy,, 
miscellaneous collection of Ferns, Palms, stove and greenhouse flowering 
plants, and bedding plants ; and Mr. Kinghorn has a surprising stock of 
vigorous young Palms, the most popular sorts, like Latania borbonica, 
Kentia Fosteriana, and Cocos Weddelliana being largely represented. 
TWICKENHAM. 
Cambkidge House, the residence of E. J. D. Paul, Esq., is close to 
Richmond Bridge, on the Middlesex side of the Thames, and there- 
amidst some good general gardening, under the superintendence of 
Mr. J. P. Munro, Chrysanthemums have for several years been well 
grown, and the present season is no exception to the rule. Visitors at 
the Crystal Palace Show last November will remember the six grand 
blooms of Belle Paule which came from this garden, and several other 
