417 
sTcjvcmber 8 , 188 ?. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
T HE annual friendly contests amongst the growers and admirers 
of the Chrysanthemum have commenced in earnest, and despite 
the forebodings, which the unfavourable season to a great extent 
justified, the results so far have been very satisfactory. The 
"blooms have be^n shown in large numbers, and the quality gene¬ 
rally, especially in the Japanese, exceeded expectations, the incurved, 
though late, creditably displaying their refine! characteristics. 
The chief difficulty growers have experienced recently has been in 
preserving the earlier blooms, as a most discouraging tendency to 
■damping in the lower flaret3 has been developed by the rains and 
fogs. Some who have tried to hasten their plants too much are 
likely to realise the fact that a mistake has been committed, but it 
is quite excusable, especially with beginners, as only a week or two 
since it seemed impossible that certain exhibitors would be enabled 
do enter the lists at the early shows, though they have since done 
so with considerable satisfaction to themselves. 
It is astonishing how rapidly the societies and exhibitions 
devoted mainly to Chrysanthemums increase in numbers, and if 
any doubt were felt respecting the popularity of the “Autumn 
Queen,” it would be effectually dispelled by an inspection of a list 
of shows for the present month. The season really began with the 
last day of October, when a successful show was held at Havant. 
This was followed by one at Southampton on the 1st inst., where 
the competition was exceedingly keen. The busy time was com¬ 
menced this week, reaching the culminating point next week, and 
gradually declining to the end of the month. Thus a total of over 
ninety shows have been announced, and taking the three principal 
“weeks, the numbers are—November 5th to 9th, fourteen shows ; 
November 12th to 17th, fifty-four shows ; and November 19th to 
24th, twenty shows, the last of which we have any information 
being Eccles on November 30th and December 1st. With regard 
do the days of the week upon which the shows are held there is 
a marked preference for Tuesday and Wednesday, twenty-six 
being fixed on the former and twenty-seven on the latter ; the 
■others being Monday 3rd, Thursday 21st, Friday 11th, and Saturday 
4th, the first and the last being evidently in very little favour. On 
Monday, November 13th; Wednesday, November 14th ; and 
Thursday, November loth, the greatest number of shows will be 
held— i.e., sixteen each on the Tuesday and Thursday, and fifteen 
on Wednesday. 
Seine of the leading shows have already taken place—such, for 
instance, as Kingston-on-Thames on Tuesday, where the fifth 
25-guinea challenge vase was competed for, and won for the first 
time by W. Furze, Esq., Teddington (gardener Mr. Coomb3), 
the Exhibition being as full of interest as usual, both as regards 
numbers of entries and quality of exhibits. Then followed the 
National Chrysanthemum Society's Exhibition at Westminster on 
Wednesday (and to-day), and where, apart from the numerous 
•substantial prizes and medals offered, the national competition 
amongst Chrysanthemum and Horticultural Societies for a challenge 
trophy and prize of £10 excited considerable interest by its novelty. 
The Exhibition throughout amply maintained the credit of the 
Society by which it was provided. The Portsmouth Show opened 
cm the same day (Wednesday), but continues until Friday, a silver 
cup, valued £25, constituting the principal prize, but the Show is 
always a large and good one in every respect. 
No. 437.—Vol. XVII., Thibd Sebies. 
The Ancient Society of York Florists will have an Exhibition 
in the Fine Art Building, York, on November 14th, 15th, and 16th, 
when two £5 silver cups will be offered for plants and blooms. The 
Kent County Society, though very youthful, merits notice for having 
made a step in the right direction, that of forming county societies. 
It has been reasonably advocated that in many cases an amalga¬ 
mation of small local societies in one representing the county in 
which they are situated, would be a mutual advantage, and it is 
probable that this will be carried out more generally in the future. 
In some instances it might not be advisable or practicable, but it 
would be beneficial in numbers where two or three societies in a 
small district suffer both in funds and exhibits by their unnecessary 
competition. 
The first p-ovincial show of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society at Sheffield is being looked forward to with the deepest 
interest, and it is anticipated that the contest between northern 
and southern growers will prove one of the best of its kind yet 
held. The Show and the Conference where the “authorities” 
will discourse on various matters of importance, will undoubtedly 
attract lirge numbers of horticultural visitors, who may assure 
themselves of a hearty Yorkshire welcome. The most interesting 
class will be that for a representative collection of blooms, the first 
prize being a 15-guinea silver cup and £10 in cash. The conditions 
under which this prize is offered are very easy, and the competition 
ought to be keen, as the two other prizes are of substantial amounts 
—namely, £6 and £4. The sections, or any part of them to be 
represented, are incurved, Japanese, reflexed, Japanese reflexed, 
1 irge Anemone, and Japanese Anemone, the first two in twelve 
blooms, distinct varieties, the others in twelve blooms of not less 
than six varieties, or more than two blooms of one variety. 
The Birmingham Show is fixed for November 21st and 22nd, a 
liberal schedule being provided to insure what is usually obtained— 
a good representive Show. The Liverpool Show will be held on 
November 20th and 21st, and a fine characteristic display is ex¬ 
pected. The great northern Show at Hull takes place on November 
22nd and 23rd, and another silver challenge vase value 15 guineas is 
offered for a collection of blooms. A 10-guinea challenge cup is 
also contributed for a group of Chrysanthemums and a piece of 
challenge plate for a table decorated with Chrysanthemums, with 
liberal prizes in all other classes. The Shows named are only a few 
of the more important, but the districts l’epresented by shows 
extend from Penzance to Scotland and Ireland, so that the admira¬ 
tion of the plant is not confined to any particular portion of the 
kingdom, and we frequently hear how societies and shows of a 
similar character are increasing on the Continent and in America, 
especially in the latter country. 
Already a proposition of a singularly interesting character lias 
been made with respect to next year, and it is worthy of the 
immediate attention of Chrysanthemum lovers. It is believed that 
in 1789 the large flowered Chrysanthemum was introduced to 
European cultivators, and it has been suggested by Mr. W. Holmes 
that 1889 would be a fitting opportunity for celebrating the 
centenary. . A series of shows or a great Chrysanthemum fete 
might be rendered an important and highly attractive gathering 
next November. But to insure the attention and success such a 
scheme would merit it should be taken in hand at once, and the 
best method would be to appoint a committee to consider the 
matter and receive suggestions. A programme of some kind ought 
to be considered before the show season has concluded this year— 
say at Sheffield—and growers would then have ample time to pre¬ 
pare. If well started there would be no doubt about the support 
obtainable. If it were possible to grow a large collection of 
varieties carefully and experimentally with a view to comparison 
and determination of synonyms, a most valuable service would be 
performed. The work of comparison might well be undertaken 
by the Floral and Catalogue Committees of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, and the only difficulty seems to be providing for 
No. 2093 .—Yol. LXXIX., Old Sebies. 
