490 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 29,1SS.V 
are heard to exclaim, “ What can be the cause ? we cannot make it 
out,” &c., and instead of it being a pleasure to lco'.c round them time 
after time, the sight of them becomes sickening, and through, I would 
conclude, the injudicious watering and overfeeding.—R. PAGE, Stroud, 
Gloucester. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM: SOCIETY. 
A meeting of the Floral Committee was held on Wednesday, the 
21st inst., Mr. Sanderson in the chair. There were also present Messrs. 
R. Ballantine, Wm. Holmes, Geo. Stevens, Geo. S. Addison, W. Boyce, 
H. Cannell, C. Gibsoa, &c. A fair number of new Chrysanthemums 
were staged by Messrs. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, including Madame Baco, 
M. Tweedie, Yellow Lane, a bright yellow single, and others. A 
vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Elliott of Jersey for a box of Jersey 
seedlings. Two very fine blooms of Mrs. F. Thompson were exhibited. 
This is an American variety which has proved to be synonymous with 
W. & G. Drover. The following first-class certificates were awarded :— 
Miss M. A. Haqgas (Messrs. Davis & Jones of Lilford Road, Camber¬ 
well.—A deep primrose yellow incurved sport from Mrs. Heale, of good 
substance and resembling the parent plant in every respect except colour. 
Mrs. C. II. Wheeler (Mr. Thomas Butterworth, Benton Grange, 
Cheshunt).—A very large Japanese flower of a golden colour suffused 
with red and bronze similar to Edwin Molyneux, but having much 
broader florets. 
I'Automne (Mr. Geo. S. Addison, Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath). 
—A soft salmon buff incurved flower with broad petals, and being of 
considerable depth and solidity is without doubt an acquisition to the 
incurved section. 
Alcyon (Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley).—A Japanese refiexed, 
broad, drooping florets, rose carmine, silver reverse, a deep flower of good 
substance. 
EARLY CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
I HEAED it said a season or two ago of the early flowering sorts* 
because some were not quite so prominent as before, “ Ah, they are 
going back 1 ” But it is not so, as this season has shown quite as much 
advance as can be expected, and more in some directions. The French 
raisers have certainly not done much with the early varieties, and if 
they send over such poor productions as they have this season they will 
soon be surpassed by the Americans, who can raise their own seed, and 
there are many amateur growers who are likely to obtain at least a 
few good sorts. I think I am justified in coming to this conclusion 
from the fact that two great steps in advance—viz., Grace Attick and 
Sam Henshaw, are both of American origin. Another distinct sign of 
progress is the marked advance in securing the seed of early sorts here 
in England. It is true the seedlings are only Pompons at present, but 
others I expect will be grown and seeded in due time. 
As regards the shows of the early sorts of this season, we have had 
this difference, that no exhibitor at either one showed at the other. At 
the Crystal Palace Messrs. Davis & Jones were first with a fine group 
of well mixed varieties, showing besides, but not for competition, a 
very fine group of Madame Desgrange. I think it was the finest ever 
seen at a public show, I took the second prize for the group among 
which I had one poor plant of Grace Attick, the first plant, as far as I 
know, ever exhibited in England, and poor as it was, for it was over¬ 
blown, it attracted more attention than any other. It is not much to 
my taste, but most people who have seen it seem to admire it ; perhaps 
that is because it is such a very new type among the early sorts. Mr. 
Miles, of the Dyke Road, Brighton, took the third prize for a group of 
Mrs. Burrell and a few of other sorts to comply with the schedule. 
At the show of the early varieties at the Aquarium by the National 
Society the most prominent exhibits were the tables of cut flowers, 
and their long expanse looked very beautiful. They were nearly all 
grown naturally without disbudding, but there was one thing that 
struck me in some of the exhibits—viz., that there were several sorts 
that ought not to find a place in a nursery or garden, for it is a waste 
of space and labour to grow the poor old sorts of a few years back. In 
this class Mr. Ware, of the Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, was 
first with a fine representative collection, and Mr. Owen of Maidenhead 
second. Mr. Witty of Highgate Cemetery has first prize for a group 
without competition. The only new variety of any note at this Show 
was a fine group of'what I should call a dark strain of the yellow 
variety of Madame Desgrange, named Mrs. Hawkins, exhibited by 
Messrs. Hawkins & Bennett, Twickenham. This was awarded a first 
class certificate, but I expect it will not turn out darker than other 
strains. 
This season with its sharp frost at the very beginning of October 
has tested the merits of Alice Butcher, the red sport of Lyon, which 
proves to be one of the best for resisting frost when the flowers are 
expanded enough to show their colour. Lord Mayor, too, seems likely to 
be distinguished in this respect ; 6 ° of frost did not spoil the flowers 
of Alice Butcher, which will, of course, increase its value as a variety 
for market and other purposes. 
I regard the most prominent find of the season from a decorative 
point of view to be Sam Henshaw. It has been here, it seems, for a 
season or two, but like other American sorts attracted little attention 
because so many are almost worthless. It is said to be a seedling from 
Comte de Germiny and Viceroy of Egypt raised by Dr. Walcot of New 
York. It is a wonderfully strong plant, and grows about 4 feet high, 
having flowers 5 inches across. It begins to flower, at least did this late 
seaton, about the middle of October. The colour of the petals is a 
bright pale magenta inside, with a bright grey rather pink reverse. 
They are broad and long, incurving so much as to close over any eye 
there may be in the flowers. It does not altogether please the critics,, 
but is admired by the general public, and is certainly a marked addition 
to the October varieties; besides, I think, in good seasons it will give, 
ripe and fertile seed in England. 
Grace Attick is another American sent over a season or two back. 
It is said to have been raised by Mr. John Thorpe. It is quite a new 
departure, very dwarf, 2 feet high, Japanese, white in colour, with- 
blooms from 4 to 5 inches across, the petals being of a long thin pipe¬ 
like structure. The habit is bushy with very spare foliage. It begins* 
to flower at the end of July, but is of long-continued flowering habit,, 
in fact its vitality seems largely centered in the production of flowers- 
I expect it to take a prominent place as an English seed parent. Its- 
only defect seems a weak constitution, but this may be improved. 
0. J. Quintus is a good variety from a semi-early decorative point of. 
view. It is a robust and vigorous plant, growing 44 feet high, with 
blooms 3 to 34 inches across ; Japanese in form, and a fine pink mauve 
in colour, well fit for after dark decoration. It is profuse when left to. 
flower naturally. The petals stand straight out, which seems to enable - 
it to stand wind and rain very well. It is of French origin. 
M. Van Hulle is of continental origin, another fine robust useful' 
plant, growing 3 feet high, with blooms 24 inches across, very full of 
petals standing straight out ; they are red flaked with yellow, borne on< 
the plant in a way well suited for cutting purposes, as they come out 
altogether. This Pompon is well fitted for a small pot decorative plant,, 
blooms in September and October, and comes into competition with. 
Alice Butcher, but is stronger and better able to support itself than that.. 
It requires little or no sticking. 
Elsie is a good refiexed white October bloomer, ivory white, a robust, 
plant, 4 to 5 feet high, flowers 3 inches across. 
M. Ddlaux sent over seven sorts which were said to be early, but only 
one of them flowered before the end of October, that was Madame C. 
Souchet. It is a Japanese, 5 feet h’gh, not bushy ; the-flowers are a deep 
magenta, 4 inches across, not unlike M. Chretien; the other six were 
by no means in bloom by the end of October. 
We have been particularly fortunate this season with our seedlings - 
from seed grown here. I grew eighty-eight, and Mr. W are of Tottenham 
about 200 ; he has two distinctly good and early, anc? five or six more fit 
to try again ; they often come better the second season, I nave one- 
good one of last season and five of this, besides three or four to try again. 
Miss P. Broughton, English seedling from seed grown here the season 
before last, extremely white and elegant Pompon, flowers 2. to 24 inches 
across, very stout bushy habit, 2 feet high, requires no sticks, a profuse 
bloomer, differing from all others. Flowers in September and October- 
Very useful for small cut flowers, and it makes a good small pot plant. 
Clara White, Pompon, seed and plant grown here, dwarf, 2 feet high- 
flowers 2 inches across, borne on long stalks fit for cutting, stiff habit-, 
docs without sticks. 
White Lady, seed and plant raised here from Salter’s Early Blush. 
Good white Pompon, slightly tinged with blush, grows 2 feet high- 
flowers 2 inches across. Flowers in September. ) 
Jacintha is an excellent Pompon raised here from seed of Salter s- 
Early Blush, on which it is an improvement, being deeper in colour c<. 
bright pinkish lilac to white, and fuller flower 24 inches across. Plant. 
28 inches high, with a rather stouter stem than Balter's Blush. Flowers 
in September. 
Goldsmith, seed and plant raised here. A deep bright yellow Pomporr 
27 inches high, stout enough to do without sticks. Reffexed flowers - 
24 inches across, which come out in September. 
Dodo, seed and plant raised here. A pretty little yellow Pompon, 
very stout and dwarf. A profuse bloomer, 18 to 20 inches high. Flowers 
14 inches across. Flowers in September. Requires no - sticks. Good 
small pot plant. The last five of these are very likely to come earlier 
next season, as the seed was not sown till March 1st. 
Besides the above I have received from the United States quite a 
number of varieties said to be early, but as many of them came over, 
late in the season and in very bad condition from the voyage, they were, 
not in bloom at the end of October, and can only be tested another 
season. But I have great hopes of something good, as there are so many 
raisers. Mr. John Thorpe, in “ The American Garden” of October- 
says : “ There are not less than ten thousand seedlings to - flower for the- 
first time in the hands of those on the look out for improvements. 
There are new forms, new colours, better growers, earlier and later 
flowering varieties.” In regard to America, I must thank all friends- 
there, especially Mr. E. H. Libby, of 751, Broadway, and Mr. T. H. 
Spaulding, who proposes to grow and distribute these early sorts in the* 
United States. I have also this season especially to thank Messrs. 
Laing for their kind and efficient assistance, not forgetting the English 
horticultural press.—W. Piekcy, 89, West Road, Forest Ilill,. 
London, S.E. 
RHODODENDRON FORTUNE!. 
This Rhododendron has been known for some years in English- 
gardens, but it cannot be said to be either common or frequent, as, except 
in a few collections where Rhododendrons are specially prized, it is rarely 
seen. In the Warren Wood Gardens, Hatfield, Herts, the shrub succeeds- 
satisfactorily, as may be judged from the specimen shown in our illus¬ 
tration (fig. 55, page 495) prepared from a photograph obligingly for¬ 
warded to us by the gardener, Mr. G. Aslett. In June of this year we 
called attention to the variety of R. Fortunei raised at Warren Wood. 
