December 6, 1888. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
515 
the first place that I think that section far more beautiful than the stiff 
and formal incurved. However, that is a matter of taste. But, beyond 
that, artificial dressing of the blooms is universally resorted to in the 
incurved section, and no gardener not resorting to this device, but stag¬ 
ing his blooms as grown, would have the faintest chance of securing°a 
prize. An expert dresser can with inferior win against superior flowers. 
This does not seem to me to be horticulture. However, the practice is 
so universal that the only practical protest against it is not to encourage 
showing in this section. Therefore we confine ourselves almost exclu¬ 
sively to Japanese. Generally Japanese are exhibited as grown. Lately 
there have been indications of attempts to dress this section also, but in 
my opinion such attempts only serve to detract from the natural grace 
and wild beauty of the true Japanese flower, and the practice will not 
probably find many imitators. 
“ Last year we grew for show purposes 160 Japanese, sixty incurved, 
forty reflexed, and eleven Anemones, in all 271 plants. This year we 
have slightly increased our force. Such a small number tells greatly 
against us in open competitions against the large establishments and 
nurserymen throughout the kingdom. Many private establishments 
grow from 600 to 1000 and even more plants. One nurseryman grows 
for show purposes alone 2500 plants in addition to his ordinary stock. 
With a small stock every plant must be made to do its duty. Moreover, 
when the best blooms are cut for the earlier shows it is very difficult 
with so small a stock to sustain one’s form at later shows. 
“ Next year will be the centenary of the introduction of the Chrys¬ 
anthemum, or at least of the large flowering kinds, into Europe, and I 
understand that steps are being taken to mark the event by a grand 
Chrysanthemum Fete or Festival. I should think that a combination of 
the shows of the National Chrysanthemum Society and Crystal Palace 
at the latter place would be the best form for the celebration to assume. 
The National Society’s Show has quite outgrown the Aquarium. As 
you know, the Chrysanthemum was cultivated in China and Japan for 
centuries before its introduction into Europe, and our best new varieties 
still come from these countries. The earliest authenticated record of 
the flower in Europe is by Breynius, who in 1689 speaks of a small 
flowered variety as growing in Holland. It was in 1789 that M. Blan¬ 
chard, of Marseilles, introduced the large flowering varieties. Next 
year, therefore, will, by a coincidence, be the bi-centenary of the small 
and the centenary of the large varieties. Of late years the enterprise of 
our leading nurserymen has resulted in the introduction of some splendid 
novelties from Japan and China. The size now reached is extraordinary, 
some of the more loosely growing varieties, when extended, measuring 
over 10 inches. Of late introductions in Japanese I consider the best to 
be Avalanche, Marsa, Florence Percy, Edwin Molyneux, and Mr. H. 
Cannell. For the first three we received first-class certificates at the 
Crystal Palace Show last week. 
“ As to the best varieties to cultivate for show purposes, one cannot 
go far wrong in accepting the list of varieties recently put forward by 
the Committee of the National Chrysanthemum Society. I should give, 
in addition to the novelties before mentioned, the leading varieties thus : 
Japanese—Fair Maid of Guernsey, Meg Merrilies, Baronne de Prailly, 
Comte de Germiny, Belle Paule, Marguerite Marrouch, Thunberg, Boule 
d’Or, Japonaise, and Mdlle. Lacroix, not to mention many other equally 
good varieties. Among the Japanese reflexed I should give the first 
claim to Elaine, Maiden’s Blush, La Triomphante, Val d’Andorre, 
William Holmes, J. D61aux, and Criterion. In the incurved a collector 
must have, amongst others, Empress of India, Lord Alcester, Empress 
Eugenie, Barbara, Golden Empress of India, and Hero of Stoke New¬ 
ington. Among the reflexed, Chevalier Domage, Dr. Sharpe, King of 
the Crimsons, Cloth of Gold, Cullingfordi, and Golden Christine are at 
top. In large Anemones, Empress, Gluck, Mrs. Pethers, and Fleur de 
Marie ; and of Japanese Anemones perhaps Fabian de Mediana, 
Mdlle. Cabrol, Soeur Doroth4e Souille, Madame Berthe Pigny, and 
Madame Clos are the best. There are also many novelties in the various 
classes, but these have yet to be proved before they can be recommended 
to the amateur cultivator. It is of the highest importance, especially 
where the number of p'ants grown is limited, to make a judicious selec¬ 
tion of suitable varieties. One continually sees' at shows varieties exhi¬ 
bited which ought to have been excluded years ago. To retain such 
spoils the board, and weakens the exhibitor's showing power.” 
“ Can general interest in the flower be so promoted as to make it the 
winter flower par excellence , as the Bose is that of the summer l ” 
“ I think that we may almost say that the Chrysanthemum is already 
the winter flower. A recent inquiry, instituted, I believe, by the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, has shown that in this country alone 
there are 100,000 growers of the Chrysanthemum. This tells its own 
tale as to the popularity of the flower. Of course, to keep to the front 
rank at the larger shows is another question. In such competitions, as 
in every other where the front rank has to be reached, the individuality 
of the cultivator comes in. The thought and industry needed on the 
part of the gardener who is to win in first-class contests must, I need 
scarcely say, be beyond the common. In such a season as the past 
special devices had to be considered, and means found to neutralise the 
effects of the almost constant rain. I was asked by a gentleman at the 
Aquarium what was my gardener’s secret in producing the fine blooms 
staged by him. My reply was, ‘ Eleven, or I should say, twelve months’ 
constant and intelligent care.’ This is the real secret of success, rather 
than any special and complicated ‘composts ’ or manures. Furthermore, 
one must not stand still; constant experiment to feel your way onward 
must not be neglected. One important element in the matter is also an 
accurate knowledge of the peculiarities of the several varieties with a 
view not only to their general culture but to the accurate ‘ timing of the 
buds’ so that they shall present themselves for ‘taking’ exactly at 
that period which (having regard to the date of the show) is mo t 
calculated to produce the finest blooms. Here we have one of the inner 
secrets of the cultivator—a secret which he generally manages to keep 
to himself. There are three rocks upon which the amateur generally 
comes to grief. These are over-potting, over-watering, and over-feeding 
the plants. As to the general question of the advisability of permitting 
one’s gardener to show, my view is, encourage it. It is often said that if 
showing is allowed other things are neglected. I have not found it s^. 
I think that no honestly minded gardener will neglect his employer s 
interests in such a case. Should it, however, in particular instances be 
found to be otherwise, then by all means at once have an understanding 
on the point, I think that showing should be encouraged for many 
reasons. Intelligent and active-minded men in every class need son e 
outlet for their surplus mental activity and legitimate ambition. W1 at 
better channel into which to divert them than their ordinary calling and 
occupation ? I have seen something of the gardeners who stand as the 
leading competitors and prizwinners at these shows, and I can testify to 
their superior bearing and intelligence. Such men cannot fail to raise 
the moral standard of their whole class. Again, on the general questh n 
of encouraging horticultural tastes amongst the poorer classes, our 
cottage shows, and the kindly emulation which they stimulate, are. I 
think, not without their value at a time when so many things exist to 
sunder instead of draw closer the different classes of the community. 
Besides, we must all have, in reason, our pleasures and amusements. 
Lord Bacon said that ‘of all earthly pleasures gardening was the purest.’ 
I think that Lord Bacon was not far out in his statement.” 
FISH POTASH MANURE. 
Last year I had occasion to write favourably of this manure, and on 
further trial of it I can express myself as more pleased with it than 
before. During the past season I used it for Chrysanthemums, Potatoes, 
Onions, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, &c., so that I gave it a fair trial, 
using 15 cwt. of it. Sown in the ridges with the seed Potatoes it pro¬ 
duced sturdy, but not rampant growth, with the foliage of a dark healthy 
colour. On lifting the crop was all that could be desired, and for my 
soil remarkably clean. For Tomatoes it was dug in with some quarter- 
inch bones, and I had a very fine crop of fruit, growing them in a 
similar manner to that at Chiswick, with the exception that my stain 3 
were all slanted, the house being three-quater span, and the glass going 
down to 1 foot from the soil. The first two rows, in fact, were trained 
along the wires, there not being height enough for stakes. The plants 
were grown on the single-stem system, and I found the result from the 
house in which the potash was used far superior to that in which horse 
manure was dug in. In the latter the growth was rampant, the flowers 
would not set, and when they began to carry fruit the bunches were 
small, but the fruit weighed 9 and 10 ozs. each. With the potash the 
fruit was borne from about 9 inches above the soil, the growth was 
short-jointed, carrying a regular crop of fair-sized bunches of fruit, 
averaging 5 ozs. each. This manure was also very satisfactory used in 
Cucumber house and Melon frames, for my Cucumbers bore well from 
March to the beginning of November, and my Melon plants carried two 
crops, although I am sorry to say I failed to ripen many of the later 
ones. However, I cut forty-two from a three-light frame as a first crop, 
which I considered very satisfactory, the fruit averaging 2£ to 3 lb-', 
each. I may add that I was successful when exhibiting a dish of 
Tomatoes against eight others last week, being awarded the premier 
place at our"local Chrysanthemum Show, and my fruit have commanded 
2d. per lb. more than that of other growers in my neighbourhood through¬ 
out the summer.— IT. S. Easty, Cornard , Sudbury, Suffolk. 
POINSETTTA PULCHERRIMA. 
Few winter flowering plants are more effective than tie 
Poinsettia when well grown ; its bright crimson bracts render it 
attractive in the stove or warm conservatory. It is also useful 
associated with Palms, Ferns, Richardias, and Primulas for room 
decoration. A few remarks on its cultivation may be of interest 
to some of your readers. After the plants have flowered they 
should not, as is frequently the case, be laid under the stages and 
allowed to take care of themselves until the time for propaga¬ 
tion comes round, but be kept near the glass and attended to in 
watering until the leaves fall, after which less water will be 
required. They may then be transferred to a hon-e or pit wheie 
the temperature does not fall below 50. Towards the end of 
April treat the plants more generously by syringing them and 
closing the pit early in the afternoon, taking care not to overwater 
them.° By these means strong healthy cuttings will be secured, not 
the least important point in their cultivation. When the shoots 
are about 2 inches long they should be taken off with a heel and in¬ 
serted singly into small pots in a light compost of loam, leaf soil, 
and sand, well watered and plunged in a bottom heat of about 90°. 
Where a large stock is required successional cuttings may be taken. 
As soon as the cuttings are rooted remove them from the pro¬ 
pagating pit into a temperature a few degrees lower, keeping them 
near the <dass. Repot them as they require it in a mixture of 
