Febmary 2, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
91 
a young man to do his best, and even if he does do a little extra with¬ 
out getting paid for it he ought not to grumble. I have only been in 
one place where plants were grown for exhibition, anil in that I found 
it something similar to what is spoken of by “• Under Gardener.” Upon 
two occasions we have had to cliange our clothes and set to work on 
Sunday afternoon, about 1 o’clock P.M., and keep at work till about 
10 P.M., then be up again by 4 A.M., and not be able to go to bed again 
till about midnight. For this we received nothing, but I should have 
been very well satisfied if, after doing my best and seeing my com¬ 
panions do the same, I could only have seen that the gardener was 
pleased with us ; but this was not the case, for if only a leaf was out of 
place it was an opening for fault-finding, and on one occasion he went 
so far as to say that we did all we could to hinder him from getting 
prizes. I can assure you that this was far from being the truth, for it 
usetl to be a matter of competition between the three of us in the 
bothy to see which could get up his plants the best and secure the 
most prizes in our several departments. The shows were all within a 
reasonable distance, and 1 am well aware that the prizes left £3 to £5 
clear when everything was paid. 1 do not wish to say that that is the 
case with all, for there are not a few instances where the prize money 
comes a long way short of the expense, and then 1 think it would be 
very unreasonable of young men to get anything even for overtime ; but 
I do think that in cases where anything is cleared, the young men 
should bo paid for their overtime, and receive some encouragement for 
their exertions, if only a pleasant word of recognition. The gardener 
we all know is responsible for everything in the garden, .and has to 
work his brains very hard to please, but if the young men ditl not also 
work their brains as well as their hands in doing their best to aid him, 
he would come far short when the day of the exhibition arrived, anyway 
this is the belief of— A Foreman. 
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY’S PROPOSED PROVINCIAL SHOW. 
A DESIRE has been expressed by several northern growers that the 
National Chrysanthemum Society should hold a provincial Exhibition 
this year, and the idea has been favourably received. Suggestions from 
exhibitors and the secretaries of societios in the north of England, in¬ 
dicating the encouragement that may be expected, would however be 
useful in furthering a consideration of the matter, and any communica¬ 
tions forwarded to me, addressed to this office, will be brought before the 
Committee.—L. Castle. 
SHOWING—OWNERS’ CLAIMS. 
I VERY much dislike to enter a controversy under the protection of 
a nnm de plume, and I think I have only once before done so, and then 
it was not assumed for the purpose of sheltering myself, but to prevent 
the possible identity of another person whose private actions were made 
the subject of public discussion, but as “Wraith” has adopted a mwi 
de plume I will follow his example. If “ Wraith ” will disclose his 
identity I will do the same, because I think the proper names of the 
■writers are the best proof of good faith in controversies, but are not 
necessarily require to ordinary articles. 
“ Wraith ” enters the list as a ehampion of employers, and suggests 
if gardeners’ names must appear in reports of hortieultural shows they 
should be given in this way—“ Twenty-four Chrysanthemums, incurved, 
distinct.—First, A. Blank, Esq. (gardener, Hobbs).” That is, wm are 
told, as it ought to be, and gardeners must know their places. I fear 
you, Mr. Editor, are not entirely free from blame in this matter, for it 
has been stated in leading articles that in the ranks of gardeners are to 
be found men of considerable education, men of refinement, men of 
great business capacity; and on page 1, January 6th, 1888, are these 
words—“ Some of the most intellectual of gardeners are the most ener- 
getie workers, and the best painters amongst them are at the same 
time well in the forefront amongst the most successful Grape-growers 
and general cultivators of the generation.” Surely there is a mistake 
somewhere. Men such as you describe are surely entitled to the usual 
courteous prefix of Mr. when mentioned in print. Perhaps it may be 
well not to dwell long on “ jockeys,” who, as “ Wraith ” perhaps knows, 
do not hob-nob with the rich and the great, do not receive high retain¬ 
ing fees, or handsome presents into the bargain if they win, so we return 
to the gardeners. In the future their names must not appear. Reports 
of shows will then stand thus—“ Plate of Onions.—First the Duke of 
Ramsgate, the Onions were well grown with very thin necks, and His 
Grace musf have been most assiduous in pinching them. Celery, two 
sticks.—First the Marquis of Willerford, this was of excellent quality 
and showed careful management on the part of his Lordship in the 
earthing-up process. One Red Cabbage.—First Ephraim Snooks, Esq., 
this was the largest specimen we have seen, Mr. Snooks must have 
bestowed a considerable amount of labour and time in the application 
of liquid manure, which, we fear, he would at times find somewhat oSen- 
sive.”— Phantom. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM PROPAGATION. 
Nothing succeeds like success, and in the propagation of Chrysan¬ 
themums, whatever method may be adopted, if the end is thoroughly 
satisfactory, we are quite justified in pursuing that course which has 
led to those results. In a recent issue of the Journal, on page 41, I 
notice “ W. K. W.” writing of Mr. Billson’s garden near Leicester, 
speaks of the Chrysanthemum cuttings being struck in a cold vinery 
and were flagging “ seriously.” It must be gathered from this remark, 
that “ W. K. W.” is no believer in this system of propagation, and I 
know he is supported in this view, perhaps, by the majority of culti¬ 
vators. This would appear sufficient evidence to at once condemn the 
practice ; nevertheless, that this cold and prolonged system of propaga¬ 
tion has its advantages I am quite convinced. The excellent blooms 
obtained by Mr. Billson is sufficient proof that the flagging was not 
“serious,” and quite justified Mr. Bolton—I beg “Wraith’s” pardon, 
Mr. Billson—in persisting in a course which has led to such good results. 
Our own cuttings have been struck in a somewhat similar way for 
several years past. Ten or a dozen cuttings are placed in a pot, and then 
stood on a ledge in the front of an orchard house, from which frost can 
be excluded by hot-water pipes. On all occasions, except when fro.st 
prevails, the ventilators and doors are thrown open, and as a consequence' 
of such extreme exposure the cuttings flag considerably ; but on dry 
or sunny days they are sprinkled with the syringe, no fear being enter¬ 
tained of damping in this airy structure. Very slowly but surely do 
they form roots, after which they seem to grow away with a freedom-, 
and sturdiness which could not be surpassed by plants which had 
been struck in a close or warm atmosphere. Again, the small space- 
occupied by the cuttings for two months or more, and the little labo'.ir 
attached, must be advantageous to the amateur, and also the gardener 
with limited assistance. I should stale, however, that I insert the bulk 
of our cuttings from the 4th to the 20th of December, any that are- 
compelled to be inserted towards the end of January or in February are 
placed in heat.—A. R. Cox. 
SWEET-SCENTED CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
That sweet-scented varieties of Chrysanthemums will form an. 
interesting class when their numbers increase admits of no doubt.. 
Taking the family of Chrysanthemums generally the odour emitted from- 
both the leaves and the flowers is anything but pleasant, in fact most 
people consider them disagreeable. It is not generally known that some- 
possess a fragrance similar to Violets, which is much appreciated. In 
my opinion the fragrance of the single pale pink variety, Mrs. Langtry, 
is much more pronounced and agreeable than that froui any other 
variety. One or two plants of this will perfume a whole house if the: 
plants are grown in “ bush ” fashion, so that numbers of blossoms are 
developed at the same time. At present I do not know more than four 
varieties which are scented. Now that they are being taken iu hand, 
more generally for cultivation, and as prizes are being offered specially 
for this class, we may expect shortly to see more varieties added to the 
number. I will describe the sorts I know to be fragrant. 
Progne, a small flowered, rither tall-growing variety of the refiexed. 
type when cultivated in the manner generally adopted for the growth 
of large blooms, the colour is amaranth and scented like Violets. Dr. 
Sharpe, also reflexed, magenta colour. Little or no scent is emitted, 
from flowers of this variety, which are produced from crown buds, and 
are consequently large and oft ntimes earlj''; even if they have any it 
does not last long, but when grown with a view to produce a number of 
blossoms on each plant, as tlris variety readily does, the scent is much 
more pronounced. The single variety, Mrs. Langtry, already referred to,, 
is dwarf in habit of growth, branching freely and flowering abundantly 
the whole length of t e stems. Dick Turpin, Anemone Pompon, has 
brightly coloured ray florets and deep yellow scented flowers, highly 
perfumed, dwarf and stocky in growth ; this variety succeeds well 
grown either in pots or planted at the base of a south wall ; in thi latter 
position its blossoms last a long time in perfection. 
A few cultural notes will perhaps be useful to some. Cuttings 
should be inserted at once, choosing stout suckers, either singly or two 
in a 3-inch pot. When the plants are 4 inches high pinch out the point of 
each to induce side branches. Select about three of the strongest of 
these, removing any others. When those retained have grown from- 
4 to C inches long pinch out the points again. From these new 
breaks select six of the strongest shoots. After stopping the shoots no- 
other pinching will be needed. These may be allowed to grow, and 
will in time produce a plentiful supply of flowers. The two refiexed 
varieties should have some of the weakest growing branches removed 
from the lower part of the main stems. Thinning the flower buds also- 
will induce a fuller development of the flowers, but in the case of the 
single variety and the Anemone Pompon, all branches proceeding from 
these after the six branches are selected should be allowed to grow and 
all bloom buds develope. The colour of Dr. Sharpe and Progne will 
be richer if later produced flower buds are retained for flowering. The- 
soil used for potting should not be too rich, nor the pots too large 
where space is a consideration. Mrs. Langtry and Dick Turpin may be 
grown two plants of each variety in one pot. The pots at each potting 
should be a trifle larger, say 4 inches, G inches, and 9 inches in diameter.. 
—E. Molyneux. 
SPORT FROM MRS. C. CAREY. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, send us flowers of a bri ht 
yellow sport from Mrs. C. Carey with flat florets of a very clear and 
