February 9, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
113 
After the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, and a vote of 
thanks to retiring officials, the election of officers for the present year 
took place, which resulted in the re-election of Fletcher Rogers, Ksq.,as 
Hon. Treasurer; Mr. G. Blackmore, Sub-Treasurer; Mr. E. Bridge, 
Secretary; Mr. J. Kelly and Mr. J. Peers, Auditors; while Messrs. 
White, Bennett, Jellicoe, Rimmer, Turner, Wilson, and Cox were re¬ 
elected members of the Committee ; two new members being added in 
Mr. D. Lindsay and Mr. Bryan. 
Mr. R. W. Ker then proposed that the sums of £3 and £2 be granted 
as donations to the funds of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution 
and the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund respectively; this being carried 
unanimously. 
Mr. Bardney, in order to reduce the expenses of the Society, next 
proposed that the amount offered in prizes for the three Shows of 1888 
be reduced to the extent of .£157—viz., £17 Spring, .£105 Summer, and 
.£35 Autumn Exhibitions respectively. To this Mr. Cox moved an 
amendment that the subject be left in the hands of the Committee, which 
was carried by a majority of two to one. A cordial vote of thanks to 
Mr. White for presiding brought the meeting to a close. 
The Committee have already arranged for three shows as usual, the 
amount offered in prizes being about the same as last year. The Spring 
Show, as already advertised, will be held on March 21st.—A Com¬ 
mitteeman. 
[Other Horticultural Societies with a favourable baljince in hand 
may imitate the excellent example of the Liverpool Association in 
contributing to the funds of the Institutions mentioned.] 
DATES OF CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
A CORRESPONDENT suggests the desirability of our publishing dates 
of fixtures of shows where such have been decided, as he thinks this 
might guide other Societies in their fixtures, and to some extent avoid 
“ clashing,” though that is difficult with so many exhibitions occurring 
within a month. If secretaries of shows will favour us with a postcard 
of their dates for the present year, whether they have been previously 
intimated or not, we will insert them as suggestetl. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM GROUPS. 
Nothing adds more to the attractions of a Chrysanthemum Show 
than groups of Chrysanthemums interspersed with foliage plants, and 
yet I am surprised to find that out of about forty societies whose 
schedules for last year I have been looking through, only seven societies 
allow foliage plants to be used in arranging groups. 
The Chrysanthemum plant alone is not well adapted for the forma¬ 
tion of artistic groups, although for staging as cut blooms it is unsur¬ 
passed. But what can be more beautiful than groups of Chrj santhemums 
relieved with handsome foliage plants and surrounded with a bordering 
of Ferns and other dwarf plants ? Such plants show none of the 
stiffness and want of grace of Chrysanthemum groups alone. Their 
unsightly sticks and stems are effectually hidden, and their formation, 
whether the shape be circular, square, or semi circular, provide great 
scojw for the display of taste and judgment. [In order to maintain the 
distinctive character of the Chrysanthemum show all other flowers, 
also berries, should be rigidly excluded. As societies will soon be 
arranging their schedules I offer this suggestion as a means of increasing 
the attractiveness of their exhibitions.— Edw. Harland. 
SHOWING—OWNERS’ CLAIMS. 
I HOPE the letter of “ Phantom ” will not cause “ Wraith ” to omit 
the letter i in his mm <le plume, but it certainly does seem to me to be 
inconsequent and illouical, and during the reading of it I found myself 
once or twice refxjating one of the sentences—“ Surely there is a mistake 
somewhere.” 
I did not gather from “ Wraith’s” letter that he objecte^l in any way 
to the prefix of “ Mr.” to the gardener’s name. I understood him 
merely to be contrasting the old form of exhibition card with the 
modern one, and agree in almost every respect with the subject of his 
letter. No employer worthy of .an honest man would object to the 
titles of common courtesy being applied to his gardener however humble 
his position might be, but it is apparently this supposed objection which 
has raised the ire of ‘‘ Phantom ” in all the first pare of nis letter. If 
not, what has the truth that some gardeners are men of refinement and 
education to do wdth the fact that the flowers they e.xhibit belong to 
their employers? “Phantom” says later.“we return to the 
gardeners. In the future their names must not appear. Reports of 
shows will then stand thus,” &c., which he has no doubt made very 
amusing. But if it be asked. Who has suggested that gardeners’ names 
must not appear? it must be answered, Nobody but “ Phantom ” himself 
in the words quoted. He has himself raised a phantom for the purpose 
of demolishing it, not a difficult task. 
“ Wraith ” wrote to complain of employers’ names being omitted. 
and a very just complaint in my opinion, and “Phantom” writes to- 
show how unjust it would be to omit gardeners’ names, which no one but 
himself had suggested.—W. R. Raillem. 
I DO not e.xhibit very much, but when I do I certainly like to have 
my master’s name on the cards, and always send his name with the 
entries. In 1887 I exhibited at three shows in the north, and in no one 
instance was his name on the cards. In the papers reporting the shows 
his name, of course, never appeared, and I must say that if we were in' 
changed positions I should not like to go round an exhibition and see my 
own produce shown without the slightest notice being taken of my 
light in it. It so happens that poultry, horses, cattle, &c., are shown 
from the same estate, and the owners’ name is the only one mentioned 
in these cases. I do think this is a matter requiring to be remedied., 
—B. 
RALPH BROCKLEBANK. 
I HAVE (Feb. 3rd) sent herewith two Chrysanthemum flowers—one- 
of Meg Merrilies and the other the golden sport from it, Mr. R. 
Brocklebank—to show the adaptability of these varieties for late work^ 
They are, as you will, see terminal flowers from disbudded plants.— 
T. WiNKWOETH, Childicall, Liverpool. 
[The flowers were very fresh and good for the time of year, Ralph, 
Brocklebank especially so.] 
CHRYSANTHEMUM PROPAGATION. 
I HAVE several hundreds of Chrysanthemums inserted in cold 
frames exactly like Calceolarias, Violas, and other hardy plants of that 
type. These are, of course, cuttings which were taken early. Those- 
who do not require to grow exhibition blooms may use a considerable 
freedom in the methods of propagation. We have repeatedly struck 
stock in a hot propagating house, and never saw any bad effects follow.. 
Last season I was obliged to strike between two and three hundred in 
this way, and some of them turned out as well as those that were struck 
earlier and cooler. I allow myself considerable latitude throughout' 
with regard to these most useful flowers, and find one method of treat¬ 
ing them just as good as another. 
I have not seen gloiiosum set down as worth growing for its scents 
Here it is decidedly honey-scented. It is also one of the very best for 
decorative purposes in a cut state, though it must be grown on the 
single stem principle in order to have fine blooms.—B. 
JAPANESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 
Foe the information of “ An Anxious Inquirer ” I give the names oS 
varieties which in my opinion are the best nine varieties of large 
Japanese for exhibition, adding also their colours. Jladame C. Audiguiet, 
deep mauve; Belle Paule, white edged with rosy purple ; Boule d’Or, 
yellow and bronze; Jeanne Delaux, dark velvety brown; Edwin 
Molyneux, purple, crimson, and gold ; Mr. H. Cannell, soft yellow p 
Mrs. H. Cannell, snowy white ; Fair Maid of Guernsey, white ; Triomphe 
de la Rue des ChJlets, salmon red. If nine varieties are required for 
exhibition it would not be v/ise to depend upon that number only for- 
supplying the necessary blooms, as all varieties do not succeed in the 
same season ; therefore it is better to allow a margin by growing more 
than are really required. At the least three or four varieties should be 
added to the number already given. Criterion, amber ; Mdlle. Lacroix, 
white; Ralph Brocklebank, primrose yellow ; Mrs. J. Wright, white. 
Avalancl e is a very fine white variety, but as it is so scarce at present it 
is perhaps not wise to give it a foremost position in a list of varieties 
for fear of disappointment to those wishful to cultivate this sort.— 
E. Molyneux. 
Mr. H. Lowman also gives the following names of nine good 
Japanese varieties worth growing :—H. Cannell, Avalanche, W. G. 
Drover, E. Molyneux, Carew Underwood, Ralph Brocklebank, Mrs. H. 
Cannell, Maggie Mitchell, and Boule d’Or. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM PROPAGATION. 
I WAS pleased to read the note under the above heading by Mr. A. R. 
Cox on page 91. As a well-known successful cultivator and exhibitor, 
the opinions of Mr. Cox will carry much weight with many readers, and: 
justly so. Nevertheless, as he surmises, I do not believe the mode he 
advocates and practises to be the best possible. The mode I have found 
most simple and successful for the last four or five years is to place four 
or five cuttings in each pot, and to place the pots inside small single¬ 
light frames, which are quite cool, excepting that they are placed inside- 
a freely ventilated Peach house, from which, as in the case of Mr. Cox’s 
house, frost is excluded by hot-water pipes. The frame lights are 
slightly tilted almost from the first, and the condensed moisture is wnped 
off them each day. Under this treatment the cuttings never flag, are 
about one month in forming roots, and there are scarcely any losses. I do- 
not think I have this season lost more than 5 per cent, of all the cuttings: 
inserted. I certainly cannot suppose flagging can be beneficial, and it 
must cause the cuttings to be a longer time in producing roots than, 
when such is prevented.— W. K. W. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM ROSEUM SUPERBUM. 
Permit me to write a w'ord in praise of this excellent Chrysanthe¬ 
mum. We have had it in flower here since the second or thinl week of 
November. For cutting it is invaluable, and is much appreciated' 
arranged with JIaidenhair Fern. We cut the last of it on the 4th inst. 
