864 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 29, 1891. 
may be expected. The general condition of the plants is of the best, 
and several new houses have been recently erected f _>r their reception. 
—H. 
Chrysanthemums in the South. 
During a stay recently in the county of Hants I had an invitation 
to drive around a few of the principal “ Mutn ” growing gardens in the 
southern part of the county, and as that locality in which I was staying 
has of late years become somewhat noted for large blooms, and as I was 
somewhat anxious to see what are the prospects for the coming season 
I readily accepted the invite, and spent several pleasant hours. It was 
plain to be seen that the “ fever” has attained already to a high pitch. 
The chances of this exhibitor and that grower were largely discussed 
during the ramble. I have much pleasure in jotting down a few notes 
collected in a rough manner, but as I have myself a weakness for the 
autumn queen I find tne aid of a good memory is a useful adjunct to 
a sparsely filled note-book. By-the-by, is not Hampshire rather a 
noted county for exhibition blooms, and specimens, too, for the matter 
of that ? I remember some few years ago feasting my eye« on some 
specimens at the Southampton Autumn Show which I thought extra 
fine. One plant of Dr. Sharpe I shall never forget. This was “caught ” 
just right to the day in point of colour, and what other variety, I 
wonder, excels this when in that state? The specimen in question 
could not have had less than 150 blooms on it—aye, and all of passing 
quality too. I fancy I hear someone saying, “We do not want to hear 
anything about Dr. Sharpe. It is no use for 1 covering the board.’ We 
want to know how the Centenary champions, Messrs. Drover, are 
‘ looking,’ and how the Molyneux’s are ‘ shaping,’ ” so I will get to 
business. If what I saw during that tour is a criterion to go by, I 
should say the coming season is likely to be up to the average, in spite 
of the damp sunless season. The plants on the whole have a good 
appearance, are rather under the average height if anything, and full 
of promise for quality when the proper time comes. 
The nurseries at Fareham are now well known as belonging to the 
brothers, Messrs. W. <k G. Drover. The number of plants they cultivate 
are bad to judge when seeing them “packed” away so close as they 
are in two very long lean-to houses, which are used during the summer 
time for Roses and Cucumbers, but certainly they do not grow less 
than 700 ; and as they appear to confine their attention to Japanese and 
incurved varieties it gives them a greater scope in the exhibitions. The 
plants are not remarkable for the extra size of their stems, but they are 
for the quality of the foliage, which is of that stout character which 
betokens, not gross immature growth so productive of deformed blooms, 
but of those remarkable for depth and solidity. The buds appear 
“ kind,” and on the whole well “ timed.” Such as the Queen, the 
Princess, the Teck, and the Alfred families were looking as well as could 
be wished. Such well known sorts as Edwin Molyneux, Condor, Stan- 
stead White, Sunflower, Comte de Germiny, and Avalanche were most 
promising. Louis Boehmer and Mrs. Alpheus Hardy will give blooms 
worthy of these two novelties. 
Amongst new varieties William Tucker stands out quite unique in 
point of colour, which is simoly silvery rose ; the flower is large, but 
would by many be voted “ rough,” resembling Mrs. Frank Thompson 
too much, Japanese incurved, the points of the petals being forked or 
serrated and folding unevenly; the form is the only drawback to an 
otherwise handsome flower. Secretaire G. Cassagneau, one of Delaux’s 
introducing, is a promising Japanese, white shaded pink and lilac. 
M. H. de Fortannier, Japanese, purple shaded claret, reflexed type, full 
. flower. M. Jules Humbert is also a new Japanese variety of promising 
appearance, violet amaranth, reverse silvery white. It was rather early 
to judge of new incurved varieties; the only two advancing were Robert 
Cannell and M. R. Bahuant. The latter is very similar in growth 
to the “ Queen ” family, the petals are broad and neatly incurving, but 
whether it will come deep enough to take a foremost place remains to 
be seen ; the colour is carmine rose. 
Rooksbury Park. 
This, the residence of J. C. Gamier, Esq., has lately sprung into 
prominence in the Chrysanthemum world. Mr. N. Molyneux is, 
I learned, a brother to the well known Swanmore gardener of that name. 
The number of plants cannot fall short of 600; they are full of 
promise, having a hard look which betokens quality rather than 
mere size. Most of them are neatly arranged in a long, low Peach 
house, which affords them ample light. The “ Queens ” struck me as 
being especially good, the tallest not more than 6 feet high and the 
dwarfest about 5 feet, wonderfully even were they altogether. Varieties 
like Princess of Wales, Mrs. S. Coleman, Barbara, Cherub, and Miss 
M. Haggas, and others too numerous to mention, give abundant promise. 
Many newer varieties are being tried apparently. The following are 
of continental origin and belong to the incurved section. It is yet too 
early to decide on their merits, but I fancy some will not be required 
at the end of the season judging by their present appearance. Mdme. 
F. Mistral reminds one of Refulgence both in habit of growth and colour 
of the flower. Madame Mante was more like L’Adorable in its formation, 
but the flower I saw being from an early bud is liable to great variation 
in form. Manders, rosy white ; Marie Pierre, Louis Blancard, Mdme. 
Dairrier, Mdme. Bonsignour, best described by saying it is a bad Pink 
Venus; Annie Hoste, of the style of Cherub in every respect but 
quality. M. Bahuant is promising to incurve neatly. Japanese are 
largely represented by promising buds of Etoile de Lyon, Mrs. Falconer 
Jameson, W. W. Coles, Sunflower, Stanstead White, Pelican, aDd 
Condor. Newer varieties belonging to this section, and which promise 
well, are Anna Hartzhorn, a pure white incurved Japanese ; Mrs. Irving 
Clark, the outer part of the petals pink, inside lilac, a large flower ; 
Mr. Frank Clinton, a pale yellow sport from Lady Lawrence, which 
ought to be an acquisition ; Louis Boehmer is developing good blooms 
freely ; Aida, narrow petals, bronze and yellow ; Coronet, golden orange ; 
E. G. Hill, bright golden yellow ; Kioto, Thunberg style of flower, and 
W. H. Lincoln. 
Swanmore Park. 
New varieties are largely grown there, as well as several hundred 
plants of the older favourites. Capital plants in small pots of single, 
Pompon, and Anemone Pompon varieties are grown, and from their 
present appearance cannot fail to make a bright and pleasing display 
later on. In the incurved section the whole “ Queen ” family have not 
grown higher than 5 feet, many only 4 feet, which is especially dwarf 
for that type. Even so low the plants give promise of developing clean 
blooms, which remark also applies to Princess of Wales, Miss M. Haggas, 
Cherub, Lady Hardinge, and Prince Alfred. The new French incurved 
M. R. Bahuant was here in better condition than anywhere else in our 
tour. The pink striped Queen of England at present remains true to 
its sportive character ; if it continues steadfast it will be a novelty 
certainly. Amongst the new Japanese Mohawk, crimson maroon, had 
extra fat buds, auguring well for the future. Louis Boehmer seems 
everywhere good this year. Mrs. A. Hardy was unfolding its florets 
in a clean satisfactory manner. Gloire de Rocher, a seedling from 
Val d’Andorre, orange amber flushed with crimson, varies considerably 
in height ; here it is not more than 3 feet, with others it runs up oyer 
6 feet. Madame Mezzard, white striped delicate rose, opening like 
Etoile de Lyon, the habit very low. Csesare Costa, poppy red or purple 
crimson, has long fluted petals, promises to be a good addition to the 
Japanese class. James R. Pitcher, delicate blush, reflexed Japanese, 
dwarf growth. Many new kinds were on trial, both incurved and 
Japanese, and from their present appearance will be heard of later on. 
Chrysanthemums on walls out of doors are given some attention, and 
judging from what I saw of them will repay the labour expended on 
them by a good display of blooms when the bulk of the indoor plants 
are over.— Northener. 
HARDY FLOWERS AT THE ROYAL BOTANICAL 
GARDENS, MANCHESTER. 
The name of Mr. Bruce Findlay is a “ household word ” among 
horticulturists, and I was much pleased w T hen a recent visit to Lancashire 
enabled me to see the Manchester Royal Botanical Gardens, so ably 
managed by him as Curator. To my disappointment Mr. Findlay was 
engaged as judge at a flower show the only day convenient for my visit, 
and I only saw him for a few minutes previous to my departure. He 
had, however, very kindly placed me under the charge of Mr. Paul, 
than whom I could wish for no more competent or obliging guide. As 
Mr. Findlay informed me previous to my visit, the collection of hardy 
flowers is not a large one, but all the same I found a good deal to 
interest me, and I was highly delighted with the Gardens as a whole. 
As usual in botanical gardens the hardy flowers are arranged, as a rule, 
according to their natural orders, and, as in all other gardens of a similar 
kind, there are many plants of no value from a garden point of view. 
I am rather disposed to agree with those who contend that such plants 
should be relegated to the herbarium, and only those which are of 
decorative value grown. There is, however, something to be said on 
the other side, and I do not feel disposed to quarrel with those who 
support it. Those of us who grow alpines in quantity may in this 
matter be careful how we speak, lest we should be accused of living in 
the proverbial glass houses, and be warned that we should not throw 
stones. 
I feel particularly timorous that in mentioning one of the flowers 
which I admired a good deal it may be said that it is not of 
“ decorative ” value, and that the less said about it the better. Tastes 
differ, and in admiring Gratiola officinalis of Gerarde I was glad to find 
I was not singular in my admiration. I had not seen the plant before, 
nor can 1 see it in any catalogues, and I have been at some trouble to 
find anything about it, not being so fortunate as to possess Gerarde’s or 
Parkinson’s Herbals. This plant is not the Gratiola officinalis of the 
“ Cottage Gardener’s Dictionary,” nor is it in Maund’s “ Botanic 
Garden,” where a congener G. aurea is figured. It does not seem to be 
in the edition of “ Hortus Cantabrigiensis,” edited by Pursch. Joseph 
Miller, however, in his “ Botanicum Officinale,” published in 1722, gives 
a description of the plant which is so clear that I quote it in full. He 
says :—“ Hedge Hyssop is but a small plant, having slender creeping 
roots, from which spring several square stalks scarce a foot high, with 
two long narrow sharp-pointed leaves, like common Hyssop, set at every 
joint, among which come forth the flowers on short footstalks, one at a 
joint, being small, long, and hollow, not much unlike the flowers of 
Foxglove in shape, divided at the end into four segments, of a pale 
yellow colour.” He states that it is a native of the Alps and other 
mountainous countries, and gives Parkinson’s name as G. vulgaris, “ the 
true Hedge Hyssop,” and Bauhin’s name as G. centauroides, “ Hedge 
Hyssop with Centory leaves.” I cannot discover this Gratiola in Philip 
Miller’s “ Gardener’s Dictionary,” and I should be glad to ascertain 
more about the plant and its whereabouts, as it is worth growing, and its 
late flowering habit would make it valuable in many gardens and on 
many rockeries. It was rather past its best when I saw it, but was very 
pleasing. 
