geptember 24, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
279 
species selected for our illustration, and which is, perhaps, the most 
interesting of the genus. Some fears were entertained that the Ceanothus 
dentatus would prove only half-hardy ; the specimen from which our 
figure was drawn was, however, taken from a plant which had been fully 
exposed on a south wall throughout the winter without any protection 
whatever, and as its capability of resisting our winters will doubtless 
increase with the age of the plant, we trust that this charming species may 
be considered acclimatised. Like many other shrubs cultivated in the 
open air, it would probably suffer considerably from severe frost; but as 
the peculiar habit of growth, both of dentatus and most of the other 
species, renders it desirable that they should be planted against a wall, 
the protection of matting can be afforded them without entailing much 
trouble or expense. 
The Ceanothus dentatus is a branched evergreen shrub, growing to the 
height of 7 or 8 feet, perhaps more. The whole of it is covered with 
down, that on the branches being of a rusty colour. The leaves are very 
small, the largest scarcely exceeding three-quarters of an inch in length, 
with coarse teeth, a revolute margin, and a pair of small scale-like 
stipules at their base. The foliage has a peculiar, but to us not unpleasant 
odour, due to the numerous minute glands on the edge of the leaves, 
which are, however, hardly perceptible without the aid of a lens. These 
glands are said to be found only on this species, and they aff jrd therefore 
a ready means of discrimination. The flowers are produced in stalked 
heads, sometimes roundish, but in the wild plants much longer. Although 
small, the number in each head is considerable, and their bright bluish- 
violet tint gives the plant when in bloom an exceedingly attractive appear¬ 
ance. A detached blossom is represented on an enlarged scale in the 
corner of our engraving, chiefly for the purpose of showing the peculiar 
form of the petals of the plants of this order. These, it will be seen, are 
much longer than the sepals ; narrow and hooded (cucullate) at the tips 
in a curious manner, the stamens being inserted opposite the petals. 
With regard to the culture of the diflerent species of Ceanothes from 
California, they all appear to thrive in peat, either alone or mixed with a 
little loam. Their growth is somewhat straggling, and the shoots, there¬ 
fore, require frequent stopping during the summer ; but es the flowers are 
borne upon the shoots of the previous year, this shortening process must 
not be performed late in the season. In the Osborne Gardens C. dentatus 
is trained on the horizontal system, and after flowering the secondary 
branches are shortened back to within an inch or two of the main 
laterals. 
The species are readily propagated by seeds, which are sometimes 
matured, and which should be sown soon after gathering, or they will no 
readily vegetate; they may also be increased by cuttings of the half- 
ripened wood under a handglass. 
We have selected dentatus as being, on the whole, the most desirable 
species ; but it forms but one of a group introduced, we believe, nearly 
about the same time, by the Horticultural Society’s collector, Mr. Hartweg, 
and which are all well deserving attention. The C. papillosus and C. 
rigidus are scarcely less interesting than that we have figured, and are a 
shade more hardy ; indeed, we believe they may be said to be perfectly 
so. The foliage of C. papillosus is much larger than that of dentatup, 
and has its surface covered with pimple-like elevations, to which it owes 
its specific name. It is of more vigorous growth than the Toothed 
Ceanothe, and may be treatod in a similar manner. C. rigidus fully equals 
in interest papillosus, but is less branching in its habit. It is, probably, 
hardy enough for cultivation as a bush or standard in this country. Two 
species of more recent introduction, C. floribundus and C. Lobbianus, 
deserve especial mention as highly ornamental subjects. Both have blue 
flo a ers copiously produced. 
One species, the C. americanus, is known as the New Jersey Tea, from 
the circumstance of its having been used in the American War of Inde¬ 
pendence as a substitute for the Chinese plant. Numerous varieties of this 
deciduous species have been raised in European gardens, some of which 
are well deserving of cultivation. As we may not soon have occasion to 
notice this order again, it may be worthwhile to remark that to the Buck¬ 
thorn tribe belongs the Lotus of the ancients and the Jujube tree, both of 
them species of Zizyphus, though the articles sold as jujubes probably 
contain as much of the genuine fruit as the perfumer’s bear’s grease does 
of the real Bruin.—W. T. 
NOTES ON CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Chrysanthemum Prospects in the North. —Lately I have had an 
opportunity of seeing a great many Chrysanthemum plants in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of Liverpool, and, judging from their appearance, I look 
forward to seeing some grand flowers from that locality during the coming 
season. The weather there has been specially favourable to the growth 
of the plants, which have had plenty of sun and refreshing showers from 
time to time. The weather in the south of England has not been near 
so favourable, as the drought has been so long-continued and the sun 
more powerful, causing the plants to require more water during the day, 
which is not always favourable to their well-being, particularly if at all 
neglected, as is sometimes the case through stress of work in other 
departments. The plants I saw in the north had made strong growth, 
while the foliage was leathery, luxuriant right down to the pot, and of a 
red green colour, a sure indication that they were “ doing ” as well as 
could be wished. The buds were being “ taken ” at a suitable time for the 
varieties, and were of good shape, not a small item in the successful pro¬ 
duction of good flowers. 
Chrysanthemums are increasing in popularity in that district judging 
from the number of plants now grown. Liverpool has long been noted for 
the production of the best specimens of cut Chrysanthemums, and now 
that growers in other parts are running them hard a greater spirit of emula¬ 
tion has set into maintain the reputation gained in years gone by. The 
varieties have increased, too, generally, and vast improvements are noted 
now in the colours, which are much more decided than formerly, and this 
not at the expense of size or form. I look forward to seeing several new 
good varieties during the coming season. As interest increases so does the 
craving for novelties, hence the cause of so many worthless varieties being 
pushed into commerce ; it is a sure sign that they are more appreciated 
now than was the case some few years since, judging from the number of 
societies which offer tempting prizes. It has been said that Chrysan¬ 
themum-growing is only in its infancy ; this I question very much. If 
such great changes are to take place it must be done by the introduction of 
an entire set of new varieties, as I fancy that all has been obtained of 
existing varieties that can be had by cultivation ; and my opinion in this 
is shared by many good growers having a wide experience. 
Exhibitino Chrysanthemums. —The remarks of “ Chrysanthemum ” 
(page 245) on exhibiting are well timed and very sensible. It is a ques¬ 
tion which has puzzled not a few exhibitors. It is a well-known fact that 
it is much easier to set up a stand of twenty-four blooms in eighteen 
varieties than to have them all distinct ; it is generally the last two or 
three blooms that spoil an otherwise good stand. I have an idea that the 
rule of admitting eighteen varieties in a stand of twenty-four blooms has 
been created by members of committees who know the trouble entailed in 
staging twenty-four distinct as a way out of the difficulty. The managers 
of societies also know quite well how much more massive a stand of 
twenty-four blooms looks than one of eighteen only, while more com¬ 
petitors can be obtained where eighteen varieties in twenty-four blooms 
are required. Making a show attractive to the ordinary spectator and 
satisfying all “critics” is difficult to manage successfully in all cases. 
No comparison can be made between two stands of flowers, one having 
eighteen varieties only, the remainder duplicates, and the other stand of 
twenty-four all distinct. I have heard many people say how much superior 
was one stand of blooms to another when comparing two staged as stated 
above, but if the duplicate blooms were withdrawn and others substituted 
