November 5, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
399 
as thickly as possible in pots, and fill in with soil from underneath the 
potting bench or other material that might be at hand, then giving a 
good soaking of water, allowing them to remain outside for a few days. 
In the meantime have a slight hotbed made in Mushroom house, and as 
soon as a gentle warmth is perceptible plunge the pots in it; at the same 
time place pots of the same size over these, covering the whole with leaves 
and litter. Great care must be taken, and the trial sticks frequently 
tested, to see that there is not too much heat, as hard forcing thus early in 
the season would possibly spoil the crop. We have kept up a supply in 
this way until February. At this time we placed pots over crowns on 
permanent beds outside, which we covered with leaves and litter in the 
usual way, and in the course of a fortnight a second batch was treated in 
a similar manner. There was little trouble attached to the third batch, 
as the material from the first was ready to be removed, and with the 
addition of a little litter did service for forcing the third batch, then the 
pots were taken from the first and the crowns covered with litter, and 
placed over the last batch, and sufficient leaves put on to keep them in 
darkness, which was all that was necessary to keep up the supply as 
long as it was possible to do so. 
My plan is to grow sufficient plants each year for forcing in pots to the 
above-mentioned time, as I think there in a great saving of labour in 
carting material, &c., that would be required if the whole was forced in 
established beds. When the crowns are taken up in autumn we carefully 
preserve the roots of these, covering them with soil, and as soon as con¬ 
venient those about the size of one’s figure are cut into lengths of about 
6 inches, the top part is cut level, and the lower end in a slanting direction. 
In doing this it is more readily understood by the planter, as where this 
has not been attended to I have frequently noticed the bottom end placed 
uppermost. After the sets are prepared they should be covered with soil, 
and there remain until March, when they should be planted in good soil 
at about 1 foot apart in the rows, and 2 feet from row to row. These sets 
will send out several shoots, which must be reduced to one, which will 
form a good crown the following autumn. Establishei beds should 
undergo the same process as to disbudding, Ac., but the beds should 
receive a liberal dressing of manure, which should be slightly forked into 
the beds. By adopting this method I have found no difficulty in keeping 
a full supply of this vegetable from the middle of November, and as long 
as it was possible to have it the following year.— Robt. D. Long. 
AMONGST THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The Chrysanthemum season has commenced. The first three show's 
have been held, and intending exhibitors are busily preparing to test in 
competition their skill as growers of the varied and beautiful flowers now 
so widely popular. Those have entered for the more important classes 
at large shows are anxiously watching the blooms, and perhaps in some 
cases selecting those that are likely to be required, allowing a sufficient 
number over to provide for accidents. This selection is an important task, 
and good chances of success have been lost by deferring it until the last 
moment, when a hurried search for blooms necessary to complete a stand 
of twenty-four varieties often results in two or three small or imperfect 
specimens being included, which destroy the uniformity of the collection, 
and it has to take a second or third-rate position. Even where several 
hundreds of plants are grown the difficulty is frequently great to procure 
sufficient first-rate blooms for the large classes, and where the grower is 
intending to compete at several shows on different dates still more care is 
required in the selection. At present it seems that the incurved varieties 
are rather late, and at the earlier shows the Japanese will probably prove 
the stronger (this certainly is the case in several collections), and attempts 
at forcing may prove disastrous. Experienced growers are well aware of 
this, but beginners require caution, for we have seen some promising 
blooms spoiled by too great a hurry to have them out. The more 
gradually and naturally the blooms develope in a cool but not a damp 
stagnant atmosphere the more satisfactory they will prove when placed 
upon the exhibition boards. There is another point that is also occa¬ 
sionally lost sight of—namely, that good, solid, clean, well-finished blooms 
of medium size will rank higher than larger, rough, coarse samples. Sub¬ 
stance is an important quality in a Chrysanthemum bloom, but is not 
synonymous with size as some seem to suppose. 
Competition is expected to be brisk in the principal shows, but the 
chief interest in the metropolitan district will no doubt centre in the 
Kingston and Aquarium Exhibitions. At the former the challenge vase 
will bring renowned growers together, and it is said that this year a new 
competitor will contest the honours with them. There is a very general 
desire that the competition may be extended to another year, though the 
winner will unquestionably deserve the honour he gains, for the contest 
will be a close one. At the Aquarium the large money prizes will induce 
some good growers to enter, while at Richmond and the Crystal Palace 
the prizes are also 'sufficiently substantial to insure satisfactory exhibi¬ 
tions. 
The following jottings will indicate the general condition of the 
Chrysanthemums around London, the collections named being some of the 
principal and most representative. There are many new varieties, 
of which some are mentioned in the following notes, but others will be 
reserved to another occasion, when a better judgment can be formed re¬ 
specting their merit. 
FINSBURY PARK. 
An excellent show of 1500 plants has been again provided at the pretty 
North London park under Mr. Cochrane’s superintendence, and is attract- 
ing large numbers of visitors, especially on Sundays, when several 
thousands pass through the house devoted to the Exhibition. The idea of . 
commencing a display of this kind was an excellent one, and it has been 
so well carried into execution that the Finsbury Park collection now 
ranks as the best of similar public shows. This is partly due to the 
judicious liberality of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and to the fact 
that Mr. Cochrane, with the aid of his experienced practical foreman, Mr. 
Mardlin, has produced plants and blooms in first-rate condition, thus 
giving something more than mere popular interest to the display. This 
season the plants are arranged in two banks sloping upwards from the 
central path, and as much care has been exercised in arranging the 
various colours, the general effect, viewed from either end, is very 
beautiful. At present the Japanese predominate, as the incurred are not 
yet all out ; but there are fine blooms of some of the varieties, such as St. 
Patrick, which is rarely seen so good, Lord Derby, Mr. Bunn, Prince of 
Wales, Lord Alcester, Alfred Salter, Emily Dale, and Mrs. G. Rundle. 
Of the better known Japanese some of the best are Lady Sdborne, which 
keeps very true ; James Salter ; Elaine, wonderfully good ; Margot, large 
and of fine substance ; M. Henri Jacotot, which is in grand form, as it is 
indeed in most collections this year ; Comte de Germiny, Chang, Etoile 
Touiousienne, M. Astorg, and Tendresse. There is a suitable proportion of 
reflexed varieties, the bright yellow Chevalier Domage being especially 
fine, as also is King of the Crimsons, several blooms of which are 6 inches 
in diameter, of good substance and rich colour. Tnen in front of each 
bank is a row of dwarf Pompons, chiefly of the Rosinante and Soear 
Melanie forms, the latter being loaded with its pure white flowers. 
Rerent and new Japanese are well represented by some of the best 
forms, showing their characters well. Frizou is a striking flower of good 
substance, with bright yellow fluted and slightly recurved florets. 
Souvenir du Caire, rich maroon with a yellowish reverse, is good. Beaute 
des Jardins, of a distinct purplish crimson tint, very free, is likely to 
prove a useful variety. The blush Brise du Matin, and the rosy crimson 
Madame de Sevin, are both substantial blooms that have attained a good 
size. Joseph Mahood is a floriferous yellow or bronze variety. The rose 
and white Mons. Tarin, the red and bronze thread-like Madame Enghnie 
Pourquie, and purplish and silver Souvenir de la Reine Marie, are all 
notable varieties. The plants are in excellent condition, well clothed 
with healthy foliage, and there will be a good display of blooms for at 
least three weeks. 
A CHRYSANTHEMUM NURSERY. 
Mr. N. Davis, Lilford Road, Camberwell, has provided his usual exhi¬ 
bition in his nursery, and the large show house which he had specially 
erected for Chrysanthemums is now gay with an extensive collection of 
new and old varieties. The house is a span-roof structure 65 feet long by 
32 feet wide, and contains 1900 plants arranged in ten groups, the greater 
part in the centre. The varieties are mostly associated in accordance 
with their colours ; thu3 the orange, yellow, bronze, and reds occupy the 
centre, the end groups comprising the white, crimson, and pink varieties. 
This is a pleasing variation of the usual method of arrangement, and pro¬ 
duces an excellent effect. The plants are thoroughly well grown, are 
clothed with healthy foliage, and bear numerous, handsome, substantial 
blooms, a large proportion of which are fully up to exhibition standard. 
The collection is a remarkable one, for not only are all the good recent 
and old varieties included, but the continental varieties for the present 
year have been obtained, and are being fairly tried for comparison with 
those of proved merit. These trials and comparisons are of much im¬ 
portance, and for his own credit Mr. Davis is particularly careful not to 
recommend any but what he proves satisfactory and distinct. Bestowing 
new names upon older varieties is becoming too common a practice, and 
those who grow the new French varieties cannot be too careful in ascer¬ 
taining whether they are really distinct before placing them in commerce. 
We have an instance of the care needed in the case of La Purhte certifi¬ 
cated last year at the Crystal Palace, which has now proved to he Mdlle. 
Lacroix. We cannot now refer at length to all the new varieties at the 
Lilford Nurseries, but a few of the most prominent maybe mentioned. 
Amongst the Japanese Val d’Andorre is a thoroughly good variety, the 
blooms of great substance streaked with bright red on a yellowish ground. 
Lakm6, bronze-yellow fluted florets, pretty, distinct, and of medium size. 
Jupiter, likely to prove a handsome variety of the Henri Jacotot build, 
but of a very bright lively red hue. Mdlle. Crouzette, not one of this 
year’s novelties, but better than we have hitherto se n it, the florets 
quilled half their length, then expanding broad and flat, of a clear pale 
pink, becoming nearly white. L’Aube Nationale is a pleasing variety 
in the way of Triomphe de la Rue des Chatelets, with fluted florets, silver 
and red. L’Adorable is in the style of Yal d’Andorre, the florets fluted, 
rich yellow with a narrow reddish margin. Dr. Barrie, is a curious 
variety with large blooms, some of the florets quilled and golden, others 
flat and bright crimson. This is very remarkable, and is already a 
favourite with many who have seen it. Mons. N. Davis, of the J. Delaux 
type, neat, compact, bright maroon, and with a good centre, is a pro¬ 
mising variety; and M. Harman Payne, described as a sport from 
Marguerite Marrouch, appears promising from late buds, the early ones 
being rather poor in colour. 
Older varieties, including the last two or three years’ novelties, are 
very numerous ; still, amongst the Japanese Madame de Sevin is in capital 
condition, the smaller bright yellow L’Or du Rhin being a useful decorative 
variety, with which may also be associated the taller-growing but free bronzy 
yellow Joseph Mahood. Beaute des Jardins is a useful decorative variety, 
the colour a fine bright rosy crimson or purple, the blooms of medium 
size, but freely produced. Agrements de la Nature and Alexandre Dufour 
are good for the same purpose. Notable also are Mons. Tarin, M. Juan 
Cruz d’Equileor, Frizou, L. Negre, Garnet, J. Delaux, Triomphe du Nord, 
Madame Audiguier, Mrs. Townsend, Flambeau, Source Japonaise. It 
