November 5, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
401 
is shown under the name of Porcupine, which seems to be the same as 
Gloire Rayonnante, but how it obtained the former title does not 
appear, though Mr. Newton is not responsible for it. The florets are 
quilled up to the apex, but it cannot be commended as Jan attractive 
variety though it is certainly curious. 
SWANMORE PARK. 
Many persons will be anxious to know how the Swanmore plants are 
looking, and it may be said that, considering the “roasting summer” on 
the south coast this year, they are looking very well. If wood-ripening 
is an important element in the production of fine blooms there ought to 
be some good ones in this collection, for plants exposed to the full sun at 
an altitude of t 450 feet above the sea cannot be otherwise than matured. 
Some persons say the wood can be over-ripened, that being a view held by 
some Liverpool growers, and we can only wait and see what the well- 
ripened Swanmore plants will produce. When inspected a few weeks 
ago it was too soon to form any correct estimate of the ultimate character 
of the blooms. Only a few early flowers, and these mostly Japanese, 
were approaching development, the first of the incurved, such as Jeanne 
d’Arc, Lord Wolseley, and Prince Alfred not being half-grown. They 
would, however, be quite early enough for the shows, if not too early ; but 
as some early blooms, and these usually the finest, are nearly always lost 
by all the b?st exhibitors they meet on even terms as regards that contin¬ 
gency. Mr. Molyneux was amused by the remark of a correspondent as 
to his seeing a “red light.” He does not over-estimate his own chances of 
winning, nor lightly regard the skill of his competitors. He will, as 
usual, do his best, as they will, for the coming contest. His plants—there 
nsiv possibly be five or six hundred of them—vary in height from 3 to 10 
or 12 feet, and the foliage was stout and the buds fat. He was anxiously 
watching the opening of Mdlle. Lacroix and La Puretd and shaking his 
head over them ; he has perhaps found by this time they are both alike. 
A Japanese sport from Bouquet Fait was developing; it is quite distinct 
from the parent, having creamy rose drooping florets and was promising 
well, as was Mons. Planchenau, an improved Bouquet Fait, but much 
•darker than the sport. Ferdinand Ferral, sent out as an incurved, was 
developing into a rosy pink large-flowered Japanese. M. Tarin, a large 
deep lilac Japanese, was favourably regarded, as was Yal d’Andorre, 
Henri Jacotot, chestnut tipped with gold, was beautiful, but too early 
for showing. Laing’s Anemone Japanese, Margaret Yillageoise, gave pro¬ 
mise of being a good variety, and Madame Clos and Belle Pauline were 
coming out well, as also was the distinct and beautiful Soeur Dorothea 
Souille. Mons. Mousillac and L’Or du Rhin were very rich and very 
much alike ; and Pietro Diaz, sent out as a chestnut incurved, was being 
watched with some interest. The Swanmore Chrysanthemums are 
arranged in large light houses, in which the blooms ought to “colour 
up” well. 
THE HIGHGATE NUR3ERIES. 
Messrs. W. Catbuih & Son have arranged a large number of Chrysan¬ 
themums in the corridor and conservatory of their Highgate Nursery, and 
in the course of a week there will be a good display. The plants are late, 
as they appear to be generally, especially in the north of London, and even 
in the south it is feared that some of the earlier shows will be too soon for 
several growers. A careful selection of all the best varieties has been 
made in the Highgate Nurseries, and when the blooms are fully out visitors 
will have a good opportunity of judging the respective merits of the 
numerous claimants to popular favour, and will also be able to form a 
correct idea of the principal types of variation distinguishing the Chrysan¬ 
themums now cultivated. Amongst the earlier blooms there are already 
some handsome examples of Margot and a few other varieties of sterling 
merit. 
VICTORIA AND PARADISE NURSERIES, UPPER HOLLOWAY. 
Each season brings its special attractions at Mr. B. S. Williams’ 
nursery, and in November one of the leading features are Chrysanthemums, 
which are arranged in the handsome conservatory facing the main road. 
They are placed in groups around the large Palms, Ferns, and other fine- 
foliage plants, and are grown more with a view to show their usefulness 
as decorative plants than to produce a few large blooms of exhibition 
size. It is as free-flowering plants that Chrysanthemums are valued in 
the majority of gardens, and yielding as they do a plentiful supply of 
variously coloured blooms at a time when flowers are not too abundant, it 
is not surprising that they are so highly appreciated. Mr. B. S. Williams’ 
plants show these qualities admirably, many of them being loaded with 
medium-sized blooms exactly fitted for cutting to arrange in vases or 
baskets. The most floriferous varieties distinguished by bright or pure 
colours have been chosen for the purpose, and they have been arranged 
with much taste. Such specimens as these Mr. Williams will employ 
largely with suitable foliage plants in the floral decorations of the Guildhall 
•on the occasion of the banquet next week. 
MESSRS. J. VEITCH & SONS, CHELSEA. 
.As with many other collections the plants in this one will not be at 
their best for at least a week. The earliest plants are placed in the 
corridor at the Brompton Road end of the nursery, several other houses 
being devoted to the general stock of old and new varieties. Of the 
latter about fifty are on trial, including a number of Mr. Salter’s, 
several of which appear very promising, though it is yet too early to 
form an accurate judgment of their characters and qualities. Some of 
the earliest Japanese, and now in condition, are the following—Source d’Or, 
a free useful, variety, with fluted yellow florets ; Beautd des Jardin?,rich 
colour; William Robinson, large, free; Brule d’Argent, crimson, silver 
reverse; J. Delaux, rich dark colour, and of good size; Henri Jacotot, 
extra good ; Criterion, of fine substance ; Brise du Matin, full, hand¬ 
some ; L’lle des Plaisirs, rich orange bronze in tint; M. Mousillac, 
intensely deep crimson, fine bloom ; Isidore Feral, lilac rose, free and 
distinct; La Charmeuse, purplish crimson, fluted florets, notched at the 
points; Eclatante, bronze red; Madame de Sevin, excellent as we have 
noticed it elsewhere; M. Viviand Morel, short, broad, white florets, 
somewhat of the reflexed type ; Etoile Fleuri, bronze and yellow, with 
curiously notched florets ; Comet, bronze red, one of Mr. Salter’s varieties, 
of medium size, and very free. 
There are not many of the new varieties in perfection yet, but Mons. 
Freeman, which was certificated at the Aquarium recently, is better than 
we have seen elsewhere, must be termed an incurved Japanese of a lilac 
colour ; Mdlle. Melanie Fabre, of similar colour, is more like a reflexed 
bloom, but is rather pretty. Souvenir d’Haarlem has rose-coloured 
blooms with fluted florets, and is of good quality. M. Paul Fabre, very 
bright red, is likely to be a good variety, and several of Mr. Salter’s varie¬ 
ties which have not been named are promising well. The incurved 
blooms are much later, as they are generally this season, but there will 
be some fine blooms if the substantial buds expand satisfactorily. 
MR. W. BULL’S NURSERY, CHELSEA. 
It has been the custom at this nursery for some years to obtain and 
test the new varieties annually distributed by the continental growers, 
and Mr. Bull confines his collection to the best of these, the general stock 
of old varieties not being made a speciality. Numbers of novelties have 
been procured this season, and though the majority are still expanding 
and will need several days to reach their full size, some show their 
characters fairly well. The Japanese are again the most prominent. 
Lakme, which has been already certificated this season, is in capital form, 
and evidently deserves the honour it receives, as it is also free and likely 
to be useful for decorative purposes. M. Henri Jacotot is handsome, and 
the new Mons. Ghys, with rosy lilac blooms, is noteworthy. Other good 
varieties are MM. Thibaut and Keteleer, intensely rich crimson-maroon 
with a golden reverse; L’Aube Matinale, large, free, and handsome ; Mr. 
J. H. Laing, large, with broad florets of a blush tint, yellow in the centre. 
Golden Gloire Rayonnante is an American variety, said to be from the 
well-known quilled variety ; but it does not resemble that in the slightest, 
though of a pleasing yellow tint. Several good Pompons are flowering, 
amongst them being Belle Navarraise, white fringe, free and compact; 
Neatness well deserves its name, the florets being very closely packed, in 
symmetrical ball-like heads of a pale rosy colour ; Surprise, pink and 
white is a charming little floriferous variety, the plants having been in 
flower for three months ; Petit Mignon is also a beautiful little variety, 
the purple and white blooms being particularly charming ; Exposition de 
Chalons is pretty and distinct, the blooms freely produced, crimson and 
white. Many others are advancing, and we may have occasion to refer to 
them a little later in the season. 
MESSRS. J. LAING & CO., FOREST HILL. 
Several houses are devoted to the extensive collection of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums in the celebrated Tuberous Begonia nursery, and the best varieties 
are represented by well-grown plants, a large proportion of which are 
bearing handsome blooms of exhibition quality. No dmbt some of these 
will be seen at the leading exhibitions during the season, Messrs. Laing’s 
groups of plants being especially noted. There are many new varieties, 
several of this year’s importations promising to bo valuable additions to 
the already long list, and the approved of last year’s novelties fully main¬ 
tain their characters. 
GROS MAROC GRAPE. 
I BEG to inform “ A. O. W.” (page 389) that this is, according to my 
experience of it, a first-rate late Grape, an 1 as such I believe it is de dined 
to be extensively grown in the future. I have no experience of it on its 
own roots; but during the past summer I have planted a house with 
Madresfield Court, Alnwick Seedling, Muscat Hamburgh (at the warmest 
end of the Rouse), and Gros Maroc, the latter both on its own roots (for 
comparison) and on the Black Hamburgh stock, as my experience of this 
grand-looking Grape is confined to bunches secured from this union. It is 
highly appreciated here, not only on account of the size and shape of 
bunch and berry and density of bloom, but also on account of its excellent 
flavour, the result, no doubt, of its union with the Black Hamburgh, as 
the flavour of Gros Maroc when grown on its own roots is, according to 
statements which have appeared in the Journal within the last twelve 
months, only third-rate. Messrs. Thomson & Sons have found room for 
Gros Maroc in their wonderful Grape-growing establishment at Cloven¬ 
fords ; and, judging by the samples which I saw there a short time ago 
and my own knowledge of the Grape, I expect ere long it will be grown 
extensively in the Tweed Vineyard, and to such a state of perfection as all 
Grapes there, not excepting the Duke, attain, as to place it beyond all 
doubt as one of the best and grandest-looking late Grapes in cultivation. 
To those who have given the Gros Maroc a trial and condemn it on the 
score of indifferent flavour, I would say, Try it on either a Black Hamburgh 
or Muscat of Alexandria stock, and the improvement in flavour consequent 
upon such union will be such as to place it equal to, if not before, that of 
any other late black Grape grown. 
While on this subject I may state for the benefit of those of your 
readers who may not have had any experience of the “ influence of stock 
upon scion,” that wherever it is deemed necessary to extend the culture 
of any particular Grape by the process of grafting or inarching, the 
character of the variety on to which it is intended to place the scion and 
the probable consequences that such a union would lead to should be duly 
