464 
JOURNAL OF H0RTIQUL1URE AND COTTAGE GARDELER. 
[ November 26, 1885. 
market Onions are important, if, indeed, it is not one of the most 
valuable from a paying point of view.” I quite agree with him in 
this. The Onion has been a universal favourite from the remotest 
period of history, and at the present time there are few gardens in 
this country, or indeed in Europe, but where it is cultivated and 
enjoyed by all. Its cultivation is well known, and great crops are 
raised annually by market and private gardeners all over the country ; 
and yet, to judge from the enormous quantities that are imported 
from the Channel Islands, France, Spain, and Portugal, we do not 
grow sufficient to supply the home demand. As a field crop I think 
there are few that pay better. When well grown the produce will 
yield from £50 to £60 per acre, with not much more labour than that 
required to grow Turnipp. I think that farmers in the present de¬ 
pressed state of agriculture should turn their attention to this crop. 
If it pays market gardeners to grow Onions at a rent of £8 and £9 
per acre it will surely remunerate farmers who have only to pay from 
30s. to 40s. per acre. 
The Onion succeeds best in rich ground deeply tilled, but with 
generous treatment it can be grown successfully for years in succes¬ 
sion on light soils when heavily manured. To insure a good crop it 
is necessary that the seed should be sown as early in Febiuary as the 
state of the soil and weather will permit. When the soil has been 
thoroughly prepared the seed should be sown thinly in shallow drills 
1 foot apart. After it has been covered in, and the ground raked 
over all the labour the crop will require after until ripe is frequent 
hoeings between the rows to keep weeds down. The plants will be 
much benefited by a sowing of soot or wood ashes. Some time in 
May it will also act as a preventive against maggots injuring the 
For the field or the principal garden crops there is no system I 
know, equal to that of thin sowing and allowing every seed that 
germinates to grow. When this method is adopted the labour of 
thinning is saved, and the produce is greater in weight and as good in 
quality and keeping properties as those sown thickly and thinned out 
afterwards. I have practised thin sowing for the last fifteen years, 
and can thoroughly recommend it to otheis. Several market gardeners 
in this neighbourhood have adopted the system, and prefer it now to 
all others. They find it pays them better to sow thinly and allow the 
plants to fight the battle of life for themselves in preference to 
thinning them out to any given distance. 
Onions can be grown to a greater size by sowing the seeds in pots, 
pans, or boxes in the middle of January, and placing them in a gentle 
heat and keeping the plants growing in frames till the middle of 
April, when the weather is mild, and then planting them out in rows 
1 foot apart, and 6 inches apart in the rows. The finest Onions I 
have seen grown in this country were exhibited at the Edinburgh 
International Show some three years since by Mr. Murray of the 
Gardens, Culzean Castle, Maybole, Ayrshire. The seed was sown in 
boxes in January as described—the variety Cranston’s Excelsior, and 
for size and finish they equalled the best imported Spanish Onions.— 
A Pettigrew, Castle Gardens, Cardiff. 
NEW CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Last week a review of the principal French varieties of the 
past six years was given, and this may be now supplemented by a 
list of those that have been certificated in England during the same 
period. It may be noticed in passing that some of the French 
raisers have occasionally sent out different varieties under the same 
name, a practice which cannot be too strongly condemned, as it 
obviously must lead to much confusion. We have an instance this 
season in Roseum superbum, for which Messrs. Jackson & Son 
obtained a certificate at Kingston, and the same firm also were 
awarded a certificate at Kingston in 1883 for a variety bearing the 
same name, but quite distinct from it if my memory serves me 
rightly. Referring to the list given by M. Ghys and noted last 
week, it appears that in 1880 Lacroix sent out a variety named 
“Rosa superba,” described as soft rose-coloured, and in 1883 Delaux 
announced a variety named “ Rosea superba,” “ rose lilac shaded and 
pointed with yellowish buff.” It is probable that the one certifi¬ 
cated at Kingston in 1883 is Lacroix’s variety, and that of this year 
is Delaux s, but I should like to have some more information 
on this matter. L’Aurore Boreale of Lacroix (1881) and of 
Delaux (1884) seems to be another instance of the same kind. 
Carmen of de Reydellet (1884), a Japanese, and Carmen of Delaux 
(1884), a Chinese, afford another example ; Flocon de Niege of 
Lacroix (1881) and the same name of de Reydellet (1885),°Ten- 
dresse of Lacroix (1881) and of de Reydellet (1885) furnish other 
examples of the same practice. According to the descriptions 
given by M. Ghys these are all distinct, but I have not the 
raisers’ descriptions to refer to. 
Sending out the same varieties under different names is certainly 
much more culpable, and Mr. Harman Payne has done well in 
clearing up what appeared very much like a case of this kind in 
Mdlle. Lacroix and Purete, which seemed to be identical. From 
his note it may be fairly supposed that there are two distinct 
varieties under these names, but what has been generally grown as 
Mdlle. Lacroix is really the true Purete, while the former is either 
not in cultivation here or scarce. 
Turning to the records of varieties certificated in England we 
find that in 1879 no Chrysanthemum was so honoured at the lead¬ 
ing London shows, while in 1880 there were only two, both Eng¬ 
lish raised—namely, Lady Selborne (Japanese) and Angelina 
(incurved). In 1881 also there were only two certificated—Lady 
Selborne again and Rex Rubrorum (Japanese). Five were certifi¬ 
cated in 1882—incurved, Lord Wolseley ; Japanese, F. A. Davis, 
since found to be identical with Jeanne Delaux and M. Desbrieux ; 
Pompons, La Petite Marie ; and reflexed, Crimson King. The 
year 1883 saw twelve additions to the list of certificated varieties, 
comprising the following—Incurved, Bendigo, Jeanne d’Arc, and 
Lord Alcester ; Japanese, Comet, M. Astorg, Mdlle. Lacroix, Mons. 
Dufour, Mons. Henri Jacotot, Salteri, and Roseum superbum ; 
Pompons, Mons. Darnaud ; and reflexed, George Stevens. 
A most rapid advance was made in 1884—a greater number of 
French varieties was imported and brought before the Floral Com¬ 
mittees of the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society, no less than twenty-five being deemed worthy 
of certificates as follows—Incurved, Lord Wolseley (also certifi¬ 
cated in 1882) ; Japanese, Beaute des Jardins, Carmen, Criterion, 
Fernand Feral, Flamme de Punch, La Bien Aimee, La Purete (now 
decided to be identical with Mdlle. Lacroix), Madame de Sevin, 
Mdlle. Lacroix, Mons. Astorg, Mons. Tarin, Roseum Pictum, 
Souvenir du Japon,and Yal d’Andorre ; reflexed, Cullingfordi (also 
admitted this year as a Japanese at the National Society’s Show) ; 
Japanese Anemones, Fabian de Mediana, Mdlle. Cabrol (raised 
or sent out by M. Marrouch in 1879), and Sceur Dorothee Souille, 
still older according to M. Ghys, having been sent out in 1877 ; 
Pompons, Anais, Nellie Rainford, Star of Whyke, and Yal d’Or ; 
single, White Perfection. 
After such a number as this it might have been expected that a 
lull would follow, but this has not been the case, for twenty-four 
have been certificated up to the present time this year, and it is 
quite possible that the National Society will find some others 
worthy of honour at their last two meetings of the season. The 
awards of the Floral Committee during the past two years have 
added materially to the number of certificated varieties, and it is an 
open question if they have not distributed these honours too 
liberally. 
It is at least evident that other societies have been more 
sparing in this respect, for in 1884 the National Society’s Committee 
certificated thirteen varieties, two of which were honoured else¬ 
where ; this year the same body has certificated nineteen varieties, 
four gaining similar awards at other shows and meetings in London. 
Thus out of a total of thirty-two certificates only six have been 
confirmed by other societies. Of course it may be represented that 
many more novelties have been submitted to this Society than else¬ 
where, which is undoubtedly true, but in any case it behoves the 
Society to be economical with their certificates, or they will soon 
lose the standard value they ought to possess. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS CERTIFICATED IN 1885.-JAPANESE. 
Belle Paule (E. Molyneux and Jackson & Sons).—This has 
got into cultivation under the erroneous name of Belle Pauline, 
that given above being the title under which it was sent out by 
M. Marrouch in 1881. It was not, however, until this season that it 
attracted much attention, Mr. Molyneux having shown it exceed¬ 
ingly well at the Crystal Palace and Kingston, six grand blooms 
being staged at the latter Show in the class for six of one variety, 
Japanese. The florets are flat, drooping or twisted, white margined 
with lilac-purple very clearly defined, and this gives a most distinct 
character to the variety. It will probably be in great demand this 
season. Certificated at Kingston. 
Bkise du Matin (Forbes). — The blooms of this are well 
adapted for exhibition, being large and of fine substance ; but it 
has been shown in few stands. It is one of Delaux’s 1884 varieties, 
and has broad recurving florets of a bright rose tint. Certificated 
by the National Society. 
Jupiter (J. Veitch & Sons and N. Davis).—Of rich colour, a 
fine shade of reddish crimson, the florets slightly fluted and twisted 
in the centre, the under surface being purplish. (Delaux, 1885). 
Certificated at Kensington and by the National Society. 
L'Adokahle (J. Veitch & Son and N. Davis). — A large bloom 
with flat broad florets, opening bronze and coming bright yellow 
afterwards. Certificated by the National Society. 
Lakme (N. Davis).—A decorative free-flowering variety with 
blooms of good substance, golden-orange in colour. Very orna- 
