463 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 26, 1885. 
Going out of the ordinary run of stages and boxes, the stands set up by 
Mr. Cannell of Stanley formed a notable and novel feature. The boxes 
were arranged with considerable taste, each variety being represented by 
about three blooms arranged in a triangle with fern and other foliage, on 
a bed of green moss. This was very attractive, and suggested to one 
whether boxes of trebles, as in the case of Roses, would not be a pleasing 
innovation. To those who do not grow the Chrysanthemum for exhibition 
this was a pleasing and novel exhibit. 
Unquestionably the great advance has been in the Japanese class. 
Very few new incurved varieties are to be seen, and nearly all of them 
are sports from older varieties. The chief interest, as far as the general 
public is concerned, is centred in them also, and for one who stops to 
admire the incurved flowers there are twenty who admire the quaint forms 
and curious colourings of the “ Japs,” as I heard them familiarly 
called by some eager exhibitor. Amongst them, I think the most 
taking flower was Jeanne Delaux. It is the deepest in colour of all, and 
there was hardly a stand in which it did not come out grandly, and 
affording by its high colour a striking contrast to the other flowers. It 
was also shown under the name of F. Davis, there not being the slightest 
difference in the two fl owers. Another very remarkable flower was the 
large Japanese-Anemone flower figured in last week’s Journal—Soeur 
Dorothea Souille, more remarkable, I think, than beautiful. The same 
may be said of Fabian de Mediana, but the newer flower is more regular 
in the centre than it. These flowers form an entirely fresh break, and 
there is no knowing to what hybridisers may bring the flower, as it seems 
to offer such facility for hybridising, and to cross readily with the other 
section. Amongst other flowers in this section, Beaute des Jardins, very 
brilliant in colouring ; Bslle Alliance, with long drooping petals; Brise 
du Matin, an enormous flower, rose and white ; L’Or du France, a very 
beautiful and brilliant flower, the petals hang down most gracefully, 
golden yellow, with brick-red markings, the reverse of petals dark violet. 
It is very distinct, and one that is sure to please most people. Madame 
Clemence Audiguier was another flower that was shown in grand style 
and is one of the largest and finest flowers in growth. Thunberg, Soliel 
Levant, L’Or du France, Madame Levin, Fabian de Mediana, and Fernand 
Feral were all much admired. I have not mentioned the incurved, as we 
met with but few that are not well known, Lord Alcester and Lord 
Wolseley being amongst the best. 
More interesting to me were the plants. We know to what lengths 
the dressing of these flowers is carried, so much so that I fear very much 
the success of the exhibitor depends as much upon the dresser as it does in 
Picotees and Carnations. In some instances a wide circle is placed under¬ 
neath the drooping Japanese varieties so as to give them greater size. 
The Society is endeavouring to do away with this as much as possible, and 
for this purpose offered a prize for a support which might prevent the 
flowers being pushed up in the centre ; and although the support patented 
by my neighbour, Mr. Foster of Ashford, has much merit, it was con¬ 
sidered as not coming within the object of the Society by not preventing 
this. In the plants exhibited there is not so much room for this, nor are 
the flowers so monstrous as those which are exhibited as cut blooms. 
There were amongst the groups exhibited many which were the very 
model of good cultivation, the plants well clothed down to the pot, no sign 
of mildew, and each carrying its full share of bloom equally arranged all 
over the plants. The groups of Mr. Stevens and Mr. Davis were very 
fine, but it was amongst the class for nine varieties that I think the best 
were to be found. They were about 3 feet high and 3 through, and 
there was a plant of George Glenny amongst them which seemed to me 
the very perfeccion of what a pot plant ought to be, far more interesting 
than the enormous specimens 6 feet through which were set up. Even 
with plants such as these it would require a considerable amount of glass 
to grow them, and while we small people look on with wonder, we feel 
that we must be contented with doing things on a much smaller scale ; 
still as proofs of what skill and intelligence can effect these plants were 
most interesting. 
Very rightly there were few certificates awarded. The rush of new 
Japanese varieties is very great, and the quantity of varieties, and now 
that the continental raisers have gone into it, we may expect the list to be 
added to every year. The Tweedledums and Tweedledees will be nume¬ 
rous, and therefore great caution ought to be observed in recommending 
new varieties. 
I have said nothing about the other exhibits, fruit, vegetables, &c., and 
have only given these sketchy impressions of the Chrysanthemums, a 
flower that, more than any other, accommodates itself to all situations and 
rewards the most ordinary care, while it generously and gratefully accords 
its fullest favours to those who treat it well.—D., Deal. 
NOTES ON HARDY FRUIT. 
American Out-leaved Blackberry. —As showing the value of this 
useful Blackberry, Messrs. Cheal & Sons of Crawley have exhibited at 
various shows during the present and past seasons sprays of ripe fruit as 
cut from the plant, to indicate its large size and productiveness. It 
deserves all the praise they have best >wed on it. Whilst on a visit to 
their nurseries I was shown the plants the sprays of fruit were cut from ; 
they are growing behind the north side of a wooden fence, and were 
literally covered with the remains of fruiting clusters. 
Good Apples. —The following good Apples are highly recommended 
by Messrs. Cheal, and are considered by them to be deserving of increased 
cultivation Egremont Russet, Lane’s Prince Albert, Lady Henniker, 
New Hawthornden, and Wbite Melrose. 
Anent the question of growing too many varieties, it would be well if 
those who advance this notion would name two or three varieties, so that 
we should know what to grow. Now that hardy fruit culture is extending 
we may be able to ascertain what are really first-class varieties for all 
seasons and purposes after the lapse of a few years, as it is quite evident 
that many varieties that have been almost in obscurity, or have not had 
a fair trial, are now being planted largely in different parts of the 
country, and will have an opportunity of proving their worth similar to 
the Ribston Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Blenheim Pippin, Dumelow’s 
Seedling, Keswick Codlin, Lord Suffleld, and King of the Pippins. 
Lifting Fruit Trees. —This subject cannot be too prominently brought 
before the gardening public, as it is an excellent practice. It is an old 
saying and a true one, that “ A proper training in youth is a forerunner 
of good in after years.” If young fruit trees were carefully lifted and 
replanted periodically in the first few years of their existence, we should 
not hear of so many cases of canker and unfruitfulness as are now 
recorded. When young trees are replanted carefully and early in the 
season it does not affect their fruiting in the least, and if a surface 
dressing could be given every season afterwards with farmyard manure, 
very little attention would be required as regards root-pruning.— 
A. Young. 
WINTER PROTECTION FOR TENDER PLANTS. 
The sharp frosts we had a few days since will make many people 
anxious to have everything secure in case severe weather sets in shortly. 
Many beautiful plants are lost yearly which might have been saved if only 
very slightly protected. I am speaking more particularly of those growing 
in borders, &c., as the same plants if growing in pots are easily removed 
to cold pits and made safe ; but it is impossible to see the full beauty of 
many plants when grown in pots, and hence planting out becomes almost 
a necessity. Take, for instance, Aloysia citriodora, Myrtles, Tea Roses, the 
smaller varieties of Fuchsia, such as gracilis, globosa, corallina, &c., the 
beautiful Coral Plant Erythrina crista-galli, Salvias patens and fulgens, 
and many others, which are not seen to perfection unless growing freely. 
It is not always advisable to lift these from their positions. The question 
is then, Which is the best way to preserve them from severe frost ? For 
those that can be cut down near to the surface of the ground with advan¬ 
tage, I have found nothing to equal coal ashes, placed from 4 to 6 inches 
thick all over the crowns, and wide enough to cover the principal roots. 
Next to this, perhaps, comes sawdust in efficiency, and it has also the 
advantage of checking the ravages of slugs in the spring more than the 
former substance, as from its lighter nature it does not get beaten down so 
easily by heavy rains, but as a protection from frost only it is not so good. 
Then we have cocoa-nut fibre, rough leaf soil, short litter, and many others, 
amongst which I should think cork dust would prove one of the most 
useful, although I have never had the chance to try it. 
S > much for protection of the roots ; but besides this it is in many 
instances well to try and preserve the tops also, and even if this is imma¬ 
terial they should be left on until frosty weather is over, as if cut down, as 
in Fuchsias, for instance, when green in the autumn, the frost will work 
down the pith much further than it would otherwise do. For this purpose 
straw drawn out straight and placed in as sharp a conical form as possible 
is often very handy in the case of beds of plants. A good covering of 
quite dry Beech or Oak leaves, shaken among the tops and made as water¬ 
proof as possible with straw or mats, is very useful for deciduous plants. 
Dry bracken is also a very useful protection, especially for standard Tea 
Roses, &c., a handful being tied on to cover the junction of stock and 
scion, and as much of the head as possible. To get this in its best form it 
should be cut previously to losing its green colour in the autumn. Branches 
of thick evergreens, such as Spruce, Yew, Portugal Laurel, &c,, are also 
very efficient. 
I have seen a sample of a new material for protecting, which appears 
just what is wanted for some purposes; it is called dressed scrim, and looks 
like canvas dipped in Stockholm tar. I am told it was brought out at 
the suggestion of Mr. Rust of Eridge Castle. It appears likely to excel 
anything we have as a covering for pits and frames, but is not generally 
known in the trade. I believe it is made in Cornwall.—W. H. Divers, 
Ketton Uall. 
VEGETABLES AND THE FROST. 
With us the winter has set in earlier than I have previously 
experienced. From November 14th to 17th a high wind has 
blown from the north-east, and as we have had from 6° to 10° 
of frost nightly, it has caught vegetation very keenly. Those 
who look ahead will always be prepared for severe weather any 
time after November begins, but as mild autumns have not been 
uncommon of late years, a severe one may find many unprepared. 
The best way to deal with vegetables is to protect them from the 
first, and not allow them to be exposed for a few nights to the 
frost, and then try to remedy the injury. Cauliflower will soon 
suffer. If the smallest heads are browned by the frost it is all 
over with them. The only way is to cut every one that is ready 
for the table on the first frosty night, and go over the others 
daily to break some of the leaves half through, and turn them 
down over the heads. Another way is to gather all the leaves 
together over the top of the heart, and bind them there with a 
piece of matting or willow. 
Early greens are the hardiest of all. They do not require 
