May 27, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
423 
August, selecting strong shoots, and insert them in small pots singly, 
place them under a handlight or frame in a close warm house till rooted, 
then remove them to a shelf near the light for a month or six weeks, after 
which gradually harden them and reduce the supply of water. When the 
leaves are off any cool shed or pit is good enough for them until they are 
required to start again, which may he begun in January by bringing them 
into a gentle heat, in batches as required to keep up a succession. As 
soon as they have started growing shift them into 6-inch pots and place 
on shelf near the glass in a temperature of about 60°. In potting sink 
them well in the soil up to the first young leaves. Remove suckers or 
side shoots if any form, and in a short time you will have handsome 
plants little more than a foot high, with single trusses 18 inches across or 
more if the best cultural attention is accorded.— Fredk. Taylor, The 
Shrubbery, Welbech, T VorJtsop, Notts. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS—EARLY BUDS. 
I "WOULD like to ask Mr. Molyneux’s advice on a few matters 
connected with Chrysanthemums, first thanking him, however, for the 
clear manner in which he is detailing his practice. This is a great boon 
to many Chrysanthemum growers, and I am following his precepts as 
closely as I can. I followed him and others very successfully at the 
shows last year, and hope this year to reduce the distance between us. 
I hope he will not see a “red light ” in that. 
My plants now are good, averaging about 16 inches high, and well 
established in 6-inch pots. Some few of them formed buds a fortnight 
ago, and others are setting now, chiefly Japanese. I now want to know 
what is best to do with them. I calculate they will set again in July 
and early August, but I may be wrong. Would it be best to stop them, 
say late in May and early in June, according to the variety, whether it is 
a late or early one, or run them up to the next bud ? I think topping 
weakens a plant, or I should say the break or shoot from a topped plant 
is not so strong as the shoot from a natural break. 
On looking through the plants to-day, May 11th, I find there are more 
buds formed than I thought or wished. They have been grown quite 
hard, have never had fire heat. Leaves are large, wood firm, short- 
jointed, and feathered with leaves to the foil. Everything is right but 
this bud, which is coming a month earlier than I wished.— Chrys¬ 
anthemum. 
[I am pleased to find my notes on Chrysanthemums in the Journal 
have proved useful, but I cannot help thinking that “ Chrysanthemum” 
has not read them so carefully as he ought, or he would not find himself 
in such a dilemma as he now appears to be in with his plants. However, 
my wish is to detail my practice as plainly as I can, and I have much 
pleasure in trying to release your correspi ndent from his troubles. If he 
will turn to page 167 he will find what he requires—viz., commencing 
with the following : “As a general system it is best to allow varieties to 
assume their natural habits; the growth is then solidified, and all the 
wants met at the proper time. The plants are not topped at all, but 
allowed a free uninterrupted growth until the first natural break, which 
sometimes occurs about the middle of May or early in June, according to 
the time the cuttings were struck, early or late. When it does occur, the 
bloom bud must be rubbed out and three of the strongest shoots selected.” 
“ Chrysanthemum’s ” plants appear to have formed the flower bud exactly 
at the time I indicated. Plants differ in various localities as to the time 
they show successional buds, and according to the treatment they receive. 
I advise your correspondent not to top his plants at all, but take out the 
flower buds as they form, and retain the three shoots as selected at the 
first break, and continue this system of treatment until the buds are 
“ taken,” which are to be retained for the production of the blooms. As 
to “lights” “red,” or otherwise, they cannot be properly seen till turned 
on by the judges.— E. Molyneux.] 
CRYSTAL PALACE SUMMER SHOW. 
An extensive, varied, and handsome Show was held in the Sydenham 
Palace on Friday and Saturday last, well maintaining the reputation of the 
establishment for meritorious displays. A different method of arranging 
the exhibits was adopted on this occasion, and proved advantageous in 
several ways. It has been usual before to have the greater portion of the 
plants together in the transept and one of the naves, but on Friday both naves 
and the transeptwere devotedto them, the result being that although the gene¬ 
ral effect was less imposing the interest was spread over a larger space, and the 
visitors were enabled to inspect the exhibits without being inconveniently 
crowded, as was often the case under the old system. There was, however, suffi¬ 
cient concentration of plants and classes in the transept to constitute an effec¬ 
tive display alone, the groups of Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, and Roses being 
arranged on tables, and having a very bright appearance. Orchids were 
well represented; stove and greenhouse plants, Ferns, fine-foliage plants, 
and miscellaneous groups also contributed largely to the beauty of the 
Show. These were all arranged to the best advantage by Mr. W. G. Head, 
the Superintendent, and the sloping stages permitted the competitors to 
dispose their plants satisfactorily in banks ; but it seemed somewhat too 
steep, and in a few cases a difficulty was expert- need in placing the plants 
securely. This might be easily remedied by making the stages in short 
steps, and the plants could then be tilted at pleasure by means of wooden 
blocks. Stove and greenhouse plants were not quite so numerous as at 
summer shows usually, and in several instances the specimens were what 
are termed “one-sided,” and though these were in healthy floriferous 
condition they did not look so well in small groups in the centre of the 
nave as they do in larger groups at places like the Regent’s Park Botanic 
Gardens, where their defects are to a great extent concealed. 
Orchids. —Liberal provision was made for the se plants, and the amateurs 
responded to the invitations freely. An open class was devoted to nine 
Orchids, Mr. A. G. Catt, gardener to W. Cobb, Esq., Silverdale Lodge, 
Sydenh am, securing the premier award with specimens of medium size, but 
in excellent health and well flowered. Those shown wgTe Cattleya 
Mossun, C. Skinneri with ten racemes of bright flowers ; Lielia purpurata, 
eight racemes; Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, with twelve long racemes; 
Cypripedium Lawrencianum, twenty flowers ; Odontoglossum citrosmum, 
five panicles ; Odontoglossum vexillarium, vtry handsom°, with twelve 
racemes of five and six highly coloured flowers each ; O. Alexandra, four 
racemes, a good variety, and Dendrobium Bensonim flowering profusely. 
Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, Lower Norwood, was second, showing 
several specimens similar to those he had at the Regent’s Park Show two 
days before, the best being Ltelia purpurata, eighteen flowers, a beautiful 
variety; Dendrobium Jamesianum, twenty-four large blooms ; Cattleya 
Mendeli, twenty-two flowers; and Vanda tricolor formosa, five racemes. 
The third place was accorded to Mr. F. J. Hill, gardener to H. Little, Esq., 
The Barons, Twickenham, whose Cattleya Skinneri, Aerifies Fieldingi, and 
Ly caste Skinneri were the most notable. A class for six exotic Orchitis was 
also provided for amateurs, in which Mr. A. G. Catt was again the most 
successful competitor, but amongst the orchiaist visitors there was some 
difference of opinion respecting the merits of the three collections entered. 
The first-prize plants comprised Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, two long 
racemes ; Ltelia purpurata, eight flowers; Phalsenopais grandiflora, a hand¬ 
some well grown plant with one raceme of flowers; Cattleya Mendeli, 
apparently a made-up plant, Oncidium concolor, and Odontoglossum 
citrosmum being healthy samples. Mr. H. Luff, gardener to R. R. Hyatt, Esq., 
Hetherston, Leigham Court, Streatham, secured the second place with very 
neat and fresh specimens, not so large as the preceding but genuine plants ; 
Ly caste Skinneri with twenty fine flowers, a very handsome plant, 
Cypripedium villosum, about thirty flowers ; Masdevallia Harryana, sixteen 
flowei s ; M. Lindeni, forty flowers ; Phalaenopsis amabilis and Cattleya 
Mendeli. These were the most meritorious of all in freshness. Mr. C. J. 
Salter, gardener to J. Southgate, Esq., Selborne, took the third prize with 
excellent plants of Cypripedium Lawrencianum, thirty-six flowers; Den¬ 
drobium nobile, Masdevallia Vtitchi majus, a very fine variety, Odonto¬ 
glossum polyanthum, Odontoglossum vexillarium with fourteen racemes, 
and Dendrobium thyrsiflorum with nine large racemes, but this plant 
rather damaged what was otherwise a good collection, as the foliage was 
somewhat discoloured. In the class for a group of not less than forty 
Orchids Mr. C. J. Salter was, however, victorious, gaining the principal 
prize with a choice and pretty collection of medium size but well grown 
plants, representing a large number of species and varieties. They were 
also very tastefully arranged with Palms and Ferns, forming a graceful 
combination of flowers and foliage. Some of the more notable plants were 
Odontoglossum vexillarium, 0. oitrOSTL*UUj 0. Cervante.si, 0. nebulosum, 
O. crispum, Dendrobium Devonianum, D. Falconeri, and Masdevamas ignea 
and Chimaera. Mr. James followed, his plants being rather larger with more 
Cattleyas, but there was not quite so much diversity in the group generally. 
Mr. Luff was third, Odontoglossum vexillarium, Phalsenopsis Luddeman- 
niana, Masdevallia Shuttleworthi, and Dendrobium Falconeri being well 
represented amongst many others. These exhibits together rendered the 
department for Orchids one of the chief features of the Show, and we do not 
remember seeing these plants so well represented at the Crystal Palace 
before. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. —For single specimens Mr. C. J. Salter 
and Mr. E. Chadwick, gardener to A. M. Nelson, Esq., Hanger Hill House, 
were awarded equal second prizes for Vanda suavis and Oncidium sphace- 
latum respectively, the former a large plant with two racemes of flowers, 
and the other with six panicles. There weie sufficient of these to add con¬ 
siderably both to the extent and beauty of the Show, although the compe¬ 
tition was not quite so keen as at some previous shows. In the open class 
for nine specimens Mr. H. James was the most successful, having evenly 
trained examples of Bougainvillea glabra, globular and freely flowered; 
Azalea Souvenir de Pays Bas, freely flowered; Erica Lindleyaua, 5 feet in 
diameter; Aphelexis macrantha purpurea, very bright; Erica ventricosa 
coccinea, Anthurium Schertzerianum, Stephanotis floribundi, Erica Caven- 
dishiana, and Darwinia Hookeri. Mr. W. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, 
Esq., Hawkesyard, Rugeley, was second with large, fresh, and healthy 
plants, but in several cases rather “ one-sided,” and not such even all-round 
specimens as might be desired for exhibition purposes, though useful for 
grouping in a house or elsewhere. Mr. Mould, Pewsey, took the third place 
for smaller plants, one of the best being Boronia elatior, capitally flowered. 
The best amateurs’ six stove and greenhouse plants were from Mr. Chapman, 
and comprised Tremandra ericmfolia, Ixora coccinea, Hedaroma tulipifera, 
Ixora Williamsi, Erica profusa, and Anthurium Schertzerianum, all flowering 
freely. Mr. C. Rann, gardener to J. Warren, E.-q., HandcrosB Park, Crawley, 
and Mr. J. Bolton, gardener to W. H. Spottiswoode, Esq., Combe Bank, 
Sevenoaks, followed in the order named, the former Azalea Leopold I., 
Erica depressa and Tetratbeca eric® folia, very fine, and the latter exhibiting 
Clerodendron fallax and Statice profusa in first-rate condition. Mr. H. James 
took the lead with a single specimen greenhouse plant, Btaging Erica Caven- 
dishiana, 6 feet high, as much in diameter, very healthy, but not bearing a 
great number of flowers. Mr. S. Reece, gardener to R. Whyte, Esq., Pent- 
land House, Old Road, Lee, was second with Genetyllis tulipifera, 4 feet in 
diameter, globular in form, healthy, and well flowered. Mr. W. Chapman 
was third, showing Aphelexis grandiflora, 3 feet in diameter, and flowering 
most profusely. The best single specimen stove plant was Ixoia Dixiana, 
flowering freely ; Mr. James was second with Anthurium Schertzerianum; 
and Mr. "W. King, gardener to Philip Crawley, Esq., Waddon House, 
Croydon, was third with Clerodendron Balfourianum, of good size and in 
satisfactory condition. 
The Azaleas from Mr. C. Turner, Slough, who was first in both classes 
for eighteen and nine plants. Most of the plants in the “ eighteen ” class 
were neat specimens, about 3 feet in diameter and most profusely flowered, 
the varieties bright and attractive. The mo.-t notable varieties were Mrs. 
Turner, soft pink and white; Roi d’Hollande, bright red, very effective; 
Cordon Bleu, warm purplish crimson ; Comte de Cliambord, blush and 
white, with a red blotch ; Madame Marie Lefebvre, white, large, all these 
beiDg single varieties, and Duke of Edinburgh, bright red, a double form of 
