242 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 19, 1889. 
cut and placed in a cool position they remain fresh for more than a week 
out of water. The plant succeeds in any light well drained soil, and is 
raised from seed sown in early spring. 
RHUBARB. 
Before the growing season closes I think I had better work off 
my remaining notes on Rhubarb. In April I had something to 
say about a few varieties of Rhubarb, and chiefly of early Rhubarb, 
and my dissatisfaction at the apparent confusion there was in the 
nomenclature of those early Rhubarbs. By the kindness of the 
Editor I was made the happy possessor of “Handy Andy’s” variety, 
Tobolsk, and, later on, of the true early Chiswick Red from Mr. 
A. F. Barron of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens. In 
the course of the summer I had also a variety of Early Red sent to 
me by Mr. Lister cf Darnall, who grows Rhubarb largely for the 
Sheffield market. Just lately I have introduced into my garden 
the Vicar of Yaxley’s early Rhubarb ; so that, by comparing these 
varieties one with another, as they are growing together all in 
one garden in relative positions in our central midland neighbour¬ 
hood, and that if we are spared over one or two or three seasons, 
I ought to be able to get a little light on the much-vexed 
questions, as (first) which is the earliest variety grown ? and 
(second) what is the correct name of that variety ? with other 
kindred matters. 
If I could I might turn my place largely into a trial ground for 
Rhubarbs, for those of my neighbours, some near and some distant, 
who have been raising seedling Rhubarbs, now and in the past, are 
anxious that I should have specimens of their best that I may 
compare them with other varieties. As my space is limited and 
my garden demands heavy and continuous, I am obliged to decline 
their very kind offers. What I say to them in part, in reply 
to their generous offers, I think I ought to say here, because I 
consider it is what every Rhubarb raiser and grower ought to study 
closely. In these, or like words, I say, “ As nearly every quality 
desired in Rhubarbs is in some one or other of present day varieties, 
especially size, colour, substance, and flavour, the attention of all 
Rhubarb raisers should now be given to the very important point 
of earliness.” The raiser v>ho produces a variety which will add 
a week, or a day even, to the production of natural Rhubarb will 
do good to his profession, the people at large, and, let us hope, 
bring a substantial recompense to himself. Earliness then, com¬ 
bined with present good qualities is the great desideratum. 
In my notes m the Journal of Horticulture of April 4th, page 270, 
I mentioned a variety of Rhubarb much like Hawkes’s Champagne, 
which had been submitted to me tor trial by Mr. Lister of Darnall, 
and which he calls Cherry Red. I said that I should watch it 
closely and report on it. I have done so, and I can honestly 
say that as a private establishment Rhubarb it has the finest 
points, notably the one of flavour, which a Rhubarb can have. 
Here they are :—1, Earliness ; about the earliness of Hawkes’s 
Champagne. 2, Size ; medium ; greatness of size not desired by 
good cooks. 3, Substance ; crisp and sweet. 4, Colour ; brilliant 
cherry red, and all through. 5, Flavour ; none to touch it. With 
respect to that last and most essential quality for a gentleman’s 
household Rhubarb, I may say that I sent some of it into the 
kitchen one day when Rhubarb was ordered for stewing, with the 
request that they would try it, and send me word what they 
thought of it. The reply next day was, “It was very good ; 
the highest flavoured Rhubarb we have had in ; it has rather a 
lemony flavour.” I need not add anything to that, except that a 
certain housewife who shall be nameless here, though she is the 
chiefest amongst women, ssys to her “housebond” one day, “I wish 
you would let me have some of that Rhubarb which you sent me 
in the last time, I like the flavour so much.” That Rubarb was 
Cherry Red. These testimonies settle the matter as to flavour. 
Concerning this Rhubarb its raiser, Mr. Lister, has given me a 
very interesting note on its history, which I will give in his own 
words. In a letter to me dated May, 1889, he says, “ A few years 
ago I submitted a sample of my seedling Rhubarb to one of the 
partners of a firm of nurserymen, and after he had tried its quality 
and pronounced it ‘ very good ’ he wished to have a root or two. 
I sent four roots, so that they might force one or two and grow the 
others. When the firm had tested its growing qualities they asked 
me if would sell them a hundred roots, and as I thought it was 
better adapted for private than for market purposes, and thinking 
it would introduce it amongst gentlemen’s gardeners, I let them 
have a hundred roots. They wanted a name, and at that time I 
gave them, what I thought would describe it well, ‘ Best of All ’ 
The following year, however, they advertised it in their catalogue 
(as you will see in the copy for 1887, which I send you) at 2s. fid. 
per root, under the name of ‘ Prima Donna, the finest flavoured 
variety in cultivation.’ I mention this to you, so that if you meet 
with a Rhubarb called Prima Donna you will know that it is my 
Best of All, or what I now call Cherry Red.” 
I will leave until next season, for further consideration, the- 
question of Rhubarb.—N. H. P. 
CENTENARY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 
The programme and schedule have just been issued of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s Chrysanthemum Conference and Exhibition at Chiswick 
on November 5th and 6th next, to celebrate the centenary of the intro¬ 
duction of the Chrysanthemum into Europe. It is stated that “ the 
object of the Conference is to get together as large and as representative 
a collection of Chrysanthemums of all descriptions as possible ; to form 
an exhibition of all subjects pertaining to the Chrysanthemum, whether 
in its botanical, its horticultural, its literary, or its artistic aspects ; and 
to bring together for the purposes of reciprocal information and fellow¬ 
ship all those interested in the Chrysanthemum and its culture. To 
carry out these ends the assistance of all lovers of the Chrysanthemum 
is invited.” 
A Committee of fifty-four members has been formed, T. B. Hay¬ 
wood, Esq., being the Chairman, and Mr. E. Molyneux the Secretary p 
the Executive Committee comprising Messrs. A. F. Barron, L. Castle, 
N. Davis, J. Douglas, Shirley Hibberd, W. Holmes, R. F. Jameson,. 
J. Laing, W. Mease, C. E. Pearson, R. Parker, G. Paul, H. J. Yeitch, 
E. Wills, J. Wright, W. Wildsmith, and Rev. W. Wilks. 
The schedule comprises twelve classes for plants, trained specimens,, 
conservatory plants, and groups, the remainder of the thirty-six classes 
being devoted to cut flowers, new varieties, and appliances for growing 
and showing Chrysanthemums. The programme of the Conference is- 
as follows, the proceedings to commence each day at 1.30 p.m . First 
day, Tuesday, November 5th:—1, Opening Address by the Chairman, 
T. B. Haywood, Esq. 2, Summarised History, by Mr. H. Payne. 3,. 
New Varieties, by Mr. E. Molyneux. 4, Judging Chrysanthemums,, 
by Mr. J. Wright. 5, Progress in Chrysanthemums, by Mr. Shirley 
Hibberd. Second day, Wednesday, November 6th: — 1, Chrysan¬ 
themum Seed and Seedlings, by Mr. F. W. Burbidge. 2, Dwarfiiog- 
and Grouping Chrysanthemums, by Mr. C. Orchard. 3, Market 
Chrysanthemums, by Mr. C. Pearson. 4, Summer and Early Autumn 
Chrysanthemums, by Mr. W. Piercy. Schedules can be had on appli¬ 
cation to the Rev. W. Wilks, 117, Victoria Street, W., or to Mr. E. 
Molyneux, Swanmore Park Gardens, Bishops Waltham. Forms are 
also furnished for statistical returns, to be subsequently classified and 
embodied in the Journal of the Society. 
THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
The Conference held at St. Stephen’s Hall, Westminster, September 
11th, and to which we could only allude in a few words last week, was a- 
satisfactory gathering, the papers read and the discussion evoked bring¬ 
ing out many interesting and important facts. Some sixty persons 
were present, amongst them being Mr. E. Sanderson, Mr. W. Holmes, 
Mr. W. Piercy, Mr. G. Gordon, Mr. L. Castle, Mr. H. Canned, Mr.. 
Falconer Jameson, Mr. Harland (Hull), Mr. E. Beckett, Mr. H. Shoe- 
smith, and Mr. A. Dean. 
In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Committees 
Mr. W. Holmes was requested to take the chair, and he opened the 
proceedings with a few appropriate words, calling upon Mr. Piercy for 
the first paper on “ Early Flowering Chrysanthemums.” This was 
followed by a communication from Mr. T. Turton, Maiden Erleigh 
Gardens, Reading, read by Mr. A. Dean, who had seen the collection of 
early Chrysanthemums in the garden named at the end of August, and 
had been much impressed by the fine display they afforded. Mr. G„ 
Gordon next contributed a few remarks upon Mr. Piercy’s paper, in the 
course of which he suggested as a means of obtaining brighter-coloured 
varieties that crosses and seed might be procured between the latest of 
the late-flowering varieties and the earliest of the early ones. These 
could probably without much difficulty be had in flower together, and at 
a time of year when it would be most likely that seed could be procured. 
He further observed that for seed-bearing purposes it would be advisable 
to grow the plants in poor soil, so that they might be in a somewhat 
starved condition. Mr. Cqnnell remarked that the usefulness of the 
early Chrysanthemums was not fully recognised yet, and he thought 
considerable progress would be made in increasing their diversity. Efe 
also thought Conferences of this nature afforded an admirable way of 
bringing together those specially interested in a particular subject, who 
by d’seussion could throw light on many difficult points. Several others 
took part in the discussion, and the Chairman then called upon Mr. 
J. Doughty, Angley Park Gardens, to read his paper on “ The treatment 
of plants grown for the production of fine blooms a short time previous 
to the exhibition season.” This was followed by some discussion* and 
C H RTS%N 
