October 10, 1889.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
315 
nature and properties of artiScial manures, not to accept his dicta as 
to their value in comparison with stable manure without further 
inquiry or trial. I hope this object is attained ; at any rate, I have 
finished, and shall not prolong a discussion which involves so much 
repetition, and is so technical that it cannot be interesting to the 
majority of vour readers.— Edmund Tonks. 
JOTTINGS. 
The recent settlement of a cause celebre in the Chrysanthemum 
world has attracted some attention to certificates, and the rules which 
regulate these awards. At the present time there are only two bodies of 
experts who bestow certificates which may claim to possess some official 
value, and these are the Floral Committees of the Royal Horticultural 
and National Chrysanthemum Societies respectively. Judges at pro¬ 
vincial and other shows frequently award certificates for novelties, and 
these when signed by well-known competent men are reliable and 
valued distinctions, still the certificates of one or both of the Societies 
named add materially to the reputation of any new variety. At both 
the decisions are taken by voting, the majority for or against determin¬ 
ing whether an award be granted or not; but a different procedure is 
followed when two or more exhibitors show the same variety at the 
same time. At the Royal Horticultural Society’s meetings, when the 
same species or variety of plant is exhibited by different persons, and it 
is determined to be worthy of a certificate, the award is made to each 
exhibitor, and I remember one case (Angraecum or iEranthus Leoni) 
when no less than five certificates were granted at one meeting in this 
way. _ 
The National Chrysanthemum Society adopt a different and, to some 
extent, a better course. One of the rules of the Floral Committee is to 
this effect, “ In the event of any variety being staged by more than one 
exhibitor at the same meeting, the whole of the exhibits of that variety 
shall be submitted simultaneously, and the awards made (if any) shall 
be made to the exhibit or exhibits staged in the best condition.” The 
result of this is that when, as often happens in the case of the imported 
French varieties, several examples are staged at one meeting, the best 
representatives of the variety are selected, and the award is made to 
these only. 
As regards the imported varieties, there can be no doubt this is the 
best plan, as the same Chrysanthemum may be in the possession of twenty 
growers, but some difference of opinion exists with regard to sports or 
seedlings raised here. Instances have occurred where the same sport 
has occurred in several collections about the same time, or it has been 
distributed with others before the distinctness was recognised ; then each 
possessor has thought it worthy of a special name, and thus the same 
variety has been brought before judges or committees under different 
titles, and it has sometimes been a difficult matter to determine which 
was entitled to precedence. The rule is that the name first published as 
officially recognised must be adopted in preference to all others, and 
after a variety has been thus distinguished it would be unjustifiable for 
anyone also possessing the variety and knowing they were identical, 
to bestow another name upon it. 
In my opinion the best mode of removing the difficulty would be to 
require that exhibitors of new varieties should state distinctly whether 
their plants are imported, or home-raised seedlings, or sports. Then for 
the imported varieties only one certificate each should be awarded to 
those considered worthy of it, and, in accordance with the rule now in 
force, only to the blooms regarded as best representing the variety. 
For home-raised sports or seedlings certificates should be awarded in all 
cases where they are sufficiently distinct and in good condition at any 
meeting during the same session. This would avoid the danger of 
distributing certificates too freely, as it would be seldom that a sport or 
seedling could be shown by more than two or three exhibitors in one 
year. It could not be adopted for imported varieties, as these arc 
frequently in the possession of a score or more of growers, and it would 
be inconvenient and undesirable to accord certificates to all who like to 
submit the same variety to the Committee. It appears desirable there 
should be some alteration in the existing rule, and I make the above 
suggestion as a possible means of rendering this evidently important 
matter more satisfactory. _ 
Concerning the decision of the arbitrators in the case referred to, 
there is a very general opinion that, in the absence of any explanation 
of the course taken, it is illogical and unfair. It is true that only a 
portion of the decision was published, and no reason was assigned why, 
having really given a decision in favour of the defendant, and practi¬ 
cally acquitted him of the actions imputed to him, he was yet called 
upon to pay a portion of the costs of the case. It is not encouraging to 
litigants to adopt arbitration as a means of settling their disputes, and 
is, no doubt, unsatisfactory to both parties. Why such a case should 
ever have been commenced is a puzzle to many, and had the plaintiff 
taken the advice of his friends early in the year, he would have saved 
himself and others a considerable amount of expense and trouble. 
There are times when it is desirable to call in the aid of the law for the 
settlement of disputes, but in trade matters generally it is far better to 
come to some amicable arrangement without having recourse to legal 
advice. 
The announcement of the opening of the public metropolitan shows 
of Chrysanthemums at the Inner Temple Gardens, Finsbury, Southwark, 
and other parks indicates the rapid approach of the exhibition season, 
and intending competitors already begin to count their chances of suc¬ 
cess. The prospect seems to be a good one, and all concerned with our 
favourite autumn flower are.looking forward to a busy and interesting 
season. With regard to the metropolitan exhibitions just mentioned, 
there is every evidence of their fast increasing popularity in the large 
numbers of persons attracted to them, and there is no question that 
they perform a useful service in showing the inhabitants of towns what 
can be accomplished with the Chrysanthemum under unfavourable 
circumstances. This has become so evident that in several provincial 
towns the example set in London has been followed, and free public 
exhibitions provided during October and November. 
With regard to length of time and valuable services rendered to the 
Chrysanthemum cause, the Show at the Inner Temple stands pre¬ 
eminent. It is quite an historical affair, and is looked upon as one of 
the events of the year in the City, and many an annual pilgrimage has 
been made from a distance to inspect the display and note the varieties. 
No attempt has ever been made to grow the plants to the highest exhi¬ 
bition standard of excellence, for it is rightly contended that it is better 
to show the public what a good proportion can fairly expect to attain, 
than the best results of a specialist’s skill, which can only be secured by 
long experience and constant care. It will therefore be an unwelcome 
surprise for many to hear that it is rumoured this year will see the last 
of the Temple Shows, and it is to be hoped that time will prove the 
rumour is unfounded. 
Mr. S. Broome had charge of the Inner Temple Gardens for a number 
of years. I do not know how many, but the first edition of his little 
pamphlet on the Chrysanthemum appeared in 1857, and the gardens 
were then noted for their collection. Mr. Broome died in January, 1870, 
and was followed in the same year by Mr. John Newton, who has during 
the nineteen years that have elapsed provided an annual display of much 
interest, which by the liberality of the Benchers has been thrown open 
to the public for several weeks during October and November of each 
year. Hundreds of thousands of people have visited the gardens in 
that time, and it is impossible to estimate the influence exerted in the 
popularisation of the Chrysanthemum. Undoubtedly it must have been 
great, and we shall regret to find that the privilege has been finally 
withdrawn. 
Pedigree Roses have attained some fame in the United States, and 
now in return our American cousins promise us Pedigree Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, and the first of these is announced under the name of Ada 
Spaulding. This is described as the result of a cross between Mrs. 
Wanamaker and Puritan, neither parents being familiar to British 
growers, and it is said to possess all the good qualities of the best 
incurved varieties. Indeed Mr. John Thorpe says, !< The flower is very 
large; the base of a bright rosy lilac, turning to pure white. It can 
rank with Empress of India, Queen Victoria (Queen of England), and 
Lord Alcester.” Mr. R. Owen, who is the agent here, however, states, 
“ The colouring is quite novel and distinct ; the lower half of a rich 
deep pink shaded with bright purple rose. The upper half is of the 
pearliest white, the petals fully one-fourth of an inch wide, and the 
flower in size surpasses Princess Teck or Jeanne d'Arc.” We must not, 
however, build our hopes too high, for it is evident the American 
standard of Chrysanthemum perfection is quite different from our own, 
judging, at least, by the majority of the varieties that have yet 
appeared.— L. Castle. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM LADY T. LAWRENCE. 
I HAVE read the letter of Mr. Jameson in your issue of the 2Gth ult., 
and your note at the foot of it. I should also be glad to “ know the 
cause or probable cause ” of the malformation of the buds of this Chrys¬ 
anthemum, if it is its usual habit, and if anything can be done to 
avoid a repetition of this peculiar growth. This is the first year I have 
grown it, and though my plants are quite healthy in appearance the 
buds are exactly the same as those described in your note. Two buds 
out of three on one plant grew in the same manner, the third has not 
developed sufficiently at present to show whether it will take the same 
form of growth.—C. J. H. 
PUBLIC CHRYSANTHEMUM EXHIBITIONS. 
The ninth annual display of Chrysanthemums in Finsbury Park is 
now open to the public from 10.30 A.M. till dusk, and will continue 
daily (including Sundays) to the end of the season. 
The Chrysanthemum Show at Southwark Park, S.E., was opened to 
the public (free of charge) last Wednesday, 9th inst. The Show will 
be open during the season from 10 A.M. to dusk. 
The Inner Temple Show will be opened on November 18th, when 
the public will be admitted as usual by permission of the Benchers. 
