October 17, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
&39 
He strongly objected to this, not only because it spoiled the beauty of 
the flower, but also because it gave the public a false notion concern¬ 
ing them. They see these flowers, named, in the stands ; they order 
them, and are very much surprised and disappointed to find them 
entirely different in their gardens. He did not know to what extent it 
had gone, but he had seen at the Crystal Palace Show a box of Teas so 
manipulated that it was hardly possible to recognise the flowers, and he 
therefore thought the time was come to pronounce decidedly against it. 
The National Rose Society had carefully watched over the interests of 
the flower and everything connected with it, and he believed that the 
Committee of the Society could put its foot down on a practice which he 
believed to be most hurtful to the cultivation of the flower. A very 
interesting discussion followed, in which several of those present took 
part. Mr. George Paul stated that he believed whenever this excessive 
dressing took place in any flower, it tended to its going out of favour. 
Take, for instance, the Carnation. This was once a favourite garden 
flower, but when exhibitors so dealt with it that its character was 
entirely altered it went out of favour, and so at the present there are a few 
who grow it and exhibit, but it is the self and border varieties that are 
now becoming popular—flowers that need not be dressed, but allowed to 
grow naturally ; and so he believed it would be with the Rose, although 
it would be difficult to drive that out of favour ; but there was danger, 
unless the practice were stopped, of these grand flowers being neglected. 
Mr. T. Francis Rivers said he could hardly believe it possible that an 
exhibitor could dress a stand of seventy-twos in the time allotted to 
him after he had placed his flowers in the box, he seemed to advocate 
the cultivation of garden Roses, and spoke quite enthusiastically of Roses 
which he had 20 feet high, clambering over some old Pear trees and 
regularly festooned with flowers. 
Mr. T. B. Hall said that he had often watched with pleasure and 
some degree of envy a well known exhibitor going over his box of 
Roses before the judges came round, but in these was nothing unfair, 
the character of the Rose was not altered, but only a little additional, 
charm given to it in its natural character. Mr. Harry J. Yeitch alluded 
To what had taken place with regard to the exhibition of Orchids. They 
were not dressed certainly, but where prizes were offered for say sixOrchids 
the custom grew of placing a large number of small plants in a huge pan 
filled with small plants, and then it became necessary to make two 
classes —one for plants naturally grown as single specimens, and one for 
the “ made up ” exhibits. The Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain as Hon. Secretary 
of the National Rose Society said he was sure that the wish of the Com¬ 
mittee would be to utterly discountenance this injurious practice by 
giving instructions to the judges ; and he believed that the best way 
would be to pass by all such flowers as if they were not exhibited ; and 
as it had been with gumming, so with this, he believed that we should 
have no more of it, and he was quite sure that the discussion would 
greatly strengthen the hands of the Society in dealing with the practice. 
After several other members had spoken Mr. Wilks proposed a cordial 
vote of thanks to Mr. Girdlestone, and a very pleasant evening was 
brought to a close. 
PEACHES. 
FERROUS SULPHATE FOR “YELLOWS.” 
I GLADLY comply with the request of Mr. T. Welch, page 311, in 
telling him through the medium of the Journal how I cured the 
Peach tree mentioned by Mr. Wright. It is only fair to say I was led 
to try this remedy through reading an account of some experiments 
by Sachs, written by Mr. G. H. Marshall Ward in the Gardeners' 
Chronicle for April 13th, 1889. 
One of our Peach trees, a Princess of Wales, was badly attacked 
with “ yellows ” this spring, owing, as I believe, principally through a 
severe check in November, 1887, when lifted for the purpose of draining 
the border, Ac., followed by a bad season in 1888 for maturing the 
wood. The house was started December 1st, 1888. The sulphate was 
applied early in May by removing the soil over the greater part of the 
roots without injuring them. Three-quarters of a pound was then 
dissolved in a little hot water, and enough cold water was added to 
make about 10 gallons in all. This was poured over the roots, and a 
similar quantity of clear water was then put on to wash it in ; the soil 
was in a previously moist state from a recent watering. After this 
the top soil was returned again as before, and in a short time a con¬ 
siderable improvement was apparent, and eventually the tree com¬ 
pletely recovered. That is how we cured our tree. It does not 
necessarily follow that all cases of “ yellows ” can be cured in the same 
way. The above tree was growing in a well heated house, and in a 
thoroughly well drained border. I am of opinion that “ yellows ” is 
caused in many instances by the roots getting in an unhealthy state 
from bad drainage and similar causes. Ferrous sulphate will be of no 
avail in such cases until these defects are remedied. Mr. Welch says he 
will partly lift his trees soon ; if he thinks the drainage or border is bad 
he will do well to lift them entirely and make everything right. If 
carefully done and replanted as soon as possible no harm will befall the 
next crop in consequence, provided the trees are started gradually, and 
not pushed into growth beyond what the roots can maintain. It is easy 
to see when the roots are beginning to grow freely by the corresponding 
advance in the young growth. I have often lifted trees that had not 
been disturbed for years, and have sent some of them long distances by 
rail, and find the Peach and Nectarine will bear rtmoving and lifting 
far better than most people would imagine. 
I would not advise your correspondent to plant Lord Palmerston 
Peach ; its great size is its only recommendation, its quality is poor its 
the extreme. Princess of Wales, which is one of its parents, is far- 
preferable and ripens about the same time. Another good late variety 
is the Nectarine Peach. I am unable to give any opinion on Reine des- 
Vergers.—W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford. 
I KNOW nothing of Peach Reine des Vergers, but would strongly 
advise Mr. Welch not to invest in Lord Palmerston. We are just about 
to destroy a rather large tree of it which has never given a fruit fit 
for dessert, and we consider a south wall too valuable for growing 
Peaches for any other purpose. Lord Palmerston is only a few days 
later than Walburton, but bears no comparison with that variety.— 
E. Butts, Leigham Court Gardens, Streatham Hill. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
A meeting of the Floral Committee of the above Society was heRT 
in the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, on October 9th at 2 P.M., when 
the following members were present—E. Sanderson, Esq., in the chair, 
Messrs. W. Holmes, R. Dean, J. P. Kendall, G. Gordon, L. Castle, R. 
Owen, C. Swift, J. Mardlin, G. Stevens, T. Bevan, H. Cannell, J. 
Wright, and C. H. Payne. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, had' 
an interesting collection of fine Chrysanthemum blooms, for which a 
vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead, also exhibited 
several varieties. Messrs. Hawkins & Bennett, Twickenham, had a> 
stand of twelve handsome blooms of Chrysanthemum Mrs. Hawkins 
(vote of thanks) ; and Mr. G. Stevens, Putney, also contributed cut? 
blooms. Messrs. Cannell & Sons showed blooms of a Japanese variety 
named Meto, with white irregularly cut florets faintly tinged with red. 
The bloom was somewhat flat, but appeared to be distinct, and the 
Committee expressed a wish to see it again at a later meeting. 
A plant of a Japanese Chrysanthemum (unnamed) was sent by Mr. 
Briscoe Ironsides, Foots Cray, which was said to have been raised from 
a single leaf without any bud or portion of the old stem being attached. 
The leaf was inserted in a thumb pot on January 20th, and potted into 
a 60-size pot in the first week of April, and from a sucker produced at 
the base the plant had resulted. It had a strong stem 2 feet high with 
abundant foliage, a number of suckers at the base, and one large flower 
at the apex of the stem. It was stated that other leaves had been 
rooted but discarded, as the one specimen was sufficient for experimental 
purposes. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Ironsides for his 
nteresting communication. Only one certificate was awarded—namely, 
for the variety, 
Jeanne Marty (R. Owen).—This is a Japanese Anemone, one of 
Audiguier’s varieties sent out in 1886, but although it has appeared in a 
few exhibitors’ collections it is not by any means well known. It was, 
however, included in the National Society’s Catalogue of Select 
Varieties for 1888, and is thus described Blush white, drooping 
guard florets, lilac disc, large, with full high centre ; midseason, rather 
tall.” 
A meetikg of the National Society’s General Committee was held in 
Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, on Monday, October 14th, at 7 P.M., 
E. C. Jukes, Esq., in the chair, when there was a large attendance of 
members, and a considerable amount of important business was trans¬ 
acted. Mr. Holmes read the minutes of the last meeting, which were 
duly confirmed, and he then referred to some correspondence he had 
had with the officials of a new Society in Philadelphia, who required 
some rules to guide them, and had adopted those of the National 
Society as a suitable foundation. The subject of the medals was next 
considered, and samples from two firms having been submitted, it was 
subsequently resolved, on the motion of Mr. Rundell, seconded by Mr. 
Prickett, that the order be given to Messrs. Restall. 
The Hon. Secretary referred to the Chrysanthemum Centenary 
Celebration to be held at Ghent, and mentioned that several members 
of the National Committee had been appointed judges, a compliment to 
the Society which ought to be appreciated. At a later stage of the 
proceedings the Chairman proposed that the members of the Committee 
who had been requested to act as judges at Ghent be officially appointed 
a deputation from the National Society, and after some discussion 
approving of this course, it was adopted unanimously. Mr. C. Harman 
Payne also referred to some correspondence which had taken place 
between himself and the Ghent officials, who were very desirous of 
having English exhibits and exhibitors at their Show. Mr. Payne 
stated that he had been in communication with the National Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society of the United States, and some important help was likely 
to be rendered in the determination of the names and synonyms of 
American varieties. Three members were proposed to fill a vacancy in 
the General Committee caused by the retirement of Mr. Gilbey, who has 
removed to the north of England, and is consequently unable to attend 
the meetings. Mr. Briscoe Ironsides was ultimately elected, and Mr; 
