380 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October , 18S9. 
The variety is described in our report of that meeting, and depicted in 
fig. 45, somewhat reduced, for it may be added that Mr. T. B. Haywood 
of Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, has blooms 12 inches in diameter. 
Mr. F. Moore writes respecting the variety as follows :—“ The bloom 
of Stanstead White, exhibited by me last season at the Kent County 
Show, was greatly admired. I am much in favour of the variety, and 
no doubt it will be seen on many boards this season. 1 was pleased to see 
its raiser gained a certificate for it last week at the National. The plant 
is a dwarf grower with very broad dark green foliage, and is of good 
constitution, but liable to come early on the crown bud, which I prefer 
if procured before the middle of August. The bloom I exhibited was 
10 inches wide and 5 inches deep, with broad spreading florets incurving 
towards the centre.” 
A SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION AT THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 
CONFERENCE. 
Oftex when thinking over the question of the widely different 
constitutional characteristics of the Chrysanthemum the question has 
forced itself on my mind, Do the raisers of new varieties pay sufficient 
attention to the law of “ heredity ” as applied to constitutional suit¬ 
ability or adaptability to our climate ? Every year new varieties are 
imported from France, and America may now be expected to contribute 
in this direction. The raisers may be honest in the belief that their 
selections are good ones, but do they ever consider that some, probably 
many, varieties of a constitutionally gross character may be amenable 
to cultivation in the sunnier climate of France or that of America, but 
when tried here have to succumb to “ the law of the survival of the 
fittest ? ” If raisers could be induced to see the question from this 
standpoint, and so modify their practice in cross-fertilisation and seed¬ 
saving that seed parents (on one side at least) only should be used 
which English cultivators have proved to be reliable in our climate, 
this would prove to be a step in the right direction. In proof of this 
view of the question, the grumbling against raisers was both loud and 
deep last year, because the season was one of a low temperature with 
little sunshine.—T. Garnett. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
We have received schedules of the undermentioned Chrysanthemum 
Shows, and we shall be glad to insert the dates of any not included, if 
the secretaries will forward us schedules of their respective Societies. 
Alverstoke and Gosport, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 31st and Nov. 1st. 
Royal Horticultural Society, Centenary Conference and Exhibition at 
Chiswick, Nov. 5th and 6th. 
Brighton and Hove, Sussex, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 5th and 6th. 
Finchley, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 5th and 6th. 
Market Harborough, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 6th and 7th. 
Kent County, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 6th and 7th. 
Portsmouth, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Nov. 6th, 7th, and 8th. 
Crystal Palace, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8th and 9th. 
Kettering and District, Saturday, Nov. 9th. 
St. Neots, Monday, Nov. 11th. 
Surrey (Peckham Public Hall), Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 11th and 
12th. 
Leeds Paxton, Tuesday, Nov. 12th. 
National Chrysanthemum Society (Royal Aquarium), Tuesday and Wed¬ 
nesday Nov. 12th and 13th. 
Kingston and Surbiton, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 12th and 13th. 
Wells, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 12th and 13th. 
Exmouth, Tuesday, Nov. 12th. 
Torquay, Wednesday, Nov. 13th. 
Croydon, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 13th and 14th. 
Bournemouth, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 13th and 14th. 
West Kent (Bexley Heath), Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 12th and 13th 
Teddington, Putney, Chiswick, Cranbrook, and Birkenhead, Thursday. 
Nov. 14th. , 
Leicester, Friday, Nov. 15th. 
Eccles, Friday, Nov. 15tb. 
Cheshunt, Friday, Nov. 15th. 
Bolton, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15th and 16th. 
Twickenham, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 19th and 20th. 
Liverpool, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 19th and 20th. 
Cardiff, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 19th and 20th. 
Rugby, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 20th and 21st. 
Birmingham, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 20th and 21st. 
Hull (National Society’s Provincial Show), Thursday and Friday, Nov. 
21st and 22nd. 
Chorley, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22nd and 23rd. 
Stockport, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22nd and 23rd. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW AT YORK. 
Mr. J. Lazenby, 13, Feasegate, York, writes : “The Committee 
purpose having a stall at the above Show on November 20th, 21st, and 
22nd, for the sale of flowers, fruit, and cut Ferns. The proceeds to be 
devoted to the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. They respectfully invite 
contributions for that object, which would be thankfully received. 
Please forward on any of the above dates.” 
CLIFTON HALL, NOTTINGHAM. 
If anyone wishes to become truly appreciative of the beauty of 
Clifton and its neighbourhood he must make up his mind to spend a 
whole day there. Each rocky height and each glade has a distinct charm 
Approached on the one hand by its renowned grove, and near the 
ribbling waters of the River Trent, this little village stands unrivalled. 
The Hall gardens at the time of our visit were in their prime, although 
the third week in September had already passed. The prodigal display 
of bloom was no less delightful than surprising. The foliage of the 
grand trees was darker in tone, but they showed little or no signs of 
decay. The turf was close and smooth, but there were then no dead 
leaves to sully it, and only on one or two trees was there the faintest 
flush of pale gold. The whole place is remarkable for its quiet beauty 
and suggestiveness. The Hall itself is a grand old pile, with the 
silver stream, upwards of 100 feet below, which daintily threads its 
way through a most lovely valley. 
The terrace flower garden is somewhat of semicircular form, sur¬ 
rounded by a broad terrace walk. On the garden side of this terrace is 
a steep bank of velvety turf, and on the other side extensive herbaceous 
borders. The beds are all geometrical in style, and are laid out on a 
soft and excellent carpet of turf. Spacious and well kept gravel walks 
intersect and surround this garden, the centre of which contains an 
ornamental fountain and basin, whilst by means of handsome stone’ 
steps an easy communication is maintained between it and the terrace. 
Some of the largest beds were filled with sub-tropical plants edged with 
dwarfer plants, and these do good service in (he way of softening the 
brilliant effect produced by numerous carpet beds and others massed 
with Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, and ordinary bedding plants. The 
carpet bedding is exquisite, and the patterns tasteful and well defined. 
The beautiful Fern-like variegated Folemonium coeruleum forms an im¬ 
portant constituent in the composition, as do likewise the various 
Alternantheras, compact growing Lobelias, Coleuses, Iresines, Centaureas, 
Echeverias, Sedums, and others too numerous to mention. Ascending 
the terrace steps, we were at once struck with the beauty of the scene. 
The great conservatory or winter garden was before us, and a full view of 
the flower garden was obtained. At this point the busy town of Notting¬ 
ham may be seen in the distance, with its historic castle standing upon 
its time-worn rock. A long row of venerable Yews arrested our attention. 
Here have they stood for hundreds of years steadily growing and spread¬ 
ing, till they have become venerable and claim our reverence. Near 
here are three large beds (star-shaped), which were chiefly devoted to 
Clematises Jackmani and Lady Bovill. They were very effective, and 
quite in harmony with the surroundings. In isolated positions on the 
lawn are pretty examples of Araucaria, Wellingtonia, Cupressus, and 
other choice shrubs, whilst amongst deciduous trees Acer Negundo is 
effectively used. Near also is a quaint old ruin, known as the chapel, 
which is covered with luxuriant Ivy, hiding the injuries inflicted by man, 
and shielding it as far as in its power from time the destroyer. 
Passing along, the small herbaceous garden is reached. A bed of the 
beautiful Windflower, Anemone japonica alba, crowded with delicate 
snow white flowers, and from the centre of the bed sprang the brilliant 
scarlet Cactus Dahlia Juarezi. There are many objects of interest in 
this part of the ground, but space will not permit of their enumeration. 
But it is impossible to look without admiration on the little scene that 
lies before us—rocks and dells, woods and groves, sunshine and shade, 
the mossy rock surfaces half clothed with varied vegetation, and present¬ 
ing the utmost richness of colour. The remnants of several old Larch 
are richly mantled with Ivy, and their tangled mass remains as it were 
a memoir of the past. 
The kitchen gardens were reached at last, and we were conducted by 
the gardener, Mr. Anderson, to the vineries, of which there are two, and 
grand examples of good culture did we find. Golden Queen we have 
never seen in better condition. Its constitution seems robust, the leaves 
are of great substance, and we could not help noticing the strikingly 
handsome appearance of the bunches. The flavour is superior, and 
altogether its character is irreproachable. Mrs. Pince is well grown at- 
Clifton, many of the bunches being perfect examples. Some massive 
bunches of Black Hamburgh, Alicante, Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Guil¬ 
laume and Lady Downe’s were very noticeable, and bear every indication 
of good culture. The houses are span-roofed with ends facing south ; 
they are built with arched foundations, the Vines are planted inside the 
houses, and are grown upon the single-rod principle. There are numerous 
other houses near here devoted to Peaches, Roses, and other plants, but 
the principal plant houses are situated in another part of the kitchen 
garden. A small but choice collection of Orchids is grown, some fine 
Calanthes being worthy of notice, large pseudo-bulbs just throwing up 
very strong flower spikes. We also noticed several fine healthy pieces 
of Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, Cypripedium Spicerianum, and Cypri- 
pedium caudatum. 
In one of the plant stoves is a huge Allamanda Hendersoni carrying 
hundreds of highly coloured flowers. Table plants are well grown, and 
a large supply is needed for the embellishment of the Hall. Clifton has 
long been noted for its collection of Pears, and many of the wall trees 
are heavily laden with fruit of superior quality, Pitmaston Duchess, 
Marie Louise, and Beurrfi Diel being especially worthy of mention. 
Apples are a heavy crop, Blenheim Pippin, Spencer’s Favourite, and 
Pike’s Pearmain carrying heavy crops. 
The large ornamental conservatory near the Hall contains a valuable 
and highly interesting collection of plants. This noble structure runs 
along the entire front of the flower garden. The interior of the roof is 
profusely draped with creepers, the beautiful Tacsonia Van Volxemi 
hanging in graceful festoons, and the back wall is richly clothed with 
the lovely Asparagus plumosus nanus, which has already attained a 
height of over 20 feet. Several of its growths have taken possession 
