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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 7 , 1889. 
Alpheus Hardy is a well-known lady resident in Boston, who some time 
ago undertook the education of a young Japanese in America. When 
he was considered sufficiently advanced her protdgfi returned to Japan 
to engage in teaching, and as some return for the kindness he had 
received he obtained a collection of Chrysanthemums and forwarded 
them to his patroness. Amongst these was a variety that attracted some 
attention by its distinctness, and which first passed into the hands of 
Messrs. Fewkes & Son. This firm realised that they had secured a 
novelty of a very exceptional character, and when some other nursery¬ 
men wished to purchase it, they fixed a high .value on the variety. 
After seme negotiations, however, it is said that Messrs. Pitcher and 
Manda were induced to pay 1500 dollars, or somewhat over £300, for 
the stock. Every effort was made to increase this rapidly, and when 
distributed, young plants realised from 6 s. to 10s. retail. Mr. T. S. 
Ware secured 500, which were soon multiplied, and several of these 
have produced flowers which expanded rapidly last week and are 
now at their best. It is somewhat strange that the majority of plants 
seem very late, and it had been expected by some in the trade that 
blooms would not be seen until after the show season ; in fact it was 
believed to be a late variety. It is probable, however, that rapid pro¬ 
pagation has somewhat weakened the plants, and that may account to 
some extent for the uncertainty characterising those grown this year ; 
another season we shall expect very different results. 
It will be asked, Do the blooms that have already opened possess all 
the characters ascribed to the variety when it was first announced ? and 
the reply must be in the affirmative, for it is certainly one of the most 
distinct Japanese Chrysanthemums yet introduced. The blooms are of 
medium size, as might be expected on plants this year ; the outer florets 
are half an inch broad and slightly spreading, but the majority are 
strongly incurved to the centre, thus exposing the under surface as in 
the ordinary incurved and the Japanese of a similar type. The colour 
is white, creamy yellow in the centre where not fully expanded, but 
that ultimately becomes white, as is seen in some more advanced 
blooms. The great peculiarity rests, however, in the abundant white 
hair-like outgrowths from the surface of the florets towards the points ; 
these hairs are about a quarter of an inch long, very fine, in some cases 
divided at the tips, and thickly placed. In general appearance the 
bloom is very remarkable, and it has been rather aptly described in the 
American reports as resembling a white ostrich tip. The plant is of 
moderate growth, but produces suckers freely, and is readily increased. 
It has been remarked at Tottenham that the plant is not benefited by 
too generous treatment in the supply of manurial stimulants or by close 
disbudding. The best examples are those on a plant bearing six; blooms, 
and where only one bloom has been left on each plant, liquid manure 
being employed freely to strengthen them, the results are not nearly so 
good. With sturdy cuttings for a start, however, it will be strange if 
some of our skilful exhibitors cannot produce extremely satisfactory 
results another season.— L. Castle. 
AN AMATEUR’S CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Me. G. R. Peeeless, Park Hill House, Park Hill, Clapham, London, 
S.W., has a good display of Chrysanthemums in the conservatory attached 
to his residence. He has only been a grower for a very few years, but 
has got together an excellent collection of well grown plants. The 
greater part of his time is spent in business pursuits, but all his leisure 
is devoted to his favourite flowers, and to the deep interest and unre¬ 
mitting attention devoted to them may be ascribed his success. The 
plants grown number about 600, and with the best of the older varieties 
are associated most of the meritorious newer kinds. The queen of them 
all at the time of my recent visit was the lovely white Japanese Mrs. J. 
Wright, of which there were several finely developed blooms. It was 
too early to judge of the majority, but the following were all showing 
well Mr. H. Cannell, pale yellow Japanese; Stanstead White, 
Japanese ; Sunflower, yellow Japanese ; Duke of Berwick, creamy white 
Japanese ; Avalanche, pure white Japanese ; Charles Gibson, bronzy 
red incurved ; M. J. Laing, reddish brown Japanese reflexed ; Phoebus, 
rich yellow Japanese reflexed ; W. G. Drover, white Japanese, striped 
lilac ; Lady Trevor Lawrence, white Japanese , and E. Molyneux, red¬ 
dish brown Japanese. The collection is not at its best yet. Indue 
time it will be worth inspection by anyone. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SPORTS. 
Messes. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, send us blooms of the two 
sports from Mr. Bunn which were brought into notice last year, one in 
the north and the other in the south of England. The former, as repre¬ 
sented by the bloom before us, has a deeper yellow ground colour, and 
more bronzy red tint in the upper surface of the florets ; the other has 
a pale yellow ground colour, and somewhat of a dull rosy tinge on the 
florets. The difference is clearly noticeable, but the distinction is not 
great, and might be affected to some extent by the age of the. blooms, 
one (the lighter of the two) being more advanced. 
THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
On_ Wednesday last, October 30th, 3 , meeting of the Centenary Sub- 
Committee of the above Society was held at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet 
Street. at 6 p.m. Present-Mr. R. Dean in the chair, Mr. W. Holmes, 
Mr. Briscoe Ironsides, Mr. L. Castle, and Mr. C. H. Payne. The object 
of the meeting was to consider an offer of the Royal Aquarium Company 
with regard to the Centenary celebration, and to decide whether this 
should be recommended to the General Committee for adoption. Mr, 
Holmes stated that he had had an interview with Captain Molesworth, 
and that he had agreed, on behalf of the Company, to contribute 
£200 to the prize fund for the Centenary Show next year, provided it 
was held at the Royal Aquarium, and was of not less than four days’ 
duration. No further conditions were imposed, and the offer being 
considered a liberal one, it was, after a short discussion, decided to report 
to the General Committee the desirability of accepting it. Mr. Holmes- 
also stated that it would really constitute one of a series of shows now 
being arranged, extending from March to November, 1890, omitting one 
month only—namely, August, special attractions being provided for each 
show. 
A General Committee meeting was also held at 7 p.m., when there 
was a large attendance of members, Mr. E. Sanderson taking the chair. 
After the transaction of the usual formal business, the report of the 
Centenary Sub-Committee was read and explained, and after a short 
discussion was adopted unanimously. The cost of carriage of specimen 
plants for exhibition at the November Show was considered, and it was 
represented that it proved a great deterrent to exhibitors, as the prizes 
were comparatively small. It was ultimately resolved to empower the 
Hon. Sec. to pay half the cartage expenses in such classes as far as the- 
funds would permit, provided the exhibits were of sufficient merit, and 
that application was made within seven days of the Show. It was also- 
decided that classes should be provided at the October Show of 1890 for 
Chrysanthemums, and Mr. Holmes was desired to make the necessary 
arrangements for the annual dinner next December. It was stated that 
special return tickets for Hull, via York, could be obtained on applica¬ 
tion to the Hon. Sec., and if ten or more were likely to travel by the 
10.35 A.M. G.N.R. train on Wednesday, November 20tb, a saloon car¬ 
riage would be provided. Several members were elected, and a vote of 
thanks to the Chairman concluded the business. 
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. 
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. 
Bromley, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 13th and 14th. 
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 13tb. 
Teddington, Putney, Chiswick, Cranbrook, and Birkenhead, Thursday, 
Nov. 14 th. 
Leicester, Eccles, Wellington (Somerset), and Cheshunt, Friday, Nov. 
15 th. 
Bolton and Derby, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15th and 16th. 
Twickenham, Winchester, Liverpool, and Cardiff, Tuesday and Wed¬ 
nesday, Nov. 19th and 20th. 
Rugby and Birmingham, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 20th and 21st. 
Falmouth, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Nov. 20th, 21st, and 22nd. 
Hull (National Society’s Provincial Show), Thursday and Friday, Nov. 
21st and 22nd. 
Chorley and Stockport, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22nd and 23rd. 
Pontefract, Thursday, Nov. 28th. 
PLANTING FRUIT TREES. 
. Autumn has come again. Another season of growth is almost 
ended. Soon will the latest fruits he gathered and the fast- 
decaying foliage fallen ; then, and often only then, comes the 
fruit-tree planter’s opportunity before the soil, saturated by & 
winter’s rainfall, has become sodden and cold. Mark this well, 
for success or failure in planting depends as much upon the time as 
upon the manner in which it is done. A correspondent (“ J. H.”) 
would seem to be aware of this, for he has come to us now to assist 
him in finding a remedy, or rather a preventive, for the failure of 
fruit trees. He says, “ Last year I planted in a marly soil a large 
quantity of fruit trees, and about half of them are dead,” adding 
in the true national spirit, “I intend trying again.” Well done. 
“ Try again ” is the motto which points to success, and gladly do 
we come to your aid. 
Now there are two faults in a marly soil which require correc¬ 
tion before it can become suitable for the growth of fruit, and 
these are its poverty and its power of retaining superabundant 
moisture. The remedy for the first is a heavy dressing of manure. 
