Z December S, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
'479 
D URING the past month Chrysanthemum shows have occupied a 
large share of horticultural attention, and a proportionate space 
in gardening periodicals has been devoted to the records of proceed¬ 
ings ; the rush is now over, and with the exception of a few annual 
meetings, the horticultural season of special activity may be con¬ 
sidered as ended. This is a good opportunity to look back and 
^ee what has been accomplished, what fresh ideas have been carried 
into practice, whit lessons have been learned, in fine, to judge the 
practical results of time employed and the energy expended. A 
very cursory review gives much that is noteworthy and satisfactory, 
-encouraging to those who have been engaged in the work in any 
■capacity, and gratifying to the interested onlookers, who may 
have contributed to the funds utilised in the promotion of a 
healthful competition. I have for some years had ample oppor¬ 
tunities of judging the results of shows generally, and these 
autumn exhibitions will compare most favourably wfith any others 
in their usefulness and importance. They have been largely the 
means of extending and improving the culture of a plant that is 
invaluable in all respects owing to the season at which it flowers 
and its adaptability for decorative purposes, and in this alone they 
have performed a service of no mean importance. Beyond that, 
however, they have afforded opportunities for meetings amongst 
.gardeners at a most convenient time, the interchange of ideas, 
mutual assistance in the solution of difficulties, and the general 
advantage that invariably arises from the association of men 
■concerned in one occupation. The stimulus, too, induced by the 
competition at such meetings has a beneficial effect, encouraging 
greater efforts in what happily is almost invariably a generous 
rivalry, and producing effects far beyond their immediate cause. 
It certainly cannot be said that all the best gardeners are exhibitors 
as some are prevented by various reasons from entering the lists ; 
but amongst the successful exhibitors in specialties like the 
Chrysanthemum will be found a large proportion of thoroughly 
competent all-round practitioners, their achievements in one 
department being merely indications of their general skill. This 
opinion is founded upon years of observation and a wide circle of 
gardening friends in all parts of the country. Plenty of examples 
could be given in proof of the statement, but it would be invidious 
to signalise a few amongst so many of equal merit. 
There are several other matters in connection with these shows 
requiring a little attention, that may be regarded as “ lessons 
of the season,” and the first to which we may devote a little 
consideration is the grouping of Chrysanthemums or arrangement 
for effect. In thousands of conservatories throughout November 
and a part of December the chief portion of the floral display is 
formed by Chrysanthemums, and in their disposal to produce the 
most pleasing results considerable diversity of taste prevails. The 
most common way is to place the plants in a semicircular block, 
the shortest in front and the tallest at the back to form a sloping 
bank, the arrangement of colour and the quality of the blooms 
being relied upon for the desired effect. This plan is generally 
carried out at shows, and it must be admitted that rich and telling 
groups are so produced ; still from an artistic point of view they are 
commonly unsatisfactory, formal, heavy, and monotonous. Farther, 
when the marginal plants are not sufficiently dwarf or well clothed 
with foliage the spectator has a dreadful array of pots, bare stems, 
No. 493.—Vol. XIX., Third Series, 
and stakes presented to his view, certainly not calculated to awaken 
his admiration. A knowledge of these defects has led the com¬ 
mittees of several societies to permit the introduction of foliage 
plants as a belt to the groups, which in several cases (especially so 
at Hull) has been found to be a useful addition, but the idea 
requires to be extended in its operation. 
The Brighton summer shows have long been celebrated for 
their groups of Ferns, and it is evident that some exhibitors in 
that district possess excellent taste in the arrangement of plants. 
At the last November Show in the same town attempts were 
made to introduce a little diversity in the groups of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, and though only those plants were employed in the principal 
classes provided in the schedule, the general style was more varied 
and tasteful than is usually seen at exhibitions, the sloping bank 
pattern being departed from in several instances with good 
results. But a non-competing group, contributed by Mr. Miles, the 
execution of a suggestion by Mr. Mark Longhurst, was a departure 
from stereotyped methods of arrangement that deserves notice 
and imitation. The group was only a small one, and on a larger 
scale the principle could have been more effectively developed, 
but there was sufficient to show what can be accomplished in 
arranging Chrysanthemums with other plants. The charming 
method of grouping miscellaneous plants, adopted with so much 
success by Mr. W. Brown of Richmond, Mr. Briickhaus of 
Maida Yale, and Mr. Hudson of Gunuersbury, is familiar to metro¬ 
politan horticulturists, a low groundwork being formed of Ferns 
and similar plants, from which rise graceful Palms, Crotons, 
Dracaenas, and such flowering plants as may be available consti 
tuting the chief features. In numerous districts the old formal 
“ banking ” style of grouping has become obsolete, mainly in con¬ 
sequence of competition with the more artistic style mentioned. 
The Brighton group was formed on the same plan. The founda¬ 
tion consisted of Ferns, small foliage plants, &c., with a few taller 
Palms, and then dwarf light graceful Chrysanthemums were intro¬ 
duced with excellent effect. Comparatively few were employed, 
but the colours were well selected, Japanese varieties being the 
most telling, and the result was all that could be desired. A class 
could be advantageously introduced in many schedules for such 
groups, and it would permit numbers of gardeners to compete 
who cannot stage a large collection of Chrysanthemums alone. It 
would have a tendency to improve the general taste in arrange¬ 
ment, and in any case would be a welcome addition to the other 
classes where there is plenty of space at command. 
Another department of Chrysanthemum shows is rapidly in¬ 
creasing in importance and utility—namely, that devoted to floral 
decorations. A surprising example of what can be secured in this 
way was afforded at the National Society’s Westminster Exhi¬ 
bition on November 12th and 13th, when, as an experiment, a 
special class was provided. This, the schedule stated, was “ for a 
table of bouquets, wreaths, sprays, buttonholes, &c., &c., illustrating 
the decorative purposes to which Chrysanthemum blooms can be 
applied. Any appropriate foliage may be employed. Each exhibitor 
restricted to a table space not exceeding 6 feet by 3 feet.” The 
prizes were small in amount, yet there were five exhibits of an 
exceptionally tasteful character, occupying a space of 30 feet run of 
table, a result which must have far exceeded the expectation# of 
the projectors. Nothing could have better proved the adaptability 
of Chrysanthemum blooms for decorative purposes than these con- 
tributions, and while they showed what can be done, they also 
taught what should be avoided, a “ lesson ” that some of the com¬ 
petitors, as well as many of the visitors, who were specially inter¬ 
ested in it, will take to heart. 
Several interesting points were illustrated in the competition, 
and though everyone knows full well the decorative value of Chrys¬ 
anthemum flowers, yet it is seldom that we see such admirable ex¬ 
amples of their tasteful employment as were afforded in the class 
under notice. One fact attracted attention immediately—namely 
No. 2149.—Yol. LXXXI., Old Series. 
