488 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ eceraber 5,1839. 
than them all for the above-mentioned anomaly. What is the great 
omission ? Mark well the answer. There is not one obstacle but three 
—namely, a lack of knowledge on the subject of fruit, of enterprise in 
producing it in its best form, and of art in placing it before the public 
in the most attractive manner for arresting attention and commanding 
purchasers. Granting to Transatlantic cultivators all their natural 
advantages, which are possibly over-estimated, still let us not forget our 
own apathy, our loose methods, and our unsystematic, unbusinesslike 
procedure—not forget but abandon them. Proceed on sounder prin¬ 
ciples and more intelligent lines, and the time will come when we shall, 
to a far greater extent than now, and far more creditably, share in pro¬ 
viding our population with the most wholesome of food, which will be 
increasingly required—fruit—the outcome of home effort and well- 
applied labour in British gardens and orchards. Let trees and bushes 
he planted of varieties of proved merit in soils and situations in which 
they will thrive, and they will be growing into fruitfulness contem¬ 
poraneously with the removal of legal and commercial impediments. 
Thus those who take action the soonest will be the first to profit by 
whatever changes may be made. Even under existing conditions fruit 
culture, well conducted, has been of real service to many, and while 
land under ordinary cropping has depreciated in value during late years, 
that on which young orchards and thrifty trees are established 
has increased in price. What better testimony can be needed of the 
improving character of fruit culture? And what more conclusive 
evidence is required for its extension than the predominance of cankered 
trees and worn-out orchards nearly all over the country, with fruitless 
homesteads and treeless gardens on every hand ? Let us see what can be 
done for those who are willing to help themselves in increasing the 
supply of useful, wholesome, hardy fruit.” 
******** 
“Endeavour has been made to treat the important subject of this 
essay as fully as possible within the stipulations—to condense the 
essentials of fruit culture and fruit management into its pages ; to 
teach soundly, and, above all, plainly, in the hope of teaching usefully 
those who have or can acquire land for producing fruit for their families, 
and for the inhabitants of adjacent towns, to the mutual advantage of 
all. Given knowledge on the subject, and industry, many an example 
proves, and some have been adduced, that—to quote the words of 
Alderman Sir James Whitehead, Bart., Lord Mayor of London (1889)— 
‘ There is no reason why much land should not be made three times, 
five times as profitable as it is now by fruit cultivation, and if the work 
is carried out with energy and zeal it will be of great benefit to the 
country we love so well.’ ” 
THE QUALITIES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
[A paper read by Hr. George Gordon at Hull, Nov. 21st.J 
Contrary to the expectations of some of my friends, it is not my 
intention to tax your patience with a long technical description of the 
properties of the several sections into which the Chrysanthemums have 
by common consent, been divided. Such description might be instruc 
tive, but it would be decidedly wearisome, and probably fail to promote" 
that free discussion so essential to the success of these gatherings' 
What I purpose doing is to briefly touch upon a few points that appear 
to be of special importance, and therefore deserving of the carefu 
consideration of those who are anxious to maintain a high standardl 
and develope to the fullest possible extent the educational side of the 
exhibitions. 
In the first place I have to submit that the marvellous increase in 
the number of Chrysanthemum societies during the past decade has not 
been an unmixed good. Their multiplication has created a greater 
•degree of interest in the Chrysanthemum, and in providing additional 
facilities for growers to meet in friendly rivalry the newly established 
societies have materially assisted in extending the cultivation of the 
flower ; but societies should do something beyond creating interest and 
increasing the number of growers. They should have for their chief 
aim improvement in culture. This they should carry out by endeavour¬ 
ing to set before the visitors to their exhibitions specimens of both plants 
and flowers in the highest possible state of perfection. Taking a broad 
view of what has been accomplished by societies generally, it must be 
stated that an immense improvement has been effected of late years. 
But if we examine the work of individual association we shall find that 
in many instances they have failed to exercise a really beneficial influ- 
•ence upon Chrysanthemum culture, because of the low standard of 
quality they have adopted. Were it necessary for the purpose of my 
argument I could give the names of not a few societies whose exhi¬ 
bitions have undergone but little improvement since their foundation. 
They may, perhaps, have increased in extent, but have failed to show 
any signs of improvement in the quality of the productions. But there 
is no occasion to mention their names, and it is far more agreeable to 
refei to societies that by setting up a high standard at the first have had 
an immense influence in diffusing a knowlelge of the principles that 
must be observed by cultivators desirous of obtaining a place in the 
front rank. Leaving out of consideration the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, which at no period in its history has failed to pay due regard to 
high quality, I will mention two Societies that have specially dis¬ 
tinguished themselves in the work of improvement. These shall be the 
two Kingston Societies, the one on the Thames and the other on the 
Humber. Many of those present are acquainted with what has been 
done by the Kingston-on-Thames Society, and a much larger number 
are familiar with the work that has been accomplished by the Hull 
Society since its formation. It has been my privilege to take part in 
every exhibition of Chrysanthemums that has been held in this town, 
and in comparing one or two of the earlier shows with the magnificent 
Exhibition now being held it is impossible to avoid being struck by the 
marvellous change that has been brought about—a change not so much 
in the quantity as in the quality of the whole of the sections repre¬ 
sented. If you ask me why these two Societies, with others that could 
be mentioned, have effected such an immense improvement in the 
quality of their exhibitions, and have exercised so beneficial an influ¬ 
ence outside their own districts, I shall not have much difficulty in 
giving now a decisive answer. These Societies, recognising their duties, 
have adopted a proper standard, and appointed men to award the prizes 
who they know would carry out their wishes. This is a point upon 
which I do not propose to speak at any length. It is obvious that the 
chief object of an exhibitor in staging his plants or flowers is to obtain 
the highest place possible upon the prize list. In endeavouring to attain 
this object he necessarily presents his specimens as nearly as he can in a 
condition most likely to satisfy those entrusted with awarding the prizes. 
If the judges hold correct views on the points of perfection in the 
several types the exhibitor will not lose sight of the importance of finish ; 
but when, on the other hand, the merits of the specimens are estimated 
by measurement, we have as a consequence at subsequent exhibitions 
huge plants furnished with indifferent flowers, and in the cut flower 
classes blooms distinguished by their large size and coarseness. 
Speaking generally, too much importance is at the present time 
attached to mere size, and especially is this the case in estimating the 
relative merits of stands of cut blooms. Regularity of outline, bright¬ 
ness of colour, and solidity, count for little with many growers and some 
judges as compared with diameter. Consequently not only are the 
large varieties allowed to completely overshadow the smaller but not 
less beautiful kinds, but when the same variety comes into competition 
a comparative'y large coarse bloom is placed before one a size smaller, 
but well finished. Compilers of schedules as well as judges have some¬ 
thing to answer for in bringing about the unsatisfactory state of things 
that prevail in some centres. In their anxiety to assist exhibitors with a 
view to having their stages well filled, they allow duplicates to be so 
largely shown that in the case of the incurved section many of the 
most beautiful varieties are being slowly, but surely, pushed out of culti¬ 
vation. It is not rare to meet with classes for twelve in which not more 
than nine varieties are required, and it is quite common to ask for only 
eighteen varieties in classes for twenty-four. The result in one case is 
to have about three types represented, and in the other not more than 
six or seven. I have nothing to say against the Queen of England and 
its numerous sports, but when they form one-half of the collections of 
twenty-four they necessarily overpower the smaller varieties. More¬ 
over the exhibition, so far as the incurved section is concerned, loses 
much of its interest and attractiveness. If I am told there is a difficulty 
in filling a stand of twenty-four with distinct varieties, I must reply 
that the difficulty is not so great that it cannot be readily overcome. 
In confirmation of this assertion I would direct attention to the fact 
that comparatively small societies, such as those at Walton and Staines, 
insist upon the twenty-fours being distinct, and have seven or eight 
entries all more or less good. If the exhibitions are to be made useful 
to cultivators and attractive to the general visitors we must make them 
as varied as possible, by encouraging exhibitors to stage all the good 
varieties, whether large or small. Although the great preference that 
has of late been shown to mere size has most inj uriously affected the 
incurved, what has been said with reference regarding high quality as 
of primary importance applies equally to all the sections. It is just as 
easy to shut out of the exhibitions the smaller Japanese or Anemones 
and encourage coarseness as in the case of the incurved. 
There is yet another matter that has a general application, and that 
is freshness. In the case of all the sections freshness is essential, and 
the want of this important quality frequently places boards of blooms 
at a great disadvantage in a close competition. Without freshness it is 
impossible to have the colour at its best, and although many cultivators 
and some judges fail to recognise the fact, to stage each bloom in its 
true colour is of the highest importance. It should be remembered that 
it is no part of the duty of judges to take into consideration what the 
