December 12 , 1889. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
513 
and securing the crown bud when it forms. For the Queen family, 
and others that come about the same time, if dwarfing is desired, the 
end of May is a suitable time for shortening the stems, while the earlier 
sorts, such as the Beverleys, and others that expand about the same 
period, are put back by topping about the end of the first week in June 
This is the result of experiments in the Midland counties, with an 
advance of a week added to render the periods indicated appropriate 
for the Hull district. It has been found that the Princess of Wale 3 
family, Prince Alfred, Lord Wolselev, John Salter, Refulgens, Jeanne 
d’Arc, St. Patrick, Mrs. J. Wright, Sarah Owen, Mrs. John Laing, 
Jeanne DMaux, E. Molyneux, and a few others, deteriorated after being 
topped in the blooms coming too small. It will be prudent for amateurs 
to proceed experimentally in this work, and in the first attempt to 
found their action on the appearance of the shoots at the end of June 
or early in July, proceeding as above indicated. 
It may be mentioned that stout short-jointed cuttings of such 
varieties as Val d’Andorre, Avalanche, Elaine, Ed. Audigueur, Etoile 
<le Lyon, and, indeed, several others, rooted between April and July 
the plants confined to one stem and one bloom from the crown bud 
are excellent for grouping purposes, the plants being flowered in 6-inch 
pots, and clothed with handsome foliage down to the soil. The cutting 
must not flag in the least during the process of rooting, nor the plants 
droop afterwards through omissions in watering, or they will be deprived 
of much of their beauty. 
Anemone flowered varieties, except Lady Margaret and its spord, 
perhaps, Empress, afford the best quality blooms from terminal buds, 
and would consequently not be improved by either the cutting down 
or topping process. The very inexperienced may be informed that 
terminal buds always have other flower buds round them, crown buds 
never; but growths when permitted, as they should be in the section 
under notice, extend beyond these, terminating in a cluster of buds, the 
one at the apex being secured for the bloom, the others removed. 
For practical purposes it may be said that crown buds must be chosen 
for developing the finest blooms in other than the Anemone section, 
and most of them should be set by the second week in August, a few of 
the slow openers a little earlier in the north-eastern counties, the quick 
expanders at the end of the month or the early days of September. As 
seasons influence the blooms, all the buds of the same varieties should 
not he “ taken,” as it is called (but “secured” is a more exact term) on 
the same dates, a little divergence being highly desirable in view of 
contingencies, as no one knows whether the Chrysanthemum season will 
be early, medium or late—two or three months in advance. Usually 
from three to four weeks elapse between the presentation of colour and 
the development of blooms, but varieties differ in that respect. I must 
close my remarks on the difficult phase of Chrysanthemum culture 
under notice, and leave others to make good what I have omitted on 
timing blooms by pruning or topping plants. 
(To be continued.) 
THE NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
The proceedings of the above Society at the annual meeting invari¬ 
ably induce a good number of members to attend, and so amongst those 
assembled on Wednesday, December 4th, in the Hotel Windsor, Victoria 
Street, I found myself, with some friends, a patient listener and on-looker. 
It is always surprising to witness the smoothness with which the business 
at these gatherings is disposed of. Where there is so little opposition or 
discussion it indicates either the pronounced ability of the Committee and 
officers, or considerable apathy on the part of the members. The former 
must be regarded as the case at the Rose Society’s meetings, for though 
the members possess a preponderance of dignified solemnity, yet they 
cannot be regarded as apathetic. We must, therefore, take it the Hon. 
Secretaries so carefully consider all matters, and make such well devised 
arrangements, that the would-be critics, if any exist, are silenced. Still 
this meeting was not altogether devoid of several mildly exciting 
episodes, not the least being the erratic behaviour of the electric light 
intended to illuminate the apartment, but which did so in an extremely 
fitful manner, and finally left the assembly in complete darkness. This 
may have had a depressing effect upon the eloquence of the orators who 
had to propose the various resolutions, at any rate they nearly all confined 
themselves strictly to the letter of their texts. There was one exception to 
this rule, however, in the person of a reverend gentleman who proposed 
a resolution condemning “ dressing Roses.” He pourtrayed some of the 
effects arising from this evil practice, and concluded with the astounding 
statement that some Roses had been seen so much altered in character 
by dressing that “ they could not be recognised from Chrysanthemums 
or any other low flowers.” This remark was greeted with a roar of 
laughter, in which some admirers of the “ humble ” Chrysanthemums 
ventured to join. But this burst of unwonted hilarity was followed by 
an almost painful silence, as if something was needed to restore the 
dignity of the assembly. 
Another episode, however, gave a little life to the proceedings, for a 
well-known Colchester member arose to proclaim his disapproval of the 
Society’s intention to offer prizes for Tea Roses at one of the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s meetings. It is always a pleasure to see this 
gentleman assert his independent views, as he does invariably at these 
meetings, and it is fortunate for the Society that they possess a member 
who has the courage to express his opinions in opposition to such an 
array of skilled disputants. Although not entirely in accord with his 
views on this occasion, it must be admitted that his remarks cleared up 
some difficulties, and brought from a high official of the Royal Horti 
cultural Society an assurance that members of the Rose Society would 
be admitted on presentation of their ticket. Our Colchester friend 
practically gained his point, and it was stated that the prizes would be 
open to amateur members of the two Societies. 
Little else transpired to call for notice, but in the election of 
members of the Committee it was stated that one gentleman could not 
attend, and had sent his friend as representative to take his place. This 
induced a question from a famed rosarian as to whether it was desirable 
that two members of one firm should be on the Committee. The substi¬ 
tuted candidate, however, volunteered an explanation, and he was 
subsequently elected. Whether this is a satisfactory mode of filling up 
•acancies in a Committee is open to doubt ; it certainly would not be 
accepted by the members of some societies. 
After the termination of the business certain of the members of 
a convivial turn remained to dine together, and I hear from a friend 
who was present that all retired at a comparatively early hour, 
much refreshed both by the viands and friendly comparison of notes, 
hopes, and prospects for the next Rose season.—A. K. B. 
The annual general meeting of the above Society took place in the 
Hotel Windsor on December 4th at 3.30 P.M., T. B. Haywood, Esq., in 
the chair, and the following members were present—The Hon. Secs., 
the H. H. D’Ombrain and Mr. E. Mawley, with the Rev. W. Wilks, 
H. A. Berners, F. R. Burnside, Alan Cheales, H. B. Biron, T. N. 
Flintoff, F. H. Gall, Capt. Chnsty, and Dr. Masters, with Messrs. 
H. Appleby, W. Rumsey, W. F. Cooling, H. W. Williams, G. Ramsey, 
C. E. Cant, G. Prince, G. Paul, J. Bateman, C. F. Barker. B. R. Cant, 
R. Bloxam, C. F. King, H. Wallis, F. Burrell, H. Turner, R. E. West, 
C. F. Hore, H. J. Pearson, T. W. Piper, F. Cant., and H. B. Lindsell. 
After the transaction of the usual formal business the Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain read the following report, and the financial statement was 
submitted by the Treasurer, Mr. T. B. Haywood. 
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1889. 
The Committee have once more the pleasure of reporting upon the 
Society’s operations during the past year. The circumstances under 
which the Metropolitan Exhibition was held at the Crystal Palace were 
peculiarly unfortunate. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales had 
signified to the Secretaries her intention of visiting the Show early in 
the day. The Shah, however, having afterwards expressed a wish to be 
also present, and not being able to attend until the evening, this idea 
had to be abandoned ; while the necessity of keeping the building clear 
for the Royal party compelled the Directors of the Crystal Palace to 
hold the Exhibition in a tent, to the great detriment of the Roses, and 
the great inconvenience of both exhibitors and visitors. The Committee 
can only hope that their Royal Patroness may on another occasion see 
their Exhibition at an earlier hour, and under more favourable condi¬ 
tions, and that it may never again be crowded into so limited a space. 
While referring to this visit of the Princess of Wales, they can but ex¬ 
press their deep regret at the loss the Society has sustained in the death 
of their Vice-President, the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen, for it was 
mainly through his exertions and zeal that the patronage of Her Royal 
Highness was obtained. The Provincial Show at Sheffield proved less 
extensive than any held by the Society in recent years. This, however, 
was entirely owing to the earliness of the season, the first flowering 
being then almost over in many parts of England, and the unfavour¬ 
able character of the weather immediately preceding the Show day. _ 
The National Rose Conference held at Chiswick in conjunction with 
the Royal Horticultural Society early in J uly was undoubtedly the most 
noteworthy event of the year. It is only to be regretted that the 
attendance of visitors was not larger, for the exhibition held in con¬ 
nection with this Conference was one of special interest. Indeed, it 
may be many years before so unique and representative a collection of 
Roses and Rose species is again got together. The papers read, and the 
discussions thereon, were also both interesting and valuable. 1 he Com¬ 
mittee have made arrangements with the Council of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, by which every member will receive a copy of the 
report, containing not only the papers read at the Conference, but also 
valuable information respecting Roses and Rose growing, the result of 
returns sent in by the principal rosarians throughout the kingdom in 
reply to inquiries issued by the Conference Committee. 
The Committee have had recently under, consideration the growing 
practice of “ dressing ” Rose blooms at exhibitions. This they 
but regard as prejudicial to the best interests of the Rose, and as likely, 
