January la, isoo. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
49 
and anxious to forward horticulture in America, bequeathing £40,000 
wherewith to build and maintain a hall of horticulture in that city, 
we feel it is retrogression on the part of the British in not possessing 
one long since to carry on one of the greatest sciences of the nation. 
There are many amongst our wealthy who in their time have enjoyed 
an immense amount of happiness, luxury, and contentment from their 
gardens, who we believe will follow the noble example of this 
estimable and generous American lady, and immortalise their name 
by securing and presenting the freehold of a suitable site for that 
most necessary institution—to hold their meetings, shelter their library 
and the Council who so nobly carry on the work. 
There are plenty of central sites which would answer admirably, 
and as soon as the freehold is secured we are ready to subscribe £25, 
and we are quite sure the Secretary, Kev. W. Wilks, would be 
■delighted to hear of others doing likewise. 
We hope to live to see the day when we have a hall worthy of our 
great nation, and that the Committee of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, the members of which number well nigh 1000, and whose work 
and exhibitions are of great importance, and stand pre-eminent with 
that flower, may be invited, and see their way also to hold their shows 
and meetings in this building, and all special Societies, such as Roses, 
Dahlias, Auriculas, Carnations, &;c., also the Gardeners’ Benevolent 
Society, Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, and Gardeners’ Provident Society, in 
fact all societies pertaining to horticulture, have the same privilege, 
and thus avoid expensive hotels and other public resorts. This building 
we picture in our mind.s, and hope some day to see in reality.— Henky 
Cannell & Sons. 
[ We have received another communication from Messrs. Cannell on 
this subject.] 
THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
The midwinter Show was held on Wednesday and Thursday 
January 8th and 9th, in the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, and not¬ 
withstanding the exceptionally unfavourable character of the season for 
late Chrysanthemums the competition was keener than usual, and the 
•quality of the exhibits also better. Cut Chrysanthemum blooms were 
in the majority of cases fresh and bright, Primulas and Cyclamens were 
admirable, and the groups of miscellaneous plants all that could be 
expected at this time of year. There can be no question about the use¬ 
fulness of Chrysanthemum flowers at Christmas and in the early part 
of January, because flowers of almost every kind are valuable then, and 
greater quantities of them, especially of the white and yellow varieties, 
will be found in the London markets than of any others. Still it is 
strange that so few really late varieties are obtained, though if Mr. 
Kipling’s system is pursued they are not wanted, as any of the ordinary 
varieties can be had in good condition throughout the winter. Some of 
the most successful exhibitors in the Chrysanthemum classes were Mr. 
R. Owen, Maidenhead ; Mr. Kipling, gardener to the Earl of Lytton, 
Knebworth ; Mr. G. Bolas, gardener to H. Chandos Pole, Esq., Hopton 
Hall, Wirkworth ; Mr. J. Brown, gardener to Mrs. Waterlow, Great 
Doods. Reigate ; and Mr. Taylor, gardener to Sir John Lubbock, Bart., 
M.P., High Elms, Farnborough. 
In the Primula classes Messrs, Carter, Newell, Mursell, and Dr. 
Phillips were the prizetakers, while with Cyclamens Messrs. W. Clarke, 
May, Phillips, White, and Carter were successful. 
The Floral Committee held a meeting on January Sth, at 12.30 p.m., 
Mr. R. Ballantine in the chair, the following members being present :— 
Messrs. E. Sanderson, H. Cannell, G. Gordon, C. Gibson, L. Castle, 
J. Mardlin, W. Holmes, and R. Dean. Very few novelties were sub¬ 
mitted, but Mr. E. Beckett, Aldenham House Gardens, Elsttee, showed 
blooms of a Japanese Chrysanthemum named Mrs. H. Waterer, the 
blooms of a rather dull white, large, with broad florets. Mr. R. Owen 
also sent a Japanese variety named Kioto, bright yellow, like Mr. 
H. Cannell; but as these did not appear to be in their best condition the 
Committee requested the exhibitors to show them again. Several new 
Primulas were examined, and a certiflcate was awarded for a single 
variety named Progress (Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons), the flowers well 
formed, extremely stout in texture, and a rich crimson colour. 
A conference was held in the Board-room of the Royal Aquarium at 
"6 P.M. the same evening, Mr. R. Ballantine in the chair, when there was 
a capital attendance. Mr. Kipling read the following paper, which 
induced a very interesting discussion, followed by a hearty vote of 
thanks to the reader :— 
Are Chrysanthemums Wanted at Midwinter? 
The question I have to submit for your consideration. Are Chrys¬ 
anthemums wanted at midwinter ? might well be answered by asking 
another, and correlative question. Are flowers wanted at midwinter ? 
But it will 2 irobably be advisable to set forth the reasons why I consider 
that the answer should be in the affirmative. There are few people, 
I imagine, who have a taste for flowers, and thoroughly appreciate them 
that would deny the necessity for having them in abundance at a season 
of the year which includes the festivities of Christmas and the New 
Year. At that season, as so well known, there is the greatest demand 
for flowers, and it is also a matter of common knowledge that they are 
then very scarce and most difficult to be had. This being the case, 
flowers are at midwinter appreciated as flowers irrespective of their 
names. Consequently Chrysanthemums, if tuey can be had at that 
season, are not likely to prove less welcome, or to be less appreciated 
by the general flower lover than the flowers of any other group of 
plants that could be mentioned. This is looking at the question simply 
from a common sense point of view. We might, however, look at it 
from .another, and sentimental standpoint that, perhaps, from which the 
true lover and enthusiast of the Chrysanthemum would view the 
matter. 
Most individuals have a taste—sentimental if you will—or hobby for 
pursuing some particular object, and as taste is not arbitrary, they have 
a perfect right to follow the bent of their tastes and inclinations, so 
long as they do not interfere with other people. Well, the Chrysanthe¬ 
mum enthusiast has a taste and hobby for the cultivation of this 
particular flower in its many phases, and I have no doubt, were he 
asked the question. Are Chrysanthemums wanted at midwinter ? he 
would jiromptly reply Yes, and add, perhaps, at any other time that 
they can be had. He would, I venture to say, be perfectly justified in 
his answer and opinion, notwithstanding what a few individuals may 
say about Chryaanthemums not being wanted at this season or that 
season. 
For my part, I can say that their flowers are appreciated at all 
seasons of the year, even to all the year round, which I have in my 
practice more than abundantly proved to be possible, but, perhaps, not 
generally quite desirable. However, at no season of the year do we find 
them so acceptable, so useful, and to fill so great a void as from the 
beginning of December to the end of January, or even later, a period of 
the year when there is a great dearth of other flowers, and those available 
are mostly forced, which are produced at considerable cost and last but a 
little time in good condition in a cut state. 
It is here, then, that the usefulness of the midwinter Chrysanthe* 
mums is clearly apparent. They step into the breach as it were, and 
supply a felt want, and I claim consideration for them on grounds other 
than those of a sentimental character. They indeed fill a unique and 
useful position amongst winter-blooming plants, and from them a 
general demand for flowers can be met and supplied. The midwinter 
Chrysanthemums have another, and not the least, claim to our attention. 
Their cultivation, as compared with those grown for autumn decoration 
and for exhibition; is very simple, very ine.xpensive, and require from 
the grower only a tithe of the labour and watchful care the others 
demand from him. The cuttings are struck late, are a very little time 
on hand before they can be finally potted off, and the pots plunged to 
their rims in some cool half-shaded spot for the summer, and where in 
the hottest and driest of weather they require water only once a day, 
and on dull days none whatever. As ordinary decorative bloom only 
is the object sought there is no anxiety about the time the buds shall be 
taken, no thinning out of buds and shoots, and no feeding up with 
liquid manures as in the production of a few fat blooms. They will 
stand out of doors to the latest date possible without being injured even 
by a degree or two of frost, and when housed the accommodation of the 
coolest structures meets their requirements. Indeed, the Peach houses or 
the latest vineries—where low temperatures are necessary for resting 
the Vines and Peach trees are the best places for housing and retarding 
late Chrysanthemums up to the time it is necessary to push them into 
bloom. When this period arrives a little warmth becomes necessary, 
and to this they respond gratefully. Lastly, I know of no class of 
plants that give so large a return for the labour bestowed, the space 
occupied while under glass, and the little fuel needed in their produc¬ 
tion as these midwinter Chrysanthemums. 
Not the least point in the favour of the late-blooming Chrysanthe¬ 
mums is the long keeping qualities of the blooms, and their caiiability 
of enduring close packing and long journeys. With ordinary care in 
packing they will, on reaching their destination, come out of the box as 
bright and fresh as could possibly be desired. Of course, the long keep¬ 
ing quality of the blooms is to a certain degree common to all the 
sections, and under all jihases of their cultivation. But I find this 
quality in the flowers greatly emphasised in the midwinter blooms, and 
this, no doubt, is due to the plants having been grown under a natural 
system and under the hardiest conditions possible, thus giving to the 
flowers a toughness and greater substance of petal. Damping of the 
blooms is hardly known among them, and we are therefore saved from 
the annoying and tantalising heartaches experienced by the exhibition 
bloom grower at seeing his brightest and fondest hopes, which are 
centred in his biggest and fattest of blooms, crumbling away day by 
day. With reference to the long keeping of blooms, I may mention that 
my noble employer writes mo to send her nothing but Chrysanthemums, 
as no other flowers come to hand in so fresh and bright a condition or 
last so long. They invariably retain their freshness from a fortnight 
to three weeks after being sent, and I would like to ask what other cut 
flowers, except the Christmas Rose, will endure a two-days confine¬ 
ment and transit across the Channel, and yet come out fresh and bright 
and last for a fortnight or longer ? 
So much for the usefulness, and 1 might say the importance of the 
midwinter Chrysanthemums. A few remarks on the varieties that I 
have found to be the best to grow for the production of flowers at that 
season may not be uninteresting. There are three points or qualities 
