60 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jannary 1«, 189a 
essential in a midwinter or late Chrysanthemum. The first point is 
its lateness to bloom, which should be natural to and inherent in the 
variety. Secondly, it should have a free habit of growth, and be a very 
free bloomer, as labour would be thrown away on a variety that would 
not yield liberal and adequate returns in the shape of flowers. Thirdly, 
the colour of the flower should show up well under both natural and 
artificial lights. Most of our floral decorations at this season of the year 
have to be seen under artificial light, colour in the flowers is therefore 
of some importance, and those colours which come out well under that 
light are the most valuable. Whites, reds of different shades, and 
yellows, including deep bronzy oranges, are the best colours, while 
purples, lilacs, and their several shades are the worst for the purpose. 
The varieties which I have found to fulfil the several conditions 
therein enumerated are Etoile du Midi, Ksempfer, M. C. Hubert, Meg 
Merrilies and its sports Ralph Brocklebank and Countess of Lytton, 
Ceres, Mrs. C. Carey, Ethel, Yellow Ethel, Thunberg, Boule d’Or, Moon¬ 
light, Gloriosum, Mrs. H. Cannell, and Golden Gem among the Japs ; 
Boule de Neige, Snowdrop, Madame Sentir, and one or two others 
among the reflexed and Pompon sections. In the section of the sing'e 
varieties will be found some that are admirable for the supply of 
flowers at midwinter work. Hitherto this section has not made much 
advance in general favour, possibly because the Japanese varieties have 
been more attractive and have elbo ived them out of the way at a time 
when blooms are so very plentiful early in the season. I believe, how¬ 
ever, the single Chrysanthemum’s most useful and proper position will 
be found as a midwinter flower. Their free blooming and the long- 
lasting qualities of the flowers are not surpassed by any others, and they 
have in a cut state, and when arranged in vases, an elegance and grace 
all their own, and they can be looked upon at the winter season, not as 
Chrysanthemums, but as various coloured Marguerites. Borne years 
since I bought the set of twelve, the first, I believe, Mr. Cannell sent 
out, and each year has proved more and more their value for midwinter 
blooming. This season they did not commence to bloom till the be¬ 
ginning of December, and they have been a perfect mass of flower up to 
the present date. The best varieties of the twelve are Mrs. Langtry, 
pinkish white, very free ; Magenta King, bright purplish rose ; Canari- 
ensis, terra cotta, very elegant; Brunette, brick red and orange, very 
free and useful in a cut state ; Ellen Terry, Mrs. Killock, Monte Carlo, 
and Gus Harris ; the two latter are very compact in growth and make 
excellent pot specimens. 
A question was next submitted to the meeting for discussion— 
namely, “ In what way can the interest and attractions of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums be increased.” This led to the expression of numerous opinions, 
but the majority seemed to be in favour of extending the classes for 
plants, groups, and floral decorations. Groups for effect only were also 
advocated, and some were in favour of classes for naturally grown 
blooms, shown with their stems and foliage. A vote of thanks to the 
Chairman concluded the proceedings. 
Chrysanthemum Notes and Remembrances 
Past and Present. 
The year just closed and the present year will henceforth be notable 
periods, as being the time when Englishmen decided to celebrate the 
centenary of the introduction of the Chrysanthemum into England. 
But whether or not it is exactly one hundred years since this popular 
favourite became established amongst us is, I think, a point on which 
opinions may differ. Loudon, in his “ Encyclopedia of Gardening,” 
published in 1824, gives the date of its introduction 17G4 ; the “ Cottage 
Gardeners’ Dictionary ” also fixes the same year. Mr. Joseph Sabine, in 
his first paper in the Transactions of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
published in 1822, infers that it was known in England before, and 
quotes several authorities on the subject ; but he adds, “ but the credit 
of their first reappearance, as far as their present existence is concerned, 
belongs to M. Blancard, a merchant of Marseilles, who in 1789 imported 
three different plants from China.” He further tells us that one of 
these, the purple, was transmitted to this country from France in 1790, 
hence I suppose it is why it has been thought proper to celebrate its 
centenary in two separate years. Mr. Joseph Sabine’s writings on the 
Chrysanthemum has formed the basis of history for all subsequent 
authorities. Even Mr. A. H. Haworth, whose classification of forty- 
eight varieties, published in 1833, refers almost every variety to Mr. 
Sabine’s papers in the Horticultural Transactions. Writers of to-day 
refer to and’ repeat his work for the interest and benefit of the present 
generation, therefore we that admire the flower of to-day should spare a 
thought of gratitude to him who nearly seventy years ago laboured so 
assiduously, attentively, and minutely for the public good. Who can 
tell but from the exertions of the Royal Horticultural Societv, so ably 
assisted by the enthusiasm of their Secretary for this favourite flower, 
whether we to-day should have been able to have had and enjoy the 
magnificent displays that are now to be seen in almost every hamlet of 
Great Britain ? 
Both amateur and professional gardeners soon learnt its beauty and 
usjfulness to brighten the waning days of departing autumn, which gave 
an impetus to its cultivation. Several nurserymen and a few private 
growers began to grow collections, and as new varieties could be pro¬ 
cured added them, but none made such a study of them or grew so many 
varieties as Mr. John Salter. Year after year he laboured on introduc¬ 
ing many new and excellent seedlings, some of which are now amongst 
the beat of the present ag«, especially in the incurved and reflexed 
sections Several societies were started for the encouragement and 
further development of this flower ; although not like those of the 
present day, they were very pleasing and attractive, many of them 
having done much to stimulate improvement both in plant growing 
and cut flowers. I well remember my first impressions on going to the 
Stoke Newington Show in 1809, and seeing the neat and prim boxes of 
blooms staged there. Although I became acquainted with the border 
flowers ten years before that time, and had grown a display in pots five 
years previously, I had not seen an exhibition. Some of these early 
societies encouraged pot culture, some going in for mere size of plant, 
while others mainly displayed medium-sized plants with flowers of 
extraordinary quality. Brixton was notable for the latter. At South¬ 
ampton and Birmingham much larger plants were staged. I think it 
was in 1878 or 1879 I saw some magnificent plants at Southampton 
.5 feet through. There were at this time several good provincial exhi¬ 
bitions throughout the country, but nothing like the number of the 
present day. 
Up to about the year 1880, generally speaking, the Chrysanthemum 
from an exhibitor’s standpoint was but indifferently grown in private 
gardens. Some few places around London and large provincial towns 
where exhibitions had given stimulus to their culture they were well 
grown ; but the Japanese was not so numerous as now, or as well 
known, and the grouping system which has been one of the most 
encouraging classes for home displays that ever could have been con¬ 
ceived, was scarcely adopted at any exhibition. Trained plants and 
cut flowers were the principal features. Formerly no groups of table 
plants. Primulas, Cyclamens, Solanums, baskets and epergnes of grasses 
and autumn leaves were thought of. The timely introduction of all these- 
small features lends beauty and usefulness, while the Japanese blooms 
add brightness of colouring and diversity of shape almost inconceivable. 
Although the Japanese had been known from 1861 or 1862 they can 
scarcely be said to be in fair cultivation for at least ten years after. I 
cannot tell to whom the credit is due for bringing them before the 
masses, but I think none more so than to the late Messrs. Jackson and 
Sons of Kingston and Mr. F. A. Davis of Surbiton, who was for several 
years the President of the Kingston Chrysanthemum Society. Mr. 
Davis bought every new variety as they came out, and him and' Mr. 
Douglas I well remember exhibited several times in this class at the 
Royal Horticultural Society, when that Society offered prizes for them. 
Mr. Davis has always been a great lover and patron of the Chrysanthe¬ 
mum, and has never once refrained from competing in the challenge 
vase class since the formation of the Kingston Society some fourteen or 
fifteen years since. Whatever may in the future be the outcome of the 
Kingston Show, it must be admitted by all exhibitors who have had the 
pleasure of visiting its exhibitions that it has sown the seed of useful¬ 
ness to younger societies by the introduction of several features now 
common to shows, but not generally known before it was adopted there. 
The first and most important feature introduced here was when, 
substantial prizes were offered for groups of Chrysanthemums in a. 
given space. Although these groups were a little tall at first, they 
subsequently became dwarfer through the happy idea of Mr. Orchard. 
The attractive feature of the groups there led to cheir adoption in 
almost every exhibition, and I have admired this season in small out- 
’ of-the-way provincial towns splendidly dwarf and pleasing groups ; those 
staged at Halstead in Essex were magnificent. I also saw some good 
ones at Sudbury, Suffolk, and Newport, Isle of Wight, and at home 
what better and more attractive feature was there either at the Crystal 
Palace or the Aquarium than Messrs. Laing «k Sons’, also the Black- 
heath groups. While this feature has necessarily improved at the- 
exhibition tent they have equally improved the plants for the home 
display, the dwarfing system has become more generally understood, 
and flowers and foliage now supply the place of hideous stakes and lanky 
stems of formerly. The display of table and other plants now so often 
found running in a line down the centre of each table between two 
rows of boxes of cut flowers I think originated at Kingston, and 
perhaps for these and several other smaller minutife the thanks of all is 
due to Mr. Puttoek, a man of vast experience in all horticultural 
arrangements. 
The offering of the several valuable challenge prizes was un¬ 
doubtedly the making of Kingston Show, but while it added interest and 
fame to Kingston it has done much to stimulate the growth of the 
Chrysanthemum throughout the length and breadth of the land. The 
Japanese varieties were known, grown, and exhibited at Kingston, 
before anywhere else. They were included in the class for the challenge 
vase, and outside growers had to grow them to compete. A friendly 
rivalry existed between the growers of Kingston and Wimbledon and 
the growers of Liverpool. The Liverpool growers, to their spirit, 
courage, and merit, be it said, they came and won. I think I am right 
in saying that before the Kingston challenge vase was offered scarcely 
I a Japanese flower was grown around Liverpool. I well remember Mr. 
Molyneux’s admiration cf Bouquet Fait, M. Ardene, and other Jananese- 
blooms staged in the all-England challenge prize stand at Southampton 
in 1879. Also I remember his telling me that he would beat me the 
following year, and so he did ; but Kingston secured him through it,, 
and some magnificent blooms. What a change has come over the 
Japanese section since then. Madame Bertie Rendatler was a good 
flower in 1879, but what a contrast between that and Etoile de Lyon 
in 1889. 
The incurved varieties have not varied as much. The fine old 
Queen family is very old, and holds its own against all. What fine ones 
in days of yore Mr. Shrimpton, gardener at Roehampton, used to grow. 
Excepting sports 1 think we have only had one new one for years—viz., 
Jeanne d’Are. Sports are now becoming plentiful. Grand additiona 
