72 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 23,1890. 
every bloom may be fully developed, and with a long, clean stem when 
cut. Blooms thus prepared are sure to be above the average, and may 
be depended upon to bring a remunerative price. But there are occa¬ 
sions when it is unsafe to put even good blooms on the market. The 
past season was a case in point. Fairly good blooms were selling at 3d. 
a dozen, and much was unsaleable at any price. The only course open 
in such circumstances is to keep the bloom. Varieties differ consider¬ 
ably in their keeping qualities. Thus, Lady Selborne keeps pure and 
good for a long time ; Elsie also keeps well, the flowers changing to 
white with age, but Elaine rapidly changes to pink, and the Bundle 
family have the same fault. When it is expected that flowers will be 
over-plentiful, no better thing can be done than just to keep ventilators 
open night and day, and to shade from sunshine. Every day saved thus 
makes the chances of keeping greater in an increased ratio, for by the 
end of November buds unfold very slowly indeed unless Are heat is 
applied. If flowers are open, then the only thing that can be done is to 
shade heavily, to keep a dry atmosphere, and to give as much air as 
possible, giving fire heat only in very damp weather and during frost, 
but always with ventilation, Ten days to a fortnight can be gained in 
this way, and when the flowers are quite fresh they may be cut and 
kept in a dry, cool room for a few days longer ; but, if old, they must not 
be so kept. A fresh bloom keeps well for two to three weeks, while an 
old bloom will not last as many days. 
Chrysanthemums are easy to pack, and travel without damage if 
judiciously handled. A very good plan is to bunch into sixes or dozens 
with the blooms facing one way, and each one clear of its neighbour, so 
that no one presses on the other. These, again, may be futher bunched 
into six dozen lots, always keeping them flat. Boxes just deep enough 
to hold one layer are best, and about twenty-four dozen in a box. A 
sheet of paper is laid in the bottom of the box ; on this the flowers and 
any open spaces filled with soft bracken fern, then another sheet of 
paper on the top, and the box is ready for tbe lid, which must not be 
nailed, but tied. If possible, one variety or one colour should occupy 
each box.—B., Xortli Britain. 
Kefle.xed and Anemones—Old and New. 
Evidently, while for show and exhibition purposes large blooms 
will still be the grand aim, everything else being equal, large numbers 
think the vigorous, free growing, and floriferous varieties, though small, 
should not be wholly neglected. Of this character 
JuUe Laqravere (Salter), more than thirty years in existence, and 
still one of the richest crimson reds, may be taken as an illustration. 
There are many in the Pompon section, such as Mdlle. Marthe, Soeur 
Melanie, and Mdlle. Elise Dordan, often seen larger, still in the National 
Catalogue it is retained in the reflexed class. Comparatively small 
though it thus is, is there any who have won honour and fame with 
“ Julie ” as a specimen plant, or a telling object in a group, who would 
like to see it lost ? Of the same attractive character, but usually small 
size, are Phidias and Felicity, rarely seen on an exhibition board, but 
very undesirable to lose from the still limited reflexed class. 
Emperor (/ Ch ina. —As I am on th's subject I should like to enlist 
some sympathy for my oldest Chryssinthemum acquaintance. I hardly 
care to remember how many years it is since I first saw it adorning the 
sunny wall of a cottage in the end of October, and yielding for weeks 
an endless profusion of perfect blooms. It competes with the Christines 
in hardiness. Indeed, I have seen both flowers and foliage frozen hard, 
and after a thaw go on growing and blooming seemingly none the 
worse for the experience. I am sure Mr. E. Molyneux, who has gene¬ 
rally a good word for outdoor Cbrysanthemums, has seen very fine 
blooms, as no doubt have many of your readers. A great many years ago, 
ia my early Chrysanthemum growing days, I sent the Editor some 
blooms cut from a south wall. I thought, like Dominy Sampson, “ Pro¬ 
digious I” and asked him it he ever saw anything nearly so good. He 
blandly assured me, however, that he had ; but then warmly commended 
it, as 1 do now, with those already named, to any beginner who may 
wish a profusion of outdoor blooms for cutting from. The same 
generally applies to all reflexed. 
Mixs Annie Lowe (.Anemone).—I have had two forms and colours of 
this from two most respectable firms, and both fairly resembled the 
sporting parent Lady Margaret. One had a triple row of guard florets, 
full centre, and was light yellow in colour ; the other a single row of 
petals at the margin, not so full disc, and was pale yellow generallv. 
It is a good thing. E j B j 
James Weston (.Anemone).—Introduced direct from China, as most 
of the good things are, I had late, and is only now in bloom. Should be 
very effective as a show flower. The guard petals are long, drooping, 
and pure white, while the disc is full and bright yellow. It is this 
combination of colour that makes this very fine new variety so welcome 
an addition.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
Sheffield and West Biding Chrysanthemum Society. 
A VERY interesting and instructive discussion initiated by the 
Committee of this Society was obligingly sent to us some time ago, 
and has not been deprived of any of its value by unavoidable delay in 
its publication. Mr. W. K. Woodcock spoke first on “ New Chrys¬ 
anthemums : their Habit, Height, and Fitness for Exhibition Blooms.” 
and Mr. James Udale addressed the meeting on “ Damping of Blooms.” 
Mr. Woodcock said he would commence his remarks by referring to 
the Japanese varieties. The French raisers have sent over such numbers 
of new varieties, many of which have turned out worthless, that they 
are beginning to ruin their own trade by it, and causing the English 
growers much trouble and inconvenience in selecting the best. The first 
place among Japanese must be given to Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. It came 
from America, though it was originally an introduction from Japan, and 
has been shown by Mr. Ware. It has been well illustrated in the 
.Journal of Horticulture —the best and most faithful representation. 
The colour of Mrs. Alpheus Hardy is white, and it is undoubtedly a 
most beautiful and valuable flower. I was much astonished last season 
at the demand for Avalanche, another beeutiful new white Japanese. 
It was hardly to be had, and all the leading men had great difficulty in 
keeping a stock in hand. There must have teen thousands of Avalanche 
sold last season. 
EtoiledeLyonisone almost certain to be in greatdemand during the 
coming season. I have heard it described as a beast, but it has a very 
striking effect in a large stand of Chrysanthemums. The demar d at the 
present day is for large flowers, the larger the better. In Etoile de 
Lyon we have the largest Japanese that can be shown of a presentable 
character. There may be some doubt whether it or an older variety,. 
W. G. Drover, claims the pre-eminence for size, but I think it is the- 
largest flower we have yet had. Before it is fully expanded the flower 
is very pretty, and of a very bright pink. It afterwards takes a dirty 
white appearance. As an exhibition flower it has a very telling effect 
on a large board. Sunflower, which was sent out last year, has proved 
itself an exceedingly good variety, and has given general satisfaction 
during the past season. It is a bright golden yel'ow, and will 
certainly take front rank among exhibition flowers. Mdlle. Louise 
Leroy, a fine white Japanese, grows to a moderate height, and pro¬ 
duces a well built up deep flower, something after the character of 
Florence Percy. 
George Daniels is one of the most pleasing flowers I have seen among 
the new ones. It is a dwarf grower, short-jointed, and sturdy, much 
after the character of Avalanche, a habit of plant which deserves to be 
encouraged in our new varieties. The colour of the flower is <a pleasing 
soft shade of pink, of good size and form. The outer florets turn up 
slightly, and give the bloom a somewhat cup-shaped appearance. 
Sarah Owen can scarcely be called a new variety. During the 
present season it has teen on most exhibition stands I have seen exhi¬ 
bited. Its parentage will give it credit for being a good flower. It was- 
raised as a sport from Madame •!. Laing. Mrs. Falconer Jameson is 
one of which great results have been expected during the present season. 
It has dark green foliage, large and deeply notched, of dwarf habit like 
Avalanche and George Daniels. It produces a large bloom, but this 
year it has not flowered well. I have only seen one good bloom 
exhibited. Plants were much in demand at the beginning of this 
season, and as a consequence it was propagated rapidly. 1 think we- 
may look for better results next year. The bloom is similar to Val 
d’Andorre, but is larger and more compact. Its greatest beauty is in 
its foliage and habit of growth. 
Stanstead Surprise is in very few hands yet. There is no doubt 
from what has been seen of it that it will be of great value to 
exhibitors. It is quite distinct in appearance and character. The ends 
of the florets have a pleasing sort of pearly white tint, and also they 
have a curly character, which with the white tip gives a pretty appear¬ 
ance to the bloom generally. Growers have not had the best oppor¬ 
tunity yet to produce the best plants and large flowers. With another 
year’s growth a really first-class flower will be produced. It is- 
evidently one of the earliest, and exhibitors will have to treat it in the 
manner they do other early varieties. It comes with Comte de Germiny 
and Mdlle. Lacroix. 
Album ftmbriatum was sent out by Messrs. Laing. There were 
many flowers shown this year, and it is a first-class variety when seen 
in good character. It is not so pure a white as some others, but still it 
is a handsome bloom, very fine florets, full, narrow, almost quilled at 
the end, which gives it the character of fimbriated. M. Bernard, whicb 
nearly all exhibitors have, is a most beautiful flower, and the colour of 
it is unloubtedly a great improvement upon Madame de Sevin, and ia- 
likely to oust that variety. It is a first-class front row variety, and 
is certain to attract and please everybody. 
Thomas Stevenson is a reliable variety — a sport from the old 
variety Criterion. Everybody who has grown that variety knows what 
a good one it is ; therefore a sport from it is certain to be valuable. It 
was shown at Sheffield for the first time last year for the purpose 
of gaining a certificate, but by some mistake was overlooked ; but when 
shown at the Boyal Horticultural Society’s Committee meeting it was- 
awarded a certificate. 
Another variety which is bound to be useful is Mrs. S. Coleman, a. 
sport from Princess of Wales. This is the most reliable and best of 
incurved varieties that can be grown. Any good sport from Princess of 
Wales is certain to be popular among exhibitors. Two of the best 
incurved varieties were introduced last year. There was scarcely a 
winning stand of twenty-four but what contained one or both of these 
—Violet Tomlin and Miss M. A. Haggas. The latter is a sport from 
Mrs. Heale, the other from Princess of Wales. Violet Tomlin is a most 
thoroughly distinct and beautiful flower. A splendid bloom was shown 
at Leeds ; it was a model flower, fit to be present anywhere and in any 
company. The colour is distinct from anything we pre-iously had in 
the incurved section. Miss M. A. Haggas does not come quite equal in 
form to Violet Tomlin, but takes after Mrs. Heale. It is of a bright 
yellow colour, and is bound to be valuable and take the place of tbe- 
old variety Jardin des Plantes, which is difficult to get large and smooth 
enough to occupy a good position on the show board. 
Mr. H. Shoesmith has not appeared on many show boards so far,, 
and has not produced first-class blooms. I am strongly of opinion that 
