July 6,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
15 
Among the Paeonies noted on the occasion of a recent visit as being 
particularly good were those named below, which of course are only a 
few out of many. One of the very finest, and thoroughly deserving of 
first mention, is Agnes Barr. The flowers of this variety are very double, 
large, perfect in shape, and have the centre petals of a soft yellow, then 
others of pale blush, while the outer ones are of a peculiar purplish pink 
shade. Forming a pleasing contrast to this is Louis Van Houtte, with 
exceedingly brilliant crimson purple blooms of good size and substance. 
For a floriferous kind none excels Adelaide Delacbe, which is bright 
rosy carmine in shade and almost perfect in contour. Chaste and 
beautiful is the soft cream blossoms of Delicatissima, and for a pure 
white Snowball is one of the very best that can be grown. Bonaparte, 
with bright carmine-coloured flowers of good form, is well worthy of 
notice, as also is Sir Walter Scott, deep silvery rose. Many of the 
Pasonies grow rather too tall for the small border, but Madame Vilmorin 
may be mentioned as an exception, as it is very dwarf in habit, and 
added to this the beautiful creamy white perfectly double blooms make 
a variety well worthy of cultivation, and suitable for the smallest 
gardens. 
Saucy Lass may sound a peculiar name for a Paeony, but a look at 
the flower will demonstrate its appropriateness. The centre petals are 
creamy white and tfce outer ones pink, but it is evidently to the poise of 
the flower heads that it owes its name. A larger flower with an even 
larger name is Souvenir de I’Exposition Universelle, silvery rose, and 
for an almost pure white Lady Dartmouth is hard to surpass. The centre 
petals of Dr. Bois Duval render it very conspicuous. The colour is rosy 
white and the flowers of good size, though not one of the very largest. 
Madame Furtado is a beautiful kind with rose suffused purple, crimped 
edged petals, and is extremely free even in a small state. Prominent 
among the many others in flower are Prince Prosper, rich rosy carmine 
suffused purple ; Delache, deep crimson ; Madame Bernard, silvery rose; 
Princess May, cream and rose ; Leonie, pale blush ; Princess Clothilde, 
cream and blush pink ; and Festiva maxima, white. 
The single varieties are now past their best, but a few remain which 
are very good, and may be named. Rose Dawn and The Bride, both 
pure white, but of which the former is decidedly the better ; Princess 
Teck, deep rosy carmine, very handsome; and Venus, which is rose 
coloured edged with silver, and very beautiful.—H. J. 
National Chrysanthemum Society. 
A MEETING of the General Committee was held on Monday evening 
last at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, Mr. R. Ballantine occupying the 
chair. After the minutes and correspondence had been read, the 
resignation of Mr. R. J. Hamill, who has recently gone to America, was 
tendered and accepted. It was announced that Mr. Briscoe-Ironside, 
after a lengthened visit to Italy, had now returned to England, and he 
was unanimously elected to fill the place rendered vacant on the General 
Committee by Mr. Hamill’s retirement. 
At the September show held by the Royal Aquarium Company the 
classes for early Chrysanthemums will be judged by Messrs. Geo. Stevens, 
Bevan, and H. J. Jones. 
The resolution agreed to at the special general meeting called to 
discuss Mr. C. E. Shea’s paper on judging was then laid before the 
Committee. It will be remembered that it was to the effect that 
practical effect be given to the suggestions contained in that paper, and 
a small sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Herbert Fowler, E. Beckett, 
N. Davis, Chas. Gibson, George Gordon, H. J. Jones, and Edwin 
Molyneux, together with the officers ex-officio, was appointed to deal 
with the matter. 
Eight new members were elected, and the Crewe Chrysanthemum 
Society admitted in affiliation. 
Some suggestions as to alterations in the rules to be recommended 
at the general meeting were considered, the principal of which was the 
creation of a rank of honorary membership for persons who have 
rendered conspicuous service in connection with the Chrysanthemum, 
and there was also some discussion concerning an increase of privileges 
to members subscribing more than fis. per annum. 
Full particulars as to the annual outing were given by the Secretary, 
and form the subject of a special circular, which will be in the bands of 
the members in a few days. 
Chrysanthemums in New Zealand. 
By the time this reaches you the interest taken in discussing the 
numerous points in Chrysanthemum culture will have somewhat 
slackened, but I hope you will find space in your columns in answer to 
my one or two questions. My Pater is a subscriber to your valuable 
Journal, and on his behalf, as well as my own, I thank you for the 
regularity in which each number is forwarded to him. We would not 
miss a number for any money, and each one is eagerly looked for as an 
English mail arrives. Our annual “Mum” Show (May 14th) is just 
over, and we are now ditcussing the recent election of the best twenty- 
four and twelve Japs, as published in your columns. The election was 
just the thing that was wanted by growers on this side of the world, 
and Mr. Molyneux and his able coadjutors undoubtedly deserve the 
thanks of all lovers of the Autumn Queen for the trouble taken in 
bringing the election to a head. Most of the leading varieties, as given 
by the election, are already in New Zealand, but of course the latest 
productions have not reached us yet. 
Being a beginner in Chrysanthemum culture I should like to ask 
you a few questions on points which puzzled me during the last season. 
Take that brilliant variety Edwin Molyneux, for instance. Is it always 
exhibited at your shows with the same formation as shown in the figure 
in your Journal ? I have never seen a bloom like that yet ; in fact, 
nearly all the blooms this year have come with a large open eye. As 
far as myself is concerned I have taken two or three different buds, and 
when developed all have shown the open centre. How do you account 
for it? I have never taken a first crown bud, as it always shows much 
too early. Would propagating very late enable me to take that bud 
in time ? 
Would it be too much trouble to give me what is considered a good 
average exhibition size for the following varieties?—Viviand Morel, 
Edwin Molyneux, Avalanche, Sunflower, J. S. Dibben, Colonel W. B. 
Smith,Lord Brooke. Miss Anna Hartshorn, W. H. Lincoln, Florence Davis, 
Etoile de Lyon, Puritan, R. C. Kingston, Coronet, Madame Baco, 
Condor, Alberic LunJen, and Mr. A. H. Neve; also with the incurved : 
Jeanne d’Arc, Golden Empress, Princess of Wales, Miss M. A. Haggas, 
Miss Violet Tomlin, Mrs. Coleman, Ami Hoste, Alfred Lyne, Prince 
Alfred, Robert Cannell, and Princess of Teck. To induce the incurved 
to develop into their proper form, do they want a warm atmosphere 
or a cool one ? 
Apart from Chrysanthemums will you kindly give me the correct 
method of making Mushroom spawn bricks ? I sent home through my 
bookseller for “ Mushrooms for the Million,” hoping that the way to 
make the spawn would be described therein, but to my disappointment 
the book has not arrived yet.— New Zealand. 
We are glad to find the Journal of Horticulture is appreciated by 
our correspondent, and we have endeavoured to procure him the best 
advice on the points on which information is desired. Mr. E. Moly¬ 
neux writes :— 
“ With pleasure I reply 'to the inquiries from a young ‘ mummer ’ in 
his far-off country, and I am glad to see that such a deep interest is 
being taken there in the cultivation of this flower. I need hardly say 
also how gratified I am to find that the efforts of my coadjutors and 
myself in the Chrysanthemum election lately held here are appreciated 
even in New Zealand ; it should be a stimulus for us to act similarly in 
the future. 
How to Grow Edwin Molyneux, 
“ Regarding the Japanese Chrysanthemum Edwin Molyneux I cannot 
say that the engraving in the Journal of Horticulture is a faithful 
representation of the variety as exhibited nowadays in its best form ; the 
florets are much longer now and less curled than there shown. The 
blooms are also much larger. It may be that the variety is more fully 
developed from stronger plants than was the case when the engraving 
was made in 1887. To grow this variety well stout cuttings should be 
inserted prior to Christmas, the plant grown strongly with one stem 
until the first natural break is made—generally in the early part of May 
—selecting then three of the most promising shoots, these forming flower 
buds from the 8th to the 25th of August. Flower buds forming later 
than this date invariably show the objectionable ‘ eye ’ complained of 
by ' New Zealand.’ The above is a concise method adopted to obtain 
fully developed blooms of, say, 8 inches in diameter and 6 inches in 
depth. 
“ Such blooms as these do not exhibit the points of the florets curled, 
but they expose the inner surface of deep rich maroon red which renders 
the variety so conspicuous. The golden tint of the underneath side of 
the florets is only discernible when the blooms are developing. I advise 
your correspondent to ‘ take ’ early formed buds on strong plants. 
“ Sometimes this variety shows a tendency to a loss of chlorophyll, or 
a paleness in the colour of the leaves. This defect is remedied by 
allowing the soil to remain somewhat dry directly the change is apparent. 
The cause is owing to a check being administered to the roots, possibly 
by too much water. 
Sizes of Japanese Blooms. 
“ Under orthodox treatment the following sizes would, if attained 
in the blooms, be considered a good average on an English exhibition 
table. Viviand Morel, 7 inches by 6 inches ; Edwin Molyneux, see 
above; Avalanche, 7 inches by 5 inches; Sunflower, 7^ inches by 
5:^ inches; Mrs. F. A. Spalding, (syn. J. S. Dibbins), inches by 
5^ inches; Colonel W. B. Smith, 8 inches by 6 inches; Lord Brooke, 
6 inches by 4^ inches ; Miss Anna Hartshorn, inches by 4^ inches ; 
\V. H. Lincoln, 74 inches by inches ; Florence Davis, 8 inches by 
6 inches ; Etoile de Lyon, 8 inches by 6 inches ; Puritan, 7 inches by 
5 inches; R. C. Kingston, 7 inches by 4f inches; Coronet, 64 inches 
by 44 inches, not now much grown; Madame Baco, 6 inches by 
44 inches ; Condor, 74 inches by 44 inches ; Alberic Lunden, 64 by 
44 inches; and Mr. A. H. Neve, 64 inches by 44 inches. The last- 
named variety is seldom now seen upon the exhibition table. 
Sizes op Incurved Blooms. 
"Jeanne d’Arc, 5 inches by 4J inches ; Golden Empress, 54 inches by 
.84 inches ; Princess of Wales, 6 inches by .3 inches ; Miss M. A. Haggas, 
