156 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 16,1894. 
groups of trees, the intervening space being sparsely dotted with them. 
Beyond, the ground begins to rise in rolling undulating sweeps, and 
towers upward to the horizon in the shape of a vast crescent. This 
rising ground presents a truly picturesque scene by reason of its great 
diversity. Trees of giant stature, dwarf bushes, hedgerows, and green 
fields are interspersed with that charming informality that gives so much 
beauty to English landscape scenes. To complete the picture, the 
shapely spire of Thaxted church stands boldly out above the tree tops, 
and serves as a landmark for miles around. 
The glass structures, with the exception of the conservatory, are 
situated in the kitchen gardens. The first to claim attention is a well 
built Peach case, 160 feet long, shelves along the front afford excellent 
positions for growing Strawberries and other plants. At the time of 
my visit tuberous Begonias were in strong force. This house has three 
divisions ; in the earliest the fruit had been gathered, in the second crops 
of highly coloured fruits were approaching maturity. Royal George, 
Bellegarde, and Grosse Mignonne appear to be especial favourites. The 
trees throughout were in a healthy vigorous condition, and will 
undoubtedly prove a source of great satisfaction. 
In a lean-to forcing house adjoining Melons were well grown, Heaton 
Hall being a favourite with Mr. Lister. An early crop of Tomatoes is 
also grown in this structure. A mixed collection of Orchids also found 
a temporary home there while alterations are being made in their regular 
quarters. In a couple of vineries heavy crops of Grapes were apparent, 
nothing in the way of sensational bunches being attempted, but 
numbers of useful ones for table are secured. Black Hamburgh, Gros 
Colman, and Alicante are the principal varieties grown. The central 
bed in one of these vineries was closely packed with Palms of a suitable 
size for decorative purposes, Areca lutescens being particularly numerous. 
I also noticed several large plants of Adiantum farleyense and A. cunea- 
tum. A good sized Cucumber house, and a numerous assortment of pits 
and frames, in which Cucumbers and Melons, early vegetables, and 
winter flowering plants are grown, are also situated near by. I must 
not omit to mention Montbretia crocosmseflora growing in pots ; at 
Easton it is highly prized both for its elegant spikes of flowers and 
handsome foliage. 
Mr. Lister is well known in connection with Chrysanthemum culture, 
and although he does not now exhibit, he still grows large numbers of 
the queen of autumn flowers. Near one of the vineries are flne beds 
of Carnations. Raby Castle and Mrs. Reynolds Hole are great favourites, 
and are well grown. Another attractive variety which is well liked is 
Leander. A good number of choice seedlings are also grown. Among 
Pinks Ernest Ladhams and Her Majesty are highly prized ; the latter is 
perhaps the best variety yet in commerce. Near by the Countess of 
Warwick’s sitting-room a charming little garden is situated. From the 
top of the steps which lead down to it a well-arranged piece of bedding 
is seen to advantage ; a chain-like bed is marked out with Box, with a 
small gravel walk and an encircling border around it. The chain is 
planted with Lobelia edged with Golden Feather, and the border planted 
with Golden Harry Hieover Geranium edged with Lobelia. This is 
throughout a well flnished and effective piece of work. Immediately in 
front a new and commodious conservatory is being erected upon the site 
of the old one. Near by is an aviary divided into several compartments, 
which are well stocked with feathered songsters or birds of brilliant 
plumage from many lands. Among the many curiosities of this mirthful 
assemblage are numbered an Australian piping crow, a Pekin nightin¬ 
gale, love bird, Roman thrush, cockatoos, and canaries of all descrip¬ 
tions ; and many black and fantail pigeons looked pretty and contented 
in a smaller aviary near. 
There are yet other objects of engrossing interest connected with the 
gardens at Easton Lodge. These may perhaps be dealt with at some 
f^uture time by far abler pens than mine. The good work which is 
being done in each department bears ample testimony to the energy and 
skill of Mr. Lister, who is evidently the right man in the right place. 
There are signs on every hand at Easton that the relations between 
employer and employed are of the happiest description, so that to carry 
out the wishes of the one becomes the pleasure of the other, and to the 
rural dwellers among the sunny lanes of Essex the Earl and Countess 
of Warwick will be long remembered as Lord and Lady Brooke, a name 
by which they have endeared themselves to all around by their countless 
deeds of kindness, for which the sick and suffering in thousands of 
needy homes have learned with deep sincerity to “bless them.”— 
Wanderer. 
Chrysanthemums in Australia. 
In the Journal of Horticulture of February 8th Mr. C. Orchard 
refers to the peculiar behaviour of some of the leading varieties in 
America, and a few remarks on this point may be interesting to some of 
your principal growers. For the last few years I have been a large and 
successful exhibitor at the principal shows in Sydney, and being a great 
enthusiast in the culture of the Chrysanthemum I have imported many 
of the best varieties from England and elsewhere. As a subscriber to 
the Journal of Horticulture I have read with interest Mr. Mawley’s 
analysis of 1893, as well as the result of the Japanese Chrysanthemum 
election instituted by Mr. Molyneux; but although some of the varie¬ 
ties therein mentioned have not yet reached this side of the globe, there 
are still many to which I can refer. 
What I wish specially to deal with is the effect of our warmer 
climate upon many of the leading English varieties ; but it must be 
borne in mind that the plants here are entirely grown and bloomed in 
the open. Sydney (latitude 34° south) is situated on the coast, and the 
climate during the summer months is hot with a moist atmosphere ; yet 
about IGO miles inland on a tableland about 2000 feet above the level of 
the sea the air is dry and at times cold, and there most of the English 
fruits do well. In other directions, at the same distance from the 
metropolis, the mountains rise to 4000 feet. We have, therefore, 
exceptional opportunities of observing the effect of hot and cold climates 
upon different varieties, besides comparing notes with Victorian and 
Tasmanian growers extending to latitude 43° south. The flowering 
season, which here lasts only a little over six weeks—viz., from the 
beginning of April to the middle of May, is now past, and I have com¬ 
pleted and published the analysis for the year 1894. The order in 
which the first thirty-six Japanese varieties appear is as follows :— 
1, Viviand Morel; 2, Sunflower, W. Tricker; 3, Lady T. Lawrence, 
Madame C. Audiguier; 4, Miss Anna Hartshorn, Grandiflorum, Gloire 
du Rocher ; 5, The President, Thunberg; 6, Florence Davis ; 7, White 
Syringa ; 8, Edwin Molyneux ; 9, Colonel W. B. Smith, Mr. H. Cannell, 
Syringa: 10, Mrs. Irving Clarke, Kate Mursell, Puritan, Violet Rose; 
11, Pride of Madford, Lucrece, Moonlight; 12, T. C. Price, Mrs. Fottler, 
Mr. A. H. Neve, M. E. A. Carri&re, Maiden’s Blush ; 13, Robert Owen, 
Excelsior, J. Stanborough Dibben, Lord Brooke, Comte de Germiny, 
Mrs. J. Wright and Sugarloaf. 
Comparing the English analysis of 1893 with the above, but 
omitting the more recent varieties, such as Charles Davis, Robert Owen, 
Mrs. C. Harman Payne, Miss Dorothy Shea, and few others, which, 
although they have been exhibited here, have not been widely 
distributed, your readers will notice many differences. Avalanche has 
been tried for several years in different localities, but I have never seen 
a good bloom of it exhibited. Etoile de Lyon generally does well, but 
the past season must have been unsuitable for this variety, as only one 
or two blooms were exhibited. W. H. Lincoln is good at times, but 
uncertain. Stanstead White never attains any size. Mons. Bernard, 
Val d’Andorre, Mrs. Falconer Jameson, Boule d’Or, Condor, Jeanne 
D61aux, Madame J. Laing, Sarah Owen, Madame Baco, W. W. Coles, 
Glosiosum, Mr. Ralph Brocklebank, and Mdlle. Lacroix have all been 
tried well, but have been discarded by most growers on account of not 
coming up to show form. 
On the other hand. Lady T. Lawrence is the finest Japanese incurved 
white here, of good size and fair depth, a charming flower, yet it is not 
mentioned in the English analysis or in the recent Chrysanthemun 
election ; average diameter 8 inches, average depth 3 inches. Grandi¬ 
florum is an old variety truly, yet it still holds its own against many 
newer varieties, and is exceptionally flne here; average diameter, 
8 inches ; depth, 34 inches. The President is a magnificent variety of a 
yellowy bronze colour. There is a doubt, however, as to the correct 
name, and where it came from. Next season it is probable it will 
appear near the top of the list. Average diameter, 7 inches ; depth, 
4 inches. Syringa was catalogued in England some years ago, 
but it appears to have now disappeared. Two years ago the white sport 
White Syringa was fixed, and subsequently distributed. These varieties 
exhibit very fine form around Sydney, but in the colder districts it is 
difficult to get them to bloom at all. Pride of Madford is a fine colonial 
seedling of the incurved Japanese type ; colour, an intense blush purple 
with silvery reverse, and very large ; habit, dwarf and vigorous, with 
fine foliage ; average diameter, 9 inches ; depth, 44 inches. Lucrece is 
another variety catalogued in England a few years ago ; fine white incurved 
Japanese, and develops well. Maiden’s Blush is still a favourite here, 
taking a spiral as well as of a refiexed form, forming itself into a 
perfect ball. Mrs. Irving Clarke gives very fine blooms with a good 
depth. Pelican is also a very fine white, large with good depth, of quite 
a different form to the character it takes in a colder climate. 
Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, which is so frequently referred to in the 
columns of the Journal, does no good at all in the coastal districts, as we 
cannot induce it to grow. The inland dry atmosphere seems to suit it 
admirably, for about 100 miles from the coast at an altitude of 2500 
feet I have seen strong plants 8 feet high growing in the open carrying 
eight fine blooms. From several other inland towns I have received 
similar reports, the past season especially, one exhibitor stating he 
showed six superb blooms for six whites of one variety ; it was the finest 
white he had. An enthusiast lately from England remarked that they 
were the best he had ever seen of this variety. 
One of the worst troubles we have to contend with here in the culture 
of the Chrysanthemum is the damping of the florets. I have often 
remarked the complaints about this in the old country, but it is not a 
matter of ventilation here, as all the blooms are in the open, with the 
exception of an awning over them to keep off the rain. Unfortunately 
we have often some wet weather at that particular season, and if it lasts 
any time, it requires constant care and attention to prevent the blooms 
being reduced to a mass of pulp. 
I have read with particular interest Mr. C. E. Shea’s papers on 
“ Judging Chrysanthemum Blooms,” as well as the discussion thereon, 
and I am sure his paper will not only be of great assistance to judges, 
but will open up a subject which was greatly needed, Judging by 
