22 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 12,1858. 
cold confinement, though it trill keep even such fruits as Straw¬ 
berries, is at the expense of their flavour, and need only be 
adopted on particular occasions. But ordinary kitchen Apples, 
and even late table ones, may have their period of useful ser¬ 
vice prolonged, by being, in the first place, kept in a cool situa¬ 
tion, and afterwards, if wanted, put into a warmer one, to get 
mellow. The means whereby this may be effected I leave to the 
contrivance of those interested, and have only to say, that the 
most homely will often succeed as well, or better, than those 
having more extensive accommodation. But, wherever they are 
kept, let the place be sweet and clean, and avoid crowding too 
much; for fruit, like milk, ought not to come in contact with 
any impurities whatever, whether that be in their neighbourhood, 
or in the air which surrounds them. Attention to this last 
matter is, perhaps, as important as any.—J. Robson. 
DRESSING CHRYSANTHEMUMS EOR 
EXHIBITION. 
As the Chrysanthemum Shows are approaching, I shall feel 
obliged by your allowing me to call attention to the modus 
operandi adopted for making these flowers presentable. I allude, 
of course, to the “ eye-extracting, trimming, and dressing,”—a 
system practised by all exhibitors, and generally considered 
legitimate, but which, I contend, is anything but fair or honest. 
The year before last, I had some splendid flowers, which I took 
to a Show, thinking they might obtain, if not a prize, at least 
commendation; but they were laughed at, and scarcely con¬ 
sidered fit for the most obscure corner. I, therefore, at once 
consigned them to a dark, dusty chamber, whilst I took a peep 
at the Exhibition-room, where I discovered the secret of my 
failure,—my flowers had not been dressed, they were an naturel. 
The room presented a curious sight (it was prior to the Judges’ 
arrival), every exhibitor being armed with tweezers, steel, and 
ivory, with which the dishevelled petals were displaced or placed, 
strongly reminding me of a hair-dresser’s saloon. 
Last year, I tried again, as a “ maiden ” only, and gained a 
prize for six flowers. These, against my will, however, were 
“ trimmed, dressed, and eye-gouged,” a friend assuring me that, if 
I wished to compete with success, this course must be gone 
through. All doing the Bame, 1 reluctantly consented, stating 
my intention to take opinions upon the honesty of such a practice. 
I remember one flower especially, with a large eye, or centre, 
and as hollow as a teacup, which I was going to throw away as 
quite useless; but my friend interposed, with, “ What are you 
going to do, man ? that’s one of the best flowers you can have for 
exhibition ; give it to me, and you shall see.” To work went the 
tweezers; the eye, or undeveloped petals, were quickly extracted; 
the full-grown petals curled and arranged ; and the flower then 
put into a wooden tube, through which it was tightly drawn, 
bringing it up incurved, and as even as a cricket ball. What a 
contrastto the deshabille appearance it before presented. The worst 
flower became the best!—a very pretty manipulation, doubtless. 
But was it honest ? Was it not an imposition? I think it was. 
The practice is a deception at the Show, and also upon the 
public. Visitors go, they see magnificent flowers, are tempted to 
give orders, fully expecting to grow similar ones, and are much 
surprised and disappointed to find their productions as unlike 
those exhibited as “chalk from cheese.” The flowers at Exhibi¬ 
tions are, in point of fact, works of art. 
These observations apply to the Asters at the last Crystal 
Palace Show, where several were actually spoiled in appearance 
by the bad dressing. 
Exhibitors, in favour of this practice, say that Chrysanthemums 
shown au naturel would not be worth looking at (this I do not 
admit) ; and if shown as grown no one would come to see them. 
Then why show such flowers ? The study ought to be to grow 
them perfect. 
I contend, further, that in awarding prizes, they ought not to 
be given for the flowers, but to the best dresser of the flowers. 
If you coincide with my views, I shall esteem it a favour by your 
approval of them, and censure of the artificial process. If, on 
the contrary, you think the “ trimming, dressing, and eye-extract¬ 
ing,” fair and legitimate, I shall feel obliged—having a great 
number of flowers preparing for exhibition at four different 
Societies—by your recommending me a dresser of first-rate expe¬ 
rience, in order that I may be successful. I am not a clever 
Chrysanthemum manipulator; nor have I the time, being told 
that dressing one flower will sometimes occupy four hours! 
Perhaps a good feather dresser, or a first-rate coiffeur, might 
answer ; or, possibly, the good man, who at a late cattle show 
in the north inflated the hollow haunches of Iris ox, and also 
fastened on, with gutta percha, a pair of false horns,—by these 
clever means obtaining the first prize,—might not object to turn 
his hand to flower trimming. I want a prize, honestly though, 
so please assist me with your advice. 
1 know for a fact, that exhibitors who gain the first prizes 
employ men to dress their flowers.— Will. Worth. 
[Repeatedly have we condemned the practice of dressing 
flowers for Exhibition. There is no detraction from the merit of 
a cultivator, if he restores to its natural position a petal acci¬ 
dentally displaced; but, to cut and trim a flower in the modes 
pursued by Chrysanthemum and Dahlia growers at once destroys 
all real title to commendation, so far as growing symmetrical 
flowers is concerned. At the same time, there is no dishonesty 
in such trimming, because it is allowed. The folly is, that it is 
allowed, and that prizes should be given for its successful prac¬ 
tice.— Eds.] 
DATURA WRIGHTII, OR METELOIDES. 
“ A very fine new Californian species, growing to the height 
of four or five feet, and producing, in abundance, flowers six 
niches long, and of four inches diameter at the mouth ; the colour, 
pure white, shading into lilac-blue at the margin. This noblo 
plant appears to be a nearly hardy perennial, but may be treated 
as a half-hardy annual, as it flowers the first year from seed. 
The roots, which are very fleshy, require at most but slight pro¬ 
tection, and may either be dug up and preserved in sand, or be 
left in the ground, and covered with a few ashes. Price, 6th per 
packet.” 
I send you, from the catalogue of seeds published by Mr. W. 
Thompson, of Tavern Street, Ipswich, the above description of 
Datura Wrightii, about which you seek information. I have 
followed the instructions given this year,—sowing the seeds in 
March, on a hotbed, and planting out in a warm situation in May. 
They are now about three feet high, have bloomed profusely, 
and are admired by all who have seen them. The flowers have been 
quite equal to the size mentioned in Mr. Thompson’s description. 
I intend potting them for the winter. I have, also, at Mr. Thomp 
son’s recommendation, grown successfully two other plants, 
which, I believe, are not generally known to be suitable for out-of- 
door cultivation, namely,— Canna coccinea vera and Canna 
gigantea. They are remarkably effective, and give a tropical ap¬ 
pearance to the flower border. They seem to require plenty of 
moisture, and evidently luxuriate in an occasional dose of liquid 
manure. 
I have a plant of the splendid new Clematis lanuginosa, on a 
south wall, which is now in full bloom, for the second time this 
season. It was planted last November, and is now about four 
feet high. Would Mr. Beaton recommend its being cut down, 
as he has strongly done in the case of Clematis Sieboldii ?— 
Thomas Simpson, Mayfield Mouse, Wolverhampton. 
CELERY CULTURE. 
Some seven years ago there happened to be an old sawpit near 
the gardon where I was employed. In the bottom of the pit 
there was a foot and a half of sawdust, which had lain there some 
years. I took this, and equal quantities of good rotten manure 
and fresh loam, to form a compost, both for pricking out and for 
trenches. I put about Half the quantity I intended to use in the 
trenches at planting time. I then planted, and allowed the 
plants a month to grow, and then added the remaining half. I 
gave the plants a dose of weak liquid manure onco a week, from 
the time of pricking out to the second time of earthing. I was 
so well satisfied with the result, that I endeavour to get the same 
materials for my main crop every season. 
I have tried numerous plans for blanching, and the most 
effectual, I consider, is to get some clean, fresh sawdust, and to 
put a handful into the heart of each plant, when they are earthed 
nine inches high, and repeat it every time of earthing. Snails 
and other things do not go down the inside when they are so 
treated, and the heart of the plant can push itself up, the mate¬ 
rials being light. It is rarely that I find a rotten heart, or hollow 
sticks, in my crop. 
Tho next best mode of blanching is by two pots, like half drain- 
