February 6, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
357 
tations, will be utilised to furnish some artificial 
rockery or gorge, or other artificial formation intended 
to display natural growth and features. Much may be 
obtained from dry stems in five months, for it is hardly 
probable that any of the Ferns thus forced into activity 
can be safely exposed to our climate before June. 
Whether the consignment contains any new or rare 
kinds remains to be seen ; but there can be no doubt 
but that should these stranger Ferns grow well they 
will be regarded with exceeding interest by visitors, 
and may lead to the introduction of some few more 
hardy kinds into our gardens.— Z. 
-- 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE 
CHRYSANTHEMUM. —V. 
Standard Chrysanthemums when well grown and 
neatly finished off make very showy plants. To pro¬ 
duce plants as shown in the accompanying illustration, 
the grower should commence work early. 
Strong healthy cuttings should be selected 
for the purpose, and if they can be obtained 
about the end of October it will not be too 
early, as the plants will then have plenty 
of time in which to make growth to form 
the head. The cuttings should be inserted 
singly in small pots (thumbs) and placed 
in a warm greenhouse, and be kept lightly 
sprinkled to keep them from flagging. As 
soon as the roots reach the sides of the 
pots, the plants should be potted into 6 in. 
pots. A stake should now be put in the 
centre of the pots, - to which the plants 
should be tied as they grow. 
Let the plants remain in these pots until 
the required height is attained, which is 
generally 3 ft., when the plants have at¬ 
tained this height, stop them, this will 
induce them to break and throw out shoots. 
As soon as these are about 1 in. long, the 
plants should be potted into their blooming 
pots, but before doing so, rub off all shoots 
up the stem to within 4 in. of the top, 
these should be let grow to form the head. 
When the plants are potted, a wire hoop 
should be procured, about 1| ft. to 2 ft. in 
diameter, to which a few sticks should be 
securely fastened crossways and then to the 
centre stake, and three more stakes should 
be inserted in the pots, at equal distances 
apart, and securely fastened to the hoop so 
as to keep all secure and rigid. 
When the plants are housed, these sup¬ 
ports can be cut away The plants should 
now be stood in a sunny position out¬ 
doors, and be carefully attended as to 
watering, syringing, &c., as previously 
directed. When the shoots are about 4 in 
long they should be stopped ; from this 
stopping more shoots will be obtained, and 
when these are about 4 in. long, they 
must also be stopped, and so continue 
until early in June, after which time it is 
better not to stop them. 
As to the training, this is a very simple 
matter. As soon as the shoots are long 
enough draw them down very gently and 
carefully, and tie them to the stakes across 
the hoop. Do not draw the shoots down 
too close at the first tying, or they are liable to break 
off. If the shoots will not draw into the position desired 
at the first tying, try them again after they have been 
tied a few days, and they will then be found easier to 
get into the position desired. Continue training the 
plants as above during the summer, and let the final 
tying be done a few weeks before they are required to 
be exhibited. 
If the above directions are carefully attended to, the 
plants should, by the time they are housed, appear 
as shown in the accompanying illustration. As to 
varieties, only free-growing sorts should be grown ; the 
following are a few useful varieties for this purpose :— 
Incurved: Prince of Wales, Mrs. Geo. Rundle, Lady 
Hardinge, George Glenny, Guernsey Nugget, Gloria 
Mundi, Golden George Glenny, Mrs. Sharpe, Reful- 
gence. Japanese: Red Dragon, Frizon, Mdlle. Lacroix, 
To Kio, Mignon, Mons. C. Hubert, the Cossack. lie- 
flexed: Annie Salter, Christine’s (peach and golden) 
Dr. Sharpe. In my next communication I will give 
“Vitis'’ says is vacant, viz., that of a white Grape to 
accompany Black Alicante and Lady Downes. 
Raising new varieties of Grapes is in most cases some¬ 
what of a lottery ; a very promising looking lot of seed¬ 
lings may prove when fruited very far from acquisitions, 
and when a really good one is obtained it should be much 
appreciated. Much diversity of opinion has often been 
expressed regarding the merits and demerits of the 
various seedling Grapes which have been offered to the 
public ; and it must be admitted that good cultivators 
have sometimes failed to grow some of the varieties to 
as great perfection as they can be and have been grown 
by others. Difference of situation, and also of soils 
and treatment, no doubt have all contributed to failure 
in some cases and success in others. 
Sometimes, however, the peculiarities of Grapes have 
been hard to account for, the same variety under 
almost identical conditions showing different behaviour. 
Madresfield Court cracks in some cases in an inside 
border where water is most carefully ap¬ 
plied, at other times when apparently not 
so well situated it does well, and again 
when treated as first-mentioned it also 
does well; thus it offers somewhat’ of a 
puzzle to cultivators. Then again, Mrs. 
Pince’s Black Muscat, under most favour¬ 
able conditions, fails to colour well in some 
cases, and in others it is found perfectly 
finished. 
Duke of Buccleuch, carefully attended 
to by able Yine growers, has sometimes 
baffled all their efforts and produced gross 
wood that would not ripen, and conse¬ 
quently its fruitfulness was impaired. 
Again it has been got to fruit freely, and 
the cracking made its appearance to disap¬ 
point and annoy ; again we know of its 
being grown to great perfection in many 
places, fruiting freely, abstaining from 
cracking, colouring beautifully, and taking 
many prizes at exhibitions in all parts of 
the country. Alnwick Seedling sets freely 
with most people, and yet instances have 
been recorded of its refusing to do so even 
under most favourable conditions. 
There seems to be some slight confusion 
regarding the seedling Grape John Downie, 
which at one time was considered identical 
with Alnwick Seedling by Mr. Temple, who 
stated in October 1885, that having fruited 
a Yine he got as John Downie, and finding 
it exactly like Alnwick Seedling he men¬ 
tioned it to Mr. Downie, who stated that 
he believed a mistake had occured in the 
sending out of the Yine. The original 
variety is said to be more like Gros Colmar 
than Alnwick Seedling, and when Mr. 
Temple had the opportunity of seeing fruit 
of what was said to be the right John 
Downie, he concurred in that opinion. 
Such mistakes are rather awkward and 
sometimes lead to confusion. 
There are a few seedling Grapes at vari¬ 
ous places in the country, which are said 
to possess qualities which will gain for 
them places in popular esteem, but I think 
it will be sometime ere such old favourites 
as Muscat of Alexandria, Black Hamburgh, 
and other well known kinds will find their 
places taken possession of by seedlings, whether 
emanating from England, Scotland, or Ireland. I 
hope “Vitis” will take my remarks on his use of 
“English” instead of “British” in no unkindly 
fashion ; I enjoyed reading his notes, and only diffei 
from him seriously in regard to the title of them. 
Imperias. 
-—- 
AN ORCHID SOCIETY. 
Theee seems to be something in the wind, and 
rumours are afloat that a plan is being matured by 
the R. H. S. Is such the case and who are the wire 
pullers ? Early this year, allusion was made to the for¬ 
mation of a “Scotch Society.” This week the editor 
of The Gardening World, having evidently heard 
some whispers, sends out a feeler. Let us hope that 
no revelations will be made at the dinnei on the 9th 
instant, as the subject should be properly ventilated 
before any definite steps are taken. V e all agree that 
Standard Chrysanthemum. 
may be used instead of England ! I may mention 
Duke of Buccleuch, Golden Champion, White Lady 
Downes, and Duchess of Buccleuch, as all being Grapes 
which were for certain raised in Scotland, and by a 
Scotchman. Then if there is an Abercairney Seedling 
it certainly must have been raised at Abercairney, or 
why the name ? Of course Mr. Barron thinks it is 
identical with West St. Peters, though some doubt this. 
Mr. H. W. Ward writing in a contemporary, des¬ 
cribes a seedling raised in Ireland by Mr. Roberts, 
Charleville, which may prove a useful white Grape for 
autumn and winter supply. It is a cross between Gros 
Colmar and Duke of Buccleuch, and is said to partake 
freely of the various good qualities of both its parents. 
A white Grape possessed of some flavour, and which 
will keep till, say the end of February, would un¬ 
doubtedly be an acquisition, if as large and noble 
looking as either the Gros Colmar or the Duke of 
Buccleuch. This seedling from “The Emerald Isle” 
may prove to be one capable of filling the place that 
you a few hints upon growing plants for decorative 
purposes.— IV. E. Boyce , Yerbury Road, Holloway. 
-- 
ENGLISH SEEDLING GRAPES. 
The interesting remarks in your last issue by 
“Vitis,” on the seedling Grapes of the past few years, 
bear rather a misleading title, as several of the Grapes 
mentioned are not English, but Scotch seedling Grapes. 
We, in Scotland, are often finding fault with some of 
our British Statesmen, when they come down seeking 
our votes to return them to Parliament as represent¬ 
atives of Scotch constituencies, and discourse to us on 
all that England has done in the past, and is going to 
do in the future ! 
Now we are well aware that as compared to England, 
Scotland is a small country, but its past history, and 
the prominent positions so often occupied by its 
countrymen, warrant us in at least asking that Britain 
t 
