October 23, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
117 
terpret them in more than one way. Committees are too 
apt todo this part of the work hnrriedlyand indifferently, 
as though it was of little moment, thus giving rise 
to ambiguity. They know what they mean, therefore 
other people ought to know what is meant, hence the 
frequent mistakes and misunderstandings. The words 
“dissimilar,” “distinct,” “distinct varieties,” “ dis¬ 
tinct kinds,” “kinds,” “distinct sorts,” &c., are used 
indiscriminately, and scarcely any two individuals 
outside the committee place the same meaning upon 
the terms used ; and very frequently some of the com¬ 
mittee have not the remotest idea as to the correct 
meaning of the words used. I feel sure “A. D.” can 
say something on this subject, and I hope he will “ come 
out.” J. Udale, Elford, Tamivorth. P.S.—On p. 91, 
the word “lie” should read “tie.” 
I have read Mr. Udale’s remarks on judging 
Chrysanthemums with great pleasure, and may say 
that my reason for starting the subject was, that 
during the past few years a great falling off has 
been noticed at shows of the blooms that I should 
like to call fancy Chrysanthemums, viz., those of the 
“Rundle” or “Glenny” type, or in other words, 
medium-sized blooms of incurved varieties ; and not 
only have the gardeners noticed this but the public also. 
However, Mr. Udale does not think with me in this 
matter, and tells us that scarcely a stand is staged that 
does not include some of the flowers mentioned. He 
also alludes to blooms of Mrs. George Rundle, Mr. 
George Glenny, &c., measuring 8 ins. to 9 ins. across, 
and the large-flowering kinds, 10 ins. to 12 ins. in 
diameter. Are not such statements misleading ? Our 
show-boards for incurved blooms are not allowed to 
have the holes for the cups more than 6 ins. apart, and 
it appears to me impossible to show flowers measuring 
from 8 ins. to 12 ins. across on them. However, I 
hope Mr. Udale will explain. I still think it would be 
more fair to exhibitors if Chrysanthemums were divided 
into two classes, viz., show and fancy. I should place 
Mrs. George Rundle as queen of the fancy class, and 
Empress of India at the head of the large-flowered or 
show class. I consider, that if Mrs. George Rundle is 
cultivated to the size named by Mr. Udale, viz., 8 ins. 
or 9 ins. in diameter, she loses her lovely form ; 
the best blooms I have seen of this flower never exceeded 
5 ins. across.— A Gardener. 
- -- 
“CHQRO-G-I.” 
We are indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Vilmorin- 
Andrieux & Co., of Paris, for the following particulars 
respecting the new vegetable, “Choro-Gi” (recently 
mentioned in these columns), extracted from M. 
Paillieux work, Le Potager d'un Curieux :—“Stachys 
affinis is a native of Northern China and Japan, and is 
a perennial plant, forming numerous underground 
tubers, formed by a succession of nodosities, somewhat 
resembling the tops of the swollen roots of HSrrhe- 
natherum elatius var. bulbosum. Stem single or 
branching, erect or in a prostrate position at the base, 
quadrangular, with hispid hairs on the angles, and from 
10 ins. to 16 ins. high. Leaves opposite, long-stalked, 
rugose hispid, with a heart-shaped base, toothed, and 
crenate ; the lower ones oval, the upper ones oval- 
oblong, and gradually becoming smaller as they ap¬ 
proach the top ; flowers sessile, borne 4-6 in distinct 
pseudo-whorls. In our ground the plant has proved 
extraordinarily vigorous, and has yielded an abundance 
of tubers, but we have only observed a few flowers on 
more than fifty fully-developed plants. 
“ In the spring of 1882 we received from the Acclima¬ 
tisation Society a box containing tubers of Stachys 
affinis, which had been sent to the society by Dr. 
E. Bretsehneider, Physician of the Russian Legation at 
Pekin, but all but five or six tubers perished during the 
voyage. Such, however, is the ease with which it is 
propagated, that the loss of the greater part did not 
grieve us. From the first year each tuber planted on 
an old hot-bed gave us a satisfactory increase, and from 
the second year the plants left on the bed yielded from 
200 to 300 per cent. By this means we were enabled 
to send plants to the vegetable section of the Acclima¬ 
tisation Society, and, following the example of the 
Japanese, to introduce into our pickles a pretty large 
proportion of tubers. The result has been very satis¬ 
factory. 
“ For five or six years we had in vain asked for 
“Choro-Gi” in Japan. The plant is hardy, having 
stood without protection through the winter of 1882-83, 
though it is true that winter was not a very rigorous 
one. Belonging to Northern China, it will, however, 
probably stand the hardest winters. The tubers of 
“Choro-Gi” are used in Japan for pickliDg in Plum 
vinegar, but are not used in the same way in China ; 
Dr. Bretsehneider, on being questioned by us on the 
subject, however, could not say how they are prepared 
for the table. The tubers, which are small, French- 
white, and of fine shape, have no flavour of their own, 
but readily absorb the aromatic vinegar in which they 
are immersed. We recommend that they be mixed 
with Angouina (Trichosanthes anguina), Tropieolum 
tuberosum, and Mioga (Zingiber Mioga, or Amomuin 
Mioga of Kiempfer). The sight of the nice small tubers 
of 1 Choro-Gi ’ is sufficient to induce us to consign them 
at once to the frying-pan, either in their natural state 
or-plunged into paste and seasoned with Lemon-juice. 
Cooked in the latter way particularly, they make an 
agreeable dish, which can be made use of the whole 
winter. We must observe, however, that the tubers 
cannot be kept out of the ground, or out of a sand-heap 
under cover, as if exposed to the air they soon blacken 
and wither, and in a few days are lost.” 
The Messrs. Vilmorin, to whom we are also indebted 
for the use of the accompanying illustration, remark 
that in their opinion “Choro-Gi” is more of a curiosity 
11 Choi;o-Gi ’’—Stachys affinis. 
than a vegetable ; but as we have “ only one sauce,” 
and not too great a variety of pickles, we should 
certainly like to see it well tried for the latter purpose. 
--- 
NEW ZEALAND VERONICAS. 
During the past season, Mr. T. S. Ware, of Totten¬ 
ham, has several times exhibited at South Kensington, 
plants of some dwarf New Zealand Veronicas, that 
appeared to be admirable subjects for furnishing window- 
boxes as a change from the stereotyped Euonymus; 
and having had opportunity of seeing them growing 
side by side in the nursery, we think, decidedly, that 
their merits deserve wider recognition than they have 
yet obtained. 
Veronica cpacridea is very dwarf in habit, with 
Epacris-like shoots, densely clothed with bright green 
box-like leaves, and the younger growths tipped with 
golden yellow. 
V. buxifolia —the box-leaved Veronica—has a very 
neat dwarf habit, with decussate leaves, and the young 
shoots also tipped with yellow. 
V. pinqucefolici, used to be called V. buxifolia, but 
this name rightly belongs to another plant, as above 
indicated. It is very dwarf, has small glaucous green 
leaves and is remarkably free flowering. 
V. carnosula much resembles the last named, but is 
double the size and lighter in colour, and slightly varies 
when raised from seeds. 
V. ligusticifolia is distinct in habit from the others, 
having long bright green leaves and a dwarf prostrate 
style of growth. 
V. chatamica is more distinct still in its dwarf 
habit of growth, which renders it more than any of the 
others specially adapted for growing on rockwork, 
though certainly none of them would be out of place in 
such a position. 
Both these and the lovely V. Traversii, which Mr. 
Ware grows largely and well, are perfectly hardy at 
Tottenham, and we heartily commend them to the 
notice of all who like choice and useful hardy subjects. 
-->x<-- 
THE CLAPTON AND BUSH HILL 
PARK NURSERIES. 
To a genuine lover of plants, next to the enjoyment 
he obtains in attending to the requirements of those 
which he himself possesses, perhaps the greatest 
pleasure he enjoys is an inspection of the floral posses¬ 
sions of others, and especially for choice, a well-stocked 
nursery establishment. Among the horticultural 
wonders of the Metropolis must be included Messrs. 
Hugh Low & Co.’s extraordinary plant emporium at 
Clapton, and their extensive and still more perfectly 
organized branch Nursery at Bush Hill Park. At 
Clapton, the Orchid department alone is at all times 
worthy of a visit, so vast in extent is this particular 
branch of their business. Looking through the 
wonderful collection, who could fail to admire, even at 
this dull season, the long houses devoted exclusively to 
Cattleya Meudelii, C. Mossiie and other popular species 
of this favourite genera ; of Cypripediums, of Odonto- 
glossums, of Phalienopsis and other subjects, too 
numerous to mention except in a catalogue. It is not 
my intention, even if I could do it, to give any idea of 
the enormous floral riches to be seen here ; I simply 
desire to record a few things which I saw during a 
hurried visit paid a few days ago. 
In the Orchid houses I noted a pretty group of 
varieties of Cattleya Gaskelliana in bloom, with 
scarcely two alike, and among them a pure white form 
with only a slight dash of purple on the lip. A 
splendid batch of Barkeria spectabilis, flowering most 
- freely, also claimed our admiration ; as did a flowering 
plant of Pilumna nobilis, the white blossoms of which 
are delightfully scented. The scarce Trichopilia 
Wagneri was also in bloom, its broad white lip form¬ 
ing a pleasing contrast to its pale green sepals and 
petals. A batch of Odontoglossum Roezlii in the most 
perfect health are as pleasing a sight as if they were in 
bloom ; and the collection of Cypripedium Lawrenci- 
anum, all together, must alone be unmatched for 
extent. The Phalienopsis, too, are superbly cultivated, 
and in one of the houses devoted mainly to youngsters, 
batches of Cattleya superba splendens and C. Eldorado 
may be seen making luxuriant growths and going to 
flower freely. Mr. Low gives them plenty of heat, 
and they are found to enjoy the temperature of the 
Phalienopsis house. Another Orchid in bloom I must 
not omit to mention—a remarkably high coloured 
Lselia Dayana, with deep rose sepals and petals, and 
the dark purple colouring of the lip of a deeper shade 
than any I can remember having seen before. 
Having but little time to spare I did not attempt 
an inspection of the grand collection of New Holland 
plants, all the leading and good old-fashioned sorts of 
which, I was pleased to see, are still kept in stock, for 
many of them are gradually being driven out of our 
gardens by easily-grown things—“ something that we 
can cut from and wont give much trouble.” The 
winter-flowering Heaths are a grand stock—these still 
grow well here in summer, but the climate is getting 
worse, and they are now sent to Bush Hill Park to flower. 
Ferns, Palms and Azaleas may be seen by thousands, 
and a house full of Tree Carnations is very gay and 
promises to yield a rare harvest of blossoms during the 
dull months near at hand. A great favourite here is 
Andalusia, a full double yellow with fringed petals, 
which is not given to bursting its calyx to any serious 
extent. Rufus is pointed out as one of the finest 
of the bright scarlet section. "Whipper-In is a 
pretty crimson-striped flower ; and Ruby, of a rich 
port-wine colour, is also a fine variety. The several 
large houses of Bouvardias are a sight in themselves, 
so thoroughly good is the quality of the plants. The 
comparatively new Priory Beauty is much in favour ; 
its single flowers are blush-pink in colour, and are pro¬ 
duced in good masses with wondrous freedom. The 
older Dazzler is also largely grown, a fact which may 
be taken as sufficiently proving its merit. 
