December 10, 1887. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
229 
CHRYSANTHEMUM FLOWER 
CLASSES. 
It seems difficult to understand what good purpose 
is served in showing forty-eight blooms of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums in one class, especially when only twenty-four 
varieties will suffice. The permission thus afforded to 
exhibit duplicates—one invariably largely availed of— 
would lead to the impression that forty-eight really 
distinct good blooms are beyond the reach of the average 
grower. When, therefore, it is found that flowers are 
so largely duplicated, it seems absurd to make so large 
a class as forty-eight blooms presents. This objection 
applies both to incurved and Japanese varieties, although 
the latter are now so numerous that doubtless forty- 
eight diverse blooms are less difficult to obtain ; but 
whilst these large classes swallow up a big sum of 
money—no less than £i1 at the National Exhibition— 
it is difficult to understand what good purpose they 
serve. It may be pleaded that if so large a number of 
flowers were not invited, many good blooms would 
never appear on the exhibition table ; but with the 
leave, as now granted, to exhibit only twenty-four 
varieties, it is not easy to find how that object is 
gained. 
Everyone must have noticed in the incurved classes 
the constant repetition that such big flowers as the 
“Queen” and “Empress” types give. These have 
bulk, which seems to overshadow 7 really refined form 
exhibition, are thereby excluded from the competition, 
just as that splendid flower, Cullingfordi, an undoubted 
Japanese, w 7 ould have been largely shown but that 
it was admitted into the ordinary reflexed section, in 
which it makes the stiff-petalled Christines look poor. 
A new arrangement of the Japanese section into 
divisions would enable many of the smaller but very 
beautiful flowers to have a chance henceforth, whilst 
adding materially to the interest of the shows. It is 
very possible that Mr. Molyneux may not agree with 
me in these suggestions ; but all the same, I venture to 
ask him to give lists, first of twenty-four large, and 
second, twenty-four medium-sized incurved flowers, all 
distinct; or if he thinks it preferable, to admit into the 
second twenty-four the eight flowers he would select for 
the front row of the first twenty-four, and thus we 
should get forty distinct varieties. 
Now, with respect to the Japanese section, will he 
make divisions of twenty-four loose-petalled, twenty- 
four incurved, and twenty-four reflexed? Possibly it 
will be more difficult to make up the first twenty-four, 
as so many of the old ragged type have been driven out 
of cultivation, and yet there are many who regard these 
as the true Japanese. Some such classification as I 
have indicated would be very acceptable to judges, who 
very often have to pit flowers, very diverse in form, one 
against the other, and then the fancies of men sway 
the judgment. I think this matter well merits the 
attention of exhibitors, and just now 7 should evoke some 
Major, Mdlle. Lacroix, Soleil Levant, Yal d’Andorre, 
and others. 
The following incurved varieties were of a high class 
quality, namely, Empress of India, and the golden 
form, Lord Wolseley ; Lord Alcester, Mr. Bunn, 
Princess of Wales, Prince Alfred, Queen of England, 
Barbara, and Refulgens. Unfortunately, that at 
Birchlands is amongst the many good collections in 
the neighbourhood where the public have not the 
privilege of seeing their productions on the exhibition 
tables. This is to be regretted, as sometimes honours 
are taken from the town which might be retained if the 
gardeners from such places were allowed to compete.— 
Visitor. 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
Tiie Tuberous Begonia, its history and cultivation, 
formed the subject of an interesting and instructive 
paper read to the members of the Preston and Fulwood 
Horticultural Society, at their meeting on Saturday 
evening last, by Mr. Thomas Spelman, of Preston. 
Mr. Spelman at the outset said that the tuberous 
Begonia was, comparatively speaking, a plant of modern 
introduction ; the first species only being introduced into 
the market some thirty years ago. He gave the history 
of certain species, showing when and by whom they 
were first propagated, and stated that the raising of 
good varieties seemed to have been slow work at first, 
for as late as 1879 or 1880 he saw in one of the best 
Muscat of Alexandria Grate, as grown in the Tweed Vineyard. (See p. 233). 
and variety. The encouragement thus given to size by 
the favour shown to these large flowers naturally leads 
to their being more than duly grown ; whilst many 
beautiful but smaller flowers find little favour. I 
would suggest that the forty-eight classes be in all 
cases abolished, and in their places be put classes for 
twenty-four distinct blooms, size allied to quality to be 
the distinguishing features ; and a second class for 
twenty-four varieties, the quality irrespective of size to 
be considered, and from which all the Queen and 
Empress types shall be rigidly excluded. We should, 
in this case, not only see in the two classes forty-eight 
really distinct flowers, but we should have special 
encouragement given to those beautiful flowers of which 
Barbara and Refulgens are such admirable examples. 
It is obvious that the ordinary twenty-fours could 
still remain for the encouragement of smaller growers ; 
but when we get to twelve, some limit should be placed 
upon duplicates, for I hold that not more than one 
sport from any variety should be held admissible in a 
stand of twelve flowers. 
In the Japanese section, which has of late grown to 
such remarkable dimensions, some sort of division 
seems needful, and some new classification would, 
be generally hailed with satisfaction by exhibitors. 
At present, judges have their preferences: some prefer 
the old ragged or true—as held to be—Japanese type, 
such as Meg Merrilies or Baron de Prailly ; others 
like the incurved forms, such as Comte de Germiny or 
Madame C. Audiguier ; whilst, again, others prefer 
the more tasselled or reflexed forms of Madlle. Lacroix, 
Criterion, or J. Delaux. There are many very beauti- 
ul flowers which, because of the run upon big ones for 
useful discussion, which may lead to changes in the 
schedule arrangements of the coming year.— D. 
-- 
BIRCHLANDS, SHEFFIELD. 
Calling at the residence of F. Mappin, Esq., J.P., 
I was invited by the gardener, Mr. John Farrow, to 
inspect the fine collection of Chrysanthemums under 
his charge, which are all arranged in one fine group in 
the conservatory, which is a large span-roofed building, 
giving abundance of room to display their beauty to 
the best advantage, The greater part of the plants are 
Japanese varieties, and are grown on single stems. 
Each plant has from three to five fine blooms suitable 
for exhibition upon them, and range from 5 ft. to 8 ft. 
high. In addition to the standards Mr. Farrow grows 
about three dozen plants in bush form, which he uses 
as an edging for the standards ; also for the decoration 
of the side stages. 
The bush plants are of a very ornamental character, 
and are carrying from fifteen to twenty fine sized 
blooms. The varieties which appear to do well as 
bushes are Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. Dixon, Mr. Bunn, 
Reverie, and Source d’Or, and are very free-flowering 
Japanese kinds with distinct colours. Chevalier 
Domage and Crimson King as reflexed varieties were 
amongst the number, with their bright and cheerful 
colouring. Amongst the standard Japanese the 
following were extra fine, namely, Boule d’Or, with its 
long bronzy broad florets ; Chang, an old sort, but still 
good when well done ; Comte de Germiny, Coquette de 
Castille, Criterion, Duchess of Albany, Dormillon, 
Elaine, Fair Maid of Guernsey, F. A. Davis, Mary 
London nurseries a batch of, perhaps, 10,000 seedlings, 
out of which not a solitary plant was worth growing. 
From then the improvement in colour, size and 
substance of the bloom had been wonderful; but there 
was still plenty of room for further development, as 
many of the big-flowered sorts had large coarse leaves, 
and the habit was not at all that could be desired. 
To Mr. W. E. Gumbleton, Belgrove, Queenstown, 
was due the credit of first using tuberous Begonias as 
bedding plants. A visit to his beautiful gardens four 
years ago would never be forgotten, for the hues of 
both doubles and singles were magnificent. Mr. 
Gumbleton had by far the choicest collection in Europe, 
and no other gentleman, public or private, understood 
the history of every variety better than he, and perhaps 
at no other place was this class of plants so thoroughly 
at home as at Belgrove. They grew and bloomed, even 
the choicest doubles, as freely as Stocks and Asters. 
Crousse, of Nancy, sent out five new doubles in 1882, 
all of which were good. This raiser had succeeded in 
producing more good doubles than all other nurserymen 
put together. [?] With one or two exceptions, all those 
he sent out were first-class, and most of them were 
simply perfection. Perhaps those sent out by him 
ought to be called pedigree Begonias. Many were very 
similar in habit and growth, being short-jointed yet 
vigorous and very free, holding their lovely blooms on 
stout foot-stalks well above the foliage. 
Mr. Spelman, treating of the culture of the tuberous 
Begonia, said these beautiful, free-blooming, and easily- 
cultivated flowers were now established favourites, and 
the more w 7 idely they became known, the more they 
would commend themselves to all lovers of beautiful 
