374 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 11, 1888. 
proved to be a fallacy. It grows 5J ft. in height, the 
plants being vigorous, and bearing a profusion of pods 
along the full length of haulm, of large size, many 
being nearly 6 ins. long ; the pods are straighter than 
Telephone, containing eight to eleven large peas of the 
first quality, while for exhibition it is the best white 
marrow-fat. Magnificent is another improvement on 
Telephone, although the pods are not quite so large as 
those of Prodigy ; nevertheless, in justice to it I feel 
bound to place it second. The cropping qualities are 
remarkable, and it is similar in height to that variety, 
while the pods are 5 ins. long, broad, and containing 
eight to ten large peas of superior flavour. These two 
are excellent additions, and superior to Telephone or 
Duke of Connaught growing alongside of them. 
Second Early or General Green Wrinkled 
Marrow. 
Duke of Albany is now becoming firmly established 
as the finest general cropping and exhibition Pea 
extant. I have grown it for three years and it is as 
true as ever ; it is sweeping Telegraph before it, as that 
variety is only second-rate in flavour, although a good- 
looking and cropping sort. The Duchess has impressed 
me most favourably, and when the seed undergoes a 
further reduction will become a gen eral standard variety. 
That excellent and desirable combination of characters 
growers like to court so well, namely, height (4 ft.), 
fruitfulness, length, colour, quality and symmetry of 
pods and peas are found in this variety. When writing 
for the seed last spring, direct to Mr. Abbott, he kindly 
informed me that it was the result of a cross between 
Veitch’s Perfection and Duke of Albany, a sufficient 
guarantee to all who know its parents. Ho doubt it 
will replace its seed parent; it was nine days earlier 
than the Duke. 
Late Green Wrinkled. 
He Plus Ultra and British Queen need no comment ; 
they are too well known. I have grown them ever 
since I knew what Peas were, and they have always 
been true, and can be regulated by sowing in succession 
to crop until cut off by frost. 
The above sorts, so far as my judgment goes, are the 
cream of this favourite vegetable grown from nearly 
thirty sorts. If the reader wishes to curtail the sorts, 
take the first in order named either for general use or 
for exhibition, or take the general section only.— B. L. 
--- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
Commercially considered, these can never command a 
very important position. Hovelties of new and dis¬ 
tinct improvements on those already in cultivation may 
and will doubtless be eagerly sought after by all lovers 
of this universally popular favourite ; but when once 
in possession the plants are, under ordinary treatment, 
so hardy and easy of management, and so very prolific 
in the production of cuttings—which can be rooted 
every month during the whole year in every stage of 
growth—that there can be no question that should the 
raising of new varieties, either in the way of seedlings 
or sports, decline, the commercial interest will and must 
also come to a (comparatively speaking) dead-lock. It 
is an established fact that when once the plants are ob¬ 
tained they become permanent stock, and may be even 
preserved for all time from injury during our rigorous 
seasons, when precautionary measures are adopted for 
the preservation of the plants when extreme climatic 
changes take place. 
Growers of every description, amateur andprofessional, 
may fail to house safely through the winter, Dahlias, 
Gloxinias, Begonias, &c., &c., and in consequence 
require to replace some, perhaps, special kinds ; but it 
rarely occurs that this has to be done with regard to 
the Chrysanthemum, which, with little attention after 
planting in the shrubbery border or elsewhere, will 
form fine stools for stock, either for cuttings, for 
conservatory decoration, or for any other purpose 
whatever. 
I have known the plants to survive very many years 
in the open borders, which have annually produced 
large quantities of both cuttings and flowers, and those 
not confined to any particular sort. I have been 
examining some that have been planted for a very 
long time, and find them in the most robust condition, 
having flowered beautifully last season. There is less 
difficulty in increasing your collection at the present 
time than at any previous time during my long 
experience. The cultivation of the Chrysanthemum 
is now so general amongst all classes, that when 
friends meet friends the first question is, “ Do you 
want any cuttings, the newest and best of the exhi¬ 
bition sorts ? ” says A ; “ the very cream, ” says B ; “ the 
best of both the English and Continental varieties 
you are quite welcome to,” says C. In fact you may 
almost include the whole alphabet as representing 
friends at all times ready to give and exchange, 
from the fact that the stock is very much more in 
excess of the demand for private use. 
Thus in this way even the very newest kinds are 
freely distributed, which, as a matter of fact, very 
materially depreciates from a commercial point of view 
the value of the plants ; and those who are fortunate 
in obtaining a distinct seedling or sport, have this 
advantage, viz., in getting a good stock, and charging 
a fairly good price in the first instance. But whether 
seedlings or sports, they must of necessity be of a high- 
class character to be of any real commercial value. 
From recorded facts, the Chrysanthemum has shown 
an inherent disposition to sport almost from the time 
of its introduction ; and these freaks in nature’s laws 
are scarcely dependent on manipulation, but no doubt 
rather to atmospheric changes and constituents of the 
soil in which the plants are grown ; hence the most 
humble cultivator may be said to have the same good 
fortune in regard to the issue of events in this respect 
as those have who may be considered wholly proficient 
in the business. This is at once encouraging to all 
classes of cultivators and should serve as a stimulus in 
their labour of love, anticipating similar successes to 
those who have already achieved satisfactory results. 
I think the early autumn kinds should be increased in 
every possible way, both in respect to size, form and 
colour, as there is with this class a fair chance of a 
good display after the summer-flowering plants are on 
the decline ; and should the weather prove propitious, 
these will continue flowering for a very considerable 
time during the autumn. More particularly should 
attention be paid to a little protection when frost is 
imminent, as one night’s frost only does all the mis¬ 
chief, after which I have known man 3 7 weeks of weather 
of a genial character, and all would have been well 
but for the one fatal night. Even slight protections, 
when timely and judiciously applied, effects wonders 
in the preservation of both fruits and flowers, as I have 
fully demonstrated during my long experience. 
My old friend, the late Robert Plant, when editor of 
The Florists' Journal, in writing upon protecting 
plants from frost (see F. J., 1846, p. 38), shows what 
may be done in the way of protection by adopting 
means of a simple description, and not infrequently 
does it happen that if we secure our plants from one 
night’s frost the season of flowering is greatly prolonged. 
This is especially the case with the Chrysanthemum 
when grown for outside decoration in the flower garden 
against walls, fences, &e. Atmospheric changes we 
cannot control, but we may by a little forethought and 
simple appliances prevent many a beautiful plant from 
being prematurely destroyed, and when, perhaps, in 
full vigour and splendour .—George Fry, Lewisham. 
_ 
FRUITS AND FLOWERS OF THE 
CHANNEL ISLANDS. 
At a meeting of the Manchester Horticultural Improve¬ 
ment Society, held on the 2ndinst., Mr. Bruce Findlay 
presiding, Mr. E. Griffiths Hughes read a paper on 
this subject, in which he said: A very few years ago our 
open markets and market-halls were used for the sale 
of vegetables and fruits which came from the country 
districts during the summer months and autumn, and 
were principally grown in the open air, with the 
addition of Oranges, Apples, Pears, and other fruit 
imported from foreign lands. The few Grapes which 
were seen were imported and poor in quality. The 
flowers consisted of a few English-grown Roses, not 
especially cultivated for sale, but were brought by the 
market gardener from a superabundance of crop which 
were produced by attention paid to the trees from a 
natural love for this particular flower inherited from 
his father and grandfather. This state of things is now 
■wonderfully changed. Edible fruit of every description 
is produced in every part of the country, and not only 
the kinds which our variable climate will permit to be 
grown out of doors, but large areas are covered with 
glass for the production of such fruits as were not 
thought of a few years ago, but which are now supplied 
in large quantities, and sold in the ordinary way of 
trade. The same remark applies to flowers, the sale of 
which grows in proportion as the numerous uses which 
the fashion and tastes of the people are enlarged by an 
appreciation of them. The introduction of steam and 
quick travelling has brought within easy reach fruit 
and flowers from the Channel Islands, and they are 
brought to our market day by day as fresh and beautifu 
as if gathered from our own gardens the day before. 
I will now give you an account of a visit I paid in the 
month of June to these charming islands, for the 
purpose of learning for myself the system adopted in 
the cultivation of fruits and flowers, and the local 
peculiarities which make the islands fruit and flower- 
producing places beyond any others from which we 
receive our supplies. 
St. Helier, Jersey, is the port from which all the 
produce from the island is shipped—most of it to 
England. The St. Helier of fifty years ago is fast dis¬ 
appearing, the mania for improvements, and the 
conversion of what is looked upon as the reminiscences 
of past generations into something new, has taken a 
strong hold upon the people of the whole island. 
When one sees beautiful avenues of trees and thousands 
of old fruit trees destroyed for the purpose of 
satisfying the greed of the people, and large tracts of 
land which once nourished the Apple and Pear trees, 
adding so much to the delight of the visitors and the 
pride of the inhabitants, altered into the unpicturesque, 
one may well say that a great change has taken place. 
From what I could gather, this demolition is likely to 
be carried out to a still greater extent, so that before 
long the whole island is likely to be converted into a 
vast Potato garden in order to meet the requirements 
of the English markets. The extent of the Potato 
industry can scarcely be realised by those who have 
never visited the island, and not even by the visitor 
unless he happens to be there when the gathering is in 
full swing—about the beginning of June. Last year 
the growers obtained over half a million sterling for 
Potatos. Add to this amount the commission of the 
middlemen, and the profit of the retailer, and last 
year’s crop could not have been consumed for much less 
than a million sterling. The cultivation of Grapes and 
Tomatos is increasing greatly in Jersey. I have not 
been able to get at the exact quantities exported last 
year, but the quantity of Tomatos has risen within the 
last six years from nil to hundreds of tons in a season. 
Apples and Pears which were formerly exported in 
large quantities have had to give place to the more 
profitable productions, and before very long will vanish 
altogether from the island. Strawberries and Rasp¬ 
berries are not cultivated for export purposes, the 
difficulty attending the packing of soft fruit being 
detrimental to them. They are, however, cultivated 
for home use, and in the dry and warm climate form 
very acceptable delicacies for visitors. The Island of 
Guernsey is the very paradise of wild and cultivated 
flowers. The Yiolet and Fuchsia are almost in per¬ 
petual bloom, sub-tropical plants are interspersed 
amongst the natural flora of the island, and grow 
vigorously in the open grounds. The cultivation of 
flowers for the English market is carried on to an 
extent inconceivable except to those who have not a 
knowledge of the resources of the island. The flowers 
exported in large quantities from Guernsey consist of 
Primroses, Stocks, Gladiolus, "Wallflowers, Pinks, 
Chrysanthemums, Anemones, Snowdrops, Narcissus, 
Tea Roses, and many others. Several of the flowers 
are exported in such large quantities that the packages 
are numbered by thousands, and the Board of Trade 
returns show that the exports of flowers alone from the 
Channel Islands to England number over 30,000 
baskets. Grapes and Tomatos are also most extensively 
cultivated, and all under glass. I feel sure that there 
are many nooks and corners in England sheltered from 
the north and east winds by mountains and hills, 
which, if covered with glass and secured by intelligent 
and practical gardeners as allotments of their own, 
under favourable circumstances could be made highly 
remunerative, and in the aggregate be productive of 
large revenues. They would also give employment to 
thousands of men, women, and children in producing 
supplies for our markets, instead, as at present, and 
probably for some time to come, of importing them 
from abroad. __ 
FLORICULTURE. 
Sanctions and Picotees. 
Although I name the Picotee as distinct from the 
Carnation, yet it must not be forgotten that it is not a 
distinct species, but simply a form of the Carnation, 
with the colour laid on in the shape of a solid marginal 
edging instead of in the form of flakes longitudinally 
displayed on the petals. I find my plants are becoming 
as active as the Auriculas ; consequently, at all times 
when the weather is at all mild, the lights of the cold 
frame in which the plants have been wintered are 
thrown open. They have scarcely been entirely closed 
