148 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 8, 1890. 
us, sufficient unto the day is enough, and we 
are content with what we have, well knowing 
that should our successors accomplish for the 
flower all that the present generation has 
done relative to progress, then indeed will 
the Chrysanthemum excel all our highest 
anticipations. 
The grand show of next week, falling as 
it does in a season which upon the whole 
seems to he producing exceptionally fine 
flowers, will prove a specially valuable event 
for the marking of progress—the taking stock 
as it were of our Chrysanthemum forces. 
Not only shall we see without doubt the 
grandest show of the flower the century has 
produced, but equally the largest gathering 
of the lovers of the flower yet brought 
together. We may deplore the fact that the 
entire area of the floor of the Aquarium 
Avill not be at the disposal of the society on 
this interesting occasion, as so fine an oppor¬ 
tunity to produce an effect excelling all others 
in extent and grandeur is thus missed. Had 
the centre seating been removed and the 
entire floor filled Avith tables of flowers and 
groups of plants, those aaTlo looked down 
upon the scene from the galleries would have 
been enabled to exclaim, “We have never 
before seen so grand a display of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, and may never look upon its like 
again ! ” 
It has been urged that there is some 
danger that the society may, in the remark¬ 
able exhibition about to be held, to some 
extent exhaust the energies of its supporters, 
by satiating them. That may be true enough 
for a season, but a year is a long time in a 
man’s life, and Avith the recurrence of the 
Chrysanthemum season yearly comes the 
same old craving for shows, for comparing 
notes, and specially for taking stock of the 
progress made in cultivation and in varieties 
from year to year. Of course the society 
cannot possibly maintain efforts of this kind 
periodically, but they may well come a little 
oftener. One good result to the society 
that we look for, is a large increase in its 
membership, for it does offer to those Avho 
become members, more of attractions for the 
small annual subscription than does any 
similar society. 
ocal Chrysanthemum^ Exhibitions. —Our 
provincial and suburban readers must not 
imagine that in so strongly drawing attention 
to the Centenary exhibition of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society in London next week, 
we are therefore decrying or desiring to 
minimise the value of the local shoAvs, in 
the success of which they are so deeply 
interested. To them each local show is an 
event of the first importance, and apart from 
such special or personal interest, there is the 
more important and patent fact, that each 
of those local shows have become centres 
of force in the spreading of a loAm for Chry¬ 
santhemums and in inculcating a higher order 
of taste and knowledge in culture and ex¬ 
hibiting. 
In some districts, especially in the north, 
the larger of the local, or properly speaking, 
provincial shoAvs, are really grand displays, 
which run very hard the finest of our 
ordinary metropolitan 'shoAvs. Probably the 
National Society, by reason of its central 
position, its large membership, and its national 
character, has taken the lead of all societies; 
but still in the country some have a notable 
reputation, Avhich is not at all likely to fade. 
In most of the local Chrysanthemum centres, 
during the coming two or three weeks, there 
will be held so many of these shows, that 
it is difficult to keep accurate accounts. If 
in one direction there is a suspension, in 
another there is a neAv development, so that 
the number rather increases than otherwise. 
It will not be a matter for surprise, should 
there be a considerable expansion of local 
societies next year. So many groivers and 
lovers of the flower Avill be attracted to 
the Royal Aquarium, and Avhat they Avill 
see Avill so stimulate them to local action, 
that thus many neAv societies Avill be created, 
and the cultivation of the Chrysanthemum 
Avill be popularised and extended. We 
could desire no better result than this from 
the Centenary celebration of the present 
year. _ 
^utumn Vegetables. —One of the great 
Jr~ features of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society’s November Show, and it will be a 
very distinguishing feature next Aveek, is 
found in the vegetable classes, in Avliich the 
very best groAvers in the kingdom compete. 
Of course provincial societies have their OAvn 
vegetable displays also, but probably feiv can 
produce a shoAv of such specially marked 
excellence as the Royal Aquarium Avill next 
Tuesday display. There can be no doubt 
but that the exceeding interest which attaches 
at all times to the November exhibitions of 
the National Society adds largely to the 
attractions which bring exhibitors so far as 
Avell as ordinary visitors, hence we seem to 
have the very best in the respective classes 
the kingdom can produce. 
Every one Avho has seen the Potato com¬ 
petitions admits that in no case can they be 
anywhere excelled, and thanks to the liberality 
of some of our noted seed firms the ordinary 
vegetable competitions excite the severest 
contest for the prizes offered, quality of the 
finest being supplemented by admirable taste 
in displaying the exhibits. Even in the fruit 
department, Grapes, Apples and Pears always 
present a most attractive feature, so that fruit 
and vegetables combined make up an exhibi¬ 
tion of far more than ordinary interest. That 
these competitions will be considerable this 
year there can be no doubt, especially as the 
Centenary celebration Avill assist to attract 
croAvds of visitors as Avell as of exhibitors. 
It is very pleasant to find that the classes 
of the National Chrysanthemum Society are 
not all devoted to floAvers, but that in spite 
of the apparent anachronism a society specially 
originated for the encouragement of one 
particular autumn floAver, can deA T iate a little 
from a beaten path and take other garden 
products in season under its care and protec¬ 
tion. Without doubt the display presented 
to visitors at the Aquarium next Aveek will 
prove to be one of the most attractive shilling’s- 
Avortli ever seen there. 
Tsoavn Trees.- —It is but natural that at this 
season of. the year the attention of urban 
authorities should be called to the subject of 
planting trees in toAvn streets, because it is 
the proper planting season. We haA r e ample 
proof that there is no lack of trees which 
Avill thrive pretty Avell in a toAvn atmosphere, 
Avhich is too largely an atmosphere of fog and 
smoke. Still it must not be forgotten that 
the very time when toAvns suffer from these 
evils is in the winter, Avhen deciduous trees 
are leafless, hence they suffer less than Avould 
be the case Avere the visitations to come Avhen 
the trees Avere clothed with foliage. The tAvo 
chief difficulties Avhich toAvn-planted trees 
have to encounter are found in very unfit 
soil and lack of moisture at the roots. 
ToAvn streets are noAv largely composed of 
seAvers, gas and Avater pipes, and other 
subterranean connections, rubble, clay, gravel, 
concrete, Avood-paving, asphalte, granite, &c., 
all of Avhich present elements absolutely unfit 
for tree sustenance. Probably in not one 
street in a thousand in all the kingdom has 
proper provision been made for trees, whilst 
the enormously high price of land in toAvns 
prevents the forming of those broad streets 
Avhich are so essential to the proper groAvth 
of trees. As it is Ave make the mistake of 
planting trees on the sides of streets, some 
of them all too narrow, so that in a short 
time the heads exclude the essential light 
from windoAvs, and the falling leaves in the 
autumn are a danger and nuisance on the 
footways. 
Trees should be planted in the centre of 
roadAvays and streets to form proper boule¬ 
vards, where also an ample- area could be 
left beneath through which water could 
percolate freely to the roots. Unless we can 
give the trees ample room and the roots 
plenty of water we must always look for an 
indifferent result. 
-- 
Gardening- Engagements.—Mr. A. J. Kennedy, for 
the last six and a half years foreman with Mr. McDonald, 
Tayside, as gardener to R. Campbell, Esq., Muirton 
Bank, Perth. Mr. F. Fulford, late foreman at Hally - 
burton House, Cupar Angus, N.B., as gardener to the 
Earl of Mayo, Palmerstown, Straffan, co. Kildare. 
Mildness of the Season in South Wales.—Writing on 
thelstinst., Mr. H. A. Joy, The Gardens, Falconhyrst, 
Penarth, Glamorganshire, says:—“As showing the 
mildness of the season in South Wales, I gathered a dish 
of ripe Strawberries, twenty-eight fruits, from the open 
ground to-day, Nov. 1st, and thought it of such rare 
occurrence as to be worth noting.” 
Chrysanthemum, Louis Boelimer.—We learn from 
America that Mr. Spaulding has recently sent out a 
notice that the pink ostrich plume Chrysanthemum, 
Louis Boehmer, a hairy one like Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, 
will be distributed on January 1st, 1891, and sub¬ 
sequently. Unlike Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, Louis Boehmer 
is described as being one of the strongest growers. 
Croydon Chrysanthemum Show.—We are requested 
to state that there will be a stall for the sale of cut 
flowers, fruit, &c., at the Croydon Chrysanthemum 
show on Wednesday and Thursday next, the proceeds 
of which will be devoted to the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund ; and that suitable contributions for the same 
will be gratefully received on either day by the local 
secretary, Mr. G. W. Cummins. Parcels should be 
addressed to him at The Rink, Park Lane, Croydon. 
Death of Mr. John Noble.—With much regret we 
have to record the passing away of another notable 
patron of horticulture in the person of Mr. John Noble, 
of Park Place, Henley-on-Thames, who died suddenly 
of heart disease on the 28th ult., aged 77. Mr. Noble 
was a keen lover of the beautiful in all things, and was 
passionately fond of gardening. At Berry Hill, Taplow, 
and subsequently at Park Place, he spent large sums in 
planting and beautifying his gardens and pleasure 
grounds, from which to the last he derived the greatest 
amount of pleasure. 
Paraguay Tea (or mate) is an infusion of the 
leaves of Ilex paraguayensis, and probably I. gongonha 
and I. theezans, which are prepared by roasting the 
branches on hurdles over a wood fire, and then beating 
the leaves to powder with sticks on a hard floor. 
Three kinds are distinguished—“caa-cuys” (the half- 
expanded leaf buds), “eaa-miri” (leaf deprived of 
midrib), “caa-guaza” (whole-leaf and small branches 
roasted). The consumption reaches more than 
8,000,000 lbs. yearly in South America .—Society of 
Arts Journal. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society.—Mr. 
Alderman Galloway having been appointed Mayor of 
Preston for the ensuing year, it is suggested, in order 
to show their appreciation of his valuable services to 
the society, that all members (who can do so) should 
send as many plants, flowers, fruit, or vegetables as 
they may consider worthy of being staged to the next 
monthly meeting, to be held on Saturday evening, the 
15th of November. After the meeting it is proposed 
that the whole of the exhibits be removed to the 
Council Chamber of the Town Hall, for the inspection 
of the Mayor and Corporation on the occasion of the 
Mayor’s procession to church on Sunday morning, 
the 16th. 
Death of Mr. A. Wilson, of Sheffield.—Deep regret is 
expressed by Orchid growers generally in the north at 
the death, on the 29th ult., of Mr. Alfred Wilson, of 
Westbrook, Sheffield (aged fifty-one), the owner of 
one of the richest collections of Orchids in the north 
of England. Mr. Wilson was the second son of the 
late Mr. Henry Wilson, of Westbrook, and after 
graduating at Wadham College, Oxford, joined 
his father in the business carried on at Westbrook 
Mills, where the celebrated “ top mill ” snuff is manu¬ 
factured. On the death of his father in 1880 Mr. 
Alfred Wilson succeeded to the business, and had 
conducted it ever since. He passed a retired and 
