204 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 29, 1890. 
Had this type being carefully selected, I think some 
charming novelties might have been obtained from it. 
The single and double forms alike ate very useful for 
cutting from. Here, during the fourth week in 
Hovember, I have been able to cut a handful of 
pretty golden flowers, that come in useful for garden 
decoration. Ho one need despise common things in 
the garden ; they have their periods of usefulness, for 
which we have reason to he thankful.—if. I). 
- -»£*•- 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
--t-- 
Chrysanthemums at the Centenary Show. 
The committee of the National Chrysanthemum Society 
is much indebted to Mr. H. Briscoe-Ironside, for a 
carefully marked catalogue of all the varieties of 
Chrysanthemum staged at the late Centenary Show at 
the Royal Aquarium, which he presented at the 
meeting on Monday evening last. It will doubtless be 
of great interest to many to know that the total number 
exhibited was 299, made up as follows :—Japanese, 78; 
Japanese incurved, 19 ; Japanese reflexed, 20 ; Incurved, 
64 ; Reflexed, 19 ; Anemones, 24 ; Japanese Anemones, 
12 ; Pompons, 40 ; and Pompon Anemones, 21. 
Chrysanthemum, Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. 
At a meeting of the Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Society, held on the 20th inst., a splendid 
specimen of this flower was exhibited by Mr. B. 
Cromwell, The Gardens, Clevely, Allerton. The 
flower was fully 7 ins. in diameter, and from 3 ins. 
to 4 ins. in depth, the petals full and of good sub¬ 
stance, the centre being covered with its hair-like 
appendages. Mr. Cromwell stated that the flower was 
the least of two on a plant grown from a cutting taken 
from a plant cultivated at Clevely last year. The. 
cittting was put in at the usual time and stopped in 
March, and the first bud shown after that produced 
the flower exhibited. The plant was about 5 ft. in 
height. The speaker stated that he believed the 
variety would prove a valuable one, but had been 
weakened by excessive propagation.— R. G. W. 
Chrysanthemum Gus Harris. 
Foe exhibition purposes this extremely floriferous 
variety does not seem to be received with much favour 
either as specimen plants or for cut bloom. It may 
with equal propriety, however, be said that the growing 
of single varieties into exhibition specimens does not 
seem to have taken with the public generally, for, 
notwithstanding the prizes offered for them at several 
exhibitions, very few or no plants at all appear. The 
flowers are rosy lilac with a yellow centre, and of 
medium size ; but they are produced in enormous 
numbers by plants which are grown on the free and 
easy or bush system. When prizes are offered for cut 
blooms of single flowers only a few of the larger kinds 
are shown on the boards year after year. Now these 
large kinds are all very well in their way, but the 
awards of the judges (who, however, are not to blame 
in the matter) restrict the choice of the exhibitor to 
those large kinds, the plants of which, if seen by the 
public, would not be very attractive, by reason of the 
few flowers they bear. Now many of the smalie r 
flowered kinds, like Gus Harris and Miss Rose, when 
seen in bush form, are exceedingly attractive. 
Dahlia imperialis. 
Wheel large conservatories have to be filled, Dahlia 
imperialis would prove a desirable acquisition on account 
of the size it attains, and its lateness of flowering. 
Against the dark green foliage of Camellias it would 
show itself off to advantage. The flowers are produced 
in a terminal panicle, and notwithstanding the fact 
that the plaDt grows 10 ft. or 12 ft. high, the flower 
heads droop in such a way as to show themselves off to 
advantage. They are bell-shaped, and white tinted 
with lilac, but in dull November light they appear 
almost white. The huge leaves are much more finely 
divided than those of the common Dahlia, and are 
therefore more elegant in character. Owing to its 
lateness in coming into bloom, it cannot be grown in 
the same wav as the common kinds, but has to be lifted 
and potted up, or what is better, grown in pots out of 
doors, shifting the plants on as they require it, 
ultimately putting them in large pots or tubs. As the 
weather becomes cold and unsettled, the plants should 
be removed indoors and accorded a slight warmth, after 
which they will soon show flower. Plants have been 
flowering for some time past in the temperate house at 
Kew 
Olivia Gardsni. 
Stove or greenhouse treatment seems to suit this 
plant equally well, for it flowers well in either case, 
and does not get drawn in the higher temperature ; the 
flower stems may indeed get a little longer, but just 
sufficiently so to make the plant more graceful and 
show the flowers off to more advantage. The latter are 
tubular, arching, orange-red, except at the tip, which 
is green, thus affording a beautiful and interesting 
contrast. The plant is already in flower, even in a 
greenhouse temperature, and will remain in beauty 
for a long time. The flowers are succeeded by fruits, 
which ultimately change into red berries and remain 
upon the plant for several weeks in good condition. 
In addition to this, the foliage being evergreen, the 
plant preserves a presentable appearance at all times of 
the year. It might well be grown for the sake of 
contrast with the large-flowered varieties of C. miniata, 
which have attained such popularity, but are wanting 
in that diversity which one would like to see in well- 
ordered and extensive collections. 
The Strawberry Tree. 
Considering the fine appearance of Arbutus Unedo 
at all times of the year, it is surprising that it has not 
been more extensively planted, not merely in rural 
establishments, but in suburban villa and other gardens. 
The smooth leathery leaves enable the plant to with¬ 
stand the effects of a sooty atmosphere remarkably 
well ; and the plant being of comparatively slow 
growth, it might with great propriety be planted 
instead of the too frequent and unsuitable Araucaria 
imbricata and Sequoia gigantea, which after a few years 
get too large for the small gardens, and also darken the 
interior of the house by being planted in front of the 
windows. If left to itself it forms a close bush ; but 
if so desired it may be made to form a small pyramidal 
tree. Again, not only are the leaves beautiful in form 
and colour, but the flowers lend additional interest 
during the autumn and early winter months, at 
which time the berry-like fruits of the previous year 
also ripen. Shoots laden with scarlet fruit being 
brought into market at present are very ornamental. 
Lapageria rosea, Nash Court var. 
The supeiiority of this variety is still maintained. 
The length of the flowers, their rich dark colour and 
the texture of the segments are the leading charac¬ 
teristics of the flowers ; but the number of the latter 
borne close together, so as to form a spray, is wonderful. 
The usual rule is that when the flowers of anything 
increase greatly in size, they decrease in numbers, and 
since in this case there seems no falling away in 
numbers, the plant must be possessed of unusual 
constitutional vigour. This also is attested by the 
great size of the leathery leaves. We noted a large 
plant recently in a greenhouse at the Stanstead Nursery 
of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. On two 
sprays, each about 2| ft. long, there were forty-five 
flowers, of which thirty-two were open and in perfect- 
condition, at one and the same time. 
Ooleworts. 
The market growers in the suburbs of London generally 
plant ordinary Cabbages late in the year, and pull them 
while- yet quite young. The Coleworts of modern 
times are, however, purely and simply Cabbages, but 
they are small ones and very hardy. The most 
popular variety is the Rosette or Early London Cole- 
wort, which is simply a small Cabbage, with somewhat 
of the general appearance of the Early York, but 
rather flattened on the top, and therefore of a different 
shape. The Hardy Green Colewort comes next in 
importance to the Rosette, and is equally hardy. A 
large breadth of the latter may now be seen at the 
Chiswick trial ground of Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, 
Chelsea. The plants are hearting up well, and many 
of them are fit for use. One noticeable feature of the 
variety is the purity of the strain, for the plants all 
look alike, in shape, colour, height, and health. 
Veitch’s Self-Protecting Broccoli. 
At first sight this looks very much like a Cauliflower 
of the type of Yeitch’s Autumn Giant, and so it is of 
that type, but later, and comes into use just as the 
Cauliflower gets out of season. Its value will there¬ 
fore become all the more apparent for this simple 
reason. The leaves are of great length, narrow, and 
glaucous, resembling those of the Cauliflower named, 
but the mid-rib and the principal nerves are much 
whiter. The heads are large, pure white, because well 
protected by the incurving of the younger leaves, hence 
the name which has been applied to it. The plants 
are of great size and vigour, consequently they require 
plenty of room. In the trial grounds of Messrs. J. 
Yeitch & Sons, at Chiswick, the rows are 3 ft. asunder, 
and the plants 2) ft. apart in the rows. The heads of 
this variety remain in usable condition for a long time, 
because they come at a period of the year when growth 
is not very active. 
Purple Sprouting Broccoli. 
The hardiness of this Broccoli specially commends 
itself to growers within the London area, as it with¬ 
stands the winter when Cabbages and other kinds of 
Broccoli get destroyed by alternate freezing and 
thawing, as well as by the influence of fog and smoke. 
A plantation is now making vigorous growth in Messrs. 
J. Yeitch & Sons’ trial grounds at Chiswick. A few of 
the heads are beginning to show themselves, but 
should the weather remain open for some time, they 
will be quite plentiful about Christmas. After the 
first head is cut a number of smaller ones are thrown 
up from the axils of the leaves, producing a succession 
till spring. By making a late sowing, say in May or 
the beginning of June, a succession can be kept up till 
late in spring. When fresh the heads are of a dark 
purple, but by boiling are rendered green, and although 
not so inviting are as tender eating as the white 
varieties. 
Chrysanthemum, Charles Gibson. 
The sportive character of Princess of Teck and all the 
other forms proceeding from it is well known. This 
variability is chiefly, although not entirely, confined to 
colour. The form within certain limits is liable to 
change, !but there is another peculiarity to which 
various members of the group are liable, and that is to 
produce coarse, bristly out-growths from the back of 
the florets close beneath the tips. This feature has 
shown itself this year rather strongly in Charles Gibson, 
as exhibited by a bloom sent us by Mr. W. E. Boyce, 
Archway Road, Highgate. The out-growths in some 
cases are quite strong, and directed backwards, while in 
other cases they are forked, and partake more of the 
nature of hairs, as seen in Mrs. Alpheus Hardy and 
Louis Bcehmer. The bearded character is therefore not 
of modern occurrence, but must have existed to some 
extent for a long period, showing itself more promi¬ 
nently on some occasions than on others, according 
to cultural treatment, the season of the year, or to 
some freak of nature for which we cannot account. 
Pompon Chrysanthemum, President. 
The frequency with which this old-fashioned Pompon 
is met with in villa and cottage gardens, gives evidence 
not only of its popularity, but of its hardiness and 
suitability generally for outdoor culture. Of course, in 
seasons when severe weather sets in early and continues 
for some time, the plants, or at least the flowers, get 
destroyed. This has not been the case as yet in the 
neighbourhood of London, where the plants yet remain 
very gay, notwithstanding the sharp frost .on the 2Sth 
of last month. In some cases the plants are grown 
alongside of the fences, dividing neighbouring gardens, 
and appear like hedges of bloom. Not only is this 
variety suitable for outdoor work, but is equally so 
for trained specimens in pots for exhibition purposes. 
There is nothing striking in the rosy crimson colour of 
the flowers, although very distinct ; but it may be said 
that such a hue is not so liable to be soiled and spotted 
by rough weather as the white-flowered kinds. The 
variety is also known under the name of Mr. Murray, 
but that does not seem to be very prevalent. 
Lincoln Chrysanthemum Show — A 
Question of Classification. 
In the official catalogue of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, centenary edition, I find Alice Bird classed as 
a reflexed, and Sabine as an Anemone-flowered Japanese. 
These varieties were shown according to this classifi¬ 
cation at the Lincoln show, held on the 13th and 14th 
inst., when the two stands containing them were 
disqualified ; the judges holding Alice Bird to be a 
Japanese, and Sabine a large-flowered Anemone. Will 
you be so good as to say which is to be taken as correct. 
— Sabine. [The N. C. S. Catalogue Committee can no 
doubt defend their classification, but among growers 
there is a difference of opinion, some considering Alice 
Bird a reflexed Japanese, and Sabine a large Anemone. 
The Lincoln Society, not being affiliated to the 
National, is not bound to accept its catalogue as the 
standard authority.—E d.] 
