248 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
l)ecember 20, 1890. 
-*i*- 
Chrysanthemum Gossip. 
The earliest report of an exhibition of the Stoke 
Newington Chrysanthemum Society I can find, is of one 
held in the Manor Rooms, Stoke Newington, on the 
20th of November, 1850. It appears to have been a 
very rough day, but there was a good attendance, and 
the report says, “ Superb collections of plants and cut 
blooms, exhibiting the perfection to which these 
popular flowers have been brought by the untiring and 
unceasing energy of the exhibiting florist.” 
It would appear that on this occasion there were classes 
simply for Chrysanthemums, for there were none for 
Pompons, and it would appear that this type was only 
just beginning to be recognised, for the report states, 
“ Some Pompons or Lilliputian varieties were shown by 
Mr. Salter. The varieties were Pouledetto, Le Fiancee, 
Chapeau Rouge, Bijou, Circe d’Or, Le Nain Bebe, 
Julie, Langlade, Elise Miellez, La Laponne, and 
Henriette Sydonie. Apparently these were all of conti¬ 
nental origin, and English growers doubtless had 
scarcely had time to make up their minds to recognise 
them. The leading exhibitors were Messrs. Taylor, 
W. Holmes, and R. James, both Mr. Taylor and Mr. 
James taking the leading honours, and Mr. E. 
Sanderson was placed fifth with six varieties. 
In the class for twenty-four blooms, not less than 
twelve varieties, Mr. Taylor was first with Imperial, 
Gen. Morceaux, Pilot, Golden Cluster, Beauty, Goliath, 
King, Temple de Salomon, Princess Marie, Madame 
Hardy, Campestroni, Defiance, Madame Poggi, For- 
mosum, and Annie Salter. In Mr. James’ first prize 
twelve appeared, distinct from the foregoing, Queen of 
England, Duke, Warden, Yesta, Clustered Yellow, Two 
coloured incurved, and Rabelais. Mr. Taylor’s, first 
prize six blooms were Piolat, King, Superb Clustered 
Yellow, Defiance, Beauty, and Annie Salter. 
The first prize six plants came from Mr. James, who 
had Defiance, Madame Poggi, Vesta, Pilot, Annie 
Salter, and Madame Cameron. The best specimen 
plant was Pilot, shown by Mr. James, Mr. W. Holmes 
coming second with Vesta. Of the varieties shown in 
1850, a few survive to this day, such as Beauty, Annie 
Salter, Queen of England, and Temple de Salomon. 
On that occasion Mr. John Salter exhibited Pio 
Nono, described as a new variety, possessing much 
merit, colour carmine-red with golden tips. This 
flower is to be found in the Centenary edition of the 
catalogue of the National Chrysanthemum Society. 
The judges on that occasion were Mr. C. Turner, 
Mr. J. T. Neville, Mr. John Salter, and Mr. John 
Fraser ; the last named being the only survivor of 
this quartette of horticultural worthies.— E. D. 
The National Pink Society (Midland Section). 
The following circular has recently been posted to 
Pink growers in the midland counties:—“Following 
on the successful exhibitions of the florists’ laced Pinks 
held this year at the Aquarium, for the southern' 
section, and the Botanical Gardens, Manchester, for 
the northern section, Mr. Richard Dean, in The 
Gardening World of July 26th, made a happy 
suggestion that a midland show should be held in 
connection with the Wolverhampton floral fete, July 
14th, 15th, and 16th, 1891 ; and this having been 
taken up by a few lovers of this delightful flower, 
negotiations were opened with Mr. Green, the president 
of the Wolverhampton horticultural committee, with 
the result that he has consented to find the necessary 
tent space for exhibiting the Pinks, and also to recom¬ 
mend his committee to contribute towards the prize 
money. May I ask for your kind assistance in an 
endeavour to establish this section on a firm basis ?— 
Chas. F. Thurstan, lion. sec. (pro tern.), Penn Fields , 
Wolverhampton. 
New Chrysanthemums. 
Rhdbeceia. —In this variety we have a notable in¬ 
crease in size over other single sorts in cultivation, not 
forgetting Mary Anderson, Lady Churchill, Jane, and 
others of that type which may be grown to large size. 
The rays are moderately numerous, about two or three 
layers deep, and the whole head measures 6J ins. in 
diameter. The colour of the rays, as far as we could 
determine through the fog of the 10th inst., was of a 
deep red, and white at the very base. The sides of the 
rays are incurved below the middle. The yellow disc 
is elevated and hemispherical, so that on the whole 
the flower heads are very suggestive of a Rudbeckia 
similar to R. purpurea, hence the name given to 
the variety. Kioto. —This is an incurved Japanese 
variety of very distinct appearance. All the florets are 
closely and firmly incurved, forming a flattened head 
of medium width, and somewhat depressed in the 
centre. They are of a clear yellow, and shining, with 
a satiny lustre. Both were exhibited by Mr. R. Owen, 
Maidenhead, at the committee meeting of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society, held at the Royal Aquarium 
on the 10th inst., and were awarded First Class 
Certificates. 
Chrysanthemum Exhibitions. 
Do not the very pretty single varieties deserve more 
notice at the annual exhibition, and may I suggest 
that classes for plants should be made in schedules ? 
Cut flowers do not show them to the same advantage 
as plants in pots would ; and I should like to see the 
charming Anemone - flowered varieties have ample 
encouragement also, for we now have several varieties 
and many of them beautiful .—Gns Harris. 
-- 
STORED POTATOS. 
Recent severe frosts, and the intense one of Sunday 
morning last especially, will have found out the weak 
places in Potato stores thoroughly, and we may not be 
surprised to learn of large quantities of Potatos being 
literally destroyed in consequence. A few com¬ 
paratively mild winters, without extreme frost, serve to 
lull somewhat to a sense of security, so that when all at 
once the thermometer goes down to zero, there is found 
to be such tremendous destruction of tender roots, 
Potatos especially, as to literally appal when the extent 
of the mischief is determined. 
Those who have Potatos in pits are perhaps as well off 
as any, if beyond the small covering of soil, they have 
added a good coating of litter. Perhaps the best place, 
however, for storing Potatos is a sunken shed or cellar, 
where the floor being below the ground-line, the atmo¬ 
sphere of the store is not so readily cooled, and only 
the surface of the Potatos is exposed to frost. In such 
cases a little covering goes a long way. Where stores 
are of thin walls or boards, or practically open sheds, 
exclusion of frost, such as we have recently endured, is 
of extreme difficulty. 
We may pile on the litter and the 'mats, but the 
intensely low temperature seems to penetrate every¬ 
where. Potatos laid out on shelves are in as great a 
danger from below as from above, and where in boxes, 
tubs, &e., are subject to freezing through crevices and 
joints. Only the most extraordinary precautions would 
have succeeded in making Potatos safe of late. It will 
not be a matter for surprise to learn that because of 
incidental losses, prices have gone up. If that be so, 
well will it be for those who, having taken these 
precautions, are on the right side.— A. D. 
-->X<-- 
MEDICINAL HERBS. 
That fifty years ago the great bulk of the poorer classes 
were physicked by means of common garden herbs, and 
of certain medicinal ones found in woods and hedge¬ 
rows, there can be no doubt. It is probable that 
nine-tenths of those who took physic, did so because of 
imaginary complaints, or because it was thought the 
right thing to do at certain seasons of the year. Of 
wild herbs few were more popular than Wood-sage, 
Ground Ivy, both famous for spring consumption as 
blood purifiers. In gardens we grew Horehound, Rue, 
Peppermint, Tansy, Pennyroyal, and a few others, all 
assumed valuable as medicines. 
The poor man’s pharmacopoeia in those days was a 
limited one, and of foreign substances did not get far 
beyond salts and senna, and brimstone and treacle. 
We have got a long way from all this sort of physic 
now, and most of the poorer classes prefer to indulge 
in patent medicines, some very good perhaps, the bulk 
sheer humbug, but which through the force of continued 
advertising have become popular. Largely because of 
this extensive patent medicine trade the old fancy or 
faith in herbs has been nearly exterminated. We do 
not know that humanity has materially benefited by the 
change. It is all very well to assume that the ills we 
suffer from, come because flesh is heir to them, but 
usually they are legacies of our own creation. 
There is very much wisdom in the old adjuration, 
“to throw physic to the dogs,” especially quack 
physic. The wise man who really needs medicine goes 
to a qualified medical man for advice, and if he has 
not been too late in his application, and acts up to his 
instructions usually benefits therefrom. The ignorant 
dependant upon the medicine of quackery is like a 
tempest-tost mariner, who, to save himself from 
drowning, clutches at every passing spar, but finds 
death at last, through lack of a proper life-belt.— -X. 
--•>$<»- 
MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS 
It is difficult to lay down an exact distinction between 
a Toadstool and a Mushroom, unless we employ the 
popularly accepted opinion, and term all Agarics that 
are "poisonous Toadstools, and all the edible ones 
Mushrooms. We are afraid, however, this will not 
distinguish them botanically. Then, again, many of 
them which are looked upon by the masses as suspicious 
and considered Toadstools are not only harmless but 
edible, and considered wholesome by fungologists. 
Amongst these is Coprinus comatus, which is an 
agreeable adjunct to fried steak and stews. It is never 
found far from human dwellings. C. deliquescens, its 
congener, which we figure in company with the 
Cyclamen, is not received with such favour. It is 
often found in rich garden soil, also on horse-dung in 
the fields and on heaps of farm-yard manure which 
have been carted to the fields and laid up in a 
heap. What is of more importance to gardeners, it 
sometimes makes its appearance in vast numbers in 
Mushroom beds, much to the cultivator’s disgust, 
who naturally blames the spawn, although that 
may have been entirely innocent. Should +his 
Agaric make its appearance in large numbers in a 
Agap.ichs campestkis. 
Mushroom bed, clearly the best plan to pursue is to 
clear out the bed and make a fresh one. The specific 
name is given on account of the inky-like fluid or pulp 
into which this and a number of other species rapidly 
deliquesce. Another species, named C. atramentarius, 
has sometimes been used for making ink, yet it has 
also been used along with other Agarics for making 
ketchup. All the species have much in common, grow 
with great rapidity, and decay as quickly. 
Our other illustration, representing Agarious cam- 
nestris, will recall the familiar appearance of the 
common cultivated Mushroom. When quite fresh the 
solid part of the cap is white, but the gills are pale pink 
or salmon coloured. As the latter get old they change 
to a purplish brown, or, to the naked eye, almost 
black ; and this is generally the condition in which 
we see them in the market. In Italy the species 
which we prize and cultivate is looked upon with 
suspicion, and is said even to be poisonous. If so, this 
would be attributable to differences in conditions and 
climate, causing a larger development of the injurious 
alkali which they contain. 
-- 
MISTLETO THEN AND NOW. 
The use of Mistleto in ceremonies of one kind or other 
dates back to a vast antiquity. Prior to the dawn of 
Christianity, it was held in great veneration by the 
Druids or priests of a people who worshipped the sun. 
Sun-worship prevailed over a wide area amongst the 
ancient Phoenicians, Egyptians, Hindoos, Peruvians 
and Mexicans. The Druids, or men of the Oaks, take 
their name from the Celtic dm, an Oak. They wor¬ 
shipped under Oak trees, and had the greatest vener¬ 
ation for Mistleto which was found growing on Oaks. 
