May 11, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
577 
CHRYSANTHEMUM CULTURE. 
The Cutting-down System. 
The time for cutting down Chrysanthemums for group¬ 
ing purposes being close at hand, a few hints thereon 
as to the time of operation and varieties I have found 
best suited to the system in this neighbourhood may be 
useful to some of your readers who may be about to 
commence this method of “ dwarfing ” plants. One of 
the most important points to consider is the treatment 
required by the plant to develop the bud as near as 
possible to the desired time, so that it may be taken at 
the right time to give good blooms. It may save much 
disappointment to know what sorts may generally be 
relied on to give the best results, as many of them 
resent this “dwarfing” treatment by giving a poor 
return after taking as much house-room as those that 
usually do well. It does not always follow that 
because a variety is late in flowering it should be the 
first cut down ; it would depend more on what time the 
bud should be “taken.” 
Again, locality and situation should be taken into 
account and allowed for accordingly. I can, perhaps, 
explain this more clearly when I state that in a con¬ 
temporary some time ago a Notts grower recommended 
the cutting down of Eve, Mabel Ward, Cherub, Hero 
of Stoke Newington, Princess Teck, and Mrs. Norman 
Davis not later than the last week in April. In this 
neighbourhood the date given would be fully a fort¬ 
night too early for the three former, and a month too 
soon for cutting back the three latter varieties. The 
buds would come much too early, and the result would 
be rough and deformed blooms. If instead of this we 
cut back Princess Teck, Hero of Stoke Newington and 
Mrs. Norman Davis about the first week in June, they 
give us the bud generally on or about the first week in 
September, and a good bloom may then be expected. 
These varieties would have to be housed earlier than 
most of the others to get them into flower at the same 
time. The four Christines and Cullingfordi are other 
examples of this kind. When two or more plants of 
one variety are to be cut down, a few days should be 
allowed between each, to make up for fluctuating 
seasons. For instance—of two plants of Princess Teck, 
cut one down the last week in May, and the other the 
first week in June. We cut ours down to about 4 ins. 
or 6 ins. from the soil, and stand them in an open 
situation to keep the young shoots dwarf and sturdy. 
For the same reason we seldom ever syringe as some 
recommend. As soon as the plants have pushed their 
buds shift into flowering pots, and if the soil is in a 
suitable condition—neither too wet nor too dry —it can 
scarcely be rammed too firmly. Three to five shoots 
should be left on each plant (according as the flowers 
are large or small), and the same number of stakes 
placed in each pot to tie out the shoots as they grow. 
The soil we find them do best in is a mixture very 
similar to that recommended by Mr. Molyneux in his 
excellent treatise on the Chrysanthemum. The course 
of feeding advised by him is also very safe and sound, 
and young beginners cannot do better than follow his 
instructions thereon. The incurved varieties that do 
best cut back with us are Princess of Wales, Mrs. 
Heale, Barbara, Lord Wolseley, Prince Alfred, John 
Salter, Jardin des Plantes, Mr. Brunlees, Eve, Mabel 
Ward, Mr. Bunn, White Beverley, Lady Hardinge, 
Mrs. W. Shipman, Refulgence, and Prince of Wales. 
Of the Queen class, the only two to be depended upon 
are Lord Alcester and Golden Empress, though some¬ 
times by chance we may catch Empress of India, Emily 
Dale, and Queen of England. 
Among Japanese kinds, M. C. Audiguier, almost 
without exception, comes good with us cut back. We 
usually have it less than 5 ft. in height, and there is 
very little difference in the blooms of the dwarf plants 
compared with those grown in the usual way, which are 
often 8 ft. or 9 ft. high. Golden Dragon, Meg 
Merrilies, and Ralph Brocklebank can generally be had 
good at a little over 2 ft. high. The other best 
Japanese varieties are J. Delaux, Countess of Beaure- 
garde, Gloriosum, Belle Paule, I.’Adorable, Criterion, 
Sir Joseph (bronze sport from Peter the Great), Yal 
d’Andorre, Mons. Freeman, Madame de Sevin, Triomphe 
du Nord, Album striatum, &c. Good reflexed sorts for 
the purpose are Cullingfordi, Cloth of Gold, Chevalier 
Domage, and the four Christines—white, peach, pink, 
and golden. 
Subjoined is a list of varieties which generally come 
good with us when cut down. Appended is the time 
for the latter operation -.—Middle of May : Eve and 
Mabel Ward. End of May: Mr. Brunlees, Cherub, 
Barbara, J. Delaux, Margaret Marrouch, Gloriosum, 
Belle Paule, Golden Dragon, Meg Merrilies, Ralph 
Brocklebank, M. C. Audiguier, Miss Annie Lowe, 
and Lady Margaret. First week in June : Jardin des 
Plantes, Mrs. Heale, Princess of Wales, Prince Alfred, 
Prince of Wales, Pyince Teck, Hero of Stoke New¬ 
ington, Lady Hardinge, Mrs. W. Shipman, Empress 
Eugenie, Mrs. Norman Davis, Lord Alcester, Golden 
Empress, and Queen of England class ; Mr. Bunn, 
White Beverley, Mr. Brunlees, John Salter, Baron 
Beust, M. C. Audiguier, Belle Paule, Thunberg, M. 
Delaux, Criterion, Yal d’Andorre, Triomphe du Nord, 
Sir Joseph, Striatum, Album striatum, Cloth of Gold, the 
four Christines, Chevalier Domage, Red Gauntlet, and 
Countess of Beuregarde. Second week in June : Mr. 
Bunn, White Beverley, Prince Alfred, Prince of Wales, 
Refulgence, Chevalier Domage, Cullingfordi, Val d’An¬ 
dorre, Elaine, Madame Lacroix, Madame de Sevin, 
and Triomphe du Nord. The new varieties, such as 
Edwin Molyneux, Mrs. J. Wright, Mr. Cannell, Sun¬ 
flower, &c., I have not yet tried, but hope to do so this 
year. 
For the backs of groups a few such varieties as the 
following should always be grown, not cut back— 
namely, Yal d’Andorre, Avalanche, Madame J. Laing, 
Cullingfordi, Cloth of Gold, Criterion, Dolores, Mons. 
Freeman, L’Adorable, Golden Dragon, Meg Merrilies, 
Ralph Brocklebank, Princess Teck, Hero of Stoke 
Newington, Princess Beatrice, Madame de Sevin, Lady 
Hardinge, and some of the Empress of India and Queen 
of England family. These should have as much light 
and air possible to keep them sturdy, and as dwarf as 
it is possible to get them.— S. P., The Gardens, 
Broomfield Lodge, Chelmsford. 
-- 
HESPERIS MATRONALIS. 
The Dame’s Violet or common Rocket is well known 
as an old-fashioned plant in almost every cottage 
garden, where it flowers about midsummer with very 
HESPERIS MATRONALIS. 
much the general appearance of a Phlox. In colour 
the flowers vary considerably from pale lilac to deep 
purple. It is considered a British plant, and described 
as such in the floras. As garden plants, however, the 
double forms are more esteemed than the single, and 
vary from pure white to deep purple. We give an 
illustration of a double variety, showing the habit of 
the plant, with a detached flower more near the natural 
size. The double white form, H. m. alba plena, when 
obtained true, is undoubtedly the best of all. Where 
it is well grown, the flower spikes at a short distance 
resemble double white Stocks ; and their purity renders 
them conspicuous at a great distance. In the moister 
climate of the northern part of the island the plant 
thrives and flowers much more satisfactorily than in 
the dry atmosphere of the south. The best effect is 
produced when the plants are grown in beds, masses, 
or long lines along the sides of walks. The flowers of 
all, but especially the white forms, are sweetly scented 
after sunset. Propagation is easily effected by off-sets 
developed from the root stock towards the end of 
summer. 
--■*>$*-*- 
STREET PLANTING. 
To those whose lot is cast in or near our more im¬ 
portant centres of industry, the above subject is of vast 
importance, and one which, at the present time, 
occupies a large share of public attention. The surprise 
experienced by most persons in this country on first 
visiting any of the larger Continental cities—Paris, 
Brussels, or Berlin, and where street planting would 
seem to be considered as a matter of paramount im¬ 
portance—is great indeed, and invariably leads to the 
somewhat pertinent question, “ Why cannot we make 
our cities beautiful by planting suitable trees and 
shrubs ? ” 
No doubt there are a few drawbacks to be encountered 
in so doing, but that very much more might be 
accomplished than has hitherto been done is clearly 
evident to those who have devoted even a small share 
of attention to the matter. The atmosphere of our 
larger towns and cities—London, Liverpool, Glasgow, 
Manchester, and Sheffield—is, it must be candidly 
admitted, impregnated to a far greater extent with 
noxious fumes and vapours than is that of any of the 
Continental towns above mentioned, and, therefore, the 
difficulty of establishing many trees and shrubs is 
correspondingly increased. Experiments carried on 
during the last few years in one of the most filthy, 
smoke-laden, and chemically impure atmospheres of 
our great metropolis have clearly proved, however, 
that there are not a few trees and shrubs well suited 
for withstanding even the deleterious effects of what 
we may well term as the impurest of town atmospheres. 
Not for one moment do I wish it to be inferred that 
there are not certain districts—to wit, the environs of 
the Lambeth potteries, and some of our huge chemical 
works—where, do what we will, vegetation, be it of what¬ 
ever kind, will not succeed ; but as we recede from 
these centres of sickness and death particular trees and 
shrubs flourish amazingly, and no better example can be 
pointed out than the healthy and rapid-growing 
specimens that adorn the Thames Embankment, and 
which are removed but a very short distance indeed 
from one of the barrenest and most miserable of our 
city suburbs—the pottery district. 
That certain trees and shrubs succeed best in particu¬ 
lar towns is another strange fact, for curious as it may 
seem, the smoke-proof London Plane is by no means 
the best tree for either Liverpool or 'Warrington, par¬ 
ticularly the former town, where the Sycamore has been 
found to be far better adapted. In the very centre of 
Sheffield the Canadian Poplar has been found to be by 
far the most useful tree, while in some of the worst 
localities in the colliery districts the Chestnut and 
variegated-leaved Sycamore are the greatest favourites. 
The Rhododendron does well, and is largely planted in 
the most smoky parts of the town of Bury, even where 
little attention has been paid to the class of soil in 
which it is grown, whereas at Eversham, on the 
opposite side of Liverpool, and about the same distance 
therefrom as Bury, repeated experiments have proved 
that it is almost useless to attempt its cultivation. 
I have often thought, however, that no better 
example could be adduced of how certain trees favour 
certain towns than two or three kinds of Poplar which 
grow with unabated vigour at Gatley, a small town on 
the outskirts of Manchester, whereas at Bury, on the 
opposite side of the same city, and at about an equal 
distance therefrom on one side as Gatley is on the 
other, this tree positively refuses to grow, and that too 
after many unsuccessful attempts to get it established. 
Neither the Rhododendron nor the Laurel are at all 
suitable for the smoky districts of London ; but casual 
observers are gulled into a different opinion by the 
appearance of such of these shrubs as are re-planted 
annually, the semi-sickly subjects being replaced at 
stated times by those that are fresh and vigorous. 
Why certain trees and shrubs succeed best in par¬ 
ticular districts or towns is, perhaps, readily enough 
explained by the conditions of soil and situation, as well 
as the particular industry of the inhabitants. Coal 
smoke from the multitudinous shafts and chimneys of 
our larger centres of industry is no doubt bad enough ; 
but when we have to contend with an atmosphere 
largely impregnated with the outcome from chemical, 
gas, or iron works, the difficulties to be encountered 
are great indeed.— A. D. Webster. 
-^ 3=0 - 
WEXHAM PARK, SLOUGH. 
A few days ago I had the pleasure of walking through 
these beautiful gardens, the property of Sir Charles 
Pigott, Bart. This fine place is situated in the county 
of Buckinghamshire, about three miles from Slough 
station. Until recently very little had been heard of 
these gardens among horticulturists ; but since Mr. 
Ford, the present gardener, took charge about eighteen 
months ago, a decided change for the better has taken 
place, and a great addition has been made to the glass 
department. 
One house was well furnished with beautifully-trained 
Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Amongst the latter were 
some very fine specimens, which no doubt will soon be 
taking a prominent part in some of the coming exhi¬ 
bitions. It would be impossible to give a list of such 
an extensive collection, so I will endeavour to enumerate 
a few of the best. A grand specimen of Due de Nassau, 
with its rosy purple flowers, was an imposing sight, as 
was Mdme. Alex. Hardy, with crimson and orange 
