194 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 28,1891. 
gestible and slightly astringent, the roasted, and 
especially the boiled nuts are readily digestible, and 
may be eaten in large quantities without ill effects. 
To schoolboys the practice of roasting Chestnuts 
upon the bars of the fire-grate has been handed down 
from forgotten generations, whilst the Chestnut-roast¬ 
ing braziers that may be seen at this season of the 
year in the streets of London would seem to indicate 
the existence of a small industry which cannot be 
without its lucrative side. 
As regards their composition, Chestnuts, like Acorns, 
are starchy rather than oily nuts, such as Cocoanuts, 
Walnuts, Filberts, and Almonds, and are more diges¬ 
tible than the latter. Sweet Chestnuts, in fact, closely 
approach Wheat in composition, but contain less 
starch, and rather more substances of a sugarly na¬ 
ture. In Pennsylvania an effort is being made to ex¬ 
tend the cultivation of the Chestnut as a branch of 
fruit culture. As the trees do not begin to bear fruit 
until they are ten or twelve years old, the practice of 
grafting is recommended. Slaty and sandy hills and 
mountain slopes not under cultivation will suit the 
Chestnut admirably, and, besides its fruit, few trees 
are of greater use in furnishing wood for posts and 
for many other purposes upon the farm. The wood 
is light and porous, but derives special value from its 
durability. There is plenty of poor land in the south 
and west of England which might bring in some re¬ 
turn if planted with Sweet Chestnuts ; for, besides 
yielding an annual crop, which undoubtedly has a 
value, it provides a wood which has its special uses. 
NEW § Wim 1'L7PI ! 3. 
The undermentioned subjects were exhibited at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society held in 
the Drill Hall on the ioth inst., and received awards 
according to their character and value. 
Gerbera Jamesoni. —Many of the South African 
composites are of a weedy character, while there 
are others highly deserving of cultivation. That 
under notice is one of the latter, and comes from 
the Transvaal. The leaves are 6 to 12 in. long, 
coarsely runcinate pinnatifid somewhat similarly to 
those of a Dandelion, but larger, of much thicker 
texture, with a larger terminal lobe, and of a duller 
green colour. The flower heads are large and borne 
singly on scapes about a foot long, arising from the 
radical tuft of leaves. The true stem apparently 
never elongates. The orange-scarlet rays are long, 
slender and spreading, but sufficiently numerous to 
form a close ray, and the head as exhibited by Mr. 
R. J. Lynch, of the Cambridge Botanic Garden, 
measuredin. across. The florets of the disc were 
edged with red, while the styles and stamens were 
yellow. A First-class Certificate was awarded it. 
Stapelia gigantea. —The Giant Carrion Flower 
of South Africa is at once the finest, the largest 
flowered, and the most singularof the whole genus of 
60 species. The stems are tetraquetrous with four 
deep obtusely crenate angles, and of a dull green, 
suffused with red. The five-rayed and star-like 
flowers are convex .spreading, and vary from 9 in. to 
14 in. in diameter. The surface of the corolla is 
wrinkled, pale yellow, curiously marked with trans¬ 
verse, wavy, reddish purple lines, and densely 
covered/with woolly, violet or magenta hairs that are 
longest on the margin of the segments. The corona 
in the centre consists of fifteen brownish-purple or 
almost black processes, of which the five outer are 
spreading and the rest erect. A fine plant with two 
flowers was exhibited by Mr. C. Wood, gardener to 
the Right Hon. Lord Hylton, Merstham, when a 
First-class Certificate was awarded it. 
Rhopaloblaste hexandra. —A Palm of a showy 
and decorative character was shown under this name 
by Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway. 
It bore five leaves varying from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in length, 
and which were gracefully arching and pinnate. 
The width and beauty of the leaves may be imagined 
from the fact that the narrowly linear, closely ar¬ 
ranged deep shining green pinnae varied from 6 in, 
to 12 in. in length. The petioles were fluted or 
deeply channelled on the upper surface, scurfy and 
brown, while the midrib of the leaf was of a darker 
brown. Notwithstanding the size of the plant, it 
was grown in a 32 size pot. A First-class Certificate 
was awarded it. 
Aster Grandiflorus. —The stems of this distinct 
looking Aster grow about 2 ft. or 2J ft. high, and 
become considerably branched in the upper portion. 
The leaves arc cblong spathulate, recurved, and 
never very large, but those on the upper part of the 
stem and branches are both small and numerous, 
gradually passing into the bracts of the flower-heads. 
The latter are large, deep, purplish-blue, and pro¬ 
duced singly at the apex of the stems as well as the 
numerous, short, lateral shoots or branches. A well 
flowered plant in a pot was exhibited by Messrs. 
Barr & Son, Covent Garden, and received an Award 
of Merit. 
Chrysanthemum Holborn Rose.— The heads of 
this reflexed Japanese variety are of large size, and 
when fully expanded, of a deep purple-rose. The 
florets are broad, evenly and regularly recurved, and 
silvery on the reverse, which is not shown. 
Chrysanthemum Miss Bella Wilson.— New 
incurved varieties are by no means common, and 
that shown under this name was very distinct, both 
in form and colouring, but will require a little dress¬ 
ing for exhibition purposes. The heads are large, 
globular, and deep, with moderately wide florets of a 
deep, rosy purple on the upper surface, and silvery 
rose on the reverse. Both this and the last named 
variety were exhibited by Messrs J. Carter & Co., 
receiving Awards of Merit. They were also shown 
at the Royal Aquarium on the nth and 12th inst., 
oy the occasion of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society’s show. 
Chrysanthemum Col. W. B. Smith. —The stems 
of this new incurved Japanese variety grow about 
2J ft. high, and are well furnished with deeply 
pinnatifid and bluntly lobed leaves of good character. 
The heads are somewhat similar in form to those of 
L’Automne, but they are larger and different in 
colour. The upper surface of the florets is of a deep 
terra-cotta, best seen in the half expanded state, and 
buff-yellow externally, as well as at the tips. Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, exhibited it, 
receiving an Award of Merit for it. They also showed 
it at the Royal Aquarium on the ioth and 12th inst. 
A number of new Chrysanthemums and other 
subjects were exhibited at the Royal Aquarium, on 
the ioth, nth and 12th inst., on the occasion of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society’s show, and First- 
class Certificates were awarded to the undermen¬ 
tioned. 
Chrysanthemum Florence Davis. —This new, 
white, Japanese variety is of large size, and takes a 
long time to get fully expanded owing to the ex¬ 
cessively numerous florets occupying the centre and 
which are at first green, but gradually become ivory 
white like the outer ones. The latter are long, re¬ 
curved and variously twisted at the tips, which are 
concave. When fully developed, the head measures 
about 7 in. across, and 5 in. to 6 in. deep. The 
variety was raised by Mr. N. Davis, of Camberwell, 
and must become popular for exhibition purposes. 
It was exhibited on this occasion by W. Herbert 
Fowler, Esq., Claremont, Taunton, and also by Mr. 
C. Beckett, The Gardens, Aldenham House, Elstree, 
Herts. 
Chrysanthemum Kate Mursell.— The heads 
of this incurved Japanese variety are pure white and 
similar in type to those of Lady Lawrence, perhaps 
more regularly incurved. The florets are very 
broad, often turned both to the right and left, or 
sometimes slightly interlacing. 
Chrysanthemum Coronet.-— This also may be 
described as an incurved Japanese sort, with heads 
of moderate size. When the latter are about half 
expanded the florets are narrow, loosely arranged 
and clear yellow; but when in perfection the florets 
are much broader, closely incurved and sulphur yel¬ 
low. Both varieties were exhibited by Mr. Mursell, 
Tower House, Streatham. 
Chrysanthemum Louis Bcehmer.— The varia¬ 
bility of this variety is something remarkable, even 
admitting the fact that most Chrysanthemums are 
so more or less. The blooms exhibited by Mr. 
Henry Loader, Kirkdale Lawn Nursery, Sydenham, 
S.E., were well incurved, of a dark pinkish-purple, 
paler on the back, plumy, and of medium size. Not¬ 
withstanding the numerous exhibits of the variety on 
this occasion, Mr. Loader’s was the only one that 
was honoured with a First-class Certificate. 
Chrysanthemum G. S. Schwabe. —The stems of 
this new English raised variety grow to a height of 
4 ft. It is a Japanese sort, with large spreading 
heads of a bronzy-red and old gold on the reverse. 
Many of the florets are more or less incurved at the 
tips showing the yellow reverse. 
Chrysanthemum Excelsior.— The heads of this 
reflexed Japanese sort are of medium to large size, 
deep magenta, and siivery on the reverse. The 
florets are concave at the tips and show the silvery 
reverse when young. The variety is an English seed¬ 
ling raised last year, and grows to a height of 6 ft. 
Both this and the last named were exhibited by Mr. 
R. Owen, Castlehill, Maidenhead. 
Chrysanthemum Delaware.— The habit of this 
variety is dwarf, being only 3 J ft. high, yet it is a 
healthy and vigorous grower. It belongs to the 
large Anemone section, and has very numerous, 
slightly reflexed florets that are tubular, obliquely 
open or flat in the upper portion and pure white. 
The centre is very full, prominent and creamy white. 
On the whole the blooms are very distinct and fine. 
Chrysanthemum Lord Brooke.— In this we 
have an incurved Japanese bloom of a very distinct 
type. It is large, globular, very deep, with broad, 
bronzy-yellow florets, the bronze colour being 
mostly confined to the back or reverse side. The 
leaves are of great texture, three to five lobed, with 
broad blunt segments and bespeak a vigorous con¬ 
stitution. 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. Libbie Allan.— The heads 
of this incurved Japanese variety vary from medium 
to large size, and have jbroad, often slightly inter¬ 
lacing soft sulphur yellow florets. The constitution 
of the plant is jgood, and we may expect to hear 
more about it in future years. This and the 
previous two varieties were shown by Messrs. 
Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, Swanley, who had 
First-class Certificates for them. Mrs. Libbie 
Allan was also shown by Mr. H. J. Jones, Hither 
Green, Lewisham, whose blooms were recommended. 
The following Chrysanthemums received First- 
class Certificates at thejCrystal Palace, on the 6th 
and 7th inst. 
Holborn Dragon.— The heads of this Japanese 
sort are 'strongly incurved, with long more or less 
tortuous, pale or white florets, striped with pale rose. 
It is an imported variety, and very distinct in general 
aspect with moderate sized blooms. 
Holborn Rose. —For description of this variety 
see preceding [column. It was raised from seed at 
the Forest Hill Nurseries of Messrs. J. Carter & Co. 
Holborn Terra-cotta. —This was also raised 
from seeds at the same place as the above. It is a 
single variety, with long, brilliant terra-cotta red 
florets, a yellow disc, and is very useful for cut flower 
purposes. 
Holborn Sunray. —Grown as a bush plant this is 
very floriferous, with single blooms of fair average 
size. The base of the florets is bright yellow, 
deepening to orange-buff towards the centre, with 
bronzy-nankeen tips. It was raised at the same 
place as the last two, and must"prove serviceable for 
cut flower purposes. All the four were exhibited 
by Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn. 
The three following Chrysanthemums were exhi¬ 
bited at the Floral Committee meeting of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, on the 24th inst., 
and received First-class Certificates. 
Countess of [Hambledon. —The heads of the 
variety shown under this name measured 7 in. to 7J in. 
in diameter, irrespective of the loosely hanging 
florets; and we should describe them as amongst the 
largest of the incurved Japanese varieties. With 
exception of the few outermost florets, which were 
tubular almost to the tip, and rose coloured inside, 
all the rest were closely incurved, and of the most 
delicate and pleasing, shining, silvery, blush-pink 
which one could imagine in a Chrysanthemum. It 
is an English seedling raised from an American 
variety named Miss Anna Hartshorn, and was one of 
four from the same batch of seed. 
Lizzie Cartledge. —In this we have an Ameri¬ 
can variety belonging to the reflexed Japanese group. 
The heads are very large, with soft pinkish-purple 
florets having a silvery reverse, and slightly yellow 
at the very tip when young. The florets are, more¬ 
over, very closely imbricated and compactly arranged. 
Both this and the first named were exhibited 
by Mr. R. Owen, Castlehill, Maidenhead, 
J. Stanborough Dibbens.— The heads of this 
incurved Japanese variety are large, globular, and of 
a bright yellow. The lower florets are reflexed and 
then incurved at the tips, while those in the middle 
of the head are reflexed ; the upper and central ones 
are erect, quite filling or closing up the crown. 
