228 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 12, 1891. 
PRIVATE MARKET 
GARDENS. 
This may seem an odd way of putting matters, 
because all personally owned market gardens are of 
course private. But I employ the term chiefly to 
indicate gardens ordinarily kept for personal use and 
enjoyment, and are in that respect very dissimilar 
from those gardens established expressly for the 
growth of market material and to provide the owner 
with a livelihood. But recently one of the bona fide 
market growers complained strongly of the competi¬ 
tion to which he and his class were subjected, from 
foreign importations of similar material to that his 
class produces. 
Here we are on economic grounds, which cannot 
well be discussed, indeed, it is now so useless to 
discuss questions affecting the trade that any space 
employed in so doing would be wasted. The mil¬ 
lions who have to be fed, clothed, and otherwise 
cared for, must of necessity stand a long way before 
the interests of any one class or section of traders. 
But I did venture to point out to my grumbling 
friend that after all it was less foreign competition 
of which he had to complain than the unfair competi¬ 
tion at home to which market growers are subjected, 
through the now almost universal practice which 
prevails on the part of owners of considerable private 
gardens, of sending all of their spare garden produce 
into the markets. 
In how many large gardens have not fruit houses 
been specially erected for the growth of market pro¬ 
duce. From how many do not go out hundreds of 
pounds, worth of fruit and flowers during the year. 
The total value thus received from private gardens 
alone during a season must be enormous. Here there 
are few of those responsibilities which the bona fide mar¬ 
ket growerhasto meet. Low rent, low wages, very low 
rates and taxes, all very materially help the private 
garden earnings, whilst the opposites bear very 
heavily upon the trade grower. Probably his gar¬ 
dens are thrice as heavily rated and taxed as are 
those of the gentleman who professedly holds his 
for pleasure. If the bona fide trader can check pri¬ 
vate market gardening he may secure some good for 
himself, but, all the same, of course the public would 
be losers.— A . D. 
- - 
EARLY FLOWERING 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The progress made in raising new early varieties 
has been very great during the last year or two ; and 
no doubt this will continue, especially with regard to 
varieties that will flower naturally early. There can 
be no doubt about the popularity of the early Chry¬ 
santhemum now, seeing that one of our great French 
raisers of Chrysanthemums has turned his attentic* 
to raising early sorts, and has proved beyond all 
question, and contrary to the expectations of many, 
that early sorts are wanted in this country. 
Some years ago, it was said by many that early 
Chrysanthemums had no virtues, deserved no fame, 
and were bad from first to last, and, even if good, 
were out of season. As the case then stood this was 
all perfectly true, for the best of the early kinds at 
that time were poor things indeed, that flowered too 
early in the summer, and were better calculated to 
disfigure than adorn the garden. Seeing that the 
best of the earlies were of quite secondary merit, it 
was only natural that they should decline in favour 
and find few friends. 
The varieties that were then grown included Gold 
Button, Illustration, Jardin des plantes (early) 
F. Pele, St. Mary, Precocite, and others, some of 
which are still in cultivation, but they are not good 
enough to command general admiration. The ad¬ 
vance made by the French raisers last year was very 
great, as was seen in a few beautiful varieties that 
flowered in August and September. Amongst them 
are a few decided acquisitions, some of which ob¬ 
tained certificates. 
M. Simon Delaux is to be congratulated on being 
the raiser of the finest early varieties ever seen in 
this country, having sent out this year no less than 
125 new ones. Amongst them are many sterling 
novelties and grand additions to this interesting 
class. 
Next season we may safely expect to see other 
successful raisers, both in this country and on the 
Continent, turning their attention in the same direc¬ 
tion, and to receive from them other new and 
distinct sorts of merit. 
But nevertheless it has been difficult to induce 
many, even in their own interests, to make a trial 
of early-flowering Chrysanthemums. Mr. Wm. 
Piercy, of Forest Hill, has frequently said to me that 
he has continually urged the subject upon the general 
cultivators of plants. 
The number of this season’s new introductions is 
immense, and the difficulty of selecting is great. 
Knowing that it would be interesting no doubt to 
many readers to know something of the merits of 
the most distinct that will be distributed this season, 
I have carefully selected the following :— 
M. Dupuis (Jap.) is a very bright orange-yellow, 
medium sized flowers, dwarf robust habit; very free 
flowering, resembling Source d’Or, but flowers in 
August. This I consider the best in its way, and 
will undoubtedly find a place in every collection. 
M. Frederic L'Usmayer (Ref. Jap.).—This is a valu¬ 
able addition to the exhibition sorts, of fine dwarf 
habit ; colour bronze-yellow, each petal edged with a 
light crimson, much in the way of L’Adorable in 
form and colour; requires disbudding ; flowers in 
September. 
Ami Mezard (Jap.).—The flowers are composed of 
broad ribbon-like petals of a blush pink colour with 
a yellow centre, a profuse bloomer of fine stout 
habit; blooms beginning of August. 
M.G. Grunerwald (Jap.).—This is, without doubt, 
one of the best early Chrysanthemums ever raised, 
and one that is destined to take high rank either in 
the conservatory or for exhibiting, when the merits 
of it are fully recognised. As it becomes better 
known, I feel sure that there is a long future before 
it. It grows about 2 ft. high, and is covered with 
flowers which are very full and solid ; the petals are 
long, curled, and twisted in a rather peculiar fashion. 
The colour is a beautiful silvery white, slightly shaded 
with pink ; it is very early, blooming at the begin¬ 
ning of September. 
Vice-President Hardy (Jap.).—Here we have another 
of the finest introductions of the season, and one 
that should be included in the most select dozen. 
The colour is a very fine fire-red ; free, and of dwarf 
habit ; flowers large, somewhat drooping, petals of 
a fine transparent shade of colour ; blooms in Sep¬ 
tember. 
Coral Queen (Jap.), an English seedling raised by 
Mr. R. Owen.—Colour of pink coral, the flowers 
have long foot stalks, very free ; of medium height, 
growing amongst a large collection. During the 
past summer, it was the most conspicuous out of a 
large number then in flower. A distinct and entirely 
new colour ; September bloomer. 
Ruby King, raised by Mr. Owen.—This I consider 
the darkest early crimson Japanese sort in cultiva¬ 
tion ; medium sized flowers, produced in immense 
quantity; fine stout, dwarf habit; flowersin Sep¬ 
tember. 
Vicomtesse d'Avene is a good incurved Jap. of very 
dwarf, stout habit. Colour rosy-lilac ; it blooms in 
August, and is very rapid in coming to perfection; 
a cutting put in in May will bloom in September. 
Gloire d'Astaford. —Much in the way of Coral 
Queen, and may be included in any medium sized 
collection on account of the peculiar terra-cotta colour 
of the flowers. It is a Japanese variety of fine habit, 
and blooms in September. Of its distinct and novel 
character no one need doubt. 
Souvenir de William Holmes (Jap.) has a dwarf 
robust habit ; very compact, also very free ; the 
colour is a reddish-crimson ; grand for cutting or as 
a pot plant. 
M. F. Katzer (Jap.).—The blooms of this variety 
are of a deep orange-red colour, with twisted petals; 
quite new and distinct. 
Mdme. Z. Lionnet .—A very early reflexed Jap., of 
a fine orange-yellow colour; flowers of medium 
size, but a profuse bloomer ; flowers in August. 
Baronne G. C. de Briailles (Jap.).—A most distinct 
and striking sort, and differing from any of the early 
varieties yet seen. It is a very stout, robust plant 
with large flowers, composed of broad reflexed 
petals ; the colour is white, slightly shaded pink ; 
it is a good grower, blooming at the end of August. 
M. G. de Dubor (Jap ).—A beautiful orange-yellow, 
shaded red ; an improvement on P. VanGeert, being 
of a much dwarfer habit, very free and distinct. 
M. Lemaille (Jap.).—The flowers of this sort are 
medium sized, colour wine-red, shaded bufi; has long 
petals, and is novel in appearance, and of fine stout 
habit. 
Mons. Z. Lionnet (Jap.).-In this we have a grand 
addition to the exhibition varieties. The flowers are 
of large size ; colour, rich deep majenta. The habit 
of the plant is dwarf, and if slightly disbudded will 
be found valuable for exhibition in September on 
account of its distinct colour. 
E. Dinner ct Solin (Jap.).—Flowers large, petals 
broad and incurved ; creamy white, shaded towards 
the centre with light rose; will be very useful for 
exhibition if disbudded. 
Mdme. Paul Nansot (Jap ).—This is a colour that 
has been much wanted in earlies, and one that is 
sure to become popular. It is a fine amaranth-crim¬ 
son ; blooms in September. 
Le Poete de Chrysanthemum is a free flowering deco¬ 
rative variety of rather slender habit ; colour, bright 
mauve ; blooms in August. 
M. Vauvel (Jap.).—Of medium-sized to large flowers, 
petals rather long ; colour, rose-pink, shaded orange- 
red, a very delicate colour. 
M. Clicquot (Pom). — An excellent addition to 
the Pompon section. The flowers are large, of fine 
form, and the colour rich orange-yellow. 
Mdme. Gabus (Pom.).—White, shaded rose, form 
of Mile. Marthe ; fine dwarf habit. 
I may add that the Early Chrysanthemums are 
of easy cultivation, very free flowering, and in the 
majority of cases of dwarf, bushy habit. Under 
ordinary cultivation, they commence blooming early 
in August and continue until late in October, thus 
producing during the autumn months an enchanting 
display, when too often our borders and conserva¬ 
tories are comparatively bare.— Rolt. J. Hamill, 
Sydenham, S.E. 
ASTER NOVI-BELGII 
DENSUS. 
The varieties of Aster Novi-Belgii are now exceed¬ 
ingly numerous in gardens, a fact which was amply 
demonstrated at the Conference held in the gardens 
of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, on 
the 6th, 7th, and 8th of October last. The plant en¬ 
joys a wide distribution in North America, its native 
home, and varies considerably even there. As might 
naturally be expected, a plant which enjoys a wide 
distribution and varies in a state of nature, doe so 
much more extensively under cultivation. There are 
good and bad varieties, some of them unworthy of a 
place even in large collections meant for decorative 
purposes ; but on the other hand a large proportion 
of them are very showy and exceedingly fioriferous, 
in consequence of which they are valuable for the 
herbaceous border for parks and shrubberies when 
other hardy flowers are getting scarce. The variety 
under notice is one of the showiest and most useful on 
account of its dwarf, compact habit, fioriferous 
nature, and the rich colour of its flower heads, which 
are of a bright blue. Its stature seldom exceeds 2 ft., 
and the flowers are closely arranged in a compact 
and flattened inflorescence covering the top of the 
plant. Our illustration, made from a photograph 
taken at Chiswick during the Conference, shows the 
natural habit of the plant and its free flowering 
character. Some cultivators may recognize in it 
what for many years has passed for A. laevis in gar¬ 
dens, and such is actually the case; but the true 
A. laevis is a taller plant with long loosely arranged 
panicles of bloom, and lanceolate, elongated leaves 
which surround or clasp the stem at the base. This 
plant on the contrary is often sold and grown under 
the name of A. Chapmanni, and although a showy 
and useful species, is certainly inferior to A. Novi- 
Belgii densus, which will always be a favourite so 
long as perennial Asters are cherished and 
cultivated. It is easily distinguished from the other 
varieties of the species when once seen in the growing 
state. 
-- 
DAHLIAS. 
The roots being by this time housed, they should 
be gone over to see if any signs of decay have put 
in appearance, and these be cut away. For the 
matter of that, the roots might have remained in 
the ground until this time without taking harm ; but 
who can predict what the weather is likely to be ? 
Dahlia roots keep best without any covering what¬ 
ever during winter, provided the frost can be kept 
from them ; and they can be stood upon an old gar¬ 
den mat on a shelf in a cool dry place where frost 
cannot reach them. 
