December 26, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
263 
CHRYSANTHEMUM 
NOTES. 
Chrysanthemum Virginale. 
Let me recommend this white-flowered Anemone 
Pompon to those in search of a good late blooming 
variety. It is a free grower, has a grand habit, is a 
profuse bloomer, and pure white. There is a house 
full of it now in great perfection at Mr. T. B. 
Haywood's, Woodhatch, Reigate. Mr. Salter, the 
gardener, informed me that it was one of the best he 
knew for decorative work, and it is coming in 
valuable for Christmas.— Rusticns. 
The English Seedlings. 
I have greatly admired the clever engravings of new 
Chrysanthemums which have appeared in your pages, 
and especially the one published last week. I have 
also read and re-read the descriptive notes of the 
new English seedlings with the greatest interest, and 
cannot help offering my congratulations to the 
artist, the genial “ R. D.,” and the practical 
evolutionist of Maidenhead, all of whom may be said 
to be quite "up to date,” and I thank them and you 
for keeping us provincials in touch with the most re¬ 
cent floral acquisitions. French raisers have too 
long had a monopoly of the business of raising new 
varieties, and while we are undoubtedly indebted to 
them for many grand novelties, we have certainly 
paid them also for a vast amount of rubbish, and 
therefore I hail with pleasure the advent of the 
English seedlings. We are evidently entering a new 
era in the development of the Chrysanthemum, and 
the idea of treating the flower as an annual, may not 
prove to be so far fetched as it seems, for who 
knows how soon Mr. Owen or someone else may be 
in a position to offer seeds. It seems, to me that in 
the near future we shall be able to order a packet of 
Chrysanthemum seeds with our other spring re¬ 
quisites. What a day that will be for the " Mums ” 
and the “ Mummers ” ! I hope that Mr. Owen’s 
success will lead him to prosecute the good work 
with renewed energy. I have not seen his “ Robert 
Owen,” but from what I have read, I should judge 
that as an incurved Japanese, and Mrs. Robinson 
King as an incurved to be the two finest productions 
of the year .—A Yorkshire Gardener. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM 
WILLIAM WESTLAKE. 
With reference to this so-called new variety and the 
manner in which it has been put upon the market, 
permit me to take exception to the correspondence 
of Messrs. H. J. Jones and William Westlake in 
last week's issue. I am very glad, however, that 
my former communication has had the desired 
effect, viz., to elicit a somewhat spirited controversy, 
by which means the public in general, and the 
interested parties in particular, may thus be put 
into possession of the facts. The problems for 
solution may be conveniently apportioned cinder 
two heads ; (a) is William Westlake identical with 
Aigle d'Or? and ( h ) is the manner in which it has 
been brought before the public justifiable ? 
I will deal with Mr. Jones’ contention first, viz., 
that the plants in question are not identical. To 
this I will merely remark that his published state¬ 
ment does not correspond with his private opinion, 
for I hold a letter from him in which he states that 
he is not quite so certain as to the identity ; but 
that he will obtain Aigle d’Or, grow it 
side by side with William Westlake and 
let rae know the result. So far, so good. 
The fact of its having obtained a certificate is im¬ 
material to the point at issue, as I not only possessed 
the stock prior to that event, but have freely distri¬ 
buted it amongst my friends, nurserymen, and gar¬ 
deners in the vicinity of Acton, Chiswick, Ealing, 
etc. That Mr. Jones should feel rather sore in this 
matter is natural enough, for if he has purchased 
the supposed stock he has now a right to question 
the bona fides of the gardener of whom he obtained it. 
Mr. Westlake’s quibble re the “ admiration ” episode 
is beside the mark—it does not call for comment, 
except that one does not usually solicit cuttings of a 
plant he does not admire. I here reiterate my former 
conviction that I shall still continue to believe that 
William Westlake is synonymous with Aigle d'Or, 
until reasonable evidence can be produced to the 
contrary, 
In respect to question number two, it is perhaps 
Riore difficult to deal with, inasmuch as no one can 
positively assert what are the motives which actuate 
another mind. Mr. Westlake disclaims mercenary 
ones ; I accept his rejoinder ; but, please compare 
the former portion of his letter with the latter—there 
he assumes a virtue, here he denies it, and thus 
runs counter to his own astuteness. It is quite evi¬ 
dent that Mr. Westlake is a man of the world — I’m 
not. — C. B. Green, Acton, IV. 
It is rather amusing to read Mr. C. B. Green’s ac¬ 
count of this variety. First he says his opinion as 
regards it is very unfavourable, and then he goes on 
to say that his impression is that it is a superior form 
of Aigle d’Or. It is most certainly a superior variety 
to that in every way, and being so why should it not 
get a certificate? If superior varieties are not wanted, 
then, pray, what are we to aim at ? Surely the 
National Chrysanthemum Society's Floral Com¬ 
mittee are sufficiently qualified to judge of the merits 
of Chrysanthemums, especially when plants are 
put before them. This should be sufficient to show 
why the so-called gardener at Hornsey did not 
recognise it as Aigle d’Or, but having grown it three 
years side by side with Aigle d'Or before putting it 
before the Floral Committee, I convinced myself 
that it is not that variety but totally different, and 
surely after all this time it cannot be said that it 
was rushed into the market. As regards consulting 
Mr. Green, I think that nothing can be more free than 
a gift, but perhaps this is where the boot pinches. 
I might mention that the chance was alike open to 
Mr. Green as to myself to obtain the certificate when 
he had the variety (if he ever had it) in his own 
hands. One word in conclusion, should Mr. Green 
ever have the good fortune to get a new variety or a 
so-called superior form of any variety, I would sug¬ 
gest that he should keep a tight hand on it and 
watch his own interest, so that he may not be caught 
napping, or he may find himself grasping at the 
shadow while the substance has gone, even as in this 
case.— T. L. Turk, Highgatc. 
[Our correspondent is entitled to reply to Mr. 
Green’s statements, but comment on his notions as 
to what is fair between man and man would seem to 
be superfluous.—E d.] 
Gardening IIiscellany. 
BEGONIA WINTER GEM. 
The dwarf habit and the brilliant colour of this 
winter-flowering Begonia again commends itself to 
the attention of cultivators who desire to have some¬ 
thing bright in their houses during the winter 
months, and have the command of stove temperature, 
such as is necessary in the case under notice, or at 
least an intermediate temperature. The flowers are 
rather larger than those of B. socotrana, which was 
one of the parents, of a different shape, and brilliant 
scarlet colour. The flowers hang on the plants until 
they wither, a peculiarity which does not apply to 
the summer-flowering and tuberous race, nor indeed 
to the bulk of other Begonias in cultivation. The 
leaves are orbicular and peltate, that is, having the 
stalk inserted in the middle as in B. socotrana, but 
they are sometimes divided at the base even on the 
same plant, as is habitually the case with most 
species and their improved forms and hybrids. We 
recently noted a batch of it flowering in the nursery 
of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. The plant 
is easily propagated by cuttings as well as by the 
small tubers or bulbils which are given off at the 
base of the plant. The brilliant colour of the flowers 
of this hybrid should secure a place for it in every 
garden. 
N/EG EL IA CINNABARINA. 
In gardens this is generally grown under the name 
of Gesnera cinnabarina. Both the foliage and the 
flowers are highly ornamental, but more particularly 
the former. The leaves are roundly heart-shaped, 
and of a rich velvety-green, but densely covered 
with flame coloured hairs, which add greatly to their 
lustre. The flowers are red with exception of the 
throat, which is pale yellow and beautifully spotted 
with red. The inflorescence is short and compact. 
We noted a batch of several species and varieties 
of this class of plants some time ago in the nursery of 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, and 
the subject under notice was one of them. It is 
a native of Mexico, from whence it was introduced 
in 1856, By starting this late in the season, say 
about midsummer, and then giving the annual re¬ 
potting just when the young growths are well started, 
the flowering period may be prolonged till far into 
winter. 
MEDINILLA CURTISII. 
The general appearance of this species is entirely 
distinct from the well-known M. magnifica, or even 
the less common M. amabilis. The plant is alto¬ 
gether smaller, and may therefore be grown in stoves 
and other houses where space is a serious considera¬ 
tion. The branches are slender and twiggy, fur¬ 
nished with elliptic or lanceolate-elliptic deep green 
leaves. The branches of the inflorescence are coral- 
red, while the calyx and the base of the petals are 
tinted with pink. The rest of the petals is of a 
delicate pearly white, and the effect of the contrast 
is to considerably enhance the ornamental value of 
the flowers. The anthers are violet, and show off to 
great advantage by contrast with the white back¬ 
ground. The panicles of the flowers are erect not 
pendulous, as in M. magnifica, but even while the 
flowers are still in bud they are beautiful in their 
pink and pearly-white shades. We noted some 
flowering specimens the other week in the nursery of 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, at Chelsea. Its flowering 
at this dull period of the year recommends it to the 
attention of cultivators for winter-flowering pur¬ 
poses. 
WINTER-FLOWERING DECORATIVE PLANTS 
AT HIGH TREES, REDHILL. 
These are extensively and well grown at High 
Trees, large quantities being required for cut flowers 
and decorative work during the winter. A grand 
batch of all the best late Chrysanthemums includes 
what I call good useful decorative plants, grown as 
bushes, naturally producing fine trusses of useful 
sized flowers for cutting purposes. Double white 
Primulas: a house full of these in 48 and 32 pots 
are now likewise in perfection—free flowering and 
well grown ; they are invaluable for cutting from at 
all times. Zonal Pelargoniums are also well grown 
here, and for free flowering, bright, useful colours 
cannot be excelled. A division of one of the houses 
full of these is very attractive ; another division con¬ 
tains between 200 and 300 excellent examples of that 
charming old plant Poinsettia pulcherima ; they 
vary in size from 9 in. to 2 ft. in height, clothed with 
foliage to the pot, and throwing enormo is bracts 
for 48 size pots, many measuring 18 in. across, 
Distributed amongst them on a groundwork of 
Fern are dozens of Calanthes, viz., Veitchii, lutea 
occulata, and rubra : well grown, and with fine arched 
spikes hanging gracefully amongst the Poinsettias, 
produce a grand effect. The other plant houses 
contain a grand collection of Palms, Crotons, 
Draecenas, and other useful decorative plants, and 
all are in the best p issible condition. There has 
been a marked improvement in all departments here 
since Mr. Goldsmith has been in charge.— Rusticus. 
RUELLIA HERBSTII. 
The stems of this sub-shrubby plant are 18 in. to 
24 in. high at flowering time, but unfortunately are 
liable to lose their lower leaves. The latter are 
oblong.elliptic and of a light shade of green. The 
flowers are produced from the axils of the upper 
leaves, and are strikingly distinct from those of any 
other in cultivation. The lower portion of the tube 
is slender, pink, and 2 in. long; above this it is 
sharply bent, almost at right angles to the rest, 
strongly inflated, and rose purple slightly tinted with 
violet. The short lamina consists of five emarginate, 
almost equal, white segments, and the anthers are 
also white. The species is a native of Brazil, and, 
like most others of its class, requires a stove tem¬ 
perature. The flowers look prettier by contrast with 
those of the red-flowered kinds in cultivation, or 
with the Libonias and Sericographis, which are so 
much grown for winter flowering. Some plants may 
be seen in the Begonia house at Kew. 
APPLE HAMBLEDON DEUX ANS. 
The word Hambledon refers to a village of that 
name in Hampshire where this variety of Apple w.as 
raised. Deux ans means two years, and is con¬ 
sidered to apply to the habit this variety possesses of 
fruiting only once in two years. The fruit is large, 
greenish-yellow on the shaded side, and dull red 
where exposed, beautifully striped with bands or 
splashes of a brighter hue, The greenish-white flesh 
is riph and brisk in flavour, although not very juicy. 
