152 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 9 , 1895 . 
presume that everyone who intends to 
compete goes forth with a certain assur¬ 
ance of winning prizes ; but over all there 
is an element of doubt, a suspicion that 
some of his neighbours have a surprise in 
store for him, and here comes in the origin 
and cause of the suspense that darkens the 
prospect of the show day. Many of the 
decisions of the judges have already been 
made as far as the leading shows in the 
south are concerned, and fortunate are 
those who can take their defeat with good 
grace, and summon hope to the rescue for a 
future occasion. There is always some 
prospect of securing the leading and most 
coveted award, whoever may place himseli 
in the scale against you—if not to-day, at 
least on some future occasion. Those who, 
through unwearied exertion, much trouble 
and, may be, expense, have reached the top 
of the ladder of their ambition, cannot hope 
to remain always there. “ Wha does his 
best will whiles do mair but on the 
other hand, may do less through accident or 
otherwise. Even the best of cultivators is 
not invariably successful, while others 
timely retire on their well-earned laurels, 
leaving the field open to younger and 
aspiring exhibitors. 
On more than one occasion it has been 
hinted to us that raisers of new Chrysan¬ 
themums cannot hope to excel the varieties 
already in existence as far as size is con¬ 
cerned, and others tell us there is nothing 
new in colour. True, the blue Chrysan¬ 
themum has not yet been discovered, and 
if it does not exist, man can never produce 
it. Others deny that Nature has true blue 
on her palette at all when mixing the pig¬ 
ments for flowers. On the other hand, it 
cannot be denied that a remarkable diver¬ 
sity of form continues to appear in the new 
varieties, and, as if that Avere not sufficient, 
the same floAver varies immensely in form 
at different stages of its development and 
in different hands. It still remains for the 
skilful cultwator to improve the size of his 
blooms after the raiser has done his best, as 
was amply demonstrated at the Crystal 
Palace on Saturday last. The winning 
stands of thirty-six blooms were admitted 
to contain larger flowers than had ever been 
seen before. They consisted mostly of new 
varieties, practically novelties. The second 
prize exhibit was mostly made up of old 
favourites, and the difference in size 
between them and the first prize blooms 
Avas manifest. Then the question arises 
whether the leading exhibitor could not 
haA^e groAvn the old varieties to the same 
size as the new. If not, Ave must assume 
that Chrysanthemums are still increasing 
in size, particularly the Japanese section. 
On the other hand, a veto seems to be 
placed upon the enlargement of the old 
reflexed type ; for Avhen a large one turns 
up it is dubbed a Japanese reflexed variety, 
and its chances of success at exhibitions 
wither up on the spot. 
Another aspect of the Chrysanthemum 
question is the rapidity with Avhich some 
varieties disappear from the exhibition 
boards, notwithstanding the reception 
accorded them on their advent. In the 
London and other parks, on the other hand, 
one meets with old and almost forgotten 
sorts rubbing shoulders Avith the neAvest 
comers. Prh/ate establishments are also to 
some extent conservative, especially Avhere 
a good proportion of space is devoted to 
plants grown purely for decorative purposes. 
Then it follows that many of the varieties 
formerly and even now popular are bound 
to become extinct in remote corners of the 
land. We feel assured that this will take 
place more rapidly than in the case of the 
much-lauded and much-abused Japanese 
types originally introduced by Fortune. 
Side by side Avith the rage for big-flowered 
Chrysanthemums is an increasing demand 
for \ r arieties adapted for purely decorative 
purposes, and this is being met with sorts 
possessed of good habit, beautiful flowers, 
and decided colours. White, yellow, and 
bronzy-orange seem to be the greatest 
favourites, and pink and salmon possibly 
come next. More than one instance have 
come under our notice of old plants having 
been cut doAvn, repotted into larger sizes 
next spring, and groAvn on again. The pro¬ 
duction of flowers of a useful size for decora¬ 
tive purposes is remarkable, and should 
induce others to try this system, for it Avould 
seem that a maximum harvest of flowers is 
reaped for a minimum expenditure of time 
and labour. 
-—f-- 
The Scotchman who said that “ we get naething for 
naething in this warld and michty little for a 
saxpence " should read this issue of The Gardening 
World before making further comment. 
Mr F. E. Willey, late of the Royal Gardens, Kew, 
has been appointed curator of the new Botanical 
Station at Sierra Leone, Western Tropical Africa. 
Mr. Willey has already had some experience of 
tropical life, having served for a twelvemonth as 
locum tenens for the late Mr. Crowther at Accra, Gold 
Coast. We heartily join in wishing him all success 
in his arduous undertaking. He sails on November 
i6th. 
In the Botanic Garden, Dublin —The conservatory 
here during the autumn and early winter months is 
rendered gay with a large collection of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, independently of various other subjects, in¬ 
cluding many showy climbers, such as Cassia 
laevigata and Cestrum Hugeli. Large numbers of 
visitors come daily to inspect the Chrysanthemums. 
Some sorts as Edith Owen, Yellow Avalanche, La 
Vierge, Madame E. Rey, Mous. Wm. Holmes, 
Comte de Germiny, Robert Cannell, Avalanche, and 
others have been flowering for some time past. 
South Shields and Northern Counties.— The four¬ 
teenth annual exhibition of Chrysanthemums of the 
South Shields and Northern Counties Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society will be held in the Royal Assembly 
Hall, South Shields, on Wednesday and Thursday, 
November 20th and 21st. This is the only society 
in the northern counties which has been able to hold 
exhibitions of this character since 1882." The taste¬ 
fully got-up schedule is before us, and shows that a 
handsome sum of money is offered for competition 
in fifty-two classes. The Secretary is Mr. Bernard 
Cowan, F.R.H.S., Harton, South Shields. 
The Liverpool Parks— The great and leading 
attraction of the Liverpool public parks at the 
present time is the fine display of Chrysanthemums. 
The average number of visitors, between two and five 
o’clock, to the greenhouses in Sefton Park, is 1,800. 
The colour blending is pleasing and striking to the 
eye. Some of the finer blooms are Etoile de Lyon, 
Wm. Tricker, Louise, E. Molyneux, Wm. Seward, 
Madame Charles Lebosqz, Bouquet des Dames, 
Mrs. C. H. Payne, Baron Hirsch, Viviand Morel, 
Beauty of Exmouth and Mons. Bahuant. There is 
also a fine display at the Botanic Garden, Edge 
Lane. 
Amateur Chrysanthemum Growers at Peckham.— 
The North Peckham Amateur Chrysanthemum 
Society’s first exhibition, opened by Major Dalbiac, 
M.P. and Mrs. Dalbiac, at the Public Hall, Rye 
Lane, was an extremely good and interesting one. 
The groups of plants arranged for effect around the 
large hall were numerous and of great merit, those of 
Messrs. E. Eldridge, Russell, and Morphew, which 
won the first three prizes in the order given, being of 
exceptional excellence. Messrs. Rayner and Mor¬ 
phew were also prominent prize-takers for plants 
grown in other classes. The long rows of vases and 
baskets filled with cut blooms, which decorated the 
centre stage, have rarely been excelled at more 
prominent exhibitions. Messrs. W. Barnes, J. Barnes, 
Nichols, Wood, Eaton, Goater, Morphew, Overton, 
Russell, Sinclair, and Bunyan Avere most successful 
with cut blooms. 
Apple trees in the West may still be seen laden 
with fruit. Tons and tons of the best class of Apples 
are being retailed in Cornwall at one penny, and even 
in some cases one halfpenny per gallon. 
The next Fruit and Floral Meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society will be held on Tuesday, 
November 12th, in the Drill Hall, James Street, 
Victoria Street, Westminster. The committees will 
meet as usual at 12 o’clock and at 3 p.m. ; a lecture on 
“Substitutes for Larch ” will be delivered by Dr. 
M. T. Masters, F.R.S. 
Devon and Exeter Horticultural Society held their 
autumn exhibition at the Victoria Hall, Exeter, on 
Thursday and Friday last. It is the first time for 
ten years that a two days’ meeting has been held, 
but this particular show has become so popular, and 
the attendance has been so numerous, that the com¬ 
mittee feel themselves justified in making the experi¬ 
ment. The opening of the exhibition on the Thurs¬ 
day also gave the citizens an opportunity of 
witnessing the display—a pleasure they have not 
always been able to indulge in when the show has 
been open only on the market-day. It is hoped the 
deficit on the Rose show will be greatly reduced. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —We are desired of 
remind our readers and particularly members of the 
gardening profession that very much may be done 
by voluntary help by contributions of flowers or 
fruit to the stall in aid of the Royal Gardeners' 
Orphan Fund which is usually conducted by Mr. 
M. Todd (Messrs. M. Todd & Company, Art 
Florists, Edinburgh), on the occasion of the Great 
Chrysanthemum Show in that city. Mr. Todd will, 
we understand, again make his annual exhibit on 
behalf of the fund, and will appreciate any gifts that 
are made to the stall in the way suggested by 
gardeners, who are competing at the shoxv. His 
efforts have met with considerable success in the 
past and on the well-worn lines that a little help is 
worth a deal of pity, we recommend to our readers 
Mr. Todd’s excellent example. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland —On Wed¬ 
nesday and Thursday, November 6th and 7th, the 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland held 
their annual Chrysanthemum and fruit show in the 
premises of the Royal Dublin Society at Ballsbridge. 
This year the council decided on keeping the show 
open on both daj s from two till ten o’clock, and it is 
confidently hoped that the opportunity of seeing 
what promised to be by far the best display of fruit 
and flowers ever brought together in Ireland has 
been availed of by large numbers of the citizens 
The Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway Com¬ 
pany, with the public spirit which has characterised 
the management of Mr. Stewart, announced that 
they would run a special excursion train from all 
stations south of Bray, and Avould open and light 
the pathway from Lansdowne Road Station to the 
Show Hall. The number of entries rvas A'ery large. 
In conjunction with the Chrysanthemum and fruit 
shoAV there was an exhibition of heating apparatus, 
stove, atid general horticultural sundries. This 
section has only lately been added to the society’s 
shoAvs, but already it promises to be most useful and 
attractive, and when better knoAvn will prove not the 
least of the many attractions of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society’s shows. 
Torquay Chrysanthemum Show —Torquay District 
Gardeners' Association held their first Chrysanthe¬ 
mum show at the Bath Saloons on the 30th ult. 
The association deserves every encouragement for 
thus filling the gap caused by the collapse of the 
Torquay Horticultural Society. And there is every 
reason to believe that the shoAV Avas adequately 
patronised, as it certainly deserved to be. The 
success Avhich the Avorking gardeners thus obtained 
should lead them to further effort in this direction. 
With a limited prize list there Avas a fine display of 
plants and blooms. The arrangement in the large 
saloon Avas the best that has yet been seen, and the 
shoAv was generally good, the groups being’very fine. 
The Rev. Talbot Greaves Avas the most successful 
exhibitor, other prize-takers including the Right 
Hon. W H. Long, M.P., Dr. Ford Edgelow, the 
Rev A. H. Simms, Captain Fane Tucker, Mr. J. W. 
Kimber, Mrs. Bridson, Mr. G. W. Croydon, and Mr. 
Thornhill Tucker. The judges Avere Mr. W. Dolling, 
of Newton, and Mr. G. J. Barres, of Winslade 
Gardens, Exeter. There Avere a large number of 
honorary exhibits, Avhich added greatly to the 
attractiveness of the show. 
