194 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 23, 1895. 
accorded them at Finchley and Hillingdon Nurseries, 
under the efficient management of Mr. G. Bethel. 
Novelties, in the way of new varieties, are scarcely 
to be expected in a collection of Chrysanthemums 
grown for market purposes, for they have so to speak, 
to “ win their spurs,” and prove that there is really 
something in them before they find a place in a 
market establishment. We noticed, however, a sport 
from Mdlle. Lacroix, as yet unnamed, that impressed 
us most favourably, for it possesses all the sym¬ 
metrical beauty of its parent plant, although it differs 
from it in colour, being of a lovely soft pink shade. 
Another variety called Mr. S. Fortescue, although 
not a new one, is not nearly so frequently met with 
as would be expected from its great merits. This 
also was in fine order, and its large blooms with long 
drooping florets yellow in hue, prettily suffused with 
bright terra-cotta were exceeding conspicuous. 
Passing from the Chrysanthemums into the cut 
flower department, we were greeted by the sight of 
quantities of cut bloom of all kinds. The graceful 
nodding bells of Lily of the Valley were side by side 
with bunches of sweet-scented Violets, whilst 
gorgeously-hued Cattleyas and stately Richardias 
flaunted their charms in the faces of admiring 
visitors. Further on anchors, crosses, and other 
floral devices arrested our attention, skilfully con¬ 
ceived, and not less skilfully executed. Indeed, 
throughout the whole department the evidences of 
artistic and efficient management were unmistake- 
able, and Mr. Fortescue, who holds the reins here, is 
to be congratulated upon the brilliant results 
accruing from his efforts. 
--4-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
Maidenhead. 
After so many Chrysanthemum shows have come 
and gone we were delighted to see the houses looking 
so fresh in the Floral Nursery, Castle Hill, Maiden¬ 
head. This, to a great extent, is explained by the 
fact that Mr. Robert Owen raises seedlings very 
extensively, and some of them are late in flowering 
while others are merely on trial to ascertain their 
merits, so that they have not been cut for exhibition 
purposes. 
Some of those which have already given evidence 
of their value for exhibition purposes and otherwise 
have been named, and in the technical phrase of the 
gardener would no longer be termed seedlings. 
Amongst the Japanese varieties of Mr. Owen's own 
raising v;e noted Lady Ridgeway, with broad, 
incurved, salmon petals, and yellow on the reverse. 
Bellum is of huge size, white from the crown buds, 
and rose from the terminal, has already had its 
merits recognised by a First-class Certificate. Pride 
of Maidenhead is a massive flower, and white with a 
canary-yellow centre. The incurved Japanese 
Graphic is pale amaranth with a silvery-white 
reverse, and is very pleasing. J. Bidencope is deep 
rosy-amaranth tipped with silver. The newly-Darned 
Cecil Pratt has incurved soft pink petals, and a 
yellow centre. There are two kinds of florets in the 
heads of General Roberts, namely, flat and crimson 
ones, while others are tubular and buff-yellow. The 
bloom as a whole is handsome and effective. Maiden¬ 
head Pearl is white and notable for its huge heads of 
beautifully-curled florets. 
Japanese Anemones are represented by Robin 
Adair, with very numerous flesh-coloured rays, and a 
yellow and pink centre. An unnamed seedling of 
the same type recalls Owen’s Perfection. Still 
another one is notable for its delicate flesh-coloured 
rays. Geo. Haigh is a beautiful bronzy-yellow sport 
from the incurved Robert Petfield. It may be 
remembered that Mr. Owen, within the last few years, 
has sent out many of the best new incurved sorts. 
A silvery-pink one deepening to rose at the base is 
of great size, and altogether distinct from anything 
we have seen. In another house is an incurved sort 
of a rich bronzy-gold. 
Unnamed Japanese seedlings are very numerous 
and many of them of great promise. Some of them 
we noted were golden-yellow with a canary r. verse ; 
bronzy-gold with loDg interlacing florets like a mass 
of twisting snakes ; pure white with broad petals; 
brilliant carmine with silvery-pink reverse and hand¬ 
some ; soft amaranth and white in about equal 
mixture : and rich golden-yellow, shining, and paler 
on the reverse. We were highly pleased with a 
massive bloom like a pure white Robert Owen in 
form, and feel sure it will come to the front in the 
near future. In another case the outer florets are of 
great length, pure white, and drooping A bloom in 
the style of Viviand Morel differs by being edged with 
rose. Avery striking incurved Japanese variety is 
brilliant crimson with a bronzy-chestnut reverse and 
tipped with gold. The terminal bud is crimson, but 
not so large. Others are brilliant red ; incurved and 
pure white; carmine with a crimson reflection in 
the centre, and the plant dwarf in habit ; bronzy-gold 
with the basal half of the florets fluted ; carmine, 
shaded crimson, and very dwarf; reddish-crimson 
with broad florets and dwarf; bright rose with a 
silvery reverse; and orange-crimson with long 
florets. A globular bloom of a deep amaranth with 
a silvery reverse had the florets spreading in all 
directions, and is very distinct. We noted a beauti¬ 
ful light yellow variety, with broad petals and of 
dwarf habit, that was raised from Viscountess 
Hambleden. 
Named varieties raised in other countries are also 
grown in quantity here, including the globular and 
blush-pink Camille d’Airille, and the beautiful 
Hester Heacock, which is golden and suffused with 
pale purple on the reverse. Other good varieties, 
notable for one or other good quality, are M. C. 
Forgeot, crimson-amaranth , Casino, golden-yellow, 
massive, and notable for the quantity of available 
material in the centre; M. Leon Dabot, white, and 
more or less heavily overlaid with amaranth; M. 
Demay Faillandier, crimson with a golden-buff 
reverse ; President Carnot, of huge size and salmon 
with a yellow reverse, the plant being of dwarf habit; 
and Exposition d’Arras, an incurved golden-yellow 
Jap., washed with bronze, and possessed of a great 
amount of material. Nellie Elverson is very similar 
to A. Woodcock, but is bright crimson and a great 
improvement upon it. Miss E. Smith is softly 
striped with rose on a white ground. Madame 
Emanuel Boscher is soft flesh with a silvery-white 
reverse. Esau is similar in form to Hairy Wonder 
and equally hirsute, but of a soft rosy-pink colour. 
The White Good Gracious is pure and pretty. The 
interlacing pink florets of Ernest Fierens also attract 
attention. Distinct and striking is John Lightfoot, 
with its flesh-coloured florets, rosy edges, and bifid 
tips. 
Considering that Mr. Owen has eight houses 
entirely devoted to Chrysanthemums at the present 
time it is almost needless to say that some of them 
are grown for cut flowers and decorative purposes 
generally. Some of the finest for cut flowers are 
Ivory, pure white, H. L. Sunderbruck, clear yellow, 
broad petalled, and very beautiful, Niveus, pure 
white, Amiral Avellan, golden-yellow, Boule de 
Neige, and Golden Gem. Many blcoms of the latter 
have sported to orange-crimson. King of Ostrich 
Plumes is golden-yellow, deeply cut, and jagged at 
the apex of the florets, and handsome when fully 
developed. Canning is a pure white and old decora¬ 
tive variety, and, moreover, the latest of all to come 
into bloom, keeping till January or longer. Esau, 
Hairy Wonder, and several seedlings may also be 
seen in this form. We were charmed with a seed¬ 
ling, an improvement upon Thos. Davidson, having 
broader and darker coloured florets. The basal 
portion of each is bright yellow', and the edges and 
upper half deep crimsoD, constituting a variegated 
flower of the first water, and certainly very pretty 
by itself or mixed with other varieties in the cut 
state. 
Botanic Gardens, Glasgow. 
Saturday, the pth inst., was Chrysanthemum day at 
the gardens. The popularity of the flower was 
apparent by the thousands who crowded the Kibble 
Palace where the plants were set up. In the matter 
of arrangement no opportunity is given for criticism. 
The large group consisted of about Soo plants, and 
included about 300 varieties. It was circular in 
form and 30 ft. in diameter. The blooms were 
large, many being very massive, and of fine colour. 
The Glasgow folks are proud of this display, and 
are unstinted in their praise of Mr. Dewar, who 
has not spared himself to provide them with such 
splendid evidence of his taste and cultural ability. 
The gardens are now a source of interest not only to 
the public, but the gardeners of the west find that 
they must pay frequent visits to see all the new aDd 
rare things that are being got together by Mr. 
Dewar. 
Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs, by 
A. D. Webster. A valuable guide to planters of beautiful 
trees and shrubs for the adornment of parks and gardens, 
Price, 3s.; post free, 3s. 3d. Publisher, Gardening World, 
1, Clement's Inn, Strand, London, W.C. 
LIVERPOOL CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
(Concluded jromp. 154) 
Considerable alteration has taken place since the 
first notes of the ‘‘mums” in this district were 
written. Blooms in some cases have completely 
collapsed ; many of the incurved varieties have 
suffered to a serious extent by the petals reversing, 
which may be attributed to the spring-like weather 
of the last few days. Buds, also, that gave every 
promise of developing into fine flowers have refused 
to finish, and in many cases they appear unusually 
difficult to keep. This change will result in less 
favoured blooms than was expected a few days ago, 
although size will be present and many good speci¬ 
mens will be staged. The majority will lack the 
finish that was hoped for ; Japanese in many cases 
have fallen victims to that dread disease, although 
this to a great extent has been counteracted by 
judicious shading. 
As these notes will hardly appear before the brunt 
of the battle is over, it will hardly be necessary to 
give names of varieties as they will appear in due 
course if they are able to hold their own in the fierce 
battle of competition. 
Mr. J. Jellicoe, Camp Hill, Woolton, has a grand 
lot closely shaded. The new varieties, especially 
Japanese, include valuable blooms, both for size and 
colour. The incurved types promise to be large and 
smart, whilst Anemones and reflexed add to the 
variety and value of the collection. 
Mr. Geo. Haigh, Highfield, Woolton, has a large 
array, including many weighty blooms, which are 
arranged in groups that can be seen with com¬ 
fort. Many of the latest introductions are present and 
show an improvement on many of the older varieties. 
Mr. C. Osborne, The Beeches, Allerton, has some 
bumpers amongst the incurves, a most remarkable 
lot considering the weak lot of plants that fell to his 
care a few months ago when taking over the charge 
of these gardens. It is whispered this gratifying 
result is through liberal feeding. 
Mr. Vaughan, The Hollies, Woolton, has a 
collection of high merit. The group in the upper 
range is worthy of much commendation, containing 
many fine blooms. 
-«»- 
THE FIRST ROUND-FLOWERED 
HYBRID BEGONIA. 
May I be allowed to point out to your correspondent, 
Mr. Napper (p. 180), that his reply to my plain 
request on p. 143 is eminently unsatisfactory. He 
made the statement, wholly unwarranted and mis¬ 
leading, that Mr. Pope raised the first hybrid 
Begonia obtained in this country in the old Exeter 
Nursery ; and, further, he stated that “ it grew up 
under our care,” implying that he was in the same 
employment at the time, and, therefore, may be 
assumed to know what he was writing about. I 
showed, I think, conclusively, that his first assertion 
had no foundation in fact, and therefore that his 
second was of no value as confirmatory evidence. 
Mr. Napper now changes front and says he meant 
to say that “ Mr. Pope was the raiser of the first 
round-flowered hybrid tuberous-rooted Begonia, 
namely, B. Woodmanni.” Well, I believe he makes 
this second statement in as "good faith” as the 
other, but in the absence of the necessary date in 
verification of his assertion, what is his ''faith” 
worth ? He still claims that B. Woodmanni was 
raised between B. Veitchii and B. Pearcei, but does 
not tell us when, and so we have no means of putting 
his claim to the proof. His first date I have proved 
to be entirely wrong, and I ask him to give us the 
correct one if he can. 
I am no " Pinceite," but I do know that the first 
round-flowered hybrid tuberous Begonia was an ac¬ 
quisition of the first water, a pearl of great price, and I 
know further that the old Exeter Nursery at the 
time this reputed “ nugget ” is stated to have been 
obtained by Mr. Pope, was not in such a flourishing 
condition that its proprietors could afford to keep 
such a prize simply for Mr. Pope and his assistant in 
the propagating house to look at. I therefore again 
ask Mr. Napper to give us chapter and verse for any 
reference whatever to B. Woodmanni that was 
made in any publication, botanical or otherwise, 
including the catalogues of the old firm of Lucombe, 
Pince & Co. Possibly Mr. Napper has one of 
the latter in his possession, and if so, the mere 
sending of it to the editor will settle the point 
between us. Until he does do so I must continue 
