418 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 29, 1896. 
is now that of the public. The Narcissi, for which 
the Scilly Islands have become famous, lend them¬ 
selves easily to decorative purposes, especially for 
the beautifying cf the table. Their long stems, sur¬ 
mounted by richly-coloured blooms, which hang 
gracefully, adapt them in a peculiar manner to glass 
centre pieces. The pleasing effect produced by 
Soleil d’Or, with its cap of deep orange and its 
golden petals, showing up against dark green 
foliage, has made the flower a general favourite. 
One bloom of the famous Scilly White, with a 
little Maidenhair Fern, makes a neat and pretty 
buttonhole, while, in the making of wreaths and 
bouquets, this flower is in great demand, being pre¬ 
ferred in many cases to the Paper White, which 
the French send to our markets in great quantities. 
As a favourite flower for Easter decorations 
Narcissus poeticus ornatus takes the palm. Its 
fine white petals and delicate centre especially 
recommend it at that festive season. The length of 
time that the Narcissi will keep fresh in water is 
astonishing; this and their opportune growth 
make them doubly welcome to all lovers of nature.— 
Our Western Correspondent. 
--4-- 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting was held at Anderton's 
Hotel, on Monday last, about one hundred members 
attending. 
Mr Richard Ballantine (a Vice-President) most 
ably fulfilled the duties of Chairman. 
The lengthy minutes of the last meeting were read 
by” the Hon. Secretary, as was also the following 
report from the committee. 
Report of the Committee, 1895. 
On no previous occasion have your committee made 
their annual report with greater satisfaction than at 
the close of the present financial year. An almost 
unprecedented growth of membership during the 
past twelve months, and the holding of four exhibi¬ 
tions of the highest merit, have crowned the labours 
of your executive, and they bear striking testimony 
to the world-wide popularity of the Chrysanthemum, 
and the close hold the Society has upon the devotees 
of the ” Golden Flower.” During the year ending 
December 31st, thirteen fellows and 149 ordinary 
members have been elected, and ten societies 
admitted to affiliation. The number of members 
retiring at the close of the year is smaller than 
usual. 
In reference to the exhibitions, your committee 
greatly desire to see a larger representation of the 
early-flowering varieties at the September show, as 
many new forms have been added to the section 
during the past few years. As in 1894, the October 
exhibition was of a very high order of merit, the 
ground floor of the Aquarium being full of attractive 
features. The November fete was on a very large 
scale, the ground floor and two spacious galleries 
scarcely sufficing to accommodate the numerous 
exhibits; the weather being happily most favourable, 
your committee were gratified to notice a larger num¬ 
ber of societies than usual contending for the 
Challenge Trophy. The late exhibition in December 
brought a charming display, and the high quality 
seen in the exhibits called forth universal praise. 
Both the October and the December shows are 
undoubtedly growing in extent, quality, and attrac¬ 
tiveness. 
Your committee have amended their regulation as 
to the size of boards for Japanese blooms, and for the 
future in all classes in which this type is shown, the 
boards must be of the sizes set forth in the special 
regulations for exhibitors. 
The Floral Committee held ten meetings during 
the past year, and they were the means of bringing 
together an enormous number of novelties, the com¬ 
mittee being frequently set a very onerous task in 
having to inspect so many claimants to favour. 
Though great care is exercised in making awards to 
novelties, the general high excellence of the numerous 
new introductions necessitates the granting of a con¬ 
siderable number of Certificates of Merit. The 
Floral Committee have had under consideration 
their rules of procedure, and have amended them in 
several important particulars ; one of these requiring 
that for the future three blooms of a variety must be 
shown to obtain a Certificate of Merit, though com¬ 
mendations will be awarded to two blooms only, 
provided the variety possesses sufficient merit, 
Iu the present year the Society attains to the 
fiftieth year of its existence, having been originally 
known as the “ Stoke Newington Chrysanthemum 
Society”; and since 1846 it has experienced an 
active and unbroken career, and at all times been a 
powerful influence in promoting a world-wide 
culture and exhibition of the Chrysanthemum. 
Your committee have therefore made arrangements 
to celebrate the jubilee of the society in a fitting 
manner in November next ; the carrying out of the 
same being entrusted to a special sub-committee. 
The Catalogue Revision Committee are already at 
work compiling a jubilee edition to date, for which it 
is confidently expected there will be a large demand. 
The jubilee fund is yet considerably short of the 
sum required to enable the celebration as originally 
proposed to be carried out, and the committee make 
an earnest appeal to members to assist in making the 
jubilee festival a complete success. 
The esteemed President, Sir E. Saunders, is most 
heartily thanked for his continued interest in the work 
of the Society, and the committee gratefully acknow¬ 
ledge his gift of a valuable clock as a special prize at 
the November exhibition. They also thank the mem¬ 
bers and friends of the Society who generously gave 
special prizes at the November exhibition, all of 
which are greatly appreciated. 
These having been passed without comment, Mr. 
Dean read the financial statement, of which the 
following is the summary :— 
Members 1 subscriptions, £261 os. 3d. : donations 
and special prizes, £28 ns. 6d.; Royal Aquarium 
Co., £282 10s. ; affiliated societies for fees, medals, 
and certificates, £167 4s.; other items, £118 12s , 
with £21 7s. 6d. for the jubilee fund. 
The expenditure items gave -prizes, £427 9s. 6d.; 
medals and engraving for affiliated societies, 
£57 18s. 6d. ; fees and luncheons to judges and 
staff, /40 ns. iod ; expenses of annual dinner and 
Floral Committee, ^24 18s. 3d.; printing and 
stationery, ^75 ns. 6d.; printing 1894 catalogue, 
^14; stamps, £34 15s. 5d. : clerical and other 
assistance, with sundry expenses, /114 9s. 3d. ; 
advertisements, /18 3s. ; and other executive 
demands costing ^35 10s. 4d. The statement shows 
a balance in hand of £65 7s. 8d. (including the 
£21 7s. 6d for jubilee fund), as against £29 10s. 2d. 
at the beginning of 1895. Mr. Dean explained that 
something like £60 had been paid for extraordinary 
work, so that the finances of the society were 
exceedingly satisfactory. The reserve fund shows a 
credit of ^45 ns. 8d., somewhat less than last year, 
owing to the publication of the Year Book. The 
jubilee fund was progressing fairly well, about £435 
(including an extra £75 from the Royal Aquarium 
Co.), having already been promised. The estimated 
cost of the jubilee celebration was £1,200, and an 
urgent appeal was made to members, and through 
them to others for further support. The members 
were so well satisfied with their secretary’s masterly 
handling of the accounts that no single question 
relating thereto was asked, but the whole of the 
executive officers were unanimously re-elected, 
whilst Mr. Herbert J. Cutbush, of Highgate, was 
chosen to fill the position of junior auditor. Mr. 
Harry J. Veitch was enthusiastically elected a vice- 
president, twelve new members were admitted, and 
the tedious operation of electing twelve committee¬ 
men resulted in the following verdict:—Mr. H. J. 
Jones, Mr. R. Ballantine, Mr. G. Gordon, Mr. G. 
Stevens, Mr. D. B. Crane, Mr. E. Beckett, Mr. 
Norman Davis, Mr. C. Gibson, Mr. W. Davey, Mr. 
J. Wright, Mr. H. Shoesmith, and Mr. McKerchar, 
Votes of thanks to the auditors, scrutineers, and 
chairman concluded a meeting which must have 
been very satisfactory to the officers. 
TULIPS AND HYACINTHS. 
The question is often asked—" What shall I do with 
my Tulips and Hyacinths after they have done 
flowering.” Very many, owing to the cheap rate at 
which these may be purchased, take no trouble with 
them beyond consigning them more or less carefully 
to the rubbish heap. At the same time, numbers of 
people who like to make the most of everything, 
choose to preserve them : and for their benefit a few 
simple hints may not be out of place. To begin, we 
remark that both Hyacinths and Tulips seed very 
freely, if allowed to do so, and as this is very exhaust¬ 
ing to the bulbs, the flower stems should be cut off 
as soon as the last flowers have faded away. This 
leaves nothing more for the bulb to do than 
strengthen itself for the ensuing season. Pay every 
attention to the foliage to preserve it uninjured, till 
by the decay of the leaf points, it is plainly shown 
that they are naturally going to rest ; then take them 
up before the leaves are quite decayed, for, if left in 
after this period, the young offsets will be drawing 
nourishment from the parent bulbs and weakening 
them. 
When taken up, the bulbs should be removed to a 
dry, airy shed, screened from the sun, and any soil 
adhering to them allowed to remain for some time. 
As the leaves decay remove them and place the 
bulbs on a dry airy shelf, turning them over 
occasionally ; rub off the dry mould, and by a gentle 
side pressure with the hand on the bulbs, any loose 
portions of the bulb covering will be removed. 
They will then form a bright, clean-looking sample 
by the end of August, when, if any portions of the 
last year’s fibres remain, they may be taken off. 
Any unsound specimens should be thrown aside.— 
W. B. G. 
- . 1 -- 
CARNATIONS. 
In this article I give a selection of the best sorts for 
a border. As the number of varieties catalogued for 
1896 will nearly reach 1,000, it must be a very 
difficult matter for beginners to select the most 
suitable sorts. There are many sorts with first-rate 
flowers which are quite worthless as border plants 
because they are so shy growers. A good border 
Carnation ought to have the following qualities, 
namely, plenty of good flowers that do not burst the 
calyx, borne on good stiff stems and with plenty of 
strong grass. In the following selection I have only 
given the names of such sorts as will give satisfac¬ 
tion. 
The best white is still Mrs. Muir ; a large bed of 
it in full flower is a sight not easily forgotten- 
Duchess of Fife completely captivates the ladies with 
its pretty sweet pink blooms. Very fine is Germania, 
with its golden-yellow flowers. Ketton Rose has 
well-formed deep rose blooms. A fine scarlet is 
Marnie Murray, which is also a first-rate flower. 
Valkyrie is quite a novelty ; its satin-pink flowers are 
very attractive. Very bright rose is Midas and a very 
sturdy grower. A fine new sort is Huntsman, which 
is an ideal border Carnation, as it grows 18 in. high, 
and carries twenty to thirty bright scarlet flowers. 
Mrs. Lang has large well-formed salmon flowers. A 
fine, strong growing, blush sort is Cedric. Athene is a 
fine purple ; and a good bright crimson is Crimson 
Perle.— J. J., B. 
--4-- 
ON KEEPING APPLES. 
I have never experienced, until this winter, much 
difficulty in keeping Apples. My fruit room being a 
cool one I generally place some clean straw on the 
shelves, arranging the fruit on the top thereof, and 
when frost has been severe covering them up with 
old newspapers. To refer to a few of those that 
have kept badly, I may mention Blenheim Orange, 
Cox’s Orange Pippin, Golden Noble, King of the 
Pippins, and the Old Wellington, sometimes called 
Dumelow's Seedling. I noticed when storing them 
little black specks on the fruit, and I observe that 
the part affected with these particular spots was 
where decomposition afterwards set in. Do you 
think, Mr. Editor, this was the work of some fungus ? 
or to what do you attribute that to which I now call 
your attention ? Any information will be very 
useful, for unfortunately others have complained of 
the same trouble.— J. Addison. 
[In all probability the black spots were caused by 
the fungus CDdosporium dendriticum, which causes 
mischief more or less extensively according to the 
stage of growth at which the fruits get first attacked ; 
if in the young stage, the fruits are unable to swell 
afterwards, owing to the injury to the skin, so that 
cracking ensues. In your case the fungus must have 
continued to grow after the storing of the fruits, 
owing largely to the mildness of the winter, moisture 
in the atmosphere, and other conditions favourable 
to the fungus. It would be a good plan to sort out 
all spotted fruits in the autumn, and store them for 
more immediate use away from contact with the 
sound ones. It might be worth while spraying the 
trees in summer with the Bordeaux Mixture, for the 
making of which see last week's 11 Questions and 
Answers” in The Gardening World.—Ed,] 
