118 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 26, 1889. 
black discs, and yellow rays with a blackish crimson 
spot at the base. E. bicolor is also characterised by 
two colours on the ray, the basal blotch being blackish 
purple. The whole plant is different from the last, 
and approaches more nearly the habit of K. sub-tomen- 
tosa. The leaves of the latter are ovate, sometimes 
threedobed and 5—7 nerved, whitish, and sub-tomen- 
tose beneath, while the stems branch freely and bear 
moderate-sized heads, with a black disc and yellow ray. 
It is a pretty species when at its best, but not often 
seen in this country. The moderate dimensions of this 
plant, together with the deeply pinnatifid leaves of 
this species, render it a very suitable subject for her¬ 
baceous borders. It grows to a height of 3 ft., and 
flowers from about midsummer onwards. The ray 
florets are very long and yellow. No doubt R. laciniata 
is often mistaken for R. nitida in gardens, for the two 
are similar in habit, but the leaves of the former are 
pinnatifid or lobed, while those of R. nitida are 
undivided. 
Very distinct in every way is R. columnaris, also 
known as Lepachys columnaris. The specific name 
refers to the columnar or cylindrical elongation of the 
disc on which the disc florets are arranged ; this varies 
from \ in. to 1 in. in length. The rays are long and 
pale yellow. The leaves are once or twice very finely 
divided into linear segments of varying width. A pale 
purple-rayed species, namely, E. pallida, is known 
under a host of names, including Echinacea angusti- 
folia. The leaves are long, and narrowly linear, while 
the rays are also linear. A great advance upon this is 
offered byR. purpurea with flower heads 3 ins. or 4 ins. 
in diameter, and broad reddish purple rays. The 
leaves are ovate or lanceolate, and the flower stalks 
terminate in solitary heads. It is a very choice species, 
but of slow growth, and consequently is not very 
widely disseminated. Indeed, R. speciosa, R. purpurea 
and R. maxima are the three best species in cultivation. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
The Blue Chrysanthemum. 
Mr. C. Harman Payne, -writing on this subject in The 
Garden , remarks that it seems only reasonable to 
suppose that if a blue Chrysanthemum was in culti¬ 
vation in Japan, something of a definite nature 
concerning it would have been heard long ere this. 
English and American horticultural houses have 
representatives there, and it is safe to imagine that if 
a blue variety were really in cultivation it would have 
been noticed at some of the shows. 
The only remaining difficulty would be the price. 
Supposing religious scruples to stand in the way, there 
would surely in these days of enlightenment soon have 
been found some enterprising, mercenary Japanese 
florist, utterly regardless of the wrath of Buddha, who 
would have turned an honest penny by obtaining and 
disposing of the blue Chrysanthemum to the highest 
bidder. 
But it does not exist, and probably never will ; were 
it otherwise, the successful introducer might with 
certainty rely upon a speedy fortune. Let us think for 
a moment of the sensation that would be caused by the 
first appearance of a large, well-shaped flower like 
Comte de Germiny or Edwin Molyneux with broad, 
deeply-grooved florets, liehly covered with a deep 
cobalt-blue inside, and the reverse of a light ultra- 
marine or azure tint. The hubbub caused by the 
advent of Mrs. Alpheus Hardy in America would be 
child’s play compared to it. Instead of SI,500 being 
paid for the entire stock, an outlay of the same 
number of pounds sterling would be a remunerative 
investment for the lucky purchaser of such a novelty. 
My own idea on the matter is this, that if there is a 
blue Chrysanthemum at all, it is not a variety of the 
C. indicum or C. sinense, but one of an inferior species. 
It is, therefore, not a Chrysanthemum at all, as the 
word is used in a general way when alluding to our 
exhibition flowers. Confirmation of this view is found 
in several parts of the manuscript previously mentioned. 
A native Japanese who is an enthusiast in Chrysanthe¬ 
mum cultivation, and lives at Tokio, says :—“Accord¬ 
ing to your question, I should say there is no such 
colour as blue. Perhaps there is, but they are No-giku 
or Yezo-giku. These are a species of Kiku (Chry¬ 
santhemum), and bear the name Kiku, but still we do 
not respect them with the honourable title of Kiku.” 
Eurthermore, it is only necessary to supplement the 
foregoing with an extract from a translation obli<nn»lv 
made for me by an old friend now residing in the 
interior of China. It is from an old gardening book, 
in which the author, after describing over 150 varieties of 
Chrysanthemums, tells his readers that there are 
many flowers called Chrysanthemums that are not 
really so, although they bear the Chinese generic name 
Chii, which in the mandarin dialect means Chrysanthe¬ 
mum. One of these wolves in sheep’s clothing, the 
Lan-chii or blue Chrysanthemum, has the following 
description appended Produced in Southern Che¬ 
kiang, never grows very high, opens at the beginning 
of autumn, colour a greenish blue, yellow centre, 
resembles the single-leaf Chrysanthemum, but the 
leaves (florets ?) are long and pointed, the edges like 
the teeth of a saw.” 
Now comes an important part of the description, for 
the Chinese author significantly adds, “not the same 
as Chrysanthemum, but one or two among Chry¬ 
santhemums will improve the colours.” 
Chrysanthemums at the Drill Hall. 
Some meritorious exhibits of these were made at the 
Drill Hall, "Westminster, at the meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on Tuesday last. The largest 
collection was that of Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
Swanley, Kent ; the greater portion of them consisted 
of Japanese varieties. Eynsford White is a splendid 
sort with broad, flat, recurved, compactly-arranged, 
pure white florets, forming a deep head of medium or 
large size. They received an Award of Merit for it, as 
well as for each of the three following kinds:—William 
Neville, a reflexed Japanese variety with broad, buff- 
orange florets and good average-sized herds for that 
race ; M. Pankoucke, a large Anemoae variety of 
good form and very distinct crimson colour, the rays 
being broad and the disc darker in colour ; and M. 
Charles Lebosq, belonging to the same race as the 
last. The broad rays are revolute at the margin and 
citron-yellow, while the disc florets are deep yellow. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, also exhibited 
a good collection of blooms. Very conspicuous amongst 
them were some huge blooms of Condor, a nearly white 
Japanese variety with broad florets ; Muts Kito or 
Holborn Beauty was a buff Japanese kind. Stanstead 
White is of huge size, and intermediate between Lady 
Lawrence and Mrs. H. Cannell in the breadth of the 
florets, which are quilled. Bertha Flight is moderate in 
size and globose or almost so in outline ; Mons. Bernard 
is a beautiful rose-purple kind, with the reverse of the 
florets nearly white ; and Phillipe Lacroix is blush, 
with medium to large-sized heads. All of the above 
are Japanese varieties, as well as Stanstead Surprise, 
which received an Award of Merit. It is now in much 
better form than it was last year, and is deep crimson- 
purple, with rose on the reverse. The florets are 
spreading and recurved, or incurved at the tip in 
different individuals, and compactly arranged. Last 
year they were spreading, and rather loosely arranged. 
A beautiful collection was staged by Mr. W. 
Wildsmith, Heckfield Place, Winchfield, Hants, who 
was accorded a vote of thanks. He had a stand of 
twelve splendid blooms of Avalanche, the best repre¬ 
sentation of this variety we have ever seen. Other 
Japanese varieties were Madame Laing, pink ; Florence 
Piercy, white, with very narrow petals, and in very 
fine form ; also Sarah Owen ; Val d’Andorre, crimson 
reflexed ; Sunflower, yellow ; Madame de Sevin, rose- 
purple ; La Triomphante, pink; Mons. W. Holmes, 
crimson ; and King of Crimsons, dark crimson, reflexed. 
A small collection was exhibited by Mr. George • 
Stevens, St. John’s Nursery, Putney, including Jeanne 
Marty, a fine rose-coloured Japanese Anemone kind ; 
Gorgeous, a bright yellow, but small Japanese variety ; 
and Nelson, a large Anemone variety. The last was 
accorded an Award of Merit. The rays are purple, and 
very numerous, while the well-elevated disc consists of 
purple florets, with the teeth tipped with white. 
M. Desgranges and G. Wermig. 
I have grown about fifty of the above this season in a 
bed outside, and they have proved to be exceedingly 
useful, surpassing my most sanguine expectations. We 
have been cutting an abundance of excellent flowers 
during the past six weeks, and there is still promise 
of a plentiful supply until the severe weather sets in, 
as they continue to throw up a succession of fresh 
heads. The plants were reared in the spring from 
cuttings, and planted out towards the end of May. 
We intend planting more another year.— Arbutus, 
Perthshire. 
Chiswick Conference, Nov. Sth and 6th, 1389. 
We learn with reference to this exhibition and con¬ 
ference, which is to be held by the Royal Horticultural 
Society in the gardens at Chiswick, that an historical 
display of flowers, grown by the society, will be made 
in the great vinery, this being supplemented by collec¬ 
tions of plants and flowers contributed by other 
cultivators. The schedule for the show consists of 
thirty-six classes, and although in a few of them 
the usual practice of “ dressing ” will be allowed, the 
general purport of the classes is to ensure the finest and 
most representative examples of natural development— 
the skill of the cultivator stopping short at the point 
where intentional modification of form begins. Thus, 
in the classes for plants, there are some special places 
reserved for such as are best adapted for decorative 
purposes, apart from the “finishing touches” of the 
florist, while in several classes for cut flowers the 
specimens are to be accompanied with natural 
foliage, and are to be shown as cut from the 
plant. In certain classes dressing will be allowed, and 
will be carried to the highest point by experts, but the 
natural growth of the same varieties will appear with 
them, to afford instructive contrasts between the 
“dressed” an! the normal blooms. The intellectual 
part of the entertainment will consist in the reading of 
pipers, and the discussion of points of interest. The 
president is T. B. Haywood, Esq., member of the 
council. Mr. C. Harman Payne will discourse on 
historical matters ; Mr. E. Molyneux, on new varieties ; 
Mr. J. Wright, on rules for judging ; Mr. Shirley 
Hibberd, on the progress made in the evolution of 
the flower. These five will furnish matter for discussion 
on the first day. On the second day, Mr. F. W. Burbidge 
will discourse on the production of seed, which is a 
crucial point in Chrysanthemum culture; Mr. C. 
Orchard will explain his method of converting giants 
into dwarfs ; Mr. C. Pearson will treat on cultivation 
for market ; and Mr. W. Piercy, on the production of 
early varieties. 
Chrysanthemum Shows. 
The following is as complete a list, as we have been able 
to obtain of the Chrysanthemum shows to be held 
during the ensuing month :— 
November. 
1.—Havant. 
5. —Brighton (2 days). 
,, Chiswick (R.H.S.) Exhibition and Conference 
(2 days). 
,, Finchley (2 days). 
6. —Ealing. 
,, Kent County, Blackheath (2 days). 
,, Portsmouth (3 days). 
7. —Ipswich (2 days). 
,, Isle of Sheppey (2 days). 
8. —Crystal Palace (2 days). 
11. —Surrey, at Peckham (2 days). 
12. —Ascot (2 days). 
,, Kingston and Surbiton (2 days). 
,, Brixton (2 da 5 7 s). 
,, Devizes. 
,, Hampstead (2 days). 
,, Lewes (2 days). 
,, National, at the Aquarium (2 days). 
,, Truro (2 days). 
13. —Bath (2 days). 
,, Bromley (2 days). 
,, Bournemouth (2 days). 
,, Chelmsford. 
,, Cornwall (3 days). 
,, Croydon (2 days). 
,, Dartford (2 days). 
,, Dorset. 
,, Faversham (2 days). 
,, Northampton (2 days). 
,, Southend (2 days). 
14. —Barnsley (2 days). 
,, Chiswick. 
,, Cranbrook (2 days). 
,, Dawlish. 
,, Dublin. 
,, Hinckley (2 days). 
,, Putney (2 days). 
,, Reading. 
,, Tottenham and Edmonton. 
,, Walton and Weybridge. 
15. —Bolton (2 days). 
,, Bradford (2 days). 
,, Derby. 
,, Eccles and Patricroft (2 days). 
,, Exeter. 
,, Hessle. 
,, Hitchin. 
,, Leicester (2 days). 
,, Tooting (2 days). 
16. —Bacup. 
19. —Eastbourne (2 days). 
,, Green Street and District (2 days). 
,, Liverpool (2 days). 
,, Manchester (2 days). 
,, Twickenham (2 days). 
,, Watford (2 days). 
,, Winchester (2 days). 
20. —Birmingham (2 days). 
,, Bristol (2 days). 
,, Rugby (2 days). 
,, Southgate (2 days). 
,, Wimbledon. 
,, York (3 days). 
21. —N. C. S. at Hull (2 days). 
,, Edinburgh (3 days). 
23.—Ghent, Belgium. 
29.—Dundee (2 days). 
