172 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 16, 1889. 
abuse, such as we have received from correspondents, 
whose letters we cannot publish, will alter them. The 
good men are a credit to their order, but the worthless 
ones are a bane to the profession, and we should be 
glad to see an upheaval of the standard of merit among 
them.—E d.] 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
--i*- 
Chrysanthemums for Amateurs. 
Those who desire to try their hand at the cultivation of 
Chrysanthemums for greenhouse decoration would do 
well to make notes of the varieties most suitable for the 
purpose. This can readily be done at the various 
exhibitions being held everywhere throughout the 
country, and even in the markets and florists’ shops, 
where plants in pots are sold. It may be difficult to 
ascertain the names in some cases, as these are not 
attended to in the way they ought to be. Amongst the 
autumD-flowering kinds, however, none are probably 
more common than Source d’Or, golden orange ; Roi 
de Preeoces, dark dull crimson ; and Alexandre Dufour, 
rosy purple. All of these are dwarf Japanese kinds that 
flower most profusely, and require but little skill in 
their cultivation to produce a fine display such as no 
other late autumn - flowering plants are capable of 
excelling. Other free-floweriDg kinds that are admir¬ 
ably adapted for this purpose are Elsie, pale canary- 
yellow, ultimately nearly white ; L’lsle des Plaisirs, 
bronzy crimson, floriferous and of medium height ; 
Margot, rose ; Bertier Rendatler, orange, yellow and 
red : Yal d’Andorre, orange-crimson ; 0. J. Quintus, 
lilac ; and Avalanche, white. The incurved kinds are 
generally less easily managed, especially to obtain them 
in character. Some of those most commonly used for 
this purpose are Mrs. George Rundle, George Glenny, 
Lord Alcester, Queen of England, Mrs. Dixon, and 
others. Pompons without number may be employed 
for greenhouse decoration, as they readily form bushy 
plants and flower freely. Some very pretty single 
kinds that will answer the same purposes, and also for 
cut flowers are Mary Anderson, white and pink ; Jane, 
white ; Yellow Jane, bright yellow ; Lady Churchill, 
bronzy crimson ; and Miss Rose, pink. 
Chinese Primulas. 
The chief points to be attended to at present are 
watering and ventilation. Occasional weak doses of 
liquid manure will also assist them greatly, enabling 
them to make finer growth and larger blooms. The 
greatest difficulty with which growers at this season have 
to contend, is damping, both of the foliage and blooms, 
and occasionally the whole plant damps off at the neck, 
just where it comes in contact with the soil. This 
arises through irregularity in watering, aided, of course, 
by a wet and stagnant atmosphere nearly always 
prevalent to a greater or less extent at this season of the 
year. In order to counteract this, the plants must be 
stood as near the glass as possible, and if on shelves, so 
much the better. Give an abundance of ventilation on 
all favourable occasions, and remember that just a little 
fire-heat is necessary to make them grow and flower 
freely, while it will at the same time render the 
atmosphere of the house buoyant, and make damping 
almost an impossibility. “Watering should be done in 
the morning, so that all superfluous moisture may be 
dried up before night. Although less is required at 
this dull season than in spring or summer, yet the 
matter must not be neglected, for if the plants get very 
dry the roots are killed, and when a deluge of water 
is given, stagnation ensues, and the plants damp off at 
the neck, or the whole of the roots rot. 
Cinerarias. 
The earliest sown batches have been flowering for some 
time past ; but as a rule, amateurs’ plants are much 
later, and by this time are just making good bushy 
tufts of leaves, while in some cases the plants are yet 
very small. No rich feeding need be given them at 
this time, provided the soil in which they are grown 
was properly enriched with manure before potting. 
As the pots become crowded with roots, however—or, 
better still, before this happens—the plants should be 
re-potted until they have attained the requisite size for 
flowering, according to the requirements of the grower. 
If allowed to get pot-bound in a small state, the plant 
will afterwards only send up a single stem bearing a 
truss of small flower heads. After the plants have 
grown to the requisite size, and filled the pots with 
roots, the flower stem will begin to push up, and they 
may then be assisted with liquid manure. Keep the 
plants well exposed to light and not too crowded, 
otherwise the foliage will soon suffer, an evil that must 
be guarded against on all occasions, for not only do the 
plants look bad, but they cannot be expected to flower 
so well. It must also be remembered that the foliage 
of the Cineraria is more tender than that of the Chinese 
Primula, and must be protected from frost when that 
occurs. During the present mild weather the plants 
may be allowed with safety to stand near the glass, and 
he well ventilated on all favourable occasions ; but in 
the event of severe frost, they should be moved back¬ 
wards quite away from it. 
Carnations. 
In order to get these to flower freely in winter, a little 
more artificial heat is required than is necessary for 
Chrysanthemums, Heaths, and similar subjects that 
must be kept as cool as possible. Moreover, a sweet- 
scented Carnation is very much appreciated in winter 
for cut-flower purposes; therefore, a little artificial 
heat will be ungrudgingly given by those who love this 
sweet flower, and there are few who do not. A little 
artificial or liquid manure will also enable the flowers 
to become larger, and also to be produced in greater 
quantity. A close stifling atmosphere must, however, 
be avoided, or the shoots will become drawn and lanky. 
On the side benches near the glass is the best position 
for them. 
- -»*«• - 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
♦ 
Lycaste Skinneri alba. 
The grandest specimen of this Orchid that I have 
ever met with, is in the possession of Reginald Young, 
Esq., of Linnett Lane, Liverpool. The variety is also 
one of the best, having bold well-shaped sepals and 
petals of ivory whiteness. The specimen bears seventeen 
expanded flowers, and some half-a-dozen buds or more 
to open. The plant is a strong healthily grown one, 
with upwards of forty very fine plump bulbs, and good 
foliage. It is a perfect gem, and one the lucky owner 
may be proud of.— Urbanus. 
Odontoglossum harryanum. 
Amongst the many finely cultivated plants in the 
Orchid houses of H. Tate, Esq., Allerton Beeches, may 
now be seen Odontoglossum Harryanum, with a 
branched spike fully 4 ft. 9 ins. long, showing upwards 
of two dozen flowers. Mr. Edwards is to be con¬ 
gratulated upon his success in the cultivation of so 
grand an example (one of many only), under his 
fostering care.— Rusticus. 
Oncidium Wentworthianum. 
Amongst the brown and yellow-flowered Oncidiums of 
the most prevalent type, few are more distinct in 
general appearance than 0. "Wentworthianum. Its 
usual time of flowering is summer, but like many 
others under artificial conditions, it may be had in 
flower at the present time. The flower stems rise to 
the height of 3 ft. or more, and are panicled along great 
part of their length, bearing larger flowers than the 
majority of the same class in cultivation. The sepals 
and petals are pale yellow, heavily barred transversely 
with rich brown towards the base. The lower part of 
the lip is also marked with the same dark hue, the rest 
being yellow. Now in the majority of the species of 
the 0. reflexum type the flowers are generally much 
smaller, and the markings altogether paler in hue even 
at the best. The foliage is copious, and of a rich 
shining green, and the plant grows vigorously. It is a 
native of Guatemala, but thrives well under cool 
treatment. 
- -»*<- - 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
Crystal Palace. —November 8th and 9th. 
The usual annual display of Chrysanthemums at the 
Palace was held on the above dates, when a fine collec¬ 
tion of cut blooms, groups, and trained specimens was 
got together. As usual, the greatest attention was 
centred on the cut blooms, where there was generally 
strong competition. The weakest part of the exhibition, 
perhaps, was the incurved kinds, where shown in 
classes by themselves. Another point to be noticed 
was that few of the old exhibitors were amongst the 
leading prize winners. The premier prize for twenty- 
four incurved and twenty-four Japanese varieties was 
taken by Mr. J. Inglefield, gardener to Sir J. "VV. Kelk, 
Bart., Ted worth Gardens, Marlborough. There were 
fourteen entries. His finest Japanese blooms were 
Baronne de Prailly, Boule d’Or, Mr. J. M. Pigny, 
Avalanche, Madame C. Audiguier, "VV. G. Drover, 
Madame Baco, Bertha Flight, Carew Underwood, 
Mdlle. Lacroix, Madame J. Laing, and Meg Merrilies. 
Fine incurved blooms were Empress of India, Golden 
Empress of India, Lord Alcester, Jeanne d’Arc, Queen 
of England, Princess of "Wales, Golden Queen of 
England, Alfred Salter, Refulgence, Miss M. A. 
Haggas, Miss Mary Morgan, and Barbara. Mr. Peter 
Blair, gardener to the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham, 
Stoke-on-Trent, won the second prize with a good 
exhibit; Mr. J. Doughty, gardener to Mrs. M. Tomlin, 
Angley Park, Cranbrook, being third ; and the fourth 
prize was taken by Mr. W. Thomas, gardener to Wilfred 
Marshal, Esq., Taunton. The first prize for eighteen 
incurved varieties went to Mr. J. Horsfield, gardener to 
Lord Heytesbury, Heytesbury, Wilts ; he was followed 
by Mr. P. Blair. Mr. W. Collins, gardener to J. H. 
Carlile, Esq., Ponsboume Park, Herts, was first for 
twelve incurved blooms, followed by Mr. C. Ritchings, 
gardener to W. Lindsay, Esq., Branderies, Beddington. 
Mr. P. Blair had the best six incurved of one variety 
in fine blooms of Queen of England. Messrs. 
Ray & Co., Sittingbourne, were second. Mr. J. 
Blackbourne, gardener to John Scott, Jun., Esq., 
Elmstead Grange, Chislehurst, took the leading prize 
for eighteen Japanese varieties. Fine blooms were 
Etoile de Lyon, Stanstead White, Boule d’Or, Ralph 
Brocklebank, and Meg Merrilies. Mr. C. Cox, gardener 
to J. Trotter, Esq., Brickenden Grange, Hertford, was 
second. Mr. W. Slogrove, gardener to Mrs. Crawford, 
Reigate, had the best twelve Japanese, and Mr. 
W. Collins was second. There were twenty entries. 
Mr. P. Blair had the best six of one variety in 
Avalanche ; Mr. H. Harker, gardener to H. Shindler, 
Esq., Epsom, was second. Mr. H. Collins had the best 
reflexed varieties, and was followed by Mr. A. S. 
Hookings, gardener to S. W. Graystone, Esq., Hurst 
Side, West Moulsey. Mr. M. Sullivan, gardener to 
D. B. Chapman, Esq., Devonshire House, Roehampton, 
had the best large Anemone varieties, and was followed 
by Mr. A. Coombes, gardener to the Earl of Dudley, 
Dudlev. Staffs. Mr. G. Duncan, gardenerto C. J. Lu :as, 
E q., Waraham Couri, Horsham, had the best Pompons, 
Mr. C. Gibson, gardener to J. Wormald, Esq., Morden 
Park, Surrey, being second. The same order of merit 
was observed for Pompon Anemones. Mr. M. Sullivan 
was first for Japanese Anemones, and Mr. A. Coombes 
took second prize. Mr. E. Chadwick, gardener to 
E. M. Nelson, Esq., Hanger Hill, Ealing, was awarded 
the first for single varieties. The only collection of in¬ 
curved varieties arranged for effect was shown by 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, many of the 
blooms being of high quality. They also took the first 
prize for a similar group of Japanese kinds. Very tall 
plants occupied the back of the group, and from thence 
the plants were graduated to the front, where they 
were very dwarf and well furnished with foliage. 
Messrs. J. Carter & Co., Perry Vale, took the second 
prize in this class. There was a class for a smaller 
group, open to amateurs only, and the first prize was 
taken by Mr. J. Gravete, gardener to Dr. Hetley, 
Upper Norwood ; Mr. A. Griffin, gardener to A. W. 
Carpenter, Esq., Sydenham, was second ; and Mr. J. 
Hudd, gardener to F. W. Prior, Esq., Gordon House, 
Blackheath, came in third with a good group. 
Trained specimens were equal to or better than those 
of last year. The first prize for six incurved trained 
specimens was taken by Mr. W. Wesker, gardener to 
A. Heaver, Esq., Tooting ; he was followed by Mr. E. 
Cherry, gardener to Mrs. Gabriel, Norfolk House, 
Streatham. Mr. W. Clarke, gardener to J. H. Lile, 
Esq., Brixton Hill, took first prize for four incurved 
specimens, as well as that for six trained Japanese 
kinds ; he was here followed by Mr. E. Cherry. For 
four trained specimens, Mr. J. Weston, gardener to 
D. Martineau, Esq., Clapham Park, took the first 
prize, and was followed by Mr. W. Wesker. Mr. J. 
Mc.Kenzie, gardener to F. S. W. Cornwallis, Esq., 
M.P., Linton Park, Maidstone, had the best trained 
Pompons, which were broad, convex, or nearly flat, 
but well-flowered specimens ; he was followed by Mr. 
G. H. Cooper, North Croydon. Mr. C. Welstead, 
gardener to Mrs. J. Lodge, Bramley Hill, Croydon, 
took the first prize for coloured Chinese Primulas ; 
and Mr. A. Carter, gardener to Alderman Evans, 
Ewell Grove, Surrey, had the best white and the best 
double varieties. 
Special prizes were offered by Messrs. Sutton k Sons, 
Reading ; and the first prize for five dishes of Potatos 
was taken by Mr. J. Hughes, gardener to Colonel 
Cartwright, Eydon Hall, Northampton ; Mr. W. H. 
Smith, Shrivenham, being second ; Mr. E. S. Wiles, 
gardener to R. A. Cartwright, Esq., Edgecote Park, 
third ; and Mr. G. Goldsmith, gardener to Sir E. 
G. Loder, Bart, Leonardslee, Horsham, was fourth. 
Mr. J. Hughes was again first for six dishes ; Mr. E. 
S. Wiles was second ; and Mr. W. H. Smith third ; 
