214 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 7, 1889. 
in a later house through the partition, and filling a 
small house with it, and took from it crops of good 
early fruit. Many years ago, Mr. William Ingram, of 
The Gardens, Bel voir Castle, Grantham, having his 
Vines in outside borders, conceived the idea of planting 
Vines inside, and inarching them to the stems of the 
outside planted ones, his theory being that he should 
get a fresh and earlier flow of energy for his Vine 
from the stock inside, and a second and later one outside. 
This was both original and ingenious, hut it is long 
since I visited Belvoir, and I am not quite sure if Mr. 
Ingram continues the practice to the present day. 
I hope Mr. Hudson’s paper will find its way into 
print. It contained such a mass of useful information, 
put into a condensed and popular form, that young 
gardeners would derive much benefit, and pick up many 
useful hints from it.— R. D. 
--> 3 *-- 
THE CULTIVATION OP 
CURRANTS. 
Red, White, and Champagne. 
These are propagated by cuttings, seeds, and layers, 
and I think if their improvement by raising seedlings 
were seriously taken in hand by someone with sufficient 
leisure, good work could be accomplished. I have had 
through my hands superior varieties, which I think 
have merited more attention than they have received. 
They might still be got together and seeded, and some 
of the foregoing would most likely give better results 
than have yet been attained. Those who have superior 
kinds may multiply them more readily by layering than 
from cuttings, by either making the soil up to the 
shoots, or bringing them down to it, making a notch 
below each eye, and pegging the shoots down level with 
the surface. Nearly every eye will throw up a shoot, and 
in time form a plant. I have seen these improved 
varieties grafted on the commoner kinds, but think the 
layering as described preferable, because all danger of 
their being lost, owing to the stock being allowed to 
form shoots and grow, would be avoided. 
For cuttings, the stoutest and straightest shoots 
should be selected. Cut them into lengths of from 
12 ins. to 14 ins., rejecting any immature growths, 
and remove all the eyes which will be below the surface, 
to prevent the future plant from throwing up suckers. 
Plant them in lines from 12 ins. to 18 ins. apart, and 
from 6 ins. to 8 ins. asunder in the rows, in a partially 
shaded position, making them very firm in the soil by 
treading. In the autumn, prune back all the shoots 
to four or five eyes each, and by the following autumn 
they will have become nice young plants, which may 
be either re-planted or remain in the cutting bed 
another season. 
The next autumn, when pruning them, it should be 
determined to what system of training they are to be 
subjected. Many of them will have made four or five 
shoots, and these should be taken in hand to form 
bushes. Leave four or five of the strongest and best 
placed about 6 ins. in length to form leaders, spurring 
rather close all others, and cutting out any that come 
in the centre of the plant, which should be cup-shaped. 
As the plants increase in size, fresh shoots may be left 
for the further extension of the bushes, and to replace 
any that have decayed, or been destroyed by accident. 
The leaders may for some years be left fully 6 ins.; 
some shorten them much more than this, which we 
think quite a mistake. Whilst the bushes are in fair 
vigour, summer pruning, which consists of shortening 
back all growths in the centre of the bushes is advan¬ 
tageous, letting in the influences of light and air, but 
leaving the growths long enough to protect the young 
fruit from the scorching sun. This is best done from 
the middle to the end of June, but winter pruning 
is best done as early after the fall of the leaf a3 
circumstances will permit. 
The plan of training to stakes has much to commend 
it to cottagers and amateurs, because of the quantity of 
fruit that may be gathered off a small space of ground, 
and the facilities it gives for protecting the fruit from 
birds. A row of trained Currants also forms an excellent 
screen during the summer months. They may be 
planted 18 ins. from the edging of the paths, and 
4 ins. from plant to plant, and trained any height from 
4 ft. to 6 ft., but 4 ft. 6 ins. will be found a very con¬ 
venient height. Young plants with three shoots are 
the best to take in hand for this purpose, and the 
shoots which are intended to be carried up for leaders 
should be so placed that they can be readily tied in to a 
stake. The pruning required after they have once 
started is in all respects essentially the same, with 
the exception that owing to the lesser number of 
leaders to each plant the leading shoots may annually 
be left rather longer till they reach the required height, 
and the side shoots should be spurred close in. If 
the leaders are closely studded with fruit spurs, as they 
should be, three leaders will be ample ; but if from any 
cause they become comparatively naked, more leaders 
may be laid in. 
It is an excellent plan to have a few on a north wall 
or fence, as they will naturally be later than the others, 
and so help to prolong the season. In dry seasons the 
fruit from these is often much finer than from bushes 
in the open, because they are better off for moisture at 
the roots. If the walls are from 10 ft. to 15 ft. high, 
from four to five leaders to each plant are ample. Where 
there are pillars in the walls this is an admirable use 
to put them to. The leaders may be taken up at from 
6 ins. to 8 ins. apart, and the same general principles 
followed as regards pruning to that recommended for 
those trained to stakes. 
In forming fresh plantations, trench the ground two 
spits deep, working in a good dressing of half-decayed 
manure, unless the ground is in a rich condition. If 
it cannot be trenched, see that it in deeply dug and 
well broken up. If very light and poor, a dressing 
of marl or clay will benefit it. Very stiff wet clay 
should be drained. They will succeed in almost any 
soil with attention, but poor gravelly soils that lay 
dry are the worst. In these they must be mulched 
and watered in dry weather to be successful. Mulch¬ 
ing is to be recommended in all cases where it can be 
done. Bushes in quarters should be planted in rows 
5 ft. from row to row, and 4 ft. from plant to plant. 
Retarding is done by covering the bushes closely in 
with mats or any suitable material when the fruit is 
two-thirds ripe. This covering must be removed 
occasionally on dry days to dispel the damp, when any 
decayed leaves or fruit should be taken out. With a 
little care and forethought, fruit of these—the red and 
white—may be had in good condition from the end of 
June till the end of October, unless the season should 
prove exceptionally wet and cold.— IV. B. G. 
-- 
QUALITIES OP OHRYSAN- 
themums.* 
Contrary to the expectations of some of my friends, it 
is not my intention to tax your patience with a long 
technical description of the properties of the several 
sections into which the Chrysanthemums have, by 
common consent, been divided. Such description 
might be instructive, but it would be decidedly 
wearisome, and probably fail to promote that free 
discussion so essential to the success of these gatherings. 
What I purpose doing is to briefly touch upon a few 
points that appear to be of special importance, and 
therefore deserving of the careful consideration of those 
who are anxious to maintain a high standard, and 
develop to the fullest possible extent the educational 
side of exhibitions. 
In the first place, I have to submit that the 
marvellous increase in the number of Chrysanthemum 
societies during the past decade has not been an 
unmixed good. Their multiplication has created a 
greater degree of interest in the Chrysanthemum, and 
in providing additional facilities for growers to meet in 
friendly rivalry the newly-established societies have 
materially assisted in extending the cultivation of the 
flower. But societies should do something beyond 
creating interest, and increasing the number of growers. 
They should have for their chief aim improvement in 
culture. This they should carry out by endeavouring 
to set before the visitors to their exhibitions specimens 
of both plants and flowers in the highest possible state 
of perfection. Taking a broad view of what has been 
accomplished by societies generally, it must be stated 
that an immense improvement has been effected of late 
years. But if we examine the work of individual 
associations, we shall find that in many instances they 
have failed to exercise a really beneficial influence upon 
Chrysanthemum culture, because of the low standard 
of quality they have adopted. Were it necessary for 
the purpose of my argument, I could give the names of 
not a few societies whose exhibitions have undergone 
but little improvement since their foundation. They 
may, perhaps, have increased in extent, but have failed 
to show any signs of improvement in the quality of the 
productions. But there is no occasion to mention their 
names, and it is far more agreeable to refer to societies 
that by setting up a high standard at the first have an 
immense influence in diffusing a knowledge of the 
principles that must be observed by cultivators desirous 
of obtaining a place in the front rank. Leaving out of 
*A paper read at the late Hull Chrysanthemum Conference, 
by Mr. George Gordon. 
consideration the National Chrysanthemum Society, 
which at no period in its history has failed to pay due 
regard to high quality, I will mention two societies that 
have specially distinguished themselves in the work of 
improvement. These are the two Kingston societies, 
the one on the Thames, and the other on the Humber. 
Many of those present are acquainted with what has 
been done by the Kingston-on-Thames society, and a 
much larger number are familiar with the work that 
ha3 been accomplished by the Hull Society since 
its formation. It has been my privilege to take 
part in every exhibition of Chrysanthemums that 
has been held in thi$ town, and in comparing one 
or two of the earlier shows with the magnificent exhi¬ 
bition now being held it is impossible to avoid being 
struck by the marvellous change that has been brought 
about—a change not so much in the quantity as in the 
quality of the whole of the sections represented. If you 
ask me why these two societies, with others that could 
be mentioned, have effected such an immense improve¬ 
ment in the quality of their exhibitions, and have 
exercised so beneficial an influence outside their own 
districts, I shall not have much difficulty in giving a 
decisive answer. These societies, recognising their 
duties, have adopted a proper standard, and appointed 
men to award the prizes who they knew would carry 
out their wishes. This is a point upon which I do not 
propose to speak at any length. It is obvious that the 
chief object of an exhibitor in staging his plants or 
flowers is to obtain the highest place possible upon the 
prize list. In endeavouring to attain this object, he 
necessarily presents his specimens as nearly as he can 
in a condition most likely to satisfy those entrusted 
with awarding the prizes. If the judges hold correct 
views on the points of perfection in the several types 
the exhibitor will not lose sight of the importance of 
finish ; but when, on the other hand, the merits of the 
specimens are estimated by measurement, we have, as 
a consequence, at subsequent exhibitions huge plants 
furnished with indifferent flowers, and in the cut-flower 
classes blooms distinguished by their large size and 
coarseness. 
Speaking generally, too much importance is at the 
present time attached to mere size, and especially is 
thisjthe case in estimating the relative merits of stands 
of cut blooms. Regularly of outline, brightness of 
colour, and solidity, count for little with many growers 
and some judges as compared with diameter. Conse¬ 
quently not only are the large varieties allowed to over¬ 
shadow the smaller yet no less beautiful kinds, but 
when the same variety comes into competition a 
comparatively large coarse bloom is placed before one a 
size smaller, but rvell finished. Compilers of schedules, 
as well as judges, have something to answer for in 
bringing about the unsatisfactory state of things that 
prevail in some centres. In their anxiety to assist 
exhibitors with a view to having their stages well 
filled, they allow duplicates to be so largely shown 
that in the case of the incurved section many of the 
most beautiful varieties are being slowly, but surely, 
pushed out of cultivation. It is not rare to meet with 
classes for twelve, in which not more than nine varie¬ 
ties are required, and it is quite common to ask for 
only eighteen varieties in classes for twenty-four. The 
result in one case is to have about three types repre¬ 
sented, and in the other case not more than six or 
seven varieties. I have nothing to say against 
the Queen of England and its numerous sports, 
but when they form one-half of the collections of 
twenty-four they necessarily overpower the smaller 
varieties. Moreover, the exhibition, so far as the 
incurved section is concerned, loses much of its interest 
and attractiveness. If I am told there is a difficulty in 
filling a stand of twenty-four with distinct varieties, I 
must reply that the difficulty is not so great that it 
cannot be readily overcome. In confirmation of this 
assertion I would direct attention to the fact that com¬ 
paratively small societies, such as those at Walton and 
Staines, -insist upon the twenty-fours being distinct, 
and have seven or eight entries all more or less good. 
If the exhibitions are to be made useful to cultivators 
and attractive to the general visitors, we must make 
them as varied as possible by encouraging exhibitors to 
stage all the good varieties, whether large or small. 
Although the great preference that has of late been 
shown to mere size has most injuriously affected the 
incurved, what has been said with reference to high 
quality as of primary importance, applies equally to all 
sections. It is just as easy to shut out of the exhibi¬ 
tions the smaller Japs or Anemones and encourage 
coarseness as in the case of the incurved. 
There is yet another matter that has a general 
application, and that is freshness. In the case of all 
