December 14, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
231 
florets more or less incurved, not regularly, as in the 
case of such varieties as the Queen of England, but 
sufficient to show their true character. Comte de 
Germiny is generally presented in its true character ; 
but of the many hundreds of blooms of Madame C. 
Audiguier that I have had to examine during the 
season, not more than half-a-dozen have been in fairly 
good condition. They were very poor last year, and 
although the seasons may have not been particularly 
favourable, we must look to the cultivator for an 
explanation of the thin, flabby appearance presented by 
the majority of blooms, both this year and last. In the 
reflexed Jap class, of which Elaine is still the best type, 
a certain regularity of form is of necessity admissible, 
and the florets should be somewhat regularly arranged 
and more or less reflex, although not with the formality 
characteristic of such varieties as Dr. Sharpe and King 
of the Crimsons. To the multitude of varieties that 
belong to the third section, it is not possible to do more 
than refer in general terms. I have already stated that 
the blooms should be full and bright in colour, and it 
will now suffice to say that each variety should be pre¬ 
sented in its true character, as represented by the finest 
types at the exhibitions. I would strongly recommend 
prominence being given to such distinct varieties as 
Belle Paule, Madame C. Audiguier, Boule d’Or, Edwin 
Molyneux, Stanstead "White, and Grandiflorum. They 
usually carry more weight than flowers of more regular 
shape, and I hope the quaint and fantastically-formed 
blooms will ever continue to have proper value attached 
to them by judges, so greatly do they contribute to the 
interest of the exhibitions. 
To speak of the reflexed varieties at any length is 
unnecessary. They are, as a class, very unsatisfactory, 
for although 100 years have now elapsed since the 
introduction to Europe of the reflexed, there are not 
half a dozen varieties that are even fairly good. 
Christine and its sports are very coarse, Elsie and 
Cullingfordi are erratic, and it is not difficult to 
produce blooms of Chevalier Domage that will throw 
inexperienced judges off their guard and ensure dis¬ 
qualification for the collection, as happened at one of the 
metropolitan exhibitions this season. The proper form 
of the reflexed bloom is a half globe, and it should be 
free from any trace of thinness or confusion in the 
the centre. The florets should be flat, free from notches 
at the top, and regularly recurved. The larger the 
blooms the better, provided they are free from coarseness. 
In many instances size is regarded as all-important by 
both exhibitors and judges, and preference given to 
flowers that represent a liberal use of stimulants rather 
than culture of the highest class. 
We have now three distinct types of Chrysanthemums 
with Anemone centres, and these, as you are all aware, 
are known as large Anemones, Japanese Anemones, and 
Pompon Anemones. These all agree in having an 
Anemone or cusliion-like centre, surrounded by a fringe 
of ray florets arranged regularly or otherwise, according 
to the section. In the large and the Pompon Anemones 
the ray florets should be flat, arranged more or less 
horizontally, and be circular in outline, while the disc 
or cushion should be high in the centre and regular in 
outline, forming as near as may be a half globe. In 
the Japanese a high full centre^ is essential, and the 
ray florets may be long and drooping, much curled or 
otherwise irregularly arranged, but the fringe should 
be full. I would direct special attention to the im¬ 
portance of having the centres of the Anemones well 
developed, for although some judges prefer huge 
flowers with perhaps a ghost of a centre, because they 
show “growth,” whatever that may mean, flowers 
perfect in all their parts will, in the majority of 
cases, win. But I would not unduly exalt the centres, 
and the rays also must be more or less perfect, while I 
would caution exhibitors against the practice which very 
generally obtains of staging old flowers having good 
centres from which the discoloured ray florets have 
been stripped, for when so mutilated they cannot 
possibly obtain many points. 
One other section remains to be noticed, and that is 
the Pompons, which, if not particularly popular at the 
present time, are so useful as to well merit attention. 
I would, in referring to them, protest against the 
encouragement that is given to the production of 
blooms of excessive size. This is done in some cases 
by allowing thinning, and in others by stipulating that 
the blooms shall be shown singly. I submit that it is a 
waste of money to offer prizes that have the effect of 
encouraging cultivators to attempt to produce blooms 
of Black Douglas that will resemble undersized flowers 
of Julie Lagravere, or flowers of President that bear a 
resemblance to those of Progne when indifferently 
developed. Pompons should in all cases be presented 
in as natural a condition as possible, for when un¬ 
thinned and staged in bunches as cut from the plant, 
they not only give visitors a better idea of their 
elegance and beauty, but are decidedly more attractive. 
I know but few hold the same opinion as myself, but I 
hope that as more correct views obtain, we shall have 
a change effected in the manner in which the Pompons 
are now presented at the public exhibitions. But so 
long as the schedules are prepared, and the prizes 
awarded, on the present lines, exhibitors have no 
alternative but to continue to grow the Pompons in a 
manner opposed to the development of their true 
characteristics.— G. Gordon. 
- 
THE ROSERY. 
The following lists, which will, no doubt, be useful to 
intending planters who have not much knowledge of the 
best varieties of Roses, are taken from the summarised 
statistical returns collected at the Chiswick Rose 
Conference, and published in part iii., volxi., of The 
Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, which has 
just been issued. 
Best Twelve H. P.’s for Show Blooms. 
79 Voters. 
A. K. Williams 
... 71 
Merveille de Lyon ... 
48 
La France 
... 69 
Baroness Rothschild.. 
39 
Marie Baumann 
.. 65 
Etienne Levet 
37 
Alfred Colomb 
... 61 
Louis Van Houtte ... 
36 
Chas. Lefebvre 
} 60 
Duke of Edinburgh... 
27 
Ulrich Brunner 
Marquise de Castellane 
22 
Gabriel Luizet 
... 55 
Next Best Twelve H. P.’s for Show. 
76 Voters. 
Dr. Andry ... } 
Eugenie Verdier i 
Marquise de Castellane 
Francois Michelon ... 
Duke of Edinburgh... 
Camille Bernardin 1 
Dupuy Jamain 1 
Horace Yernet ... 
Countess of Oxford 
Louis Yan Houtte 
Duke of Wellington 
Marie Yerdier ... 
31 
27 
25 
21 
23 
22 
20 
Baroness Rothschild 
Captain Christy 1 
Duchess of Bedford i 
Maurice Bernardin 
Merveille de Lyons 
Etienne Levet... 
Prince Arthur 
Mad. Yictor Verdier 
Xavier Olibo... 
Reynolds Hole 
Duchesse de Vallom-, 
brosa ... 1 
Charles Lefebvre J 
20 
19 
18 
17 
16 
15 
Marie Rady 
Twelve Most Useful H.P’s. as Cut Flowers 
for Decoration. 
61 Voters. 
La France ... ... 51 
General Jacqueminot. 36 
Duke of Edinburgh... 30 
Baroness Rothschild.. 26 
Fisher Holmes 
Gabriel Luizet 
Ulrich Brunner 
Prince Camille 
Boule de Neige 
Captain Christy 1 2 q 
Dupuy Jamain J 
Best Twelve Teas 
23 
21 
Eugenie Yerdier 
A. K. Williams 
Heinrich Schultheis 
Charles Lefebvre 
Merveille de Lyon j 
Marie Baumann ’ 
Marquise de Castellane 
John Hopper ... 
Yiolette Bouyer.. 
Louis Van Houtte 
for Show Blooms. 
78 Voters. 
Catherine Mermet ... 71 
Comtesse de Nadaillac 66 
Marechal Niel ... 62 
Marie Yan Houtte ... 61 
Souvenir d’Elise ... 57 
Innocente Pirola ... 49 
Niphetos ... ... 48 
Souvenir d’un Ami , 
Jean Ducher... 
Hon. Edith Gifford , 
The Bride 
Anna Olivier... 
Madame Lambard 
Next Best Twelve Teas forXShov. 
61 Voters. 
34 
Rubens 
Princess of Wales 
Madame Bravy 
Madame Lambard 28 
Souvenir de Paul 
Neyron 
Caroline Kuster ... 27 
Francisca Kruger 
Souv. d’un Ami 
Devoniensis ... >25 
Mad. Willermoz 
Etoile de Lyon 
Twelve Hardiest Teas. 
53 Voters. 
Mad. Lambard 
Marie Yan Houtte . 
Anna Olivier 
Souv. d’un Ami 
Gloire de Dijon 
Rubens 
Francisca Kruger 
Hon. Edith Gifford 
Jean Ducher... 
Caroline Kuster 
Homer ... 
18 
16 
15 
14 
13 
44 
43 
39 
37 
35 
Jean Ducher... 1 
Mad. Cusin ... ) 
Mad. de Watteville ... 
Anna Olivier... 
Perle des Jardins 
Madame Hippolyte 
Jamain 
Hon. Edith Gifford... 
Innocente Pirola 
Princess Beatrice 1 
The Bride ... J 
23 
22 
21 
20 
18 
16 
15 
14 
45 
Catherine Mermet j 
39 
Mad. Willermoz 
- 16 
32 
Mad. Bravy ... ) 
31 
Mad. Berard. 
. 14 
26 
Belle Lyonnaise 
24 
Bouquet d’Or 
Mad. Cusin ... 
13 
23 
Mad. de Watteville > 
1 
20 
Etoile de Lyon 
, 12 
BLACK CURRANTS. 
These are propagated by cuttings, and some treat them 
the same as the red and white varieties. This, we 
think, is a mistake, because of the difference in habit 
of growth and system of pruning which has to be 
followed. The pruning consists of cutting out the 
older growths as they become too crowded, and in a few 
cases shortening them back. The branches will often, 
if coming from a single stem, break down at their 
juncture with it, and spoil the plant. For this reason 
we prefer, when making our cuttings, to leave the eyes 
and let them throw up what branches they will. 
Pruning, if circumstances admit of it, can be done 
immediately the fruit is gathered. This will admit 
more light and air into the plant, so that the fruiting 
buds will be better matured. The Black Currant is a 
more moisture-loving plant than the Red one, and in 
dry soils will often fail to yield a crop through drought. 
For this reason mulching and watering is more neces¬ 
sary for them than for the Red Currant. The fruit 
will, under no circumstances, hang long on the bushes. 
If it is wished to prolong the time in which it can b6 
gathered, retarding by shading the trees when the fruit 
is yet green may be resorted to. 
In making fresh plantations, prepare the ground in 
the same manner as for the Red Currant, and plant 
them at about 6 ft. apart each way. Birds will occa¬ 
sionally destroy the fruit buds when about half 
expanded ; therefore, keep a constant look-out for them, 
and if they are found doing so, draw the bushes close 
together with string, and leave them thus until the 
buds are fully developed, when they may be untied 
without any fear of further injury. 
Caterpillars are sometimes troublesome. Should 
they make their appearance, hand-picking may be 
resorted to, which will generally suffice. An aphis 
sometimes does considerable damage amoDg them. 
The best remedy for this is tobacco-water ; but as it 
generally attacks the points of the shoots first, very 
much may often be done towards preventing any 
extensive damage by picking out the points of the 
shoots when the aphis is first noticed. Sometimes 
branches wither and die suddenly ; when this occurs, 
remove them at once, and split up the main stem, 
when a caterpillar will be found, which should be 
destroyed, as well as all the parent moths that can be 
found. It is known as the Currant Sphinx (Trochilium 
tupiliforme).— W. B. G. 
IfoiES from Scotland. 
Scottish Horticultural Association. — The 
monthly meeting of this association was held on the 
3rd inst., Mr. D. R. Laird presiding over a large 
attendance of members. Mr. J. Wilson, junior, 
Greenliill Nursery, St. Andrews, in a paper entitled 
“Reminiscences of Continental Nurseries,” gave an 
account of nurseries he had visited in various parts of 
the Continent, contrasting their system of horticultural 
architecture, heating and general management with 
British establishments. He made special mention 
of the construction and arrangement of the immense 
Grape-producing establishment at Hoeilaert, near 
Brussels. He also touched on the social conditions of 
the workmen engaged in horticulture on the Continent, 
remarking on their long hours of labour (in many 
instances twelve hours a day), small pay, and inferior 
living accommodation. In conclusion, he drew the 
attention of young men engaged in horticultural 
pursuits here to the advantages to be gained by a 
sojourn in one of the many large and important 
plant-growing establishments in Belgium, France or 
Germany, where much of interest can be seenjand much 
valuable information acquired. The lecture was illus¬ 
trated by a series of diagrams. A long and interesting 
discussion followed, and Mr. Wilson was thanked for 
his paper. 
The exhibits on the table included a collection of 
Orchids from Mr. A. Grant, St. Leonard’s Hall, 
Dunfermline ; and Chinese Primulas from Mr. Smith, 
Oxenford Castle. In referring to the City Cup, which 
was also exhibited, the chairman said that the Chry¬ 
santhemum show had been one of the most remarkable 
ever held. He took the opportunity of mentioning 
how gratified the members of the council were for the 
success which attended the holding of the exhibition. 
A great amount of that success was due to the Scottish 
Horticultural Association as a body. The treasurer 
would have a statement to place before them next 
month which, no doubt, would be gratifying. 
