212 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 2, 1893. 
NEW CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Large numbers of new and some old varieties of 
Chrysanthemums were brought together at the 
meeting of the Floral Committee of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society at the Royal Aquarium, 
on the 22nd ult. A Silver Medal was awarded to 
Mr. Robert Owen, Castle Hill, Maidenhead, for some 
stands of handsome blooms of new varieties, a large 
proportion of which were of his own raising. Some 
of them received First-class Certificates as described 
below, and several were commended, including 
Niveus, snowy white reflexed Japanese, President 
W. R. Smith, blush pink, E. L. Jamieson, large 
crimson-red and nankin yellow reverse, the latter 
two being incurved Japanese varieties, and Elsie 
Walker, a crimson pompon with yellow edges and 
reverse. It is more difficult to obtain First-class 
Certificates now with so many fine varieties in com¬ 
merce. A similar award was accorded to M. E. 
Calvat, Grenoble, France, for some stands of new 
varieties that had been sent over, packed in a dry 
condition, and yet were in good order after having 
suffered some severe weather. Two of his varieties 
were certificated and two of them were commended, 
namely. President Leon Say, and Deuil de Jules 
Ferry. The former is a soft crimson-red Japanese 
sort, with a clear yellow reverse ; the other is an in¬ 
curved Japanese variety with broad, crimson-purple 
florets with a silvery-rose reverse. A Bronze Medal 
was awarded to Messrs. H. Canned & Sons, Swanley, 
Kent, for a collection of Chrysanthemums, including 
Madamoiselle Therese Rey, Golden Gate, Primrose 
League, Robert Owen, and Regularity. 
A number of new varieties were exhibited by Mr. 
E. Beckett, Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree, who 
received a certificate for Cecil Wra}', and a com¬ 
mendation for M. P. Martineaux, a clear yellow 
incurved variety of medium size. Mr. J. P. Kendall, 
Roehampton, exhibited Beauty of Roehampton, 
an ncurved yellow Japanese variety, tinted with 
reddish-buff; William Kendall, a very distinct 
dark purple pompon, having white tips to the 
florets, was commended. It seems to be unique 
in its way. Harry Hicks, a large, semi-globose 
pompon, of a soft lilac purple with a white 
centre at certain stages, was highly commended 
when exhibited by Mr. E. Rowbottom, Priory 
Gardens, Hornsey. A cellection of Chrysanthemums 
consisting largely of single varieties was shown by 
Mr. W. Wells, Earlswood, Surrey. In the course of 
the meeting a membsr of the committee lodged a 
complaint against those exhibitors who wasted the 
precious time of the members by sending up useless 
rubbish for examination, and that had no chance 
whatever of obtaining a certificate. The rest of 
those present fully endorsed his view. 
The varieties described hereunder were all 
honoured with a First-class Certificate. 
Wm. Tunningtox. —In this we have a large in¬ 
curved variety of English raising, and measuring 
5 in. to 5jin. across by 3 in. in depth. It will there¬ 
fore come in serviceable for the show board and help 
to sustain the flagging interest in this formerly very 
popular class. The florets are broad, blunt at the 
tip, deeply concave on the inner face, which is crim¬ 
son, and old gold on the reverse, suffused with buff. 
The bloom is globular, very regular and compact, 
Mr. R. Owen was the exhibitor and raiser. 
Mrs. T. Denne. —The blooms of this incurved 
Japanese variety measure yin. in diameter, and have 
therefore a bold and telling appearance on a stand. 
The florets are long, strongly incurved, pointed, and 
often interlocking at the tips. They are of a pale 
purplish-red with a soft reddish-pink reverse, and so 
strongly incurved that the outer face is most in evi¬ 
dence. As far as colour and form are concerned, it 
is very distinct. It was exhibited by Mr. R. Owen. 
Golden Gate. — In form and general appearance 
this closely resembles Madamoiselle Therese Rey, 
except in colour, and that is saying a great deal. 
The bloom measures yin. across, and may extend to 
Sin. without taking any notice of long, stray florets. 
The latter are broad, spreading, more or less 
strongly recurved, more or less revolute and twisted, 
of great substance, and of a rich golden-yellow. 
The centre is very full, with the shorter florets in¬ 
curved in their earlier stages. The variety is a 
reflexed Japanese one of American origin and very 
handsome. Mr. R. Owen was the exhibitor. 
Le Prince du Bois. —Here we have a clear, 
bright yellow variety of sub-globular form. The 
florets are moderately wide, variously twisted and 
interlacing, and more or less revolute at the sides, 
making them appear narrow. On the whole it is a 
beautiful variety, and was shown by Mr. R. Owen. 
Professeur Lackman.— This incurved Japanese 
variety measures 6 in. to 64 in. in diameter, and is 
reddish-purple with a clear, shining, silvery reverse. 
The florets are very broad, and the bloom is both 
distinct and pretty when well grown, because so 
much of the silvery reverse is shown. When badly 
done, however, the centre is liable to be open. The 
exhibitor was M. E. Calvat. 
Madame Carnot. —Here we have a bulky, pure, 
ivory-white Japanese variety, measuring about y in. 
in diameter. The bloom is deep, very full, and the 
florets which are of good average width, are more or 
less interlaced with one another. When quite fresh, 
this would no doubt be a handsome flower on the 
exhibition stands. M. E. Calvat was the exhibitor. 
Cecil Wray.— The florets of this Japanese variety 
are flat, moderately broad, and spread rather loosely. 
The centre is flat, but quite full, with plenty of 
material for exhibitors to work upon. Although 
something in the way of Sunflower, it is yet perfectly 
distinct, both in habit and in colour, which is a clear, 
bright yellow. The exhibitor was Mr. E. Beckett. 
—-•*-- 
SWEET ODOURS IN THE 
GARDEN. 
The charm of a garden must always mainly spring 
from the variety of form and colour which dominates 
among its occupants, combined with the taste and 
skill with which they were planted. At the same 
time, to many the delightful odours emitted by the 
flower, and in some instances by the foliage of 
plants, is the first charm that wins and attracts them 
to the'r gardens, and truly flowers without fragrance 
are destitute of one principal source of attraction. 
To step out into a garden after a shower of rain, 
when the Sweet Briar, Mignonette, Stocks, Pinks, 
and Carnations are giving out their perfumes in the 
form of volatile oil, is one of the most enjoyable 
sensations. Let the tired City man go home from 
the crowded streets and stuffy office and but take a 
stroll round his garden when the air is saturated as 
it were with the odours emitted from foliage and 
flower, and the change to him will be like another 
world. Those who have once enjoyed the pleasures 
of a garden feel the loss of it most keenly. 
What real lover of Nature will neglect to keep 
his garden well furnished with the more unassuming 
plants which mostly yield delicious odours. True, 
there are some flowers, and we are thankful it is so, 
which, in addition to the charm of sweetness of 
scent, delight us by their size, beauty of form, and 
brilliancy of colour. Many of our Roses, some 
Paeonies and Lilies, compare favourably with 
Violets, Tuberoses, and Mignonette, yet the humble 
Violet, Sweet Briar, and Pink will, as regards 
fragrance, always hold a first place in the affections 
of those who value flowers mainly for their 
fragrance. 
A well-stocked garden will always yield to its 
possessor some fragrant morsel of bloom, even in 
the depth of winter when the soil is frost bound, 
and it may be covered with snow, and that without 
the aid of glass houses. True, the choice of sub¬ 
jects for this dull time is extremely limited. Just at 
the moment I have in mind two only that will bear 
out my assertion to its full extent, and these are 
Chimonanthus fragrans and Lonicera fragrantissima. 
The first, often described as half hardy, and needing 
the protection of a wall, will do well enough with¬ 
out it in the suburbs of London. The flowers are 
curious, and the scent exceedingly sweet. The 
plant is deciduous, and is a native of Japan, being- 
introduced, I believe, some 130 years back. The 
Lonicera is also quite hardy, and may be described 
as semi-evergreen, retaining, as it generally does, 
some of its foliage. The flowers are very small, and 
white. [ esteem this as one of the most deliciously 
fragrant flowers we have, preferring it to the 
Jasmines. 
When these have done flowering, and often before, 
the Violet and Wallflower, and sometimes the Stock, 
will be yielding us the fragrance so dear to many. 
Then following closely on their heels come the 
Lily of the Valley and Rockets, succeeded by Pinks, 
Carnations, Sweet Peas, Heliotrope, Clematis and 
Nicotiana affinis among flowers, nor should the 
Lavender, Sweet Briars, Lemon Verbena and Jas¬ 
mine be overlooked. Very lately I gathered sprays 
of this from an archway. There should always be 
scattered about the garden at short intervals some 
one or other of these odoriferous plants, so that 
whilst the vision is entranced with the beauty of 
form and colour, the sense of smell may be gratified 
at every step we take.—IF. B. G. 
- -*• - 
THE SEASON OF 1893. 
The season that is drawing to a close has been well 
nigh all that could be desired for Lancashire 
growers, and especially for those practising on heavy 
soils. True, there was a little murmuring at one 
time over the absence of rain by those having to 
deal with light soils, but even these were gainers by 
the heat and drought, and if some of the surface¬ 
rooting plants suffered for a time, the deep-rooting 
fruit trees swelled their fruit to nearly double their 
normal size, and put on tints of colour that we 
seldo.ii see on fruit in the north. All kinds of fruit 
crops have been extraordinarily heavy, and if there 
is anything in the theory that trees bearing a heavy 
crop one year do not bear the following year, then 
the outlook for us in this part is a dismal one; but I 
do not share in these views. Trees may fail to fruit 
every year after bearing a heavy crop, but it is not 
because they bore a previous crop, and the failure 
must be referred to some other cause. It is not 
denied that the fruit will be smaller in a year follow¬ 
ing an abundant one, but that is different from not 
having any fruit at all, or, say only a few. 
Apples were said to be cheap, the price one week 
being as low as fid. for twenty (they are sold by the 
score). In looking through Preston market last 
week end the cheapest I saw were id. per pound, or 
IS. 8d. per score, and they were very dear at that, 
being all bruised and in an incipient state of decay, 
having evidently been shaken off the trees, for we 
had no wind until the last of the fruit had been 
gathered. Damsons were once as low as is. 3d. for 
fourteen quarts, but there were plenty sold at higher 
prices up to 3s. 
The effect of this season's drought will be apparent 
next year in this part whatever the nature of it may 
be. The last two seasons had been notoriously wet 
and sunless, and the soil could scarcely be said to 
have been dry below the surface during that time, 
consequently the land had become soured, the 
passage of air into the soil having been obstructed 
and its temperature much reduced. The advantages 
of a dry season following a wet one or two were 
notable in this part in 1888, or the year after the 
Jubilee year, when all kinds of annual crops throve 
in a surprising manner. This was noticed by 
cottagers and other growers not usually observant, 
and the circumstance was inexplicable to them, as 
there was nothing unusual about the growing season 
of 1888.—IF. P. R. 
-- 
THE RECORD ONION. 
We recently saw at the Drill Hall, some Onions of 
such astounding dimensions as but a few years ago 
would have been thought impossible, and yet even 
those monster bulbs have been completely eclipsed 
in size and weight by the one of which we to-day 
give an illustration in our pages. Until this season 
we had not seen or heard of an individual bulb 
which weighed more than 3 lbs. 3 ozs., and there¬ 
fore until satisfactory proof to the contrary is forth¬ 
coming we must consider that the bulb now illustrated 
holds "the record ” for size and weight. This truly 
remarkable bulb came into our hands about the 
middle of October last, from Messrs. James Carter 
& Co., High Holborn. Its unusual dimensions 
at once claimed for it our meed of admiration, 
for we must own to still having a sneaking re¬ 
gard for " big ’uns,” and tape and scales being soon 
forthcoming we found the tape measurements of the 
bulb to be 22 in. in circumference, and 54 in. in 
height, while the scales were turned at exactly 44 
lbs. We are informed that it is a Madeira variety, 
raised by an eminent cultivator, and Messrs. Carter 
have received many bulbs nearly as large and as 
heavy as the one illustrated. It appears to be dis¬ 
tinct from the Wrox ton, Banbury, and White Spanish 
types, and we are informed that it can be either 
sown in spring or autumn. We understand that 
this particular bulb and a number of others from the 
same source will be on view on the Messrs. Carter s 
stand at the Cattle Show next week at the 
Agricultural Hall. 
