Dec. 20th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
253 
of good loam and well-decayed manure, and allowed 
plenty of drainage. 
Mr. Vert grows about one thousand plants altogether 
of the double and single-flowered varieties, and, as 
before noted, keeps up a good display from October 
to May. At the present time a span-roofed house 
in the kitchen-garden at Audley End is worth a 
journey to see, such a wealth of charming flowers 
does it contain. The house is 40 ft. long and 12 
ft. wide, with a path down the centre, and the 
Primulas arranged on either side, with a showy 
mixed group of such free-flowering plants as Salvia 
Bethelli, Schizostylis coccinea, Eupatorium Wein- 
mannianum, Libonia floribunda, Cyclamens, Helio¬ 
trope White Lady, &c., at the end opposite the door. 
The leading double-flowered varieties now producing 
fine masses of blooms in 48 and 32-sized pots are 
Marchioness of Exeter, the finest pure white, but apt 
occasionally to produce striped flowers ; Mrs. A. F. 
Barron, ground colour blush white, striped with rose, 
a flower of beautiful form, with some of the pips as 
much as 2 ins. in diameter; Lord Beaconsfield, bright 
rose, assuming a lilac shade as the flowers get age ; 
Prince of Wales, semi-double, rose ; and the older, 
double white, double lilac, and rubra-plena. The 
double lilac is a pretty flower, but for cutting in 
quantity the old double white is the favourite, and 
justly sc. 
Of the single-flowered varieties the highest praise 
is bestowed on Mr. B. S. Williams’ Alba magnifica, a 
grand flower both in size, shape, and substance ; and 
Queen of the Whites stands next, a flower of fine size 
and nicely fimbriated. Mont Blanc, one of Mr. 
Bull’s new varieties is also much liked, a good pure 
white. Bubra magnifica is very fine in colour, so also 
is Coccinea, a good rosy-purple. Holborn Blue gives 
a shade of colour that is both new and bright, but 
hardly a blue yet. Carminia alba punctata is one of 
the pretty spotted varieties, with a fine, bold yellow 
eye; and Chiswick Bed and Swanley Bed are both 
well done, the former being the dwarfest grower and 
the deepest coloured of the two. 
-H}*- 
Chrysanthemum Cullingfordi. —At the Novem¬ 
ber meeting of the Floral Committee, Messrs. Cannell 
& Sons, of Swanley, exhibited this variety, which 
possessed the rare merit of pleasing all who saw it, 
and which won its First-Class Certificate with the 
greatest ease. The form of the flower is well shown in the 
above illustration, placed at our service by the Messrs. 
Cannell; while its colour, a rich deep crimson, with 
the underside of the central florets of a lighter shade, 
is distinct from, and much brighter than that of any 
other variety grown. 
CHURCH DECORATIONS. 
Suitable Flowers for the Present Season. 
Possibly for all seasons and times in the above 
kind of work, white flowers are more sought after 
than those which are coloured. From the demands 
that have been made upon us from time to time, we 
have long come to this conclusion, one which we 
think also to be a correct view to take. White 
flowers should be a semblance of the doctrines 
promulgated in all our churches. At all times those 
flowers should be chosen for this particular kind of 
decoration that can be relied upon to remain in fairly 
good condition for a few days at the least. It often 
takes the whole of the day previous to any special 
occasion in which to arrange all the groups aud 
designs that have to be carried out, and frequently 
longer than that. The flowers, therefore, should be 
of known durability and persistency in remaining 
fresh over the services for which they are intended. 
In order the further to attain to these ends, it will 
be advisable to get all the other kind of work done 
previous to the flowers being finally fixed. These, 
too, in all possible cases should have their stalks 
inserted in water, receptacles for which, we feel sure, 
could easily be contrived in very many cases where 
they have not hitherto been employed at all. The 
gain would soon be obvious to all interested in the 
matter, and would therefore recommend itself. 
For positions where it is not desirable for any such 
receptacle to be seen, contrivances we think could 
easily be invented wherein some little water at least 
could be placed for the retention of the flowers in 
a fresher condition. A zincworker could, without 
much extra ingenuity, contrive for such things to 
be fixed without either being seen or causing 
any detriment to architectural designs or injury 
to the surroundings. To give patterns of such 
would hardly meet the case in a condensed 
article like this, neither would such if given be found 
of any great value, so that the exigencies of each 
particular case had better be well studied and then 
carried out accordingly. Where it would be impossible 
to use any water, zinc troughs could still be utilized 
by filling them with damp moss to partially secure the 
desired ends, forming at the same time (if the moss is 
green and fresh) an excellent background for the 
flowers and foliage, hereinafter to be arranged. Where 
it is immaterial whether the receptacle in which the 
flowers are to be arranged is seen or not, then why not 
let such be seen when precaution is taken to use only 
such kinds of vases as will not clash with or mar 
the surroundings in any way ? In using such recep¬ 
tacles, where possible, we think there is a wide field 
for extension and improvement upon the present state 
of things. It would not be a bad idea if some of our 
glass and pottery manufacturers were to turn their 
inventive ingenuity towards the production of such 
material. The expense at the first in the purchase 
of these vases would soon be amply made up for in 
the more satisfactory results that would be sure to 
follow. 
Flowers of a bold and distinct character are much 
to be preferred for all Church Decorations, those that 
are small, though at the same time they may be 
both handsome and elegant, are not calculated to 
produce the desired effect, unless used in considerable 
quantities. For instance we should avoid the use of 
Bouvardias, unless in set designs, where a mass of 
flower would of course tell with effect. On the con¬ 
trary, take some few flowers of the Calla Lily 
(Bichardia asthiopica) and what could be used with 
greater appropriateness ? The spikes of the Amazon 
Lily (Eucharis amazonica) are also most suitable, so 
also are the individual flowers, but for bold designs 
we prefer to choose this Lily when the last flower is 
just about to expand, there should then be two fresh 
flowers besides the bud expanding. Both of the 
flowers we have named are now obtainable, and there 
are also many others that are very suitable, White 
Camellias for instance, but in order to avoid disap¬ 
pointment from the petals falling prematurely, it is by 
far the better plan to spend a little time in wiring them 
or in applying some florist’s gum with a camel’s hair 
brush between the undermost of the petals, those being 
the first in all probability that will fall; a little should 
also be applied over the scales that enveloped the flower 
in its earlier state as a bud, which will help to hold it 
together in that direction with the stem. When 
dealing with fully expanded flowers, the gumming 
process is the best to follow, for oftentimes when 
attempting to thrust two or three wires through them 
in order to hold them together, they will fall to pieces 
without much warning. Half expanded blossoms 
it will be the best to manipulate with wire, as when 
thus treated, they will last much longer. 
Of Chrysanthemums there will still be a few kinds 
left in good condition, chiefly among the whites and 
yellows ; these will be found very useful, the long stiff 
stems standing them in good stead for making an 
effective display. With these there is no foliage (not 
even their own) that harmonizes so well as that of 
Mahonia (Berberis) Aquifolium, when the shoots of the 
latter are chosen with that peculiar bronzy-crimson 
tint suffused over the dark-green ground of the leaves. 
This foliage has also the great merit of durability, 
and we have often wondered why it is not more sought 
after than it has hitherto been, as it fully deserves 
extensive trials. White Azaleas can also be had in 
goodly quantity, and the old white (A. indica alba) is 
much the best for use at this season, as it can 
generally be had with longer pieces of the wood 
attached to it than in the case of some other kinds. 
Roman Hyacinths and Paper White Narcissus will be 
very useful, as though somewhat small they can both 
be turned to a very good account. Of the former, in 
fact, the spikes need not be cut at all if the bulbs 
and a few roots can be embedded into some fresh 
green moss; when, however, the spikes are taken 
from the plants it will be found a very good plan to 
push a slender wire up the stem, this will help to 
hold the same erect should it be arranged without the 
end being placed in water. 
Blossoms of the White Cyclamen are another 
useful adjunct, and will be found to last extremely 
well, needing no previous doctoring to keep them 
together. G-ardenias would be useful, but are at 
this time of the year rather expensive material, and 
the same remark will apply to Lilies of the Valley. 
Tuberoses might possibly be had, but then the entire 
spike would be required and in that way there would 
be a sacrifice of buds in many cases. Double white 
Primulas would, however, be a useful addition, so 
also the single whites if each of the flowers are 
gummed previous to use. White Van Thol Tulips 
could be used, like the Boman Hyacinths if 
wired. This enumeration of white flowers in par¬ 
ticular will give a good selection from which to 
choose, one kind more, however, ought, we think, to 
be added, and that is Helleborus niger, or the 
Christmas Bose. 
Among coloured flowers useful at this season, 
there is not, we think, anything to equal the 
