THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 7th, 1885. 
426 
FLORICULTURE. 
Mr. Iggulden on the Chrysanthemum for 
Exhibition and Decorative Purposes. — On the 
evening of the 27th ult., Mr. Iggulden, gardener at 
Marston House, Frome, read a paper on the Chrysan¬ 
themum, at the Institution Hall, Yeovil. Mr. Iggulden 
dealt with his subject under the following headings:— 
(1), Exhibitions — their objects and results; (2), groups 
of plants and their arrangement; (3), trained specimen 
plants ; (4), conservatory plants, with remarks on late 
displays; (5), cut blooms, and how to grow and show 
them; (6), general remarks; (7), selections by three 
of the most successful growers of the day. Although 
he could not lay claim to be included in the list of 
most successful exhibitors, yet he had been a close 
observer of the practice of other people, and could 
number among his personal friends many clever 
growers of the flower — four of whom, namely, Messrs. 
Molyneux, Orchard, Herrin, and Mease, had kindly 
assisted in arranging his lecture. One of the primary 
objects of the promoters of exhibitions should be to 
afford a stimulus to the production of high-class 
plants and flowers, and the providing of a display which 
would prove instructive, as well as attractive and 
interesting, to all classes of the community. If these 
aims were realized, the Show was almost certain to be 
a success. 
After giving some sound advice with regard to the 
arrangements of the details of an exhibition, the 
lecturer passed on to the subject of “ groups of 
plants.” The groups of plants and the array of cut 
blooms were the greatest attraction of a Show. In 
fact, the formally trained specimen plants were fast 
becoming unfashionable, and he thought would soon 
become “ things of the past.” Although specimen 
plants required much skilful growth and preparation, 
yet he thought that they did not repay for the trouble, 
and that a good exhibition could be arranged without 
the assistance of a single trained plant. Groups of 
plants were the order of the day, and good groups were 
well worthy of imitation and encouragement. It was 
with groups more especially that local growers had the 
opportunity of distinguishing themselves, and very few 
employers would object to their gardeners exhibiting 
in this class. The pots containing plants for arrange¬ 
ment in groups should be limited to 9 ins. in diameter, 
but there should be no limit to the number of the 
plants to constitute a group. A good group of plants 
should comprise a considerable number of varieties, 
and every shade and colour procurable should be 
included and judiciously mixed. The front row 
should include comparatively dwarf sorts and Pom¬ 
pons ; good medium-height sorts should be in the 
next row ; while for the back row the tallest sorts only 
were suitable. He hoped that this branch of Chrysan¬ 
themum culture would be encouraged by the Yeovil 
Committee. Although at first sight it might seem a 
lot of trouble before particularly good results were 
achieved, yet a cultivator who prepared his plants as 
he had advised would have no difficulty in finding a 
few good blooms for competitions, without unduly 
weakening his group, and even those who did not 
compete at Shows would find much more pleasure 
in this mode of culture. Although trained specimens 
continued to find favour with some growers, yet he 
could not help feeling that they were monuments 
of misplaced zeal, and therefore ought not to be 
encouraged. 
Passing on to cut-blooms, and how to grow them, 
he considered that growing plants for affording fine 
cut-blooms was the most interesting work connected 
with Chrysanthemum culture. The best blooms 
annually shown at the London Shows were those 
produced on untopped plants, some of which attained 
a height of 10 ft. and upwards. Chrysanthemum 
fanciers who had not seen a London Show could 
scarcely have any idea of the wonderful perfection of 
the blooms that now won the premier prizes. At any 
rate, he had not seen anything in the West of 
England at all approaching them for size and finish. 
The principal prize-winners at the Bath and Bristol 
Shows would have no chance at all either at the 
Southampton or London Shows. He hoped that the 
Yeovil district w’ould in time make its name among 
Chrysanthemum growers, but it took more than one 
season to thoroughly master the subject. He did not 
say this to discourage any one, but he wanted to tell 
them that a careless grower would not be “ in it,” 
and that it w r as only the painstaking and industrious 
who would succeed. In the cultivation of plants for 
cut-flowers, he recommended the free use of bones 
and oyster shells both in the drainage and in the soil, 
a liberal sprinkling of soot, and a frequent supply of 
liquid manure until the colour of the flower began to 
show 7 , when clear water only should be given. He 
gave detailed instructions with regard to disbudding, 
staking, &c., of the plants, and how to remove the 
side-shoots in order to concentrate the strength of the 
plant in the few buds intended to come to perfection. 
He also fully explained the process of “ cupping ” 
and “ dressing” the flowers for exhibition, and gave 
a large number of the names of the flowers preferable 
for exhibition purposes. He held that Pompons w'ere 
out of place among cut-blooms, unless shown in 
bunches, and disbudding those plants meant dis¬ 
figuring. The lecturer then passed on to refer to 
conservatory-plants, showing that by careful culture 
it was a comparatively easy matter to provide a 
display of bloom from July till late in February, and 
pointed out the different modes of treatment of the 
late and early plants. 
Under the heading of “ general remarks,” the 
lecturer gave the constituent parts of the soil con¬ 
genial to the health of the plant—for the early 
pottings, two parts of good loam to one of leaf-soil, 
in addition to silver sand; while for later shifts the 
loam should be fibrous and roughly broken up, and a 
quarter of an inch of bones placed in the bottom of 
every 8-in. pot, together with an admixture of oyster 
shells. He also gave instructions with regard to the 
best means of destroying the insect pests which often 
attack the plant. In the course of his lecture, Mr. 
Iggulden exhibited photographic views of groiqis of 
plants in flower (lent by Mr. C. Orchard, of Coombe 
Leigh, Kingston-on-Thames), showing at a glance the 
general arrangement and the effect produced. He 
also illustrated, by means of late flowers which were 
still in bloom, the system of “ cupping ” and dressing. 
Mr. Iggulden read a list of sorts recommended by Mr. 
Herrin, of Gerrard’s Cross, (who took the principal 
prizes at the last Show of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society); by Mr. W. Mease, Wyncote, 
another famous cultivator; and the following list 
recommended by that eminent cultivator, Mr. Moly¬ 
neux, which we think of sufficient importance to 
Chrysanthemum growers to give in detail. 
Incurved. —Empress of India, Golden Empress, 
Queen of England, Alfred Salter, Lord Alcester, Jean 
d’Arc, John Salter, Princess of Wales, Hero of Stoke 
Newington, Princess Teck, Mrs. Heale, Jardin des 
Plantes, Prince Alfred, Lord Wolseley, Barbara, 
Beauty, Venus (white), Nil Desperandum, Cherub, 
Baran Beust, Lady Carey, Mr. Bunn, Lady Hardinge, 
Emily Dale. 
Large-Flowered Anemones. —Acquisition, Fleur de 
Marie, Georges Sand, Gluck, Lady Margaret, Madame 
Goderau, Mrs. Pethers, Marguerite de Telleville, 
Queen Margaret. 
Anemone Japanese.— Fabias de Maderanaz, Mdlle. 
Cabl'd, Madame Clos, Soeur Dorothee Souille, Madame 
Bertha Pigmy, Souvernir de L’Ardenne. 
Japanese.— Mdme. C. Audiguier, Meg Merrilees, 
Baron de Prailley, Fair Maid of Guernsey, Boule 
d’Or, Comte de Germiny, Marguerite Marroucli, J. 
Delaux, M. Astorg, M. Burnet, Val d’Audoire, Peter 
the Great, Tliunberg, Mdlle. Lacroix, Fanny Bouchar- 
let, [Mrs. Mahood, Triomphe de La Rue du Cliatelet, 
Golden Dragon, M. Ardenne, Criterion, Duchess of 
Albany (Jackson), Elaine, Japonais, Mons. Tarim. 
Pomp ones. Pygmalion, Madame Martha, Golden 
Marthe, Fanny, Mrs. Bateman, Nelly Rainford, 
Marabout, Pablo, Adele Pressette, Golden Circle, 
Puisinante, Touisaint Maurissot. 
Anemone Pompones.— Antonius, Mdme. Montels, 
Queen of Anemones, Marie Stuart, Calliope, Aglaia, 
Perle, Sidonie, Marguerite de Coi, Firefly, Mr. 
Astie, Perle Margaret. 
Reflexed. —King of Crimsons, Golden Christine, 
Mrs. Forsyth, Cloth of Gold, Pink Christine, Phidias, 
Dr. Sharp, Cullingfordii, Sir E. Landseer, Felicity, 
Emperor of China, and Peach Christine. 
The lecturer’s remarks, and the discussion thereon, 
occupied nearly tw T o hours and a-half, many questions 
being asked, and readily answered. A cordial vote of 
thanks to Mr. Iggulden was heartily given, and duly 
acknowledged .—Condensed from Putman's Weekly News. 
Seasonable Work in the Plant-houses. —In 
anticipation of bright sunny weather, which we mavnow 
expect, shading material should be got ready to hand. 
Having had so little sun lately plants will be all the 
more liable to damage when the sun does break 
through. Although we believe more damage is done 
by over-shading, than otherwise, yet it is necessary 
that some plants should have a slight protection 
through the middle of the day, but care should be taken 
that it is removed as soon as the direct rays of the sun 
are off the glass. Another point of importance just now 
is that plants should on no account be allowed to suffer 
for want of water, and, where ventilation has to be 
given, the houses must be closed early in the afternoon 
To open before the temperature has risen too high, 
and to close as soon as it begins to fall, is a rule that 
should be strictly enforced. 
Pricking off Seedlings.— Various plants that are 
annually grown from seed, will soon be ready for 
pricking off, and this should be done in all cases as 
soon as the young seedlings are large enough to 
handle, in some cases, perhaps, before they are large 
enough to be picked out singly with the fingers, and in 
such cases it can be done with the point of a knife or 
a finely pointed stick. Gloxinias and Tuberous 
Begonias are among the things that should have the 
most careful attention in this respect, as if left too 
long in the seed-pots they are not only liable to damp 
off, but some of the most vigorous plants, which are 
often inferior in quality of flower, Ac., will over-grow 
and destroy the weaker plants, which if saved will 
often prove to be of finer quality, especially in point 
of colour. We have particularly noticed this to be the 
case with Gloxinias, the blues and dull reds being the 
most vigorous, while the whites, bright reds, and 
spotted varieties are generally of weaker habit; and 
it will be found to be the same with the Begonias, 
that is that the dull colours are generally of the most 
vigorous growth. We believe it is from this cause 
that fault is often found with the strain when the seed 
is bought. We have always made a practice of saving 
as many of the seedlings as possible; and have often 
proved that had the weakly plants been destroved 
some of the choicest gems W'ould have been lost. In 
preparing the compost for pricking off seedlings, the 
greatest care should be taken that it does not contain 
any substance that is likely to produce fungus, and 
that it is free from worms. As leaf-mould is almost 
sure to contain worms, we like to bake it before using 
it for this purpose, and a sprinkling of soot in the 
drainage will prevent the worms from penetrating the 
bottom of the pots. 
Euphorbia Jacquiniflora. — This, like the 
Poinsettia, can be propagated either from the old 
wood, as soon as the plants have done flowering, or 
from the young shoots in the spring. We prefer the 
latter method. To secure good cuttings the old plants 
must have a little attention to induce them to make 
good strong growths. We like to take the cuttings 
when they are about 3 ins. long, cutting them off close 
to the old wood ; a little dry sand should be at hand 
to apply to the cuttings as soon as they are cut off to 
prevent their bleeding, and only those leaves that are 
quite close to the base of the cutting should be 
removed, and the cuttings only be put in deep enough 
to keep them firm ; they require to be kept quite close, 
and to have a good brisk bottom heat, but must not 
be kept too moist. 
Celosia pyramidalis aurea.— Both this and the 
crimson variety may be included among the most 
useful flow'ering-plants for summer and autumn use, 
and the present is a good time to sow 7 the seed. Their 
cultural requirements are similar to those of the 
Cockscomb (Celosia cristata), the only difference 
being that instead of being allowed to stand in the 
small pots until they show flow 7 er, they should bo 
potted on as soon as the pots are filled with roots, 
and every encouragement be given them to grow on 
vigorously; they will then branch out and form 
beautiful pyramids, and as they remain in perfection 
for a considerable time, they will deserve the little 
