October 27,1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
133 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
About a month ago Chrysanthemums in the South 
looked the picture of health and excellency of condi¬ 
tion with regard to foliage, wood and other evidences 
to which cultivators look for the promised harvest of 
fine blooms. Since then, however, and especially 
since the plants were housed, they have put on an 
extra amount of growth, or in other words have 
lengthened considerably, and damping has been 
more or less mischievous amongst the expanding 
buds and blossoms, even in cases where extra 
feeding has in no way been carried to excess. Every 
grower of course knows the reason which must be 
attributed to the damp and sunless character of the 
season. Notwithstanding all this, however, we 
expect to see some grand blooms at the November 
shows. The number of new varieties to be brought 
before the public is simply amazing, and makes one 
wonder when the evolution of the autumn queen of 
flowers will reach a climax and be reduced within 
comprehensible limits. One peculiar characteristic 
of the season is that Chrysanthemums are about a 
month later than they were last year, so that collec¬ 
tions are yet far from being at their best. We have 
seen sufficient, notwithstanding, to expect some 
wonderful surprises in November. 
Lilford Road Nursery. 
The houses of Mr. Norman Davis, Lilford Road, 
Camberwell, are filled to overflowing as usual, and 
although the Chrysanthemums are late, a large 
number of them are giving indications of what may 
be expected. In the large house the plants are 
arranged in groups of a kind but in such a manner 
that the whole forms a close bank facing the path¬ 
ways all round. The dark crimson flowers of 
William Seward are already conspicuous. Com¬ 
mandant Blussett has rich amaranth florets with a 
white reverse, but William Bolia is a more charac¬ 
teristic Japanese variety of a brilliant amaranth 
with broad twisted florets. The recently certificated 
Th. Dennis is of the same type as E. Molyneux, but 
differs somewhat in form A handsome sort is the 
waxy white J. W. Moorman of the incurved Japanese 
type as is the well known G. C. Schwabe with 
reddish-crimson florets and a buff yellow reverse. 
Ad. Giroud is of the same type as the last named 
but is more golden on the reverse of the narrower 
petals. Another incurved Jap. is Vice-president 
Calvat with globular heads, a strong constitution 
and leaves about io in. long. Though a tall grower, 
W. G. Newitt has been very much dwarfed by 
striking the cuttings late and taking the first bud. It 
has broad, pure white deeply fissured florets. Mrs. 
Libbie Allen is a pale golden yellow improvement 
upon Peter the Great. Florence Davis still maintains 
its reputation as a green sort, and in that it is both 
distinct and attractive. President W. R. Smith is a 
flesh-pink incurved Jap. and beautiful in its way. 
John Schrimpton is remarkably easy to grow. 
Etoile de Lyon will require another month to be at 
its best. President Borel, (deep rose amaranth), 
colours best at a distance from town atmospheres. 
Reflexed Japanese sorts are not particularly plenti¬ 
ful amongst new kinds, but Niveous is one in the 
style of Elaine but larger, and tinted with pink on 
the early bud, but pure white later. Another of this 
type is Le Rhone, of a rich golden yellow, always 
dwarf and robust. One of the best of the new 
American varieties is Rostredor, a conical, incurved 
Jap. that is orange-yellow and keeps its shape to the 
last. M. Pankoucke is also incurved, and brightyellow 
with broad florets. Mrs. E. G. Hill is in the way of 
Madame Charles Capitante, but a greatly improved 
flower of a flesh pink, and a splendid grower, but 
rather tall. Charles Davis is as popular as ever. 
The broad, blush, incurved petals of Louise are very 
attractive. As far as can be seen the best of Calvat’s 
novelties for this year is M. G. Montigny with 
creamy-white flowers heavily striped with rosy- 
purple. The blooms spread well out and show 
themselves off to advantage. The flowers of H. 
Hammond Spenser are said to attain the size of 
Viviand Morel, and at present the buds are very 
promising. Master Bates Spalding is a lemon- 
yellow Japanese sort with large, spreading flowers. 
Inter Ocean is said to be a seedling from Viviand 
Morel, but one-third larger ; the florets are white, 
narrow, and interlaced. Another year will be 
necessary to show its capabilities from cuttings 
struck at the proper time. Madamoiselle Therese Rey 
was the best of last year’s novelties. A new sport 
obtained by Mr. Davis is likely to be in great demand. 
It is a sport from William Tricker, and holds the 
same relation to that variety which Charles Davis 
does to Viviand Morel. The blooms are rosy- 
bronze, with a buff-yellow reverse, and very distinct. 
The only true incurved type we noted was Baron 
Hirsch, which has done well this season. The 
blooms are neat and crimson, with an old gold 
reverse, and dies off with a chestnut shade. 
Besides the plants which are grown for show 
blooms, Mr. Davis gives a considerable amount of 
attention to plants for cut flowers. One of the most 
striking is the yellow Lady Selborne, put into com¬ 
merce last year. It is tall, of branching habit, very 
floriferous and continuous, for, when the top flowers 
are cut, others are thrown out from the sides of the 
stems. The graceful flowers are bright yellow, but 
otherwise like the white Lady Selborne, grown by 
thousands for market work. Ryecroft Glory must 
be put in the same category, for the plants are dwarf, 
bushy, flat-topped, and bear a wealth of golden- 
yellow flowers tinted with bronzy-orange. Vice 
President Hardy produces orange-red and graceful 
blooms suitable for sprays. The second crop of 
salmon-pink flowers of Samuel Barlow is being cut. 
General Hawkes has purple-amaranth flowers, and 
those of the pompon Snowflake are pure white and 
pretty. Souvenir de Petite Amie is a large Japanese 
sort, but does well for conservatory purposes or cut 
flowers when six to ten buds are allowed to develop 
on a plant. In the same way the White Louis 
Boehmer will produce twenty good flowers on a 
plant. Batches of late varieties, some just showing 
their buds, and others not, are being brought on for 
cutting about Christmas and also in January. Royal 
Windsor is one of them. They are of dwarf branch¬ 
ing habit, very free and truly late. Amongst the 
large kinds Lord Brooke is excellent for mid-winter 
work. 
Ryecroft Nursery. 
When we visited Mr. H. J. Jones at the Ryecroft 
Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham, active prepara¬ 
tions were being made to house the stock plants of 
Chrysanthemums of which there are about 20,000. All 
the rest had been housed for some time, including 
2,000 seedlings, the seed of which had been obtained 
from various sources, but a large quantity was of 
his own saving. Most of them are showing buds so 
that the best of them can have their value deter¬ 
mined before many weeks are over. Of named 
varieties he has about 1,400 distinct, and 6,000 
plants in large pots. They are accommodated in three 
houses, each over 100 ft. long and 20 ft. wide. In 
one of the houses he has all the named, single 
varieties obtainable, arranged on the central bed. 
The best display of exhibition kinds is arranged on 
the floor of a large house on each side of a winding 
path formed by the plants themselves. In two or 
three weeks this house will be worth a loDg journey 
to see, especially to those who desire to see the new 
kinds. 
New varieties of this, and last year are in great 
prominence here. Vere Flood is a dark rose- 
amaranth, reflexed variety, a seedling from Mrs. 
Falconer Jamieson. Phoebus is also reflexed but 
clear bright yellow with broad florets. A tall grower 
is Madame Carnot with long interlaced white 
florets. The Queen is an American variety of large 
size and which to all appearance will be an incurved 
Jap when fully developed. The broad, golden yellow 
florets of W. H. Fowler are very striking. Duchess 
of York, recently described in our columns, isahand- 
some, golden yellow variety. One of the most 
strikingly curious, and at the same time handsome 
varieties which we noticed was that named Hairy 
Wonder with blooms of a deep buff, becoming tinted 
with rose as they fade, and as bristly as a stinging 
nettle ora hedge-hog’s back, but without the disagree¬ 
able sensations experienced on handling either. 
Similar in character but less bristly is King of the 
Hirsutes, with long, spreading, bright yellow florets. 
It is the best of the plumy yellow kinds we have 
seen. The recently certificated Madame C. Molin 
is an easily grown variety. In no other Chrysanthe¬ 
mum, perhaps, is the contrast of colour on the two 
sides so conspicuous as in M. Thomas Hallyar an 
Italian variety. The upper surface of the florets is 
brilliant crimson-red with a white reverse. Close by 
was a seedling like BellePaule, but having much more 
colour and really handsome. Commandant Blusset, 
recently certificated is of dwarf habit. The large 
heads of W. H. Newitt are white and the florets are 
incurved. The blooms of Mrs. E. G. Hill are blush, 
but those of the similarly formed Madame Charles 
Capitante are flesh-pink and pretty. The brilliant crim¬ 
son florets of M. Georges Beron, are brilliant crimson 
with a golden buff reverse. Both this and Lady 
Randolph are Japanese kinds; but in this case the 
blooms are sub-globose, rose amaranth and silvery on 
the reverse, which is shown at the incurved tips only. 
The broad florets of M. G. Montigny are of a beau¬ 
tiful pearl-rose. 
The Maze is rightly named for the florets are 
twisted, interlaced, and often upside down, so that 
the silvery reverse is much shown. The upper sur¬ 
face is purple-amaranth. The long, tubular florets 
of Lady Smith are white, and tinted at the tips 
with pink. Th. Dennis is much incurved, showing 
buff reverse largely in proportion to the crimson 
surface. The reflexed Japanese variety H. Shoe- 
smith is compact, pretty, and soft buff yellow, but 
not very large. Charles Davis and William Seward 
still maintain their popularity. Wm. Bolia is 
crimson-red with a paler reverse, but ultimately 
becomes paler. W. A. Manda is of a beautiful 
yellow, but only slightly hirsute. Souvenir de l’Ami 
Coye is similar to Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, but is a great 
improvement upon that sort, both in habit and con¬ 
stitution. Very choice is Miss Alice Love with pure 
white, and very broad petals, all closely incurved. 
It is considered the best of its type this season. 
Beauty of Exmouth and W. G. Childs are better 
known kinds, and very choice in their way. Very 
striking is M. Aug. de Lacvivier on account of the 
broad crimson-red florets, with a golden edge ; they 
are flat and recurved, thus showing them off to ad¬ 
vantage. The broad white florets of Parthenia, are 
tubular at the base, particularly the outer ones. The 
flowers of Gaspard Boucharlat are bright orange, 
and similar to those of Source d’Or, but much larger, 
and broader in the florets. M. Ernest Frere has 
broad, flat, deep rose florets, with a silvery reverse. 
The above are all Japanese varieties of the true 
type, or reflexed or incurved. The last-named are 
strongly represented in all collections of varieties 
obtained within the last few years, and reflexed 
Japanese sorts are amongst the least common of the 
new kinds. The true incurved varieties are hardly 
evident as yet, and may not be over-plentiful in 
November. The new Baron Hirsch seems an early 
sort, and has done well here. It opens of a deep 
chestnut red, fades to cinnamon, and ultimately 
becomes pale chestnut red. Descartes, the only 
large Anemone we noticed, is also the darkest of its 
class, being deep crimson-red, with a correspondingly 
dark centre. Ryecroft Glory, the market variety 
above mentioned, is in fine condition, very floriferous 
and richly tinted with bronzy orange. E. Row- 
bottom is also a market variety with larger, bright 
yellow blossoms similar in shape to Source d'Or, 
and equally light and graceful. 
TREATMENT OF LATE 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The culture of Chrysanthemums has of late become 
such an ordinary matter of course consideration that 
we look on them as indispensables, as indeed they 
are. For many reasons it is advisable to extend 
the flowering season over as long a period as 
possible. This may be performed either by the 
selection of very late sorts, or by the judicious mani¬ 
pulation of mid-season varieties. Of course the bulk 
of flower is produced at the end of October and early 
in November, but by taking terminal instead of crown 
buds, the season may be greatly prolonged. A supply 
of bloom during the latter portion of December and 
the beginning and middle of January is of the 
greatest value usually. 
Generally speaking, to take the terminal instead 
of the crown bud means the delaying of flowering for 
about a month. One peculiarity about the former 
buds is, that once they commence they open very 
much more quickly than do the latter. The houses 
in which these later Chrysanthemums are placed 
should be freely ventilated on all possible occasions. 
This is especially a necessary precaution when strong 
manures (as for instance soot) are being used. At 
this dull time of year much less water will be needed 
than formerly, although as the pots are full of roots 
they must not suffer from lack of moisture. The 
manure given is in my opinion much better applied 
in solution. The practise of sprinkling the dry 
manure (as for instance Clay’s Fertilizer) upon the 
surface of the soil does not particularly recommend 
