168 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 10, 1894. 
NEW CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The undermentioned varieties received First-class 
Certificates at the Crystal Palace on the 3nd inst.: 
Clara Jeal. —This belongs to the reflexed section 
and produces blooms 4^ in. or more in diameter 
according to cultural treatment. The florets are 
relatively broad, pure white, with pale yellow teeth 
at the tips as a rule, closely and evenly reflexed and 
imbricate. It is a great acquisition to a section in 
which white varieties are not at all common. There 
was a crimson reflexed variety in the same exhibit, 
quite distinct from everything else, and named 
James Lynch, which should have been honoured 
with a similar recognition. Exhibited by Mr. C. J. 
Salter, gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., Wood- 
hatch Lodge, Reigate. 
Miss Florence Lunn. —This reflexed variety has 
the same form as the Christine type, and having 
previously been honoured with a certificate is 
described on p. 154. Exhibited by Henry Briscoe- 
Ironside, Esq., Cedar Lodge, Burgess Hill. 
John Machar. —In this we have an incurved 
Japanese variety of a bright golden yellow. The 
florets are moderately broad and loosely incurved, 
and the bloom measures about 6 in. in diameter. 
Exhibited by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, 
Kent. 
Globe d’Or. —This belongs to the incurved 
section, and bears blooms 4J in. to 5 in. in diameter, 
possibly larger in more favourable seasons. The 
florets are broad and yellow, while all the outer ones 
are tinted with bronzy-chestnut, and in that respect 
very distinct and pretty. The blooms were taken 
from the crown buds on stems 5 ft. high. Exhibited 
by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN 
COTTAGE GARDENS. 
To judge from the enthusiasm exhibited over this 
flower during the present season, its popularity, if 
anything, seems to be on the increase. Even the 
cottager is not happy unless his little garden con¬ 
tains a few specimens planted out, which, however, 
owing to the visitations of early frosts, seldom have 
a favourable opportunity of flowering. The intro¬ 
duction of the early blooming varieties like Madame 
Desgrange and George Wermig was a step in the 
right direction, for, from the earliness of their 
flowering season, plenty of cut bloom could be 
obtained from outdoor plants without the need for 
any protection whatever, unless in very exceptional 
cases. 
The present season has almost established a record 
for mildness, for although in many localities vegeta¬ 
tion has been cut down, still in several instances 
tender subjects are even now growing luxuriantly. 
In the valley of the Thames, close to Reading, 
Dahlias may still be seen blooming away, apparently 
undaunted at the advancing season. The Cactus 
varieties are particularly noticeable in this respect. 
Sorts like Juarezi and Glare of the Garden are even 
now producing some fine flowers for the time of 
year. Zonal Pelargoniums are still looking perfectly 
at home, and even the comparatively tender 
variegated varieties like the pretty old-fashioned 
Happy Thought are doing well. Indeed, on the 
railway embankments between Twyford and West 
Drayton, on the Great Western main line, the 
common Broom, Cytisus Scoparius, is in full flower 
as if it were early summer instead of November. 
This is, of course, due to the abnormal mildness 
of the season. In autumns like the present it is 
really surprising what a quantity of useful bloom 
for cutting purposes will be furnished by a few plants 
of Chrysanthemums grown in the open air. On 
Saturday, November 3rd, I saw several cottage 
gardens in the vicinity of the quaint old village of 
Sonning, which looked quite gay with Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. The white pompon Cedo Nulli and its 
yellow form seemed especial favourites. The pretty 
little Julia Lagravere was also flowering profusely, 
and its dark red flowers afforded a very pretty effect, 
indeed. I met with the beautiful sweet-scented 
Progne also in one or two places. The violet-like 
perfume possessed by its flowers constitutes its 
chief charm, and certainly stamps it as one of the 
most distinct varieties we have. Possibly its 
straggling habit is not a point in its favour—this 
might, however, be overcome by careful cultivation. 
It is advisable when utilising Chrysanthemums as 
subjects for the flower garden to plant them In as 
sheltered situations as possible, or at least in posi¬ 
tions where protection can be quickly and easily 
afforded them should occasion require it. A part of 
the garden sheltered by a hedge, a fence, or a wall 
will answer admirably. The flowers obtained from 
plants thus treated, although small and perhaps not 
so brightly coloured as those accorded under-glass 
shelter, are produced in great abundance and are of 
inestimable value for cutting. In parts of the 
country, where severe frost is not often experienced, 
there is no reason at all why the Chrysanthemum 
should not be largely grown in this way, as little 
attention is needed by the plants during summer 
with regard to the water supply—always an impor¬ 
tant item in the pot culture of the Queen of Autumn. 
A plan that used at one time to be extensively 
practised by some growers for market was to grow 
the plants in the open ground during summer and as 
ar into the autumn as the weather would allow, 
lifting and potting them off when frost threatened. 
Plenty of cut bloom can easily be obtained in this 
way. Care must be taken, however, that the plants are 
lifted with good balls of earth, and that shade is 
given them from direct sunlight, otherwise the 
leaves will flag and many of them ultimately fall, of 
course in a great measure reducing the flowering 
capabilities of the plant.— G. 
PROPAGATING SEAKALE. - 
When I first procured a stock of the Lily White 
Seakale I departed somewhat from my general 
practice, and the course of treatment then pursued 
may be followed with advantage by anyone who may 
have a limited stock of roots to make a start with 
during the coming season. The old roots having 
their crowns cut off were cut into 3-in. lengths, 
which were again cut into threes and fours, accord¬ 
ing to their relative strength, by being split down. 
Those with the ordinary root cuttings after being 
allowed to dry a little were inserted thickly into 
boxes of light soil, the tops of the cuttings just 
showing above the surface. These boxes we kept in 
cold pits till the spring, secure from frost, and let 
them come along gradually, so that they were not 
much in advance of the roots growing outside. 
When growths of about 2 in. were made they were 
planted out on an open piece of well-prepared soil, 
in rows 20 in. apart and 10 in. from plant to plant, the 
growths at the top of the cuttings being reduced at 
the same time to one. This saved all further 
trouble, and is more expeditiously done than if left 
till after planting. Unless the ground is very moist 
and the weather showery, a good soaking of water is 
required when planting these started cuttings. The 
hoe was kept well at work among them, and by the 
autumn many of these somewhat unpromising-look¬ 
ing morsels produced good forcing crowns, and I was 
well on the road to have an almost unlimited supply 
of thongs for the next season's cuttings.— IV. B. G. 
--5*- 
HOLME PARK, BERKS. 
This establishment, which is the property of the 
Rev. H. Golding-Palmer, is one of the features of 
the old-world village of Sonning, distant about two or 
three miles from the town of Reading. Boasting of 
such great beauty as the village does, it is small 
wonder that so many of the inhabitants of Reading 
direct their steps thither during their leisure hours. 
The mansion itself is illustrative of a mixed style of 
architecture, both the Norman and the Gothic styles 
being represented. The idea in view when it was 
built was evidently to secure a comfortable rather 
than a mere ornamental structure. The conserva¬ 
tory attached to the house is at present filled with 
Palms, Greenhouse Ferns, &c., Chrysanthemums, as 
may be expected, forming a principal part of the 
flowering element. A well-grown, clean and vigorous 
specimen of Tacsonia hangs its long pendulous 
growths from the roof, giving a finishing touch to a 
really pretty little house. 
The garden is of no great size, and the amount of 
glass is small, and, of course, as might well be ex¬ 
pected, taxed to the utmost to fulfil all the demands 
made upon its space. The grounds, however, are of 
a truly delightful character, the same quaint old- 
fashioned air pervading the whole, as obtains in the 
village itself. At intervals when wandering through 
the winding woodland paths in the grounds one 
comes across fragments of ancient statuary 
turning slowly to dust that would make an anti¬ 
quarian turn green with envy. 
A splendid view of the lovely valley of the Thames 
with the grand old stream winding through it, the 
town of Reading being distinctly to be seen in the 
back ground, may be obtained from the windows of 
the house. At the particular time of my visit the 
usually quiet valley presented a strange and un¬ 
wonted appearance. Owing to the frequency and 
heaviness of the recent rains the Thames has over¬ 
flowed its banks to a considerable extent, and on this 
occasion a wide and swirling mass of waters that 
seemed from where I stood to encompass the whole 
of the valley met my gaze. The spectacle was in¬ 
deed a magnificent one from the artist’s point of 
view, but one scarcely calculated to strike joy to the 
heart of the matter of fact agriculturist. Huge wide 
spreading trees standing here and there out of the 
waste of waters waved their arms defiantly at the 
encroaching flood, whilst here and there a patch of 
grass appeared, which, standing upon a higher level 
than the rest, had escaped the visitation of the 
waters. 
One of the prettiest nooks in the pleasure 
grounds is turned into a hardy fernery where these 
moisture and shade-loving plants may revel at will. 
Taking it altogether, Holme Park possesses very 
many natural advantages with regard to position, 
scenery, &c., which are often denied to larger and 
more pretentious establishments.— A. S. G. 
- 4 *- 
THE CLAREMONT NURSERY, 
EXMOUTH. 
It was with great expectations that I wended my 
way to Exmouth a few days ago. I had heard much 
of the grand display of Chrysanthemums which Mr. 
W. J. Godfrey had to show his visitors, and also of 
the fine new house which he has just erected for the 
housing of the plants. I was well repaid. I hoped 
for much, and my eyes were feasted with a full share 
of novelty and beauty. The new house is a fine 
structure 153 ft. long, 27 ft. wide, and 17 ft. high, 
well glazed on the new principle with zinc strips, no 
putty being used on the roof, and there is a 
sufficiency of hot-water pipes, which are even now 
occasionally in use to dispel damp and mist. This 
precaution is absolutely necessary here, as for the 
past fortnight there has been a constant succession 
of storms and driving winds, atmospheric conditions 
which are most conducive to damping off, and 
though but little can at present be said of this, there 
would have been sad havoc had not some means 
been at hand to dry the atmosphere when heavily 
laden with sea mist. 
Mr. Godfrey has devoted much time and though} 
to the raising of new varieties from seed. He has 
now just 1,000 plants produced in this way, 800 of 
which are from seed of his own saving. Altogether 
some 7,000 plants are grown this year for testing 
purposes. Continental, American, as well as many 
English raised forms, find their way here, and 
if not up to the standard are discarded and other 
fresh seedlings put on for trial. The best of last 
year’s seedlings is Mrs. W. J. Godfrey, perhaps the 
most beautiful Chrysanthemum in the collection, of 
the purest white, and bearing fine broad petals—an 
advance on Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, both as regards 
size, vigour, freeness and solidity. 
Of the current year’s seedlings many of apparent 
merit have already been selected. The largest is 
Pride of Exmouth, somewhat in the style of Col. 
Smith as regards form, but this handsome flower is 
white, with a slight shade of mauve. The Countess 
of Drogheda has smooth petals of the colour of rich 
old gold flushed with pink. Should it retain its 
present elegant form and colour it will certainly be 
much sought after. Wilfred H. Godfrey is a very 
distinct form, having nicely curled florets of a clear 
yellow, the edges of which exhibit a shade somewhat 
lighter—a large and attractive flower. Mrs. Forbes 
is a splendid deep built flower in the style of 
Puritan, and of the purest white. This will doubt¬ 
less prove a most desirable variety. Other seedlings 
are opening flowers full of promise, which I may 
refer to again. 
Amongst the American novelties Mrs. E. G. Hill 
is most beautiful in form and lovely in colour, being 
a clear blush pink. Some plants are now carrying 
five blooms, all of which are fit for exhibition, 
though the plants were only received in the spring, 
and then in poor condition. Sir C. T. Smith has 
developed some fine flowers of a rich yellow. Inter- 
Ocean, which was sent from the raiser of Mrs. E. G. 
