652 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 8,1895. 
Cottage, Edinburgh, just when we were busy with 
the largest London show of the season, so that the 
"mums” had to be shelved for a time. Such a 
thing would not be tolerated in November, when the 
autumn queen reigns supreme. Mr. McMillan is 
now well known as an enthusiast in this class of 
plants that he is anything but content with an 
autumn display. He flowers Chrysanthemums 
practically all the year round, for we have seen some 
of his exhibits in London long after this date, when 
the November plants are only making their growth. 
The blooms sent us were mostly old favourites, 
and tolerably respectable after having lain a week 
exposed in the box. The largest bloom of any was 
William Tricker, the petals of which were broad and 
highly coloured for this variety. They were also 
very numerous and the centre remarkably full, so 
that if the bloom had been left on the plant till now 
it would have made a respectable flower even for 
November. Next in size came Viviand Morel, which 
was not so compact as we should expect it later on, 
yet for decorative purposes it would answer admir¬ 
ably. Charles Davis was equally as large, but per¬ 
fectly full in the centre, and of a rich rosy-bronze, 
darker by several shades than we often see it in 
November; the petals were also in much better 
form than those of Viviand Morel, which were 
quilled almost to the tip. Mods. Gustave Gruner- 
wald was of good size for that type, and of a rich 
rosy-purple. It is the best of its colour amongst 
early flowering varieties, and well worthy of cultiva¬ 
tion. W. Wagstaff is a broad-petalled pure white 
variety, and evidently of considerable merit for 
decorative purposes. The snowy-white petals of 
Madame Leroy make it even more suitable than the 
last-named for the same kind of work. The flowers 
of W. H. Lincoln was of a bright golden-yellow, and 
lasted in better condition than any of the rest under 
the same unsuitable conditions. We admire a culti¬ 
vator who sticks to his work like Mr. McMillan. 
During the delay in attending to the above another 
box of blooms from the same grower arrived. W. 
H. Lincoln was notable for its rich golden colour 
and a bloom measuring 5|in. in diameter was as 
beautifully incurved as it would be in November. 
Boquet de Dame was quite out of its usual 
character, for, instead of the bloom being globular as 
we see it in autumn, the florets were reflexed and 
slightly curled ; but the whole was as compact and; 
full of material as ever. G. Wermig and Arthur 
Creepy were also sent; the latter is a paler yellow 
and smaller flower than the former and evidently 
suitable for decorative purposes. 
-- 
MODERN FLOWER SHOWS. 
Before reading the leading article in The Gardening 
World respecting modern flower shows we had in 
our mind to say a few words on the subject of the 
great show of the 21st ult. at the Temple Gardens, 
which presenting such a wide contrast to the shows 
held in London some thirty and more years back 
that we cannot help regretting the gradual dis¬ 
appearance of those splendid evidences of the 
plantsman’s skill and patience with which we were 
then familiar. The absence of those large specimens 
leaves a void which any number of groups of 
moderate sized plants can never fill up. The best 
possible arrangement of plants individually and 
collectively cannot in the very nature of things pro¬ 
duce the imposing effect which the large specimens 
of years past imparted to the flower shows of former 
days, at which plants were shown at their very best, 
and included subjects very telling as specimen plants 
which in the miscellaneous groups of small plants of 
the present day would be overlooked. Take, for 
instance, Medinilla magnifica, one of the most 
splendid flowering plants grown, and which can 
hardly be flowered in a small stage to be seen to 
advantage. 
The same remark applies possibly to a less extent 
to numerous other plants which in the palmy days 
of specimen plant growing were largely grown and 
exhibited, and always much admired. The 
Allamandas, Stephanotis, Dipladenias, Draco- 
phyllums, including a number of hard-wooded 
plants, which, with specimen Roses, Orchids, 
Azaleas, Pelargoniums, and Ferns, made up the 
bulk of the exhibitions of past years, have all 
apparently gone, and if the growing of these huge 
specimens is not a lost art it bids fair to become one. 
No doubt the continual reappearance of the same 
plants year after year produced a sameness which it 
was desirable to break through, and in some few 
instances plants were grown to such an enormous 
size that they became less telling than smaller, 
fresher specimens, and the cost of carting them 
about the country was out of all proportion to the 
value of the prizes offered, good as they were. To 
our mind the great drawback to the modern flower 
show is overcrowding; if we must from sheer 
necessity make up the shows by a number of 
exhibits consisting mainly of small plants, some 
means should be devised to check this tendency to 
huddle them together into a confused heap. We are 
not alluding to groups arranged for effect; these are 
often put up in a way beyond all praise, and leave 
nothing to be desired. But in reference to many 
exhibits at the Temple Show it is not too much to 
say that if one half of the plants included in them 
were taken away those left would have produced a 
more pleasing and effective display. Some stands 
reminded us of the stalls in the Lowther Arcade, 
when every effort is put forth to display a specimen 
of every article the owner has on sale. 
To put an effective check on this growing evil is 
a question of some difficulty, and possibly the all 
powerful influence of the Press, if brought to bear 
upon the subject, will do something to correct it; 
and the management of flower shows could exert a 
healthy influence on exhibitors in this direction. 
Could not a rule be devised to restrict the number 
of plants in groups of Roses, Ferns, Orchids, 
Begonias, etc., to be staged on a certain amount of 
space ? If we are never again to have flower shows 
consisting mainfy of specimen plants, that is no 
reason why we should be called upon to endure a 
kind of Covent Garden Market substitute for them, 
which leaves the impression on the mind of having 
been got together as a great trade display. Now 
this is not said in disparagement to the trade, 
without which, unfortunately, it would be almost 
impossible to get up a good flower show. There is 
not, we fear, the public spirit among private owners 
of gardens there was in years gone, which animated 
their owners to give every encouragement to their 
gardeners to grow and exhibit plants to the highest 
possible perfection. The ample space required for 
their effective display at the shows was a most 
effective safeguard against overcrowding as we now 
see it, and which is fast bringing our great shows 
down to a point at which a better term for them 
would be plant burreaux. 
At the same time the more modern flower show 
has advantages over those of years past in that it is 
more democratic, and a far wider view of the floral 
world is represented at them than in those of the 
past. A host of interesting and beautiful flowers 
are brought forward and seen by the outside public, 
of which otherwise very many among them would 
never have an opportunity of seeing. This 
popularises many classes of plants which is helpful 
to all concerned in their cultivation, and adds con¬ 
siderably to the interest of the show; and if 
exhibitors would only avoid overcrowding by 
excluding duplicates from their stands, they would 
be doing something to improve the appearance of 
the show: and those in the trade would also further 
their own interest by displaying their flowers or 
plants in a more effective manner by giving those 
set up more room. The excessive crowding is most 
confusing to many taking notes with a view to pur¬ 
chase.— W. B. G. 
--- 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The busy time in Chrysanthemum culture is again 
with us, for every grower, professional or amateur, 
is trying every possible means to get his plants into 
thorough condition. Many, moreover, are looking 
anxiously forward to show time, when the long series 
of such operations as pottings, staking, tying, water¬ 
ing, earwig hunting, plunging, etc., will beat an end 
and the richly-earned reward of all the labour 
gathered. Disappointments will doubtless be 
numerous, for with so many striving for first place, 
it is manifest that all cannot take premier position. 
What wonderfully persevering men present-day gar¬ 
deners are. Some of them have the patience of a 
dozen Jobs, accepting indifferent results with a grim 
determination to succeed better another time. With¬ 
out doubt, if a man continues pluckily to strive 
for success, his turn does come at last, although good 
fortune may only smile on his efforts for a brief space 
and may then turn to bless someone else. 
As the rage is at present in favour of the produc¬ 
tion of large bloom, I should like to offer a few 
remarks concerning them, first of all. To procure 
these, anyone with a very little knowledge must 
know that strong and vigorous plants are absolutely 
necessary. In the first place, then, the cutting must 
be strong. Some sorts being naturally weaker than 
others, a knowledge of the different varieties is 
indispensable. Good plants this year are not easy 
to find, the long winter rendering thick covering 
necessary. To give the plants, air and daylight for 
many weeks was entirely out of the question, how¬ 
ever, we must take them as they are and make the 
best of them. Many are now on with the second 
shift from 6o pots into 48’s the plants having 
been stopped a week or so before potting was 
commenced. 
When the growths have fairly started away, chose 
one, two, or three of the strongest breaks for the 
future, rubbing all other shoots off. I think three is 
generally the number grown ; some will perhaps ask 
why flop or pinch at all if you only allow one break 
to remain ? My answer to this is that all the shoots 
are rather weak this season, so if a plant can be 
induced to break freely away at this time of the year 
one has a much better chance of selecting a good 
growth from among them. When ready the plants 
should be moved on into 8-in. or g-in. pots taking 
care not to fill the pots up to the brim, but leaving 
room for a top dressing later on. Firm potting is 
very essential, and without it no one can grow good 
Chrysanthemums. The compost should be as good 
as possible, and may consist of nicely chopped turf 
sods, and if this can be obtained about four 
inches in thickness it will be all the better. Three 
parts of this and one of clean horse-droppings with a 
little soot will make it a capital material for growing 
Chrysanthemums in them. 
The plants must be staked in good time and 
plunged in rows about a yard and a half apart, whilst 
quite a yard of space must be given between the 
plants in order to admit of their being readily got at 
for purposes of tying, watering, and all the thousand 
and one little attentions which they need. The 
plunging ground must be as light and open as 
possible and if sheltered from cold, rough winds, so 
much the better. In a position of this kind the 
plants will make firm, short-jointed wood a necessary 
feature if good blooms are expected. 
I had almost forgotten the question of drainage. 
This, however, must at all times be very carefully 
looked after, and never more so than at the last shift. 
I would recommend all those that can possibly 
obtain them, to use Porter's crocks, which are really 
splendid, insuring perfect drainage, and at the same 
time effectually excluding worms from the soil. As 
it is rather too soon to say anything about taking or 
securing the bud, I will defer my remarks on that 
subject a little longer.— J. G. Pettingev, Strawberry 
Dak Nursery, Harrogate. 
-» !« 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Guide to the Museums at Kew.* 
There are three Museums of Economic Botany at 
Kew, but though a guide book for No. 1 has long 
been obtainable, that under notice is the first that has 
been published of the contents of No. 2, which is 
really the oldest in the gardens and originally con¬ 
tained the nucleus of all the three. The first guide 
to its contents was published by the Director, Sir 
William Hooker, at his own expense in 1855. The 
idea of forming a museum of economic botany to 
display those products of the vegetable world which 
could not be exhibited either by living specimens in 
the garden, or in the Herbarium, originated with Sir 
William. That small beginning has undergone great 
development, and instead of confusion reigning 
amongst the multitudinous vegetable products of the 
globe, everything is classified according to a regular 
system in rooms and cases, all named and numbered 
so that anyone with the guide books for No. 1 and 
No. 2, could readily find any of the contents which 
he might want to see, whether he be botanist, manu¬ 
facturer, physician, druggist, carpenter, cabinet 
maker, or what not. 
Museum No 2 includes only the products obtained 
form Orchids, Palms, Grasses, Lilies, and other 
monocotyledonous plants as well as Ferns and all 
^Official Guide to the Museums of Economic Botany. 
No. 2.—Monocotyledons and Cryptogams. London: Sold at 
the Royal Gardens, Kew. Printed for Her Majesty s Stationery 
Office by Eyre <fc Spottiswoode, 1895. Price 4d. 
