84 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 8, 1892. 
FLORICULTURE. 
Miniature Violas and Tufted Pansies. 
In the Gardening World of September 24, Mr. 
George Steel wrote about the new type of Miniature 
Violas, originated by Dr. Stuart, and hits the nail 
upon the head in remarking that “ Habit and flori- 
ferousness are perhaps the most important features 
in a bedding Viola, and when we can combine colour 
and fragrance their usefulness is greatly enchanced.” 
Of their delicious fragrance there can be no doubt, 
and their exquisite form is another strong recom¬ 
mendation. 
In the Gardening World, of the 1st inst., is an 
article on Tufted Pansies from Chirnside, in which 
the writer speaks of this new type of rayless Violas ; 
but it should be remembered that we have several 
rayless varieties of the ordinary Viola, and that the 
name of Tufted Pansies has been applied to them by 
Dr. Stuart himself. I believe I am quite correct in 
stating that the original introducer of the term 
Tufted Pansies is the Editor of The Garden, who is 
very autocratic in this matter, but to me the appela- 
tion is very objectionable and misleading, as there is 
so very little of the Pansy character about them. 
Had the procumbent growing kinds been classed as 
Tufted Violas I could have understood it, but to call 
all Tufted Pansies is a mistake. Mr. Steel proposed 
to me to call the Violetta section Miniature Violas, 
and I so heartily approved of his suggestion that I 
have adopted it as so thoroughly identified with the 
type. 
I have on two or three occasions received from 
Mr. J. D. Stuart, Belfast, blooms of some of his 
beautiful seedling Violas, and from Belfast we may now 
look for some very fine new varieties raised by him¬ 
self and Mr. McKee. Of Mr. Stuart's lot especial 
mention must be made of H. W. Stuart, Mrs. Joseph 
Chamberlain, Hibernia, Unionist, Lady Dufferin, 
Lavrock, Colleen Bawn, and Accushla, whilst others 
will have a further trial and are very promising. I 
am unacquainted with Mr. McKee’s arrangements as 
to the introduction of his fine seedlings, but it is not 
unlikely that Mr. Irvine of Tighnabruaich will 
introduce some of them shortly. I have seen blooms, 
and Modesty, Mermaid, Countess, and Duchess are 
all very fine. Several others were only under 
number, so that I need not refer to them, but I see 
plainly that both of the amateurs I have named are 
seeking for quality and distinctness. 
Out of the multitude of varieties now in cultivation, 
some are very much more useful than others for 
prolonged decoration work. On looking over a large 
collection on the 1st inst., whilst a large number 
were almost out of bloom, a few sorts stood out in 
great beauty still with a profusion of bloom. These 
are The Queen, colour of Ardwell Gem, primrose- 
yellow. and I like it better ; Duchess of Albany, Mrs. 
McDonald, white ; Crimson King, purple; Gaiety, 
cream, with clouded lilac top petals; and Yellow 
Boy, an excellent yellow. The collection was planted 
out in April, and those I have now named have been 
in bloom ever since. I again say plant out in October 
if possible or early in November.— W. Dean, Sparhliill, 
Birmingham. 
Pinks from Pipings or Layers. 
The propagation of the Pink from pipings has been 
the custom from the time the Pink was taken in 
hand by our old florists, and they were put in under 
hand-glasses out of doors until rooted. This 
practice is still general, but some of our Midland 
growers resort to layering only, and in the colder 
districts layering is a great advantage in the early 
formation of strong plants for standing the winter, 
and those who have experience of the Midland and 
Lancashire districts know how desirable it is to have 
early, strong, well-rooted plants. In the more 
favoured districts, such as Slough, early plants from 
pipings are easily obtained. 
Some of our florists are inclined to debate the 
point as to the refinement of the flowers grown 
from layers being equal to those grown from 
pipings. We have in Birmingham a champion 
exhibitor, Mr. A. R. Brown, of Plandsworth, who 
invariably " sweeps the board " when he exhibits. 
Quality reigns supreme in his blooms, and he grows 
exclusively from layers. I think, therefore, we may 
safely set aside any prejudice against layering Pinks 
in the face of Mr. Brown’s annual successes. Any 
tendency to coarseness is much more probable from 
over-manuring and feeding, and late planting is pro¬ 
ductive of bad lacing. To get fine blooms, the 
plants should now be in their blooming beds in a 
sheltered place, so that they may get established for 
the winter. 
Purchasers should not forget that the finest Pink 
ever seen is Brown’s Amy, a very fine flower of good 
size, good petal, and refined in its markings. Brown’s 
Ethel is another fine flower, and The Rector, sent out 
from Slough, is also a great, acquisition. Paul's 
Bertha is also an acquisition, with almost a wire 
edging of deep purple. Bertram, Hooper's Emerald, 
and Henry Hooper are also useful flowers. Turner's 
Godfrey and Turner's Galopin are also good kinds, 
and Boiard is always to be seen in winning stands. 
Modesty should be in every collection, as also should 
Empress of India. Mr. William Paul, Fellowes’ 
Rosy Morn, Machan’s Device, Turner's Dr. 
Masters are also exhibition flowers.— W. D. 
--*•- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
From the Ryecroft Nursery. 
Chrysanthemum culture is still prosecuted with 
great vigour, and no better evidence of it can be 
seen than in the nursery of Mr. H. J. Jones, Hither 
Green, Lewisham, where 5,000 plants in flowering 
pots have been grown this season, independently of 
the other specialities in hand. The collection 
includes not merely all the best recent kinds, but a 
large number not yet in commerce. Last year he 
had close upon 500 new kinds, but that is exceeded 
this year. Of French, English, and Italian novelties 
he has 430, and 109 American varieties, indepen¬ 
dently of his own seedlings. About 70 of his own 
last year’s seedlings are again under trial. One end 
of a large house is entirely devoted to September 
and October varieties, which are now gay. The later 
flowering varieties were housed a week ago under a 
heavy downpour of rain to make them secure against 
a night's frost, which may be expected at any time. 
Varieties of 1891. 
The undermentioned may be spoken of as Septem¬ 
ber and October flowering varieties, although some 
of them commence even earlier. One of the early 
varieties now attaining some popularity is M. Gus¬ 
tave Grunerwald in the style of Madame Desgranges, 
but having deep rosy pink flowers with a paler 
centre. It is now in full bloom for the seeond time 
on the same plants. Alfred de Montbella is a blush 
pink reflexed Japanese variety. M. Albert Galy is 
of the same type, about two feet high, never tall, and 
having crimson flowers and old gold on the reverse. 
A very pretty bright p : nk is Marquis de Montmort, 
and of good average size. Like the previously 
named varieties it may be described as belonging to 
the reflexed section of Japanese varieties. The 
others are mostly of the true Japanese type, includ¬ 
ing Madame Germaine Cassagneau, a rosy pink 
variety with a blush centre. It is very graceful, and 
free flowered if grown out of doors withoutdisbudding. 
The flowers of course are larger if disbudded, but 
the quantity of usable flowers it produces when 
allowed to grow freely should make it suitable for 
market purposes. Madame Zephyr Lionnet is 
already well recognised as a sort well adapted for 
market work and cut flowers, and is of a beautiful 
golden bronze. 
The florets of Vice-President Hardy are curiously 
twisted and bright orange-crimson with a yellow 
reverse. Secretaire Alfred Bleu is like an early. 
Carew Underwood, but dwarfer anj golden tinted 
with bronze. A dwarf and free flowering early sort 
is Mon. Vauvel with mauve pink flowers. A great 
novelty in its way is M. J. Moulins, often spoken of 
by those who know it under the name of Twisted 
Copper Wire. It is dwarf and easily grown with 
dark green foliage tinted with bronze, deeply cut, 
and densely set upon the stems. The blooms are 
small when they first expand, but as they lengthen 
they get deeply lacerated, revolute and twisted, 
forming a curious mass-like twisted copper, the latter 
describing the colour. A good early variety is M. 
Pierre Cassagneau, of medium size, and crimson- 
red with a yellowish reverse. 
Varieties of 1892. 
The yellow Mademoiselle Lacroix is likely to become 
a favourite on account of its beautiful primrose 
yellow and drooping slightly wavy florets. Andre 
Fallieres is golden yellow, reflexed and twisted. 
Gloire de Mezin may be described as an improve¬ 
ment upon Thomas Stevenson, with terra cotta 
flowers changing to buff,with a beautiful golden yellow 
reverse. Seedling No. 2933 of Mr. Jones' raising is 
a very full, lilac-pink of good substance, with long 
florets and a dwarf habit. The florets of M. Paul 
Lemoine are flat at first, buff yellow, becoming clear 
yellow, reflexed and twisted. Altogether it is like 
an early Criterion. Madame Bagaric is intense rose 
fading to a silvery rose, and curiously twisted in the 
centre while opening, and therefore very pretty. 
Madame Labour is a reflexed Japanese sort in the 
way of Amy Furze, with much more colour in it 
and deep blooms. Something in the way of Gloire 
de Mezin is Madame Gabriel Fontaine, but the 
florets are much broader and salmon coloured, while 
the blooms are also very deep with much material 
in them. Distinct in the way of colour is M. Gazon 
with deep flowers of a blood red, but not very wide. 
A pretty thing amongst the new Pompons is 
Mademoiselle Eugenie Klein with fimbriated creamy 
white flowers and dark foliage. It is also very dwarf 
and bushy. Equally distinct is Zelmire, a Japanese 
Pompon, with golden yellow flowers and irregularly 
twisted or curled florets. M. Edouard Cruse is a 
single variety with numerous tubular pale blush pink 
ray florets. The latter are less numerous when 
grown free and the blooms more numerous. The 
golden yellow sport from Miss M. A. Haggas, the 
well-known primrose yellow incurved variety, is 
likely to turn out a good thing and constant, as the 
buds are already showing colour well. Its proper 
flowering season, however, is November. Madame 
Marie Constans is a new reflexed Japanese sort with 
beautiful primrose flowers fading to white. 
From the Lilford Road Nurseries. 
Here also early varieties of Chrysanthemum receive 
due prominence at the hand of Mr. Norman Davis, 
at Camberwell. The early varieties, as far as pot 
plants were concerned, were housed, and so were all 
the best of the late ones. Owing to the peculiarly 
sheltered condition of the nursery, Mr. Davis was 
not particularly alarmed at a frosty night, for the 
3 0 to io c that prevailed on the 18th ult. had no 
visible effect here, the Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, 
and other subjects being as fresh as ever. Many of 
the houses for the late plants are still occupied by 
Tomatos, so that the Chrysanthemums cannot have 
undisputed possession of them just at present. 
In the house occupied by the September and 
October varieties, are some fine plants of La Vierge 
with flowers of the purest white. Different plants 
of M. Gustave Grunerwald have been flowering since 
last May. The rosy-pink flowers with an ivory 
white centre are still conspicuous in the collection. 
Very useful for early work is William Holmes, a 
Japanese variety with crimson flowers, and a golden 
reverse striped crimson. A less known plant is Anna 
Hartshorn, an incurved Japanese sort, with waxy 
pure white flowers of large size, and handsome when 
disbudded. It may also be grown for market 
purposes by growing it on the free and easy system, 
that is leaving it to take its natural course. A some¬ 
what sportive Japanese variety is Bouquet de Dame, 
with pure white flowers of great size and depth. 
The crown buds come different from the terminal 
ones, inasmuch as they are hirsute at the tips, while 
those of the type are plain. 
Another interesting variety of peculiar behaviour 
is Madame Louise Leroy, with pure white flowers. 
The florets are split at the tips, and the way they 
become contorted after a time brings out the fission 
very prominently. We noted also the Gloire de 
Mezin, for which Mr. Davis recently had a First- 
class Certificate. A large number of that fine thing 
Vivian Morel is coming on finely and full of promise. 
The crown buds of a few have been taken and the 
rest are terminals. The former are now in bloom 
and of huge size, namely a foot across, but they are 
pinky-white and paler in the centre, and therefore 
not so attractive as when flowered late ; the plants, 
however, are d warfer. The buds of the late batch are 
already showing a dark hue. Altogether there are 300 
plants of this variety alone. The yellow Mademoiselle 
Lacroix is early as usual. 
Feu de Bengal is something in the way of Gloire 
de Mezin, but the flowers are buff yellow with a 
deeper centre and the florets are narrower. The 
plant, moreover, is dwarf. Another equally low 
growing variety is Amos Perry, a beautiful bright 
yellow, incurved Japanese variety in the way of H. 
Cannell. The blooms of Elliot F. Sheppard some¬ 
what resemble those of the last-named, but they are 
more spreading and more loosely arranged. The 
comparatively new Japanese W. H. Lincoln with 
