162 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 12, 1892. 
beautiful ivory-white. Harry Balsley is a white 
variety shaded with pink, while II Trovatore shows a 
curious mixture of pink, purple, and white. The 
broad-petalled and creamy-white Condor is now 
pretty well known. Jules Rochis is purple with a 
silvery reverse, and divaricate petals. The outer 
florets of Miss Lilian Flower are pale purple, but 
the rest are white. For those who like the plumy 
type of Chrysanthemum, H. Ballantine, with its soft 
yellow flowers tinted with bronze, is distinct, and has 
long, slender, tubular florets. The brilliant crimson 
of Beaute de Toulousaine is considered finer than 
that of E. Molyneux, while the flower is of similar 
form. Great size is all the rage at present, and 
Mademoiselle Marie Recoura should meet a want. 
The flowers are late, but they ultimately attain a 
diameter of 13 in., and some of the florets 14 in. to 
16 in. The silvery rose florets of Mrs. Geo. Daniels 
are more or less cut or fringed at the apex. Those of 
Excelsior are rosy-purple with a silvery reverse. 
Several other types are noticeable, particularly the 
incurved Madame Darier, of a soft bronzy-yellow 
with clear yellow tips. Another of the same type is 
Mrs. H. W. Goulder, of a delicate blush pink. 
Amongst the large Anemones of recent introduction 
none of them are finer than Delaware, with numerous 
creamy-white rays and a soft yellow disc. Decora¬ 
tive varieties also receive attention here, and amongst 
those grown we noted M. Bourgeois Aine, with di¬ 
varicate bronzy florets and yellow on the reverse. 
Similar in form is Le Verier, with broad salmon- 
coloured florets. The display will be continuous for 
several weeks. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED, 
The following plants were exhibited at the meeting 
of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 1st inst. : — 
Hoya imperialis. — This noble plant was ori¬ 
ginally introduced to this country in 1847, so that 
while it may be considered an old subject yet com¬ 
paratively few growers have succeeded in its cultiva¬ 
tion. Within the last ten years, however, we have 
seen it several times but rarely on the exhibition 
table. The individual flowers when full grown 
sometimes measure about 3 in. in diameter. They 
are waxy, of great substance, and for the most part 
of a pale reddish-brown. Like most other species, 
the plant is of climbing habit, and should be trained 
to the rafters of the house. As the old umbels flower 
more than once they should not be cut off, after the 
first set of flowers drop. Being a native of Borneo, 
the temperature of a stove is necessary to attain 
success in its culture. A First-class Certificate was 
awarded it whan shown by Mr. F. W. Moore, 
Curator of the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Ireland. 
Croton Beatrice Horsfall. —At first impression 
this seems a highly and finely coloured condition or 
state of Croton John Laing. It is certainly a hand¬ 
somely coloured thing if it keeps the colour such as 
it had when shown on the 1st inst. by Mrs. Horsfall 
(gardener, Mr. Morrall), Bellamour, Rugeley, Staffs. 
The leaves are linear, of moderate length, and the 
lower or older ones are of a shining, bronzy crimson, 
with a red midrib. The upper and younger ones are 
clear yellow, sometimes tinted with crimson and olive 
green towards the tips. The stems are of a bright 
red, so that if the plant on the whole retains these 
characters, it will prove a very handsome, decorative 
subject for table work. An Award of Merit was 
accorded it. 
New Chrysanthemums. 
Vesuvius.— The heads of this Japanese variety are 
globular, of medium size, and golden bronze lightly 
mottled and streaked with chestnut. The florets, 
when the blooms are fully developed, point in all 
directions, making the bloom perfectly globular, but 
they are straight and therefore show very little of the 
yellow reverse. It seems a very distinct thing in its 
way, and would apparently be most suitable for 
decorative work unless the flowers get larger. An 
Award of Merit was accorded it when shown by Mr, 
Robert Owen, Castle Hill, Maidenhead. It is one of 
Mr. Owen’s own raising, and flowers naturally in 
October. 
Golden Ball. —This may be described as a small 
Japanese reflexed variety with perfectly globular 
flower heads about 3 in. in diameter. The florets 
are very numerous making the bloom perfectly com¬ 
pact and full in the centre ; they are revolute at the 
sides and the lower ones reflexed so as to hide the 
upper portion of the supporting stalk. The whole 
head is of a uniform golden yellow freely produced 
on dwarf branching stems, so that the variety is 
evidently well suited for decorative work. It was 
shown by Messrs. H. Canned & Sons, Swanley, 
Kent, and received an Award of Merit. 
W. H. Atkinson.— For description of this new 
Japanese reflexed variety see p. 144. It was shown 
by Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, 
Lewisham, and received an Award of Merit. 
Emily Doone.— In this we have a Japanese 
variety of large size, say 6 in. in diameter, or if the 
longer outer florets were spread out it would measure 
more. The outer florets are reflexed and pink, while 
the rest are white or the inner ones may be tinted 
with yellow ; all are considerably twisted and loosely 
interlaced with one another. 
* 
Forced Seakale. 
Those who require Seakale for Christmas must lift 
some roots at once, and place them in the Mushroom 
house, or whatever place is used for forcing it. As 
the plants are lifted the side roots must be taken care 
of for planting next spring. For forcing place the 
roots about three inches apart in good fresh loam if 
possible, as this has a great influence on thejflavour, 
and force slowly in a moist atmosphere. If it is 
forced in the open ground in the old way, great care 
must be taken that the forcing material does not get 
too hot, or a great deal of damage will be done in a 
short time. This method of forcing has a great many 
drawbacks and very few advantages. Many think 
the Kale is better flavoured, but I think if care is 
taken to keep the atmosphere moist and the roots 
are placed in good sweet loam in a forcing shed very 
little difference will be found in this respect. A few 
dishes may be obtained quickly by filling some 
flower pots with roots, and plunging them in the 
stove or other warm place. Put another flower¬ 
pot over the first and cover with cocoa-fibre. By 
this method a little may be obtained in a very short 
time.— G. H. S. 
Asparagus. 
This vegetable is not forced in such large quantities 
as Seakale, because it takes up so much ground in 
the garden, and requires at least three years to grow 
plants strong enough for forcing. If plants can be 
spared, or have been prepared for this purpose, they 
must now be attended to. Asparagus may be forced 
in a forcing house, such as is used in the summer for 
Cucumbers or Melons, but I think the best way is to 
do it in a frame on a hot bed. Build a bed with 
leaves and manure that will not get too hot, but 
which will retain the heat for a considerable time. 
A thin layer of soil can be placed first in the frame, 
then the roots, and some soil to cover them. The 
thickness of soil on the roots must depend upon 
whether the heads are required to be blanched or 
green; if green keep the frame closed until the 
heads are just above the surface of the soil, then 
ventilate on every favourable opportunity; cut as 
soon as the heads are ready and keep them in a cool 
place with the ends in water until required for the 
kitchen — G. H. S. 
T omatos. 
The past season has not been very favourable for 
growing Tomatos in the open, but cultivators 
generally manage them so well under glass that out¬ 
door cultivation does not seem to afford many 
advantages. The demand in the markets for these 
fruits is decidedly on the increase and the prejudice 
which existed against their use as an article of diet is 
gradually vanishing. The raising of good kinds has 
seemingly attained its zenith, and the desire to have 
such very large fruit is not so common as it once 
was. Finely formed fruit with bright colour and 
free from blemishes have been more successful this 
season in gaining prizes than larger fruit when high 
class quality has not been present. We noticed this 
very prominently at Earl's Court during the past 
season. For pot work we have found none to sur¬ 
pass Acquisition, and when the pots can be stood in 
boxes of soil into which they can root, labour is 
saved and much finer fruit is grown. We notice that 
occasional syringings of soapy water in which 
flower of sulphur is well mixed keeps the fungus pest 
in check.- -Stirling. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Examination in Horticulture. 
We have been favoured with the following informa¬ 
tion on this subject from the council of the society :— 
1. The Royal Horticultural Society proposes to 
hold an examination in horticulture during the first 
week in May, 1893. 
2. The examination will be held simultaneously in 
as many different centres in England and Wales as 
circumstances may demand. 
3. The examination will be based on the outline 
syllabus of “ Elementary Principles and Horticul¬ 
tural Operation and Practice," issued by the society, 
but arrangements will be made so far as possible to 
frame the questions so as to cover the ground of any 
syllabus sent up for that purpose to the society be¬ 
fore the first day of March. It will, however, in all 
cases, be absolutely essential for students to exhibit 
a sufficient knowledge of the " Elementary Prin¬ 
ciples ” named in the Syllabus. 
4. Two sets of questions will be set; one of an 
elementary character called the *• Lower Grade,” and 
one more advanced called the " Higher Grade," and 
those who intend to sit for examination must decide 
beforehand under which grade they will be examined, 
in order that a sufficient number of papers in each 
grade may be sent. 
5. In each grade 300 marks will be given as a 
maximum. Candidates gaining 200 marks and over 
will be placed in the First Class. Those gaining 150 
to 200 will be placed in the Second Class. Candi¬ 
dates failing to obtain half-marks (150) will not be 
classed. 
6. The Royal Horticultural Society will award a 
Silver-gilt Medal to the candidate gaining the highest 
number of marks in the First Class in the Higher 
Grade, and a Silver Medal to the highest in the First 
Class in the Loiyer Grade, and will, if the Count)" 
Council or other body promoting the lectures wish 
it, deliver to their candidates certificates of the class 
in which they shall have passed. 
7. County Councils, lecturers, etc., wishing stu¬ 
dents to sit for examination must send in to the 
society, not later than the first week in April, the 
approximate number of students they may present in 
each grade; the actual number at each proposed 
centre will be required ten days before the examina¬ 
tion takes place. 
8. Gardeners and students wishing to sit for the 
examination, but who have not attended any particu¬ 
lar series of lectures, must send in their name and 
address to the Secretary, R. H. S., 117, Victoria 
Street, Westminster, not later than the 1st week in 
April, when they will be informed of the nearest 
centre at which an examination will be held. 
9 A small capitation fee will be charged for every 
student in order to partially defray the expenses of 
the examination. 
10. County Councils, lecturers, etc., must also 
send in the full name and address (with designation 
or occupation) of one responsible person for each 
proposed centre, who will undertake to supervise 
the examination in accordance with the society’s 
rules. 
11. The duties of the supervisor will be as fol¬ 
lows :— 
(a) To satisfy himself that the room proposed 
for the examination is a suitable one for the purpose, 
and to see that a sufficient quantity of foolscap paper, 
all of one size, is provided for the use of the candi¬ 
dates. (b) To satisfy himself that all candidates be¬ 
longing to his centre have been duly acquainted with 
the place, day, and hour of examination. This may 
be done by communicating with the lecturer or with 
the secretary of the County Council, etc. (c) To re¬ 
ceive the sealed parcel of papers which will be posted 
to him from London two clear days before the ex¬ 
amination. N.B.—If the papers do not arrive by 
the first post on the day of examination he should 
immediately telegraph to the Secretary of the societ)', 
117, Victoria Street, SVV. (d) To preserve the 
seals of the parcel, unbroken, until he opens it in 
the presence of the candidates at the hour fixed for 
the examination to commence, (e) To distribute one 
copy of the examination paper to each candidate, 
according to grade. It is better that the candidates 
should be seated higher and lower grade alternately, 
and not too closely together, (f) The supervisor will 
then immediately read aloud the-directions printed 
at the head of the papers, make a note of the exact 
