120 
rHE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 23, 1897. 
||ints for ^mateurs. 
Chrysanthemum Notes.—The 'Mum season may 
now be said to have begun, and growers of all grades, 
from the proud possessor of half a dozen plants 
esconced in a corner of the back yard to the culti¬ 
vator who is able to count his plants by the hundred 
or even the thousand, all are watching with ever 
increasing interest the development of the buds 
and the progress of the plants generally. The show 
fever can scarcely be said to have reached a critical 
stage yet, but by the time these notes are in print, 
the pulses of most of those interested will have com¬ 
menced to quicken as they calculate their chances of 
success or failure. Meanwhile there are several 
varieties that we may draw the amateur's attention 
to amongst the early October varieties. It is in this 
section that the amateur with little or no glass stands 
the best chance of reaping a full measure of success. 
Klondike.—Recent events have inseparably con¬ 
nected this name with the metal which the human 
strives for with a pertinacity that has extended 
through the ages, and seems to increase rather 
than diminish. Appropriately enough, the flower to 
which this auriferous name has been given, is of 
bright golden yellow hue. It is of rather large size 
for a decorative variety, but should prove, of the 
greatest value where bold, striking blooms are 
required. The florets all reflex, the tips being bifid, 
and the margins slightly thorned. This variety was 
shown at a Floral Committee meeting of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society, on September 20th, by Mr. 
Norman Davis, The Vineries, Framfield, Sussex, at 
the Royal Aquarium, when it was awarded a First- 
class Certificate. 
Nellie Brown.—Ryecroft Glory, sent out by Mr. 
H. J. Jones, has rendered a capital account of itself 
as a decorative variety of free-flowering qualities and 
dwarf bushy habit. In Nellie Brown we have a very 
handsome sport from it, which is identical with the 
parent plant in habit, constitution, and build of 
bloom. Comparing the two forms together, however, 
the difference is in the colour of the flower. Ryecroft 
Glory at its best has rich bronze-yellow flowers, 
whilst Nellie Brown exhibits a charming shade of 
chestnut-orange. Both these two varieties do wonder¬ 
fully well if grown in the open ground, and then 
lifted as the buds are opening, and potted up. In 
favourable seasons when severe frost holds off until 
the middle or nearly the end of October, the plants 
flower well enough in warm corners of the flower gar¬ 
den. We have had instilled into us such a wholesome 
dread of autumn frosts that we do not attempt so 
much with October flowering Chrysanthemums ia 
the open ground as we might. A few plants provided 
with the shelter of a wall or hedge will stand a good 
deal of cold, and if, when the night threatens to be 
too severe for such incomplete protection, a sheet of 
tiffany, or a mat of some kind is thrown over in such 
a way that it does not come into actual contact with 
the flowers, the beauty of the plants may be pre¬ 
served until well on in the autumn. In the grand 
group of Chrysanthemums, both cut and in pots, 
that was staged by Mr. W. Wells, of the Earlswood 
Nurseries, Redhill, at the October show of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, a batch of Nellie 
Brown was a distinctive and much admired feature. 
A sufficient quantity of plants was shown to demon¬ 
strate the fact that the sport was in every way fixed, 
and that it was as secure from further change as 
sported Chrysanthemums are generally. 
Madame Marie Masse.—Referring again to the 
subject of flowering Chrysanthemums out of doors, 
and the way in which the front gardens of villas and 
cottagers might, by thus utilising some of the earlier 
varieties, be made to look a little less forlorn and cheer¬ 
less than they usually do, we may well call attention to 
the merits of this variety. It is very dwarf in stature, 
being usually some 2 ft. in height. The best way to 
grow it is not to disbud at all, but to let the flowers 
come just as they please. This results in numbers 
of sprays of medium-sized flowers, each individual 
bloom having a stalk of fair length, so that in cutting, 
choice or necessity may be indulged as to whether 
the whole sprays or only single blooms are to be cut. 
The colour is a beautiful rose when the plants are 
grown in the full sun, but if shaded, a silvery-rose is 
the result. This variety received the XXX, indicating 
the highest degree of merit at the Chiswick trials of 
early-flowering Chrysanthemums, held towards the 
end of September. On that occasion the plants were 
contributed by Messrs. Dobbie & Co. 
Emily Silsbury.—There are so many good things 
among the ranks of white Japanese varieties that it is 
a matter of considerable difficulty to make a choice 
between them. Emily Silsbury, however, has much 
to recommend it to amateur cultivators. It is an 
early variety, and makes a capital October bloom. 
Though only certificated by the N.C.S. last 
year it made such a good impression then that it has 
been taken up eagerly, and this year has appeared on 
the show boards in surpassing style. The florets are 
long and drooping, and curl upwards gracefully at 
the tips. The bloom is of great size, and there is 
plenty of " stuff " in it, to use an ordinary expres¬ 
sion. A great point in its favour is the easiness with 
which it can be grown. It is very little use recom¬ 
mending a fine flower to an amateur, if in addition to 
its fineness it possesses an intractable nature. 
M. Chenon de Leche. —This represents the highest 
example of development in this direction. Like 
many another good variety it originally came from 
the Continent, and it is not too much to say that it is 
one of the finest seedlings ever sent out by M. Calvat, 
of Grenoble, France. In the year of its general 
introduction (1895) it created quite a sensation, and, 
of course, received the coveted F.C.C. The flower is 
of great size, and exhibits a charming shade of rosy 
buff. The florets are long, and droop over with a 
graceful curve. The tips of the florets are spoon 
shaped, and turn prettily upwards. In order to 
develop this lovely colour to the full, the flowers 
require to be exposed to the full light, any attempt 
at shading them resulting in a bloom of comparatively 
poor colour. Up to the present it has been generally 
regarded as a mid-season or November variety, and 
it was shown in not a few winning stands last year at 
that time. Some intrepid growers, however, have 
this season contrived to get it in magnificent condi¬ 
tion at the beginning of October. In Mr. J. Agate’s 
stand of twenty-four Japanese blooms at the 
Aquarium last week, it occupied a prominent 
position ; indeed, it has never been better shown at 
any time. In addition to the remarkable beauties of 
the flower the plant is dwarf and sturdy in habit. 
Croons speciosus. —Increased attention is being 
paid year by year to the massing of hardy flowers 
in situations where the surroundings suggest that 
nature and not’man has been the disseminating agent. 
This is done not only in our public parks but in 
many private establishments where individual enter¬ 
prise is following the example of the pioneers of more 
artistic ideas in the embellishment of gardens and 
grounds. All these efforts, however, have chiefly to 
do with spring-flowering plants. Dutch bulbs, for 
instance, particularly Daffodils and spring-flowering 
Croquses are planted in their thousands in beds, bor¬ 
ders, sweeps of glossy lawn, or nooks in the wild 
garden. Nobody wants to alter this, we imagine, for 
the admiration bestowed upon spring gardening of 
this kind is pretty general. Still we may suggest 
that it seems a pity that spring and early summer 
are to have the benefit of all these beauties, and that 
very little or no effort is made to produce similar 
effects by following similar lines with autumn-flower¬ 
ing plants. True there is a comparative dearth of 
suitable subjects, but we may claim with truth that 
sufficient use is not made of suitable plants that do 
exist. Of these Crocus speciosus occupies a fore¬ 
most position. It is every whit as fine a flower, and 
quite as beautiful either singly or in the mass, as its 
relatives who take the year when it is young. Do 
we want cheapness ? then corms of this Crocus may 
be purchased by the thousand at a very reasonable 
rate. Do we call for hardiness, free-flowering 
qualities, and generally good behavour ? then 
Crocus speciosus will not be found lacking in any of 
these attributes. Why then is it not grown more 
frequently ? some may ask. In answer we can only 
suggest that Its merits are not known, or if known 
are not recognised. The flowers are bright blue, in¬ 
ternally, and finely striped with deep purple lines. 
The much fringed orange-coloured stigmata are in 
themselves of great beauty, and in contrast with the 
blue of the flower segments are doubly so. Seen on 
a bright day towards the end of September or the 
beginning of October a bold plantation of this 
Crocus is wondrously effective, and needs only to be 
seen to be admired and copied. Such a break has 
been lately one of the distinctive features of Messrs. 
Barr's Nurseries at Long Ditton. The plants were 
growing beneath the shade of some tall trees, and it 
was interesting to watch how after a dull morning 
the flowers opened with the bright sun, and closed 
again as the sun went down. The break in question 
was the result of some small corms which were left 
in the ground when the big ones were taken up, and 
they have been in that one place for several years, 
and flower regularly and profusely each autumn.— 
Rex. 
-- 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
" Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
New Chrysanthemum.— Inquirer: There are now 
so many good varieties in cultivation that a novelty 
has to be of exceptional merit to receive a certificate. 
We should advise you, therefore, to take the opinion 
of one or two practical men who can see the flowers 
before you go to the trouble and expense of sending 
them to London. The next floral committee meeting 
of the National Chrysanthemum Society is on Mon¬ 
day,October 25th. The rules of the society require that 
three blooms shall be sent, and you must also give 
the origin of the variety, if a sport, the name of the 
variety from which it was sported, and if a seedling, 
its parentage. Any other information that you can 
supply should also be given. 
Peaches for a Wall. —I have a wall 10 ft. in height 
facing to the west. Can I grow Peaches in such a 
position, and if so, what varieties would you recom¬ 
mend.— G. Bransdon. 
Yes, you may plant Peaches against a west wall, 
although a south aspect would have been better. 
With regard to a variety Alexander would probably 
suit you the best of any. The fruit is handsome in 
appearance, of large size, and brisk flavour. It ripens 
out of doors about the middle of July when planted 
against a south wall, but would be a little later on 
a west wall. Hale’s Early is good and early. 
Waterloo is also a good early variety ripe from the 
middle to the end of July. 
Dressing Chrysanthemums.— Reader : As a rule 
Japanese Chrysanthemums do not require much 
dressing. The blooms should be looked over for 
short florets, and if any of these are discovered they 
should be pulled out with the tweezers. After this 
has been done hold the flower head downwards, and 
give it a shake to bring the other florets into posi¬ 
tion. Beyond this very little is required. In the 
case of the incurved Japanese a good deal more 
trouble is required, in order to get the florets to lap 
nicely over each other. 
Laying out a Front Garden.— Sassafras : We 
think the best plan would be to have a 3-ft. border 
all round the garden except on that side of it on 
which the gravel path lies. On the farther side of the 
latter, close against the fence, you may have a narrow 
border of a foot in width, edged with flints or edging 
tiles. This little border will do to accommodate 
creepers or other plants which may serve to cover 
the fenc9 dividing your garden from the next. The 
3-ft. border may be filled with bulbs and hardy her¬ 
baceous plants. Ou the boundary of the garden 
facing the road you might plant a hedge of Privet 
if you wish for a little privacy, or you might 
plant a row of tall-growing Michaelmas Daisies, 
but as the latter will be out of sight during 
the winter months, and will not have reached any 
height until the summer has come, the front of the 
garden would be open for half the year at least when 
the '• Daisies " only were employed. We shall be 
pleased to give you a list of suitable herbaceous 
plants if you wish it. The central part of the garden 
should be laid down in grass, but you may have a 
bed of Roses in the centre. This bed may be round, 
square, or oblong in shape, according as your fancy 
suggests. 
Shifting a Holly. —You may lift the Holly as soon 
as you like. Oral. A bush of its size will not have 
made any very deep roots, especially as you say it 
has only been in its present position for three years. 
Lift it with a good ball of earth attached, and if the 
soil is inclined to be dry water it in when you have 
got it fairly placed in its new position. 
