252 
rHE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 18, 1897. 
SMITHFIELD CLUB. 
The fame of this club's big annual show at the 
Agricultural Hall is certainly not on the wane. Some 
27,000 visitors accompanied our reporter on Thurs¬ 
day last in paying it a visit, and the grand displays 
of huge Sweeds, Mangolds, and other roots were 
well worth the crushing attendant upon even a 
cursory inspection 
Messrs. Carter's, Sutton's, Webb’s, Harrison’s, 
King’s, Jarman’s, and Dickson's stands were as 
usual in good evidence, with specimen Swedes, 
Onions, Carrots, &c.; whilst Mr. A. Findlay and 
Messrs. Fidler & Sons exhibited fine Potatos; and 
Messrs. B. Wells, W. Horne, J. Watkins, and Gay- 
mer had Apples. 
Various firms known to our readers had stands 
for chemical manures. Messrs. Hill & Smith 
showed samples of their well-known "Porcupine” 
tree guards and continuous fencing, though they 
omitted to bring along the man who for so many 
years has been painting them. 
Lawn Mowers were shown by the famous Ipswich 
firm, Messrs. Ransomes, Sims, and Jefleiies, Ltd. 
The Surrey Seed Co., and Mr. A. Blatchford, 
also exhibited roots. 
The one novelty noticed was a mildew-resisting 
Swede called "The Universal,” which appears to 
be an absolutely distinct variety. It has pale green 
foliage, bright broDzy-purple top, and handsome 
round roots. The raisers, Messrs W. & J. Brown, 
claim that it is particularly adapted for early work, 
and is suitable for sowing in hot and light land that 
is subject to mildew. We u nderstand that Messrs. 
Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, will have the whole¬ 
sale distribution of this Swede. 
“ MUMMERS ’’ AT DINNER. 
The occasion of the mid-winter exhibition of the 
National Chr>santhemum Society at Westminster 
last week, afforded an opportunity for some of our 
enthusiasts North and West to come along, and see 
what could be done even in drear December in the 
way of the golden flower. Nor were they dis¬ 
appointed with their reception. Several distinguished 
visitors had travelled long distances in order to be 
present, and the opportunity was made use of as a 
fitting occasion upon which some reciprocal hospi¬ 
tality might be suitably manifested, in token of the 
unquestionably cordial reception with which many 
of our Southern members met at Edinburgh and 
Dublin in November. 
Naturally enough an Englishman’s most potent 
notion of celebrating an event of this sort, particu¬ 
larly when the function is to characterise his own 
native reputation for hospitality, is to enter¬ 
tain his guests at dinner. And dinner it was 
accordingly. A small private committee, acting on 
behalf of those who had participated in Scotch and 
Irish shows, was formed and all the arrangements 
were entrusted to Messrs. Spiers & Pond, whose 
manager, Mr. Cheesman, assiduously excelled himself 
in putting on the tables a most recherche repast. 
Punctually at 5 30 on Tuesday night Mr. T. W. 
Sanders, F.R.H S , Chairman of the National Execu¬ 
tive, took the chair, having on his immediate right 
and left Mr. G. M. Ross, Secretary of the R H S. of 
Ireland ; Mr, Robert Laird, Secretary of the Scottish 
Horticultural Association; Mr. Gardeoer, of the 
Brisbane Chrysanthemum Society ; and there were 
also present Mr. R. Dean, V.M.H., and Mr. R. 
Ballantine, vice-chairmen; Mr. H. J. Jones, 
H.F.N.CS.; Mr. E. Molyneux, V.M.H.; Mr. 
Percy Waterer, Mr. A. E. Stubbs, Mr. J. H. Witty, 
Mr. W. Mease, Mr. J. Wilkinson, Mr. W. Holmes, 
Mr. H. Myers, and others. The function was 
necessarily restricted to one of a semi-private charac¬ 
ter, but after the tables had been cleared the chair¬ 
man submitted one or two toasts of an appropriate 
character. 
Following the customary loyal sentiments, Mr. 
Sanders proposed " Kindred Societies,” eulogising 
the undoubtedly splendid efforts that had been put 
forth by the societies in the sister cities of Edinburgh, 
Dublin, and Belfast, in the cause of the Chrysan¬ 
themum in 1897. He was personally able to testify 
to the extremely courteous and hospitable way in 
which they from the South bad been received on 
their recent visit to Scotland and Ireland—meetings 
such as these could not fail to encourage the mutual 
interests of the parent society and those bodies who 
were acting in a similar capacity outside the metro¬ 
polis. (Applause). He welcomed the opportunity 
of meeting Mr. Rots and Mr. Laird, and more, he 
was particularly pleased also, to know they had 
amongst them Mr. Gardiner, of Brisbane, and in ask¬ 
ing each of these three gentlemen to respond to the 
toast he wished them in the names of his friends and 
himself a pleasant and profitable visit to London. 
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and Mr. G. 
M. Ross, of the Royal Horticultural Society of 
Ireland, made a happy speech in response, promising 
that they in Dublin intended to make the best use of 
the good examples and precepts which were afforded 
by the National Chrysanthemum Society. He 
admired their impetus, their energy, and above all 
their good fellowship. Mr. Ross strongly urged the 
feasibility of the N.C.S. holding a provincial show 
each year something on the lines of the National 
Rose Society ; he thought that to allocate some of 
their prestige and patronage to the larger provincial 
shows alternately in order of importance could not 
fail to be productive of lasting good. (Applause ) 
Mr. Robert Laird, Secretary of the famous 
Scottish Horticultural Association, rose to return 
thanks, and was received with enthusiasm. So also 
was his announcement of the probable surplus which 
he anticipated his society would this year be able to 
devote exclusively to charity. They had, he said, 
as a society, been fortunate in securing for some 
years past the services of Mr. Molyneux as judge, 
and they had been able to adopt many of his ideas 
and much of his advice. He was most pleased 
indeed to be with them that night, and expressed a 
wish that they might all meet again in Edinburgh. 
Mr. Gardiner, Brisbane, made a most interesting 
speech, characterising Queensland as a beau ideal 
climate for ’Mum cultivation. He told us, too, of 
the enthusiasm with which even the children took an 
interest in their flowers, and from the lowliest to the 
highest the same interest manifested itself. Their 
shows and fetes were well-supported, and he ex¬ 
pressed the conviction that the cultivation of these 
beautiful flowers, in common with the Mother 
Country, was, he considered, yet one more strand in 
the bond and tie to dear old England. (Applause, 
and three cheers foi the Colonia's). 
Other toasts were " The National Chrysanthemum 
Society,” by Mr. J. Wilkinson, to which Mr. Dean 
and Mr. Ballantine ably responded ; "The Royal 
Aquarium Company ’’ by the Chair ; " The Press,” 
proposed by Mr. Molyneux and replied to by Mr. A. 
E. Stubbs ; and a cordial toast to the genial Chair¬ 
man brought an enjoyable evening to a close. 
-» B - - — 
ARDENSNG §f (SCELLANY. 
Saw 
CORK LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 
A large audience assembled in the hall of the School 
of Art, Cork, on the 2nd inst., to hear Miss Harriet 
A. Martin lecture on "Fairy Visions in a Prosaic 
World.” Mr. W. Lace, B.A., presided. In the 
course of the lecture Miss Martin stated that tree 
life, like human thought, was ever ebbing and flow¬ 
ing—at one time sinking into the dull monotony of 
gaunt stem and bared branches; then ever and anon 
breaking forth into luxuriant growth. The ceaseless 
tide of life bursts into new foliage under the 
influence of a summer sun, actively maturing, and 
rapidly passing into decay—rising and falling in its 
seasonal course, and singing in its own fashion the 
story of creation, preservation, and destruction 
common to all things in nature. In the springtime, 
continued Miss Martin, the people of Cork know 
well how the Celandines of Silverspring Lane gleam 
in golden lines by the dull cold walls; how the 
Anemones of Fota Woods rise like a foam-tipped 
sea over the autumn dead leaves ; how the Primroses 
of Hollymount crowd the sunny banks and slopes ; 
while deepening summer skies lure inio dazzling 
shimmering loveliness the Hjacinth sheets of Castle 
Bernard, and the goldfields of Ardcairn outrival the 
wealth of Klondike. The formation and protection 
of the young bud, the shape of the leaves, and their 
functions provide topics of absorbing interest. 
Unusual leaf forms, such as may be met with in 
Nepenthes, Sarracenia, Darlingtonia and Cephalotus, 
as well as the more local Sundews and Pinguiculas 
of Irish bog lands also add interest to the many- 
sided activities bound closely with all studies of tree 
life. A very hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer 
terminated the proceedings. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM HARLEQUIN. 
Sports from good and well-recognised varieties of 
Chrysanthemums or other flowers are generally highly 
valued as variations upon the original. We do not 
know how that under notice will be received by the 
general public, but it is a strange and singular thiDg, 
ignoring all rules and precedents which we have 
hitherto noted amongst Chrysanthemums. Its 
parent stock is Stressa, a beautiful yellow Japanese 
variety. The sport is sometimes half yellow, while 
the other half is bright crimson. At other times 
only a segment of the head is crimson, sometimes 
only a few florets, so that it is as fickle and incon¬ 
stant as it is strange, and well named Harlequin. 
Sports of this kind frequently appear amongst 
Dahlias, but not Chrysanthemums. The present 
one occurred in the collection of Mr. Norman Davis, 
Framfield, Sussex, who had several blooms of it in 
his grand group at the Dundee show. 
SUNFLOWER GROWING. 
On former occasions we have alluded to the Sun¬ 
flower as a possibly remunerative crop for British 
farmers. A contemporary in giving a note upon the 
culture and uses of this plant says :—that the Sun¬ 
flower is universally cultivated in fields in south¬ 
western Russia, between the Baltic and the Black 
Sea. Each part of the plant is turned to some 
account. Thus a hundred pounds of seeds yield 
forty pounds of oil. After the expression of the oil 
the residue is formed into oil cake for cattle. The 
leaves and green stocks are used as fodder. The 
fresh flower when it is just expanding is boiled, and 
eaten as a vegetable, and in this state resembles the 
Artichoke in flavour. The flowers themselves are 
much visited by bees for the sake of the honey. Re¬ 
ferring again to the seeds, they constitute a valuable 
poultry food. Ground into flower and formed into 
pastry and cakes they form food for Plato’s " two- 
legged animal without feathers.” Even this does not 
exhaust the value of the seeds, for when boiled in 
alum and water they are said to yield a blue colour¬ 
ing matter. The leaves carefully dried make a sub¬ 
stitute for Tobacco. The seed cases are made into 
blotting paper, and the inner part of the stalk into 
writing paper. The woody portion of the stalk is 
utilised as fuel, and from the resulting ash potash is 
obtained. Large plantations of Sunflowers grown in 
swampy localities are believed to be a protection 
against fever and ague. Without a doubt, in Russia 
at least, the Sunflower is a plant of many parts, what¬ 
ever it may be in this country. 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL .—December 14 tk. 
The features of the meeting on Tuesday last were 
Orchids, Chrysanthemums, Pelargoniums, Cycla¬ 
mens, Begonia Gloire de Sceaux, Poinsettias, 
Chinese Primulas, and hardy fruit, chiefly Apples. 
Considering the period of the year, the display was 
a very good one indeed. 
Messrs. J. Vtitch & Sons, Limited, Chelsea, ex¬ 
hibited a collection of Orchids, all of which were 
hybrids. Very fine were Laeliocattleya Pallas, 
Cattleya leucoglossa, C. Mantinii, C. Miranda, 
Cypripedium Adrastus, C. Actaeus, C. Sallieri, C. 
Niobe, and others. They were set up with Palms 
and Maidenhair Ferns. 
A magnificent group of Calanthes was exhibited 
by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., (grower, Mr. W. H. 
Whitt) Burford Lodge, Dorking. The rich carmine- 
crimson C. burfordiense, was shown in quantity, as 
were also C. Victoria Regina, and C. Veitchi splen- 
dens, all of which bore long and gracefully arching 
spikes, which were the delight of everybody. He 
also had plants of C. Veitchi lactea, C. Versicolor, 
C. Bella, C. Sangninaria (dark blood-red), C. 
revertens, C. Wylamiana, C. Bryan, C. Labrosior, 
C. Amabilis, C. Porphyrea, and several others of 
hybrid origin. The group occupied a considerable 
amount of table space and well deserved the Silver 
Gilt Flora Medal awarded it. A cultural com¬ 
mendation was accorded a large piece of the singular 
looking Cirrhopetalum Medusae, and another for a 
fine pan of Dendrobium cymbidioides. Miltonia 
Endresii is a pretty and uncommon species. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, exhibited a 
group of Calanthes and Dracaena godseffiana. 
Amongst the former were fine pans of C. Bryan, C. 
Bella, C. Florence, C. Victoria Regina, &c. The 
