120 
THE HARDENING WORLD 
October 22, 1898. 
1^1 NTS FOR ||lVIATEURS. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
Crimson Mademoiselle Marie Masse.—There is no 
finer early-flowering vaiiety than Mademoiselle 
Marie Masse, for it will grow almost anywhere, is of 
good habit, and a iree and continuous flowerer, for it 
commences to bloom in the open ground early in 
September and keeps right until the frost cuts it 
down. Lovers of earlj'-flowering sorts, and they are 
numerous, will therefore hail with delight the 
appearance of a crimson, or, to be more exact, an 
orange-crimson sport from it, possessing all the free 
flowering, and easy growing attributes of the parent. 
A batch of it was shown at the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society’s show at the Royal Aquarium on 
the nth, nth, and 13th inst., by Mr. H. J. Jones, of 
Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, S.E. The plants 
shown were lifted from the open air, and were 
exceptionally full of flower. For some reason or 
other the committee passed it over, but the ways of 
committees are often inexplicable, and here we have 
a case in point. One would have thought that the 
progeny of such a distinguished parent as Mdlle. 
Marie Masse would not have had to go begging. 
Rayonante. — Up till now Lilian S. Bird has been 
the sole representative of the class of flowers with 
long, stiff, tubular or quilled florets passing out from 
the head like rays from a sun, and it has been accorded 
a fair measure of popularity, as much because it is 
distinct from other classes of flower as from the fact 
that it has a very fair share of intrinsic beauty In 
Rayonante we have a flower of the same class but 
quite an improvement upon Lilian Bird. The colour 
is a very pretty shade of lilac, which, although not so 
effective as the more decided tones, is yet soft and 
pleasing when the autumnal light is good enough to 
allow its beauties to be seen. The plants vary from 
4 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. according to the bud which is 
taken. G od, early flowers are produced by taking 
the first crown bud between the 22nd and the 24th of 
July, or if desired the plants may be stopped about 
the middle of May and the first bud that shows after¬ 
wards selected. As the name suggests, Rayonante 
is a French variety. It is not absolutely new to this 
country, having been sent out last year by Mr. W. J. 
Godfrey, of Exmouth. It also appeared at one or 
two shows, but although it promised fairly well that 
is all that could be said of it last year. This season, 
as is usually the case with new varieties, it has done 
much better and a first-class certificate was given to 
Mr. Jones by the N.C.S on October nth. 
Soleil d’Octobre. — This has been brought before 
the Floral Committee of the N.C S several times, but 
it has either been passed over or accorded the polite 
“ the committee wish to see this agam." The First- 
class Certificate.long delayed, was, however, awarded 
it on the nth inst., when it was shown by Mr. W. J. 
Godfrey, It is a sure sign that there is something 
good and reliable in a variety when it is shown time 
after time, so uniformly good as Soleil d’Octobre has 
been, and I should strongly recommend all amateur 
cultivators who like easily-cultivated varieties not to 
lose sight of it. To quote a well-known grower’s 
words, " it comes good anyhow,” and the varieties 
of which this can be said are all too few. The 
flowers themselves are of great size, the florets being 
long, rather narrow and drooping, and bright yellow 
in colour. 
Eastman Bell.—For some years past both pro¬ 
fessional and amateur Chrysanthemum lovers have 
been mourning the decadence of that erstwhile 
grand variety and the increasing difficulty experienced 
in getting it to do. During the last two years, at all 
events, there have been complaints all over the 
country that good flowers couldn’t be obtained, no 
matter what course of treatment was adopted. A 
few good blooms were seen last year at the shows, 
but only a few, and it was admitted even by those 
who sent them that Edwin Molyneux was a 
teaser to grow. A new variety has now made its 
appearance that will fill up the awkward gap in the 
colour range that was threatened. It has the 
somewhat high-sounding name of Eastman Bell, 
and is a sport from President Borel. That 
variety is well known as an easily grown October 
variety that generally, nearly always, in fact, gives 
a good account of itself. Undoubtedly it would 
have become very popular but for the colour, which 
is a shade of magenta, and one that takes with very 
many people. Eastman Bell is said to possess all 
the good qualities of President Borel, so that the 
task of cultivating it should not prove a difficult one. 
It should not be fed too highly, however, and I 
would impress this very strongly upon all my 
amateur readers, for there can be no doubt that it 
was the continuous high feeding year after year that 
was given to Edwin Molyneux, in order to get 
blooms that should hold their own upon the show 
board, that has been chiefly to blame for the deteri¬ 
oration in that variety’s constitution. The flower of 
Eastman Bell is fully as large as that of Edwin 
Molyneux in its test days, and the colours are 
practically the same—crimson with a gold reverse. 
The florets, however, appear to be rather narrower, 
although it is yet rather soon to draw a comparison 
in this respect between the two sorts. Eastman 
Bell made a first public appearance in Mr. Jones’ 
group at the Royal Aquarium on October nth.— 
'Mum. 
Salyia splendens grandiflora.—The value of the 
Salvias as autumn-flowering plants has often been 
descanted upon by various writers. I do not pro¬ 
pose at the present time to enumerate the whole of 
the species and varieties of this showy genus that 
may be grown by amateurs with advantage, but only 
wPh to draw attention to this comparatively new 
variety, which has achieved such wonderful results 
since first it made its appearance. The parent or 
type plant, Salvia splendens, is one of the finest of 
autumn-flowering Salvias ; but it is quite eclipsed 
by its variety. The plant runs to from 3 ft. to 5 ft. 
in height, about 4 ft. being usual, and flowers with 
surpassing freedom. The flowers are rich, fiery 
scarlet in colour, being in this respect almost the 
same as those of S. splendens. The racemes in 
which they are disposed are, however, considerably 
longer and more imposing. The plant is easy of 
culture and every amateur who grows it will, I am 
sure, be delighted with it. 
Lifting Plants from the Open—All Salvias, 
Richardias, and berried Solanums that have been 
growing in the open ground should be lifted at once 
and potted, for they are now in danger of being cut 
down by frost. A compost of two-thirds of good 
loam, and one of leaf soil, with a little coarse river 
sand will do for all of the subjects mentioned, and 
no chemical manures, soot, or any other ingredient 
should be mixed with it. Put the plants into pots 
according to the size of their roots ; the smaller the 
pots are the more convenient they will be, of course. 
These lifted plants will require to be shaded during 
the middle of the day for ten days or so subsequent 
to lifting, and the pit in which they are placed 
should be kept close for the same time. 
Roman Hyacinths.—For cutting purposes the 
Early White Roman Hyacinths which, by the way, 
have never seen Rome but come from Ollioules, in 
the neighbourhood of Toulon, in Southern France, 
are of the greatest value. Strong bulbs throw two or 
three spikes of bloom, and this comes in splendidly 
for cutting, as they make up nicely in the hands of 
the florist. The light blue and light rose forms are 
pretty but are not commonly grown. 
Culture in Glasses.—There is only a limited 
number of varieties that take kindly to cultivation in 
glasses. It will not do to take any variety haphazard 
and pop it into a glass, and exp;ct it to do as well as 
those in pots growing in soil in the ordinary way. Of 
course it is only by experiments which have meant 
many failures as well as many successes, the amenity 
of certain varieties to water culture has been demon¬ 
strated. If the amateur likes to experiment there is 
no reason why he shouldn’t, but he should go to the 
work with his eyes open, and expect to be taught in 
negative as well as positive fashion. The following 
varieties will do well in glasses :—Alba Maxima, 
white; Grand Lilas, lilac; Grand Maitre, clear 
blue; Princess Mary of Cambridge, light blue, a 
charming shade ; La Franchise, waxy-white; and 
Robert Steiger, Madame Van der Hoop, and King of 
the Blues.— Rex. 
-■■— 
Figs.—Although the late Figs still keep turning in, 
and will continue to do so for some weeks yet, the 
fruits are beginning to be very deficient in flavour, 
for the season is practically over as far as they are 
concerned. Knock oS all supplies of stimulants, 
as clear water will suffice for the rest of the season. 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page 
Anyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have alreadv appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
"Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Polishing Apples.— Lap.-. Whether the judges act¬ 
ing under the rules of your society would disqualify 
your Apples if you polished them, is, perhaps, doubt¬ 
ful. Unless the rules actually forbid the polishing 
we do not think it at all likely that the judges would 
adopt this extreme measure, but they might easily 
deduct enough of points from the exhibit to prevent 
it winning first, second, or even third prize, and that 
would be as bad as disqualification for you. A num¬ 
ber of exhibitors at the Royal Horticultural Society's 
late Fruit Show at the Crystal Palace were penalised 
in this way, no doubt to their great chagrin. We 
think that polishing Apples in this way does not 
improve their appearance, for it removes the natural 
“ bloom,” and leaves an artificial gloss. In addition 
to rubbing the fruit with a leather, oil, cream, and 
even saliva are called into aid in imparting the gloss. 
Surely this is an objectionable practice that ought 
not to need the threat of disqualification at the show 
to stop. 
Holly Hedge Dying.— Geo. P.: We should imagiLe 
that it is simply the drought that is to blame for the 
trees dying. Your shallow soil must have been 
bereft of every particle of moisture for weeks, and 
the trees would be bound to suffer. They may or 
may not breik up from the bottom next spring if you 
give them a watering or two now, but of this we 
could not speak with any degree of certainty without 
we had a look at the plants. There is this encourage¬ 
ment, however, that Hollies will often break up from 
the bottom in this way even when the trees are to 
all appearance dead. Perhaps yours may do so. In 
any case you can wait until spring without much 
harm being done, and if no signs of life are shown, 
say by the end of April, you might plant again then. 
Hollies transplant best in the month of May, just 
when the new growth is beginning to push, and if 
they are attended to for water they always seem to 
make greater progress than those that are moved 
earlier in the spring or even in the autumn. You 
will see that you have plenty of time before you. 
Apple Lane’s Prince Albert.— P. T. : The variety 
is one of the best obtainable. The tree is hardy, a 
good cropper on almost any soil, and the fruit is of 
first-rate quality, a good cooker, and a capital 
keeper. As an exhibition sort, too, you cannot get 
many to beat " Lace’s.” 
Cellar for Mushrooms.— R. Wentworth : The 
equable temperature of your old cellar renders it an 
almost ideal place for Mushrooms. You may make 
up the beds on the floor; there is no need to erect 
shelves, as the idea of these is only to economise 
space, which you have apparently no need to 
attempt. 
Herniaria glabra.—S. Can : This is the plant 
you speak of as being much used in carpet-bedding. 
It is quite hardy, and it is quite a common occur¬ 
ence for it to be left out in the beds untouched all 
the winter. It is the way in which the many- 
branched stems creep along the ground, and cover it 
with a carpet of green, that renders the plant of hor¬ 
ticultural value. Its congeners, of which there are 
eight or nine known to science, are inconspicuous 
herbs, and it is only the species under note that has 
had the courage to make itself conspicuous. H. 
glabra is a native of our own county. According to 
Bentham in his Illustrated Handbook of the British 
Flora : “ It occurs in Britain in several counties of 
southern and central England and in Ireland. In 
sandy places, in temperate and Southern Europe 
and Russian Asia, extending into Scandinavia, but 
not to high latitudes." From this it will be seen 
that no frost that we are likely to get will kill it, 
although the plants may succumb from other causes. 
Fruits to Name.— M. Smith : The Apples are, 1, 
Gravenstein ; 2, King of the Pippins; 3, not recog¬ 
nised. 
Laurel Hedge.— J. B. Davis : You will find that 
the best time of the year to plant the Laurels will be 
towards the end of March, or beginning of April. 
