THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 12 , 1898 . 
1 8 
British Isles for the successful culture of the Chry¬ 
santhemum, aud therefore all the more cr.’dit is due 
to Mr. Coppen, the park superintendent, and the 
grower, Mr. Wheeler, for the floral display that has 
teen called into being. 
The Chrysanthemum house was opened to the 
public on October 15th, and will continue open until 
about the end of November. 
THE RYECROFT NURSERY. 
A tim e honoured apothegm has it that there is a silver 
lining to every cloud, and it would seem that even the 
cloud of sulphurous vapour with which the metropolis 
and its environs is shrouded has also its silver lining 
for the Chrysanthemum grower. There can be no 
doubt that with regard to the Chrysanthemum rust 
we are face to face with a problem of considerable 
gravity, for all over the country we hear of stocks 
being infected with it, and yet in our dear, dirty, Old 
London, plaats are well-nigh immune. 
Mr. H. J. Jones, of the Ryecroft Nursery, Lewis¬ 
ham, S.E., has therefore reaped, in the cleanliness 
of his plants, some advantage from his location 
within the metropolitan radius. There is another 
and subtler side to this, however, for we are of 
opinion that to the common sense methods of pro¬ 
pagation that Mr. Jones has followed for years in 
dealing with the Chrysanthemum his immunity 
from the plague is largely due. Cuttings are not 
taken from highly-fed plants grown to produce show 
flowers, but from stock plants specially grown for 
the purpose and not subjected to the deleterious 
influences of manurial stimulants. Such cuttings 
are smaller, perhaps, than those taken from highly- 
fed plants, but they are also tougher and ultimately 
develop into plants that are not so predisposed to 
disease, rust included. 
In other respects, particularly with regard to 
colour development, the metropolitan grower is 
severely handicapped in comparison with his pro¬ 
vincial confrere, and practically stands no chance 
with him upon the show board. When all this is 
taken into consideration the excellent results in the 
way of large blooms that are produced by Mr. Jones 
at Ryecroft can scarcely fail to elicit the warmest 
commendations. It is, indeed, an instance of the 
triumph of science and cultural skill over difficulties 
of environment. 
This year the display of 'Mums at Ryecroft is 
equal to the best of previous years, for the plants 
throughout are in magnificent health, and the show 
blooms of great size and splendid colour. In addi¬ 
tion to cultural skill of high order Mr. Jones 
possesses artistic taste in no small degree and the 
exercise of this is apparent at once to the visitor who 
is capable of appreciating floral effects. 
In one roomy span roofed house measuring 100 ft. 
in length by 25 ft. in width a magnificent display has 
been produced by building the plants into a series of 
imposiog groups, a narrow path winding its length 
through the centre of the house. One of the 
distinctive features of this arrangement is that 
varieties are grouped together in batches of one sort, 
and the eye passes from a sheen of pure white to a 
glowing mass of yellow, or to a b'.aze of crimson, 
and thence on through the innumerable half tones 
that are to be found in the Autumn Queen. Large 
numbers of bush plants of all sections have been 
utilised in this way, the taller plants raising their 
colossal flowers over their heads in the background. 
The greater quantity of large flowers is to be found 
in another long house where they are set up in a 
long, sloping bank. There are to be seen capital 
samples of most of the standard varieties as well as 
a number of novelties. 
Taking the Japanese section first the flower of the 
year is without doubt a grand yellow called R. 
Hooper-Pearson. This variety was certificated by 
the N.C.S. on the 31st ult., and as we fully described 
it on that occasion we will only say that all other 
yellows pale into almost insignificance by its side, so 
rich and full a yellow is it. M. Fatzer, another yellow 
Japanese, is worthy of commendation, for it has the 
makings of a good flower, and takes very kindly to 
culture in 32s. Another year will probably see it in 
a much improve I condition Le Grand Dragon, a 
new French variety, is a beautiful orange-yellow 
with florets margined with chestnut-red. General 
Paquine is an apricot-hued flower of medium size, 
not large enough for the show-board but an exceed¬ 
ingly fine colour. Melucine, also of French origin, 
is white, plentifully spotted with rose—a distinct and 
rather curious flower. Mrs. White Popham is also 
in capital condition, and C. Arthur Pearson, which is 
much like Dorothy Seward in build, but exhibits a 
peculiar shade of rosy-cerise, is also well worthy 
attention. 
Amongst dark flowers there is nothing to beat 
Royal Standard, with its deep crimson blooms and 
massive florets. The plant does well in 32s and some 
of the blooms thus grown are really superb. Joseph 
Chamberlain is promising well and we may expect to 
see some fine flowers a little later on. Mr. A. Barrett 
a sport from Mrs. Harman Payne, is like Geo. Palmer 
in build of bloom and habit of plant but the colour is 
very different, being a bright rose. 
One of the grandest varieties in the whole of the 
collection is Master H. Tucker, which seems to come 
well under any conditions, and to build up blooms of 
great depth and solidity. The colour may be des¬ 
cribed as rich chestnut-red with gold reverse, but the 
exact shade varies a good deal according to the bud 
taken and the conditions under which the plant is 
placed. Royal Standard, Joseph Chamberlain; and 
Master. H. Tucker form a grand trio of dark varieties. 
Duke of Wellington is represented by some huge 
flowers with especially massive florets. The colour 
is chestnut with a bronze-buff reverse but as the 
florets incurve strongly it is the latter shade of which 
most is seen. 
Amongst varieties sent out last year Mrs. Lionel 
Humphrey, primrose-yellow, with long, drooping 
florets, and Mr. Lionel Humphrey, rich chestnut with 
gold reverse, are both promising well, although the 
flowers have not yet finished. 
The Viviand Morel group contains a numbed of 
charming forms, Lady Hanham and Chas. Davis 
being too well known to need detailed mention. The 
Madame Carnot family is another very popular one, 
for, in addition to the white variety, the yellow G. J. 
Warren, and the primrose-yellow Mrs. Mease are 
both good. Mr. Jones has some especially fine 
blooms of Mrs. Mease. 
The most distinguished member of the incurved 
section at Ryecroft is undoubtedly a new French 
variety Chrysantbemiste Bruant, a huge bronzy-red 
flower of splendid build, and just the thing for a back 
row flower. The comparatively new Topaze Oriental, 
yellow, and Mrs. Mary Molyneux, pure white, are 
other massive flowers, and we must also not forget to 
mention Ma Perfection, C. H. Curtis, and Madame 
Ferlat, as representatives of the section of huge, 
modern incurves that have practically swept the 
smaller type out of the field. 
Mr. Jones has large numbers of plants in 
32-sized pots, and it is instructive to note how well the 
blooms on some of these compare both in size aOd 
colour with those on the dwarfer plants. Not all 
varieties will do equally well under this system of, 
culture but of those that do prove successes, M'. 
Cbenon de Leche, Royal Standard, C. H. Curtis, 
A. H. Wood. Pride of Madford and its sport, Pride 
of Stokell, John Neville, and Swanley Giant, are 
some of the most notable examples. Curiously 
enough the best flowers at Ryecroft are this season 
to be found on plants growing in 32s, 24s, or 
28 sized pots. 
FINSBURY PARK. 
As in several past years the Chrysanthemum display 
proper is arranged in the low span-roofed house 
amongst the shrubbery; but instead of the public 
going up one side of the house and down the other, 
the pathway is along one side only, the Chrysanth¬ 
emums being massed in an undulating bank facing the 
path. The uniformity of the mass is otherwise 
broken by tall, branching bushes of Margot, while a 
fringe of the highly coloured L’Ue des Plaisirs, 
grown in the same free way runs along the back. 
Mr. J. Melville, the superintendent, keeps weeding 
out the inferior ones from time to time, yet the num¬ 
ber of varieties grown here is very great. The 
average run of the blooms is smaller than last year, 
though individual varieties for which the season has 
proved suitable are quite up to the .standard. 
Japanese varieties are by far the most domiaant in 
the collection ; and in glancing over them we noted 
grand blooms of Australie, J. H. Runchman, G. C. 
Schwabe, N. C. S. Jubilee, Hairy Wonder and the 
Yellow Mme Carnot. The latter proves easier to 
grow here than Mme. Carnot itself. A bold and 
handsome deep golden flower is Golden Gate. Mrs. 
A. Cross is an incurved yellow Jap. of neat form. 
Wm. Tricker and its bronze sport, Mrs. 
E. S. Trafford still hold their own, being 
very useful for work of this kind. Beauty 
of Teignmouth, a dark purple, with silver 
reverse, has also done well. Werther is dark pur¬ 
ple, shaded with red and quite distinct. A beautiful 
variety also is Mme. Rozaine, having a glossy, 
silvery-rose reverse. Other good flowers are met 
with in Viviand Morel, Sunflower, Silver Queen and 
W. Seward ; but the latter being early is now past its 
best. Master H. Tucker is distinct with its bronzy- 
crimson and yellow reverse. H. Hammond Spencer 
in form and colour resembles a pale Etoile de Lyon, 
but curiously enough the crown buds of the latter 
have given white flowers. The behaviour of Duchess 
of Fife is equally singular, for the blooms from the 
early buds are quite white. 
Some blooms of Mme. Carnot leave little to be 
desired. The same may be said of Edith Tabor, 
Mrs. E. G. Hill, Mrs. C. Harman Payne, Good 
Gracious and Louise. The latter being very early is 
now getting past its best, but its dwarf habit and the 
purity of its neatly formed and compact blooms 
always find admirers. Philadelphia is also in good 
form, but it is late. Prefet Robert and President 
have also given satisfaction. 
Several of the new or more recent introductions 
have been added to the collection, including Mrs. 
Charles Blick and Mrs. W. H. Weeks, both white 
varieties of great merit. The curiously recurved 
florets of Mrs. J. Shrimpton are bronze and yellow. 
The long, curled florets of Mary Molyneux are blush- 
white and the blooms promising. Secretaire Fierens 
is yellow at first, finally becoming much tinted with 
bronze. Mrs. W. Mears is a large creamy Japanese 
sort that is both attractive and promising. 
Incurved varieties are represented by good blooms 
of C. H. Curtis, Mrs. R. C. Kingston, Baron Hirsch, 
and the Egyptian, a new crimson sort with a deep 
chestnut reverse. The flowers of Globe d’Or are 
small this year but neat and attractively coloured. 
The Anemone section is not overlooked; indeed, 
many of them are highly esteemed here as in other 
London parks. The best of them are Descartes, John 
Bunyan,Grand Alvdole,Delaware,Sir Walter Raleigh, 
and M. Charles Lebocqz. Pompon varieties come 
in usefully along the front. 
The conservatory or winter garden owes its bright¬ 
ness at the present time to the Chrysanthemums 
which are chiefly grown in the bush form. The 
most prominent of these are Margot, Lady Selborne, 
James Salter, and M. C. Hubert, all of which are 
very gay.. Choice things also are Miss Mary 
Anderson (single), Miss Elsie Teichmann, Mrs. H. 
T. Drewitt, a globose Jap. with pointed petals, and 
Miss Margaret, a small or pompon Anemone that is 
bright and cheerful. The central path is winding, 
and the banks of Chrysanthemums are mixed and 
backed with Palms, Dracaenas, Ficus, Bananas, 
Sugar Cane, and other fine foliage subjects. The 
Sugar Cane is quite a novelty in its way for the parks, 
and are here brought into prominence by being 
elevated on pots, or pedestals. Everything is clean 
and orderly, with the foliage in front coming quite 
down to the pots, and having a iresh and healthy 
appearance. During the hot weather the Chrysan¬ 
themums had to be watered twice a day, entailing, a 
great amount of labour. The foreman, Mr. Dowse,, 
and the grower, Mr. Marrige are to be complimented, 
upon the iresh appearance of their plants and the.- 
display of bloom generally. 
VICTORIA PARK. 
As in other of the parks the collection of Chrys¬ 
anthemums was opened for the inspection of the 
public about three weeks ago. The early or October 
varieties are really past their best, though the col¬ 
lection as a whole is now at its best. The span- 
roofed house expressly built for the purpose of a 
public display of the Autumn Queen is admirably 
adapted for that end. A broad path consisting of 
iron grating, overlying the hot-water piping, runs 
along the centre, and on either hand the great bank 
of flowers slopes upwards to the side walls. The 
public can get a view of the whole from either end of 
the building, and the individual varieties can be in¬ 
spected at leisure. The myriads of bloom, in an in¬ 
finity of shades of colour, are such as could hardly 
have been dreamt of twenty years ago. 
(Continued on page 170.) 
