232 
THE GARDENING WORLD. December^!), ldS8. 
INTS FOR MMATEURS. 
AUSTRALIAN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
That the Chrysanthemum craze has taken a deep 
hold of the British public goes without saying, but 
in addition to its conquest of Great Britain it has 
attained to considerable proportions in Greater 
Britain across the seas as well as amongst the other 
branch of the Anglo-Saxon race which worship the 
Star-spangled Banner. 
In none of our colonies, however, is more interest 
taken in the culture and improvement of the Queen 
of Autumn than in Australia, and judging by results 
in no other of our dependencies has a higher, if so 
high, a stage of development been reached. 
The enthusiasts of Australia have not only been 
content to grow the varieties raised in this country, 
the Continent, and the United States, but they have 
worked to raise improved varieties of their own 
Many of these sorts have appeared in this country 
and have fully held their own with the best of our 
sorts both on the show board and as decorative 
varieties. Such sorts as Australie, Oceana and Pride 
of Madford are too well known at Chrysanthemum 
shows throughout the country to need further 
description. They afford a good instance of what 
our colonial relatives can do. 
Nowadays we look as expectantly for the 
Australian sets of novelties as we do for the Conti¬ 
nental varieties that have hitherto proved one of the 
most fruitful sources of increasing our stock of varieties 
and widening the range of colour and build of bloom 
that we already have in cultivation. With these 
Australian seedlings the Dame of Mr. Pockett is 
indissolubly connected, for he it is who has raised 
most of them, and it is through him that they have 
been transmitted to this country. The beginning of 
this movement has been indeed an auspicious one, 
and if the same progress is made during the next 
two years as has been made during the last two, the 
name of Mr. Pockett will bid fair to rival that of the 
veteran Continental Chrysanthemum raiser, M, 
Calvat, from whose nurseries at Grenoble, France, 
many of our standard varieties have been sent. 
The undermentioned varieties were distributed in 
this country at the commencement of the season of 
1397-98. How splendidly some of them have 
acquitted themselves in various parts of the country, 
and how fully they have justified the high opinion 
previously formed of them is now a matter of 
history. At least several of these varieties will find 
a place in all representative collections, and next 
season we may expect to see them at every show of 
note in the kingdom. This honour, in itself, is not 
a small one, for ever as the Chrysanthemum evolves 
growers become more particular and more choice 
with regard to new varieties. What would have 
been received with acclamation a few years ago 
would now be scarcely looked at, or at best passed 
by with a contemptuous "Yes! it isn’t bad, but 
we've others better.” 
Miss Nellie Pockett. 1 —We may well commence 
with this Japanese variety, for it has proved the 
most successful of a whole batch of fine things. 
While varieties are numerous, and it would seem as 
if a new sort stood the least chance of recognition in 
th's particular section, seeing that it would have so 
maDy competitors. No fewer than nineteen certifi¬ 
cates have been awarded to this variety this year, 
and if these certificates are of any value at all they 
s gnify that the variety is both good and distinct. 
Nor would such an opinion be incorrect, for there is 
nothing else in cultivation that is anything like the 
flowers of Miss Nellie Pockett. The blooms have 
not inaptly been described as bearing a close resem¬ 
blance to a much becurled wig. Certainly they are 
of great depth and substance, and amateurs will not go 
far wrong in fixing the variety for a place as a back 
row flower, for although we have flowers of greater 
diameter, the depth and substance are remarkable. 
The colour may be described as creamy or ivory- 
white. 
John Pockett.—In certificate honours this variety 
comes second only to Miss Nellie Pockett, for it has 
received seventeen certificates, a sufficiently hand¬ 
some record for one year’s work. In company with 
Miss Nellie Pockett it obtained a First-class Certifi¬ 
cate from the Victoria Chrysanthemum Society 
prior to its advent here, so tbat our Antipodean 
friends may well congratulate themselves upon hav¬ 
ing their opinion so heartily endorsed in the old 
country. John Pockett is an incurved Japanese 
flower of gigantic size, with broad, massive, acutely 
pointed florets that exhibit a rich shade of Indian 
red. In the late stages of the flower the florets in¬ 
curve so strongly, however, that but little of this 
rich hue is seen, but the golden-crimson flushed re¬ 
verse is also striking. Here we have another back 
row flower that amateurs will do well to take notice of. 
Chatsworth. —This has not had quite so success¬ 
ful a season as its relatives, but it has nevertheless 
done really well. The blooms were rather later in 
reaching their full development than those of the 
other two varieties, and it was shown several tipies 
at the meetings of the Floral Committee of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society before it obtained 
certificate honours. The grand lot of blooms of it 
that appeared in Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons’ stand 
at the November show at the Royal Aquarium 
created a very favourable impression, and were 
generally admired. At its best the flower is much 
like Viviand Morel in build, and it is exceedingly 
handsome with its numerous blotches and striations 
of rose on the white ground. The size is well up to 
the standard required for a show flower. 
Mr: F. Carrington. —This may be described as an 
improved form of Australie. The colour is rich 
purple, and the reverse silvery-lilac, but as is com¬ 
mon with all the members of this section of in¬ 
curved japs., the reverse colour is the one of which 
most is shown. The Australie type of bloom, 
although large, is somewhat coarse to our way of 
tbioking, and cannot be pitted for refinement 
against such varieties as Miss Nellie Pockett, 
Phoebus, and Chenon de Leche. Still, those who 
like size have it here, and it must be admitted that 
these huge blooms attract from their very massive¬ 
ness. 
Besides these four there are other sorts which, 
while they have not come so prominently to the 
front, have yet given promise that there is some¬ 
thing in them, and we may expect to see them shown 
next year in greatly improved condition. 
Pride of Stokell is a sport from Pride of Mad¬ 
ford, and on comparing the parent and its sport a 
great similarity of habit may be observed ; in fact, 
the two are practically identical in this respect. The 
build of bloom is likewise the same, and the only 
appreciable difference is in colour, which is rather 
richer in Pride of Stokell than in its parent, and 
sufficiently so to render the two quite distinct. 
Purple Emperor.—The chief point about this is 
its colour, which is deep plum-purple with a silvery 
reverse. The bloom is close and compact, and 
there is plenty of stuff in it, but unless cultivation 
does a great deal for it it will not be large enough for 
the show boards, even as a frent row blcom. The 
rich colour is the thing. 
Miss Mary Underhay.—This variety has only 
been seen in one or two places. It is an incurved 
Japanese, with medium-sized, bright yellow flowers. 
Like the whites, the yellows are a strong section, 
however, and Miss Mary Underhay will have to im¬ 
prove if it is to win a place in our lists. 
The Convention is a flower of some promise, but, 
like Miss Mary Underhay, it has not been grown 
enough yet to bring out all its good points. It is a 
distinct type of bloom, the outer florets being long 
and droopiDg, whilst the inner strongly and regularly 
incurve, building high up towards the centre. The 
colour is deep terra cotta red, and both effective and 
distinct. The flowers will have to be larger, how¬ 
ever, before they pass muster for exhibition, but I 
should not be surprised to see it on the show boards 
next year as a front row flower.— 'Mum. 
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. 
Tulips.— E. A. G. : It is not too late to plant the 
Tulips, but every day now, that they are kept out of 
the ground, is of serious importance. When the 
bulbs are not planted until late, they become so 
weakened that they flower right down in the crown 
of the bulb, seeming as if they had not sufficient 
strength to lift the blooms up on stalks in the usual 
way. You must plant the bulbs as soon as the 
ground dries a little from the recent rains. 
Red Spider on Peaches.— Geo. L.: The spider 
will not do the trees much harm now, as it is on the 
foliage that they prey, but they are establishing 
themselves in the crevices of the bark, and you will 
find it difficult to dislodge them if you do not take 
the matter in hand at once. We have found Gis- 
hurst Compound the best thing to use. Dissolve 
enough of the Compound in water to make a dirty 
grey-coloured wash and apply it by means of a soft 
brush, rubbing it well into the crevices of the bark. 
If you can find time we should advise you to go over 
the trees two or three times with this wash; allows 
ing, say, a day between each application. 
Florists’ Flowers. — Ergot : When flowers are 
taken up by the florist and hybridised or crossed 
with each other, new varieties being raised as a con¬ 
sequence, they are termed " florists’ flowers.” You 
will thus see that there are very few flowers indeed 
that are under cultivation which are not included in 
this statement. Roses, Chinese Primulas, Tulips, 
Narcissi, Chrysanthemums, Violas, tuberous Be¬ 
gonias and Sweet Peas are some of the most impor¬ 
tant classes of acknowledged " florists’ flowers,” and 
when shown in competition they have to be judged 
by rules laid down by the florist, which relate to size 
and shape of petal, colours, markings, size and shape 
of flower, etc. Orchids obviously are included in 
the definition. 
Anricnlas.— M. R .: Keep your Auriculas cool, 
and don’t attempt to coddle them, or they will in¬ 
evitably damp off. Give them a light position in the 
greenhouse, and if the stage is far from the glass you 
must contrive to raise it temporarily. Be careful 
not to give the plants too much water. Never water 
them until they are dry, that is, until they require 
it, and then give enough to soak the whole of the 
ball. Ventilate freely on all mild days, but do not 
expose the plants to draughts. Remove all dead 
leaves and keep the surface soil stirred a little, 
occasionally. If you carry out these instructions 
you will have no difficulty whatever in wintering 
your plants. 
Sowing Peas for Early Picking.— Wm. Burgess: 
We do not believe much in sowing Peas in autumn, 
except on light and warm soils. On wet and heavy 
land the Peas, many of them, rot, whilst mice and 
birds each claim their share, so that by the spring 
time there are very few left to grow, and the row has 
almost invariably to be “ made-up.” Apart from 
these risks the amount of time gained is very little, 
if any. If the weather is favourable a sowing made 
during the last week in January or the beginning of 
February, will give crops quite as early as the 
November sowing. The practice of sowing in pots 
under glass is both a common and a gooi one, and 
we recommend it to jour notice in preference 10 the' 
sowing out of doors. Now that you have made the 
sowing you would be able to try the comparative 
merits of the two or three systems advocated, and 
you would find that in an ordinary season the plants 
raised under glass would win in point of time. 
Hyacinths.— Era : The injury to the tips of the 
tender leaves has been caused by the ashes with 
which the bulbs were covered. You should have 
shielded the bulbs from direct contact with the 
ashes by inverting over them an empty flower pot. 
The injury to the leaves will naturally tend to check 
and weaken the plants, but if you look after the 
latter flowers should not suffer to any great degree. 
Parsnips. — T. L. : You are quite right not to lift 
the Parnips, for the roots will be sweeter if left in 
the ground for the winter, and dug up as they are 
wanted for use. In periods of frost you should take 
the precaution to cover a patch of the ground with 
hay, straw, or dry litter of some kind, to prevent it 
from being frozen too hard for the spade to effect an 
entrance. 
Celery. — W. Lawrance : Your Celery has suffered 
badly from an attack of the Celery Fly (Tephritis 
Onopordinis). You caD do nothing now for the mis¬ 
chief is already done. Next season you must watch the 
crop, look over the plants frequently, and crush the 
larvae by pinching the affected spots between finger 
