TfHE GARDENING WJORLD. 
".'rr-rr-TzC ’5WH3IK 
Gctober|31, 1896. " 
no means coarse, somewhat loosely built flower of a 
bright canary-yellow hue. Mrs. Chas. Blick had Dot 
yet finished, but some buds of great promise were to 
be seen. Mrs. John Shrimpton has long drooping 
florets, golden buff in colour, charmingly striated 
with crimson-red. Oceana that was so well shown 
last year is a " topper.” One little plant of it in a 
7-in. pot was carrying a huge globular bloom that 
was fully 8 in or 9 in. over. The colour is rich 
butter yellow, the florets incurving gracefully, and 
forming a compact bloom. Vicar of Exmouth is 
built in precisely the same way as the well-known 
John Shrimpton which it also resembles very closely 
in habit. It is, however, a shade deeper in hue, and 
this is readily discernible upon comparison. 
Novelties amongst the reflexed section are none 
too numerous. Accordingly, Dorothy Gibson, which 
is the latest arrival, is all the more valuable. It 
posseses excellent form, of rich golden-yellow hue, 
and is a distinct addition. 
Ideality, white, tinted with pink is a new incurved 
form of considerable merit. It has the additional 
advantage of short and compact habit. 
Coming to varieties that are familiar objects upon 
show boards in various parts of the kingdom we 
observed Viviand Morel, and its equally popular sport 
Chas. Davis in grand condition. The sturdy growth 
and bright yellow, but rather stiff looking blooms of 
Amiral Avellan were very conspicuous. Boule d'Or 
(Calvat’s), golden, buff with long incurving florets is 
a real gem. G. W. Childs, on the other hand, has 
not opened well. When properly expanded this 
variety is distinct from all others from the immense 
width of the stout crimson florets. H. L. Sunder- 
bruck and Madame Ad Moullin, both of which are 
too well known to need further description were 
excellent. Reine d’Angleterre, however, has shown 
a tendency to malformed buds, which fact is to be 
greatly regretted. Mrs.Dr. Ward is not so much culti¬ 
vated as it ought to be. The bronzy-yellow flowers, 
although of no great depth are of great width, and 
render it a most effective variety for groups of 
plants arranged for effect. The florets are rather 
hairy. President Borel needs no further recom¬ 
mendation. Some good buds of Madame Carnot 
bore evidence that this variety will claim serious 
attention from intending exhibitors, for it is one of 
the best exhibition whites we have. 
HALE FARM NURSERIES, TOTTENHAM 
Over 8oo varieties of Chrysanthemums are grown 
by Mr. T. S. Ware, at the Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, N. About 1,200 plants are cultivated 
for producing blooms up to show standard. Late 
struck cuttings are another feature of the establish¬ 
ment, and represents a method of treatment that is 
each year becoming more popular. The cuttings 
are taken from the tops of growing plants in May, 
and after they have rooted are potted up into 32's. In 
these they flower, the first bud being taken, and 
make charming little stuff about 15 in. or i 3 in. in 
height. Souvenir de Petite Amie in particular 
responds very readily to this treatment. 
American Novelties. 
Included in this section are some very promising 
varieties that have evidently a future. Rena Dula 
claims first place because it is the first that has won 
its spurs, if we may use the term, having obtained a 
First-class Certificate at the hands of the Floral 
Committee of the N.C.S. on October 21st. As a 
medium-sized incurved variety it is well worth its 
place. That it is a real incurved we received 
additional assurance from the sight of a bush plant 
of it upon which the flowers though necessarily 
smaller were well incurved. The blooms exhibit a 
pretty shade of light purple-rose. Miss A. L. 
Dalskoy exhibits a lovely shell-pink tint, and is a 
sport from Ivory, of which it is a complete replica 
with regard to habit of the plant and build of the 
bloom. Liberty, a huge deep ochre or buff Japanese 
form, comes over with a big reputation. It recently 
scored 98 out of 100 possible points in a contest at 
New York. Hairy varieties are also apparently 
well looked after by our friends across the water. 
Miss C. B. Freeman is a deep golden-yellow sport 
from Louis Boehmer, which it resembles in the 
contour of the bloom. Midnight, which promises 
well with Mr. Ware, is something after the style of 
Hairy Wonder, and comes very like it when taken 
on terminal buds. It is said, however, to be the 
largest hirsute variety in cultivation. It has very 
broad florets, and exhibits a rich shade of crimson- 
lake. 
Home-grown Newcomers. 
Miss Morley, a seedling of 1896, is the latest arrival. 
It is a seedling from Condor, but unlike that variety 
is of very dwarf habit, being well under 3 it. in 
height. It is a Japanese variety with recurving 
florets, and in colour white delicately suffused with 
rose. George Blackburn, another 96 production, is 
a seedling from Chas. Davis, from which it differs in 
being tinted with rose. Miss Anne Gaunt, the result 
of a cross between Sunflower and G. W. Childs, has 
the build of the former parent with rather a deeper 
tone of yellow, whilst the florets are margined with 
the crimson of the latter parent. This variety was 
figured by us in the columns of The Gardening 
World in November of last year. In connection 
with the variety Australia, we may well say “ Advance 
Australia,” for we find here a huge flower with broad 
incurving and twisted florets, purple-amaranth in 
hue, with a silvery reverse. This flower is possessed 
of remarkably good-lasting qualities. With Mrs. 
Chas. Blick, a superb white, we must bring to a close 
the list of novelties for 1896. 
Standard Varieties. 
Under this head we may speak of sorts that have 
proved their merit at some or all of the principal 
shows of 1895 and previous years, Mr. Ware has a 
fine collection, although the Japanese section was 
decidedly the strongest. Madame Carnot, though 
somewhat late, was conspicuous in several places by 
the enormous size and promising appearance of the 
buds. They should just be in for the middle of 
the November shows. Madame Rozaine is a grand 
exhibition variety. It throws a gigantic bright rose 
flower, with substantial incurving petals with a 
silvery reverse. Some fine specimens of Phoebus 
showed up very strongly. They were carrying some 
magnificent blooms of this, one of the best yellows 
we have. Not a whit inferior to it in its way is 
Oceana, although the Hale Farm specimens needed 
another ten days to develop their beauty to the full. 
Monsieur Chenon de Leche, which made such an 
impression last year, is coming especially well this 
season, and the delicate shade of rosy-buff which it 
exhibits will not be wanting at our principal shows. 
Other varieties which have done well at Tottenham 
are Louise, Chas. Davis, Viviand Morel, Mutual 
Friend, Pride of Madford, and Reine d'Angleterre. 
Singles. 
We were too soon to see the bulk of the single 
varieties at their best, and can consequently speak 
only of one or two. Miss Mary Anderson is as yet 
unsurpassed, and for furnishing an abundance of cut 
flowers is invaluable. It is too well known to need 
further description. Maude Robinson is a very 
profuse blooming form, with dull rose cerise flowers. 
M. A. Double, a very free and handsome variety, 
has blooms of a bright terra-cotta hue. All three 
sorts should be in every collection. 
BROUGHTON ROAD NURSERY, IPSWICH. 
In Mr. R. C. Notcuti’s collection of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums the plants, this season, are particularly dwarf, 
with good healthy foliage, but have suffered greatly 
from the ravages of earwigs. The particular feature 
of this collection is, of course, the plants of Edith 
Yabor, which were raised from seed there last season. 
We noted particularly amongst other new varieties 
Mrs. Briscoe-Ironside, Lady Byron, Mr. John 
Shrimpton, Mr. Chas. Blick, and M. Chenon de 
Leche. Of special interest are the American 
varieties, the three principal being Modesto, a rich 
golden-yellow, with handsome foliage; Sunclad, 
old gold-yellow; Sunstone, a straw-coloured Jap. 
Rcflexed varieties are also grown, a particularly fine 
variety being the beautiful golden-yellow Dorothy 
Gibson. 
-- 
VIOLAS FOR BEDDING PURPOSES. 
At a meeting of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners' 
Association, in the Guildhall, Exeter, on the 21st 
inst., a paper on this subject by Mr. J. W. Moorman, 
Superintendent, Victoria Park, London, was read by 
Mr. W. Andrews ; Mr. W. J. Weeks presided. The 
Viola, said Mr. Moorman, stood first on the list of 
hardy decorative plants for beauty, brilliancy and 
diversity of colour. We owed a greater debt of 
gratitude to the late Mr. John Wills, a Devonian, 
than to anybody else, in connection with the intro¬ 
duction of Violas for bedding purposes. About six 
varieties of the genus Viola were indigenous to and 
generally distributed over the British Isles, but the 
parents of those now grown, were V. tricolor, and V. 
lutea. 
He should deal principally with the yellow moun- 
tain Viola (V. lutea) from which we have derived 
form, colour, habit and the free-floweriog character 
now to be met with in the modern race. He knew 
of no other plant, which, with a minimum of labour 
had brought about such excellent results. Their 
profuse and continuous blooming propensities were 
a strong recommendation ; they were equally suit¬ 
able for small as for large gardens, and could be 
grown to perfection equally by the amateur as by 
the professional gardener. They were suitable for 
massing in large beds as well as for planting in 
borders and lines ; and for mixing amongst ordinary 
bedding plants, or for carpeting the ground beneath 
the taller growing subjects. Whether for mixed 
bedding or for massing, the self-coloured varieties 
were the most suitable and useful. In spring 
bedding arrangements they were very effective, and 
would continue till winter had fairly set in. They 
were well adapted for town or suburban gardening, 
and considering the relatively heavy rainfall they 
had in Devon, good results should follow a fair 
trial. 
Four leading principles should be observed if 
ultimate results were to be assured. The first was 
to obtain the best and freest flowering varieties. A 
good, rich and deeply dug soil was the next 
desideratum. The third principle was to propagate 
fresh stock annually by means of cuttings. The 
fourth point was to select a fresh position for the 
plants every year so as to insure an unexhausted 
soil, as far as Violas were concerned. Mr. Moorman 
then gave a selection of twenty-five varieties which 
he recommended as the best for bedding purposes in 
his experience. 
Propagation was of the easiest possible nature, no 
artificial heat being needed, and scarcely any pro¬ 
tection. To secure an early display in spring, the 
cuttings should be taken about the end of July or 
the beginning of August. They could, to meet 
various requirements, be rooted any time between 
the end ot July and the end of October, by dibbling 
in the cuttings thickly in rows in a shady border or 
in frames according to the season. The best 
cuttings were those obtainable near the base of the 
stems forming the crown. Any varieties which did not 
produce cuttings freely, might be made to do so by 
cutting back the old stems within 3 in. or 4 in. of the 
base. 
Violas were moisture loving plants, and conse¬ 
quently flourished best in a cool soil and climate, 
Their chief requirements in dry seasons were copious 
supplies of water. The surface of the ground 
should be frequently stirred, and weeds kept down. 
Mr. Moorman then gave several examples of 
pleasing mixtures that would happily associate with 
various self-coloured varieties. Some leading types 
of Viola were sent for the meeting by Messrs. H. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, and by Mr. Andrews who 
read the paper for Mr. Moorman. Mr. Andrew 
Hope produced a specimen of one of the parents of 
the race of Violas, and which he picked up near 
Ben Lomond in :88i. An interesting discussion 
followed the paper. 
-- 
HOW TO GROW LOBELIAS. 
Noticing the maDy inquiries about how to keep the 
above during the winter, I thought a few hints might 
come ia time and be of service. At our place we 
grow many thousands of Lobelias, and all from 
seed, which I would as soon have as the best cuttings 
that can be procured. Many may laugh at this, but 
let them try the following plan and then let us know 
the result. 
Get Sutton's Dwarf Blue, Veitch's Blue Stone, 
Dicksons’, of Chester, King of Blues, Royal Purple, 
or Pumila magnifica, from any good strain. The 
latter I consider to be equal to any ot the first-named 
varieties. Our seed is sown in well-drained pans, 
the soil being made pretty firm. Sow as thinly as 
possible, for herein lies the secret of success; once 
get damp among Lobelias and nothing can save 
them. What one should aim at is to get the 
seedlings nicely up, and then not push them along 
in any way, but keep ihem cool and, as it were, just 
alive, during the dark days of winter. When these 
have got away in the new year more water may be 
given, which will soon put a different complexion on 
them. Towards the end of February pricking off 
may be started in stock boxes, and irom thence 
given more space as required. No one need be 
afraid of the result if they watch carefully. Good 
seed is the first necessity ; 2, thin sowing ; 3, careful 
watering ; and, last of all, keep the plants cool, dry, 
and away from damp.— J. G. Pettinger, Strawberry 
Dali Nursery, Harrogate. 
