November 21, 189(>. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
183 
Experimental Fruit Farm.—The Duke of Bedford 
has something like 600 experiments in hand on his 
fruit farm at Woburn, Bedfordshire. Some of these 
show the result of good and bad methods of prepar¬ 
ing the soil, planting, pruning, etc. There are like¬ 
wise plots illustrating good methods to be adopted by 
cottagers, market gardeners, and farmers. Some 
trees have been planted too deeply and afterwards 
properly replanted, the result telling its own tale. 
Deep digging about the roots of trees whereby the 
rootlets are destroyed are compared with others 
subjected to restorative treatment. 
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NORFOLK AND NORWICH HORTI¬ 
CULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The president of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, at the dinner following the exhibition of 
that society on the 3rd inst., is reported to have 
stated that “ the first Chrysanthemum show held 
in England took place at Stoke Newington in 1846." 
The National Chrysanthemum Society certainly 
originated from a small society which held its first 
show at Stoke Newington in 1846, but that place 
does not comprehend England, nor does the National 
Chrysanthemum Society, even in conjunction with 
its predecessor, the Stoke Newington Society, con¬ 
stitute the oldest association of Chrysanthemum 
growers in this country. 
The Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society 
held its first exhibition on November 25th, 1829, 
when a considerable number of Chrysanthemums in 
pots were exhibited, one grower showing no less 
than fifteen varieties, which was a remarkable feat, 
seeing that only forty-eight varieties were known (so 
I believe) in 1826. The Norfolk and Norwich Horti¬ 
cultural Society, for the first twenty-three years of 
its existence, held six exhibitions (called meetings) a 
year, and the sixth in each year was a Chrysanthe¬ 
mum show. At its sixth meeting in 1830, held on 
November 17th.no less than 164 pots of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums were exhibited. In the following year this 
show was held on November 16th, and then attained 
very considerable proportions, as fourteen members 
exhibited between them 387 Chrysanthemums in 
pots, one exhibit comprising seventeen varieties and 
another as many as twenty-five. At the same show 
three other members exhibited collections of Chry¬ 
santhemums, and from the fact that the description 
of the. show in the society’s minute book does not 
speak of these three collections as consisting of pot 
plants, it is to be supposed that they were cut 
blooms. 
This show was held annually for seventeen years 
before the Stoke Newington Society came into 
existence. 
That the claim of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society is an erroneous one, is clear, and its being 
made is no doubt due to the fact of that society's 
jubilee being in course of celebration .—John E. T. 
Pollard, Hon. Sec., Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural 
Society. 
-- 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED, 
The undermentioned were accorded certificates 
according to merit by the Royal Horticultural 
Society on the 10th inst. 
Orchid Committee. 
Laeliocattleya Nysa superba, Nov. var .—Those 
who looked over the group of hybrid Orchids 
exhibited at the Drill Hall by Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Chelsea, could not have failed to be struck with 
this beautiful variety of bigeneric hybrid. The 
parents were Laelia crispa and Cattleya Wars- 
cewiczii, the latter being the pollen bearer. The 
sepals and petals are of a pale lilac, and the petals 
are slightly folded after the style of L. crispa. The 
lamina of the lip is oblong, bifid, and of a rich 
crimson-purple with a lilac edge ; the tube is bright 
yellow on both surfaces with a crimson band along 
the centre of the interior. The great beauty of the 
lip takes after that of the pollen parent. First-class 
Certificate. 
Cattleya maxima alba, Nov. var .—This is the 
first albino or white variety of C. maxima which has 
been seen, and turned up in the collection of Hamar 
Bass, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Hamilton), Byrkley, 
Burton-on-Trent. It came out of an importation of 
the type by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, but 
the novelty flowered with Hamar Bass, Esq., before 
its real character was known, so that the lucky 
possessor may well be proud of it. With the excep¬ 
tion of a lemon-yellow band balow the middle of the 
lip the flower is pure white. First-class Certificate. 
Cypripedium Charlesworthii Fred Hardy, 
Nov. var.— In this we have another exceedingly choice 
albino whose distinctness leads one at first sight to 
think is a new species or" a natural hybrid. The 
upper sepal is white with a small green and purple 
blotch at the base, which is somewhat narrowed and 
constitutes the only misleading organ of the flower, 
as to its true affinity. As the plant gets established 
and strong, the dorsal sepal will no doubt become 
wider. The petals are pale yellow, tinted with a 
greenish hue. The lip also is greenish-yellow with 
darker veins, and polished or glossy. The staminode 
is white, with the boss or knob in the centre, tipped 
with yellow. Award of Merit, Fred Hardy, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. Thos. Stafford), Tyntesfield, Ashton- 
on-Mersey. 
Floral Committee, 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. C. Orchard.— In this we 
have an incurved Japanese variety of great merit, 
and varying from 6 in. to 7 in. in diameter according 
as the florets are closely or loosely incurved. The 
bloom is sulphur-yellow in the centre, varying almost 
to a creamy-white outwardly. The florets are broad 
and massive. Award of Merit. Mr. H. J. Jones, Rye- 
croft Nursery, Hither GreeD, Lewisham. 
Chrysanthemum Ma Perfection. - This is 
tantalisingly close on the borders of the Chinese 
section, but is truly an incurved Japanese variety, 
about 6 in. in diameter, and beautifully compact. It 
is a pure white and very choice flower with medium 
to broad florets. Award of Merit. Mr. H. J. Jones. 
Chrysanthemum Duke of Wellington.— Here 
again we have an incurved Japanese variety of 
globular and massive appearance, and measuring 
about 6| in. in diameter. The florets are very 
broad and soft salmon-red, with a yellow reverse 
which is most in evidence. Award of Merit. Mr. 
Robert Owen, Castle Hill, Maidenhetd. 
Chrysanthemum Mignonette.— This is a decora¬ 
tive variety of the first water with small, globular, 
soft yellow flowers that ultimately assume a bronzy- 
red like Mignonette. The slender florets are hair¬ 
like, ultimately much interlaced and forming globular 
balls with a light and fluffy look about them. Award 
of Merit. Mr Robert Owen. 
Amorphophallus variabilis. —This species is a 
native of Malaysia, and of very singular aspect, but 
without the disagreeable odour of most of its kind. 
The spathe is green, heavily overlaid with bronzy- 
purple, and measures 10 in. across one way and 8J 
in. the other. The spadix is a singular looking organ 
with a large, club-shaped or conical purple head 
above the very numerous flowers. Botanical Certifi¬ 
cate. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. 
Chrysanthemum Mme. Paul Lecroix. —The 
blooms of the Japanese variety are in. to 7 in. 
across, pale yellow in the centre, and fading to a 
creamy-white outwaids. The florets are broad, 
massive, and drooping. Award of Merit. P. O, 
Knowles, Esq., Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames. 
Chrysanthemum Mr. Hugh H. Gardiner. —For 
description see p. 167. Award of Merit. H. H. 
Gardiner, Esq. (gardener, Mr. S. Ely), Nettlebed, 
Henley-on-Thames. 
- I *- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
GLASGOW BOTANIC GARDENS. 
The display of the autumn flower is very much 
larger this season—about 3,000 plants, being 500 in 
excess of previous years, while the higher quality of 
former displays has been surpassed by the magnifi¬ 
cent lot of plants now at their best. The addition of 
many of the new varieties makes it all the more 
interesting to visitors on the lookout for novelties. 
Mr. Dewar has raised some splendid seedlings that 
bear comparison with the best-named sorts. A pure 
white Jap., that he has in splendid condition just 
now, is Mrs. D. Dewar, a large flower with finely- 
twisted drooping petals. He also has some fine 
yellow incurved varieties that are not yet named. In 
September we noticed, amongst the grand lot of 
early flowers, a seedling of great merit for early 
work, which he has named Mary Elton in com¬ 
pliment to a relative of his grower, Mr. Elton. 
The plants are arranged in the Winter Garden, 
where they can be seen to the best advantage by the 
large crowds that daily visit the gardens. The 
Town Council generously provide the music on the 
opening days of the show. 
A central group of large dimensions (35 ft. in 
diameter) occupies the space under the entrance 
dome. The plants are raised in the centre so that 
the highest blooms are about 16 ft. from the floor 
level, and gradually slope do vn to 2 ft. from the 
ground. The mass of colour would be quite over¬ 
powering, were it not for the beautiful drapery of 
climbers hanging from the roof all round the circle, 
while overshadowing the whole group is a Giant 
Kentia with dark green leaves of large dimensions. 
This group contains about 800 plants with three or 
more blooms on each, and of splendid quality as 
regards size, colour and form. The dome is flanked 
by span-roofed houses on either side, which have 
been gay since September; while along the side 
of the main corridor leading to the central dome are 
nicely arranged lines of well-bloomed plants in 
hundreds. The large number of varieties grown— 
about 400— enables visitors to see all the best sorts 
in cultivation at the present time. Among the newer 
varieties, Edith Tabor, a fine broad-petalled yellow 
with drooping petals, is very fine. Calvat's Boule 
d’Or is a splendid incurved Jap. Another grand 
form is Pride of Madford. Older and better known 
sorts are Mrs. Briscoe-Iron side, Lillie Love, and 
Mrs. W. H. Lees, extra large and one of the very 
best. Mutual Friend, Niveus, Mdlle. Marie Hoste, 
Mme. Carnot, and Souvr. de Petite Amie are grand 
whites. 
The yellows are largely represented, of fine quality 
and include, Duchess of York, Mons. Panckoucke, 
Sunflower, and Phoebus The hairy section is 
interesting, especially such as Hairy Wonder, Beauty 
of Truro, the Boehmers, pink and white varieties. 
Largely grown are Commandant Blussett, Baron 
Hirscb, Globe d’Or, C. H. Curtis, Empress of India, 
Louise, Amiral Avellan, Mrs. E. S. Trafford, Col. 
W. B. Smith, etc. 
Altogether the display is most excellent, and 
highly creditable to the popular Curator, Mr. Dewar, 
and his assistants.— R. 
THE HIGHGATE NURSERIES. 
As most of our readers are aware the Highgate 
Nurseries are so favourably situated as to be above 
a great deal of the fogs and damps which perplex 
and worry Chrysanthemum growers in the lower 
levels of the great city. The effect of this is un¬ 
mistakably evident in the freedom with which the 
blooms open, as well as in their improved colour. 
Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son grow about a thousand 
plants for flowering, of which fully one half are 
allowed to develop show blooms. 
The house in which the majority of the plants is 
accommodated has been exceedingly gay for some 
weeks past. The feature that impressed us most 
favourably was undoubtedly a grand batch of that 
superb white Jap., Mrs. Charles Blick. The 
plants in question were obtained from late struck 
cuttings. This was rather from necessity than 
choice, as there had been a great demand for plants 
of this variety during the early part of the present 
season. The late cuttings, however, have exceeded 
expectations, and produced a capital lot of stuff. 
Each plant carries a single bloom of large size, and 
as a 32-sized pot has been considered sufficient for 
its needs this is by no means bad work. 
Turning to the general collection we found in¬ 
curved varieties were conspicuous by their almost 
entire absence. Prince Albert, a very pretty purple 
variety of good form, and rather above medium size 
was one of the exceptions. Richard Parker required 
another few days to come to its best. It closely 
resembles Golden Empress of India in colour and 
build. Avalanche was in better form than we have 
yet seen it this season. This well-known white 
variety has not been behaving particularly well this 
year and good blooms appears to be all too few. 
William Tricker was carrying some bright blooms of 
fair size. Edith Tabor a fine yellow Jap. of recent 
introduction was very conspicuous. Several plants 
of it were scattered throughout the house. Robert 
Prefet possesses the same style as Pride of Madford 
but is scarcely such a good doer. Col. Chase has 
given excellent results. The Highgate blooms are of 
medium size, with very numerous drooping florets, 
and exhibited a delicate shade of flesh pink. In 
build they closely resemble Chas. Davis, the florets 
being of about the same size and consistency. 
Violetta which was sent out by the Messrs. Cutbush 
