December 12, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
235 
Seventeen years ago I prepared a wholly new 
classification, which, I venture to believe, found 
considerable favour, from the fact that it has, with 
the exception of one class, been generally adopted by 
Chrysanthemum Societies in the United Kingdom. 
In this classification there were seven sections, and 
these were: (i) Incurved, (2) Reflexed, (3) Large 
Anemone-flowered, (4) Japanese, (3) Pompon, 
(6) Anemone-flowered, and (7) Intermediate. The 
last class was formed for the purpose of providing a 
section for the varieties intermediate in size between 
the pompons and the reflexed, which were generally 
termed hybrids. It failed in its purpose, and I shall 
make no attempt to justify it. We have still varieties 
with blooms so large so as to suggest that they do 
not belong to the pompon section—Soeur Melaine, 
for example—and some, like Julie Lagravere, which 
have blooms so small that they do not, at first sight, 
belong to the reflexed section. These intermediate 
varieties have occasioned considerable difficulty to 
judges and others in determining the classes to which 
they properly belong. It is, however, a very simple 
matter, for all pompons have small leaves and 
reflexed large ones, and it was by means of the 
leaves, as well as the flowers that, in the preparation 
of the classified lists in the society’s catalogue for 
1888, I succeeded in placing the doubtful varieties in 
their proper classes. 
Since the publication of my first classification in 
1879 the Chrysanthemum has undergone a remark¬ 
able development, and several new types have been 
added, with the result that it is no longer sufficient. 
I would, therefore, suggest that the classification of 
the types of the Chrysanthemum be increased, and I 
have no doubt that the suggestions I shall make will 
be really accepted, as the greater portion have 
already had practical effect given to them in modelling 
the society’s catalogue, in which, with the exception 
of the jubilee edition, I have had a large share since 
1888, when this important work was given its present 
form. My suggestions are that the classification 
should comprise twelve sections, and that these 
should be arranged as follows:—(1) Incurved, (2) 
Japanese, (3) Japanese Incurved, (4) Large Reflexed, 
(5) Large anemone-flowered, (6) Japanese Anemone- 
flowered, (7) Hairy or Hirsute, (8) Pompon, (9) 
Pompon Fringed, (10) Pompon Anemone-flowered, 
(n) Large-flowered Single, and (12) Pompon Single. 
These classes will provide for all the varieties of 
which at present we have knowledge, and, with the 
aid of the technical descriptions that I have prepared, 
there should be no difficulty in relegating the varieties 
to their proper sections or classes. Difficulties 
will, of course, occasionally arise in determining the 
exact position of varieties, owing to the gradual 
manner in which the several sections merge into 
each other. In the case of varieties that form the 
connecting link between two sections, I would suggest 
that they should be referred to a small sub-committee 
for consideration, who would be able to give more 
time to the matter than is possible at the meeting of 
the Floral Committee, and be able to determine, 
after a careful examination of the blooms and the 
definitions of the two sections, with exactitude the 
classes to which they belong. 
With reference to the definitions, I would take 
advantage of this opportunity for suggesting the 
desirability of members of committees, of judges, and 
indeed, of all who have to deal with new varieties, 
making themselves familiar with the points defining 
the several classes, for it is only by a fullness of 
knowledge that we can hope to avoid mistakes. This 
appears to be especially necessary in the case of the 
incurved, for a danger has been foreshadowed of 
varieties being added to the class that properly 
belong to the Japanese incurved. No one could be 
more ready to welcome additions to the class than 
myself, but I do not want it to be the receptacle for 
Japanese incurved that are neither bold enough nor 
sufficiently beautiful to justify their being distributed 
as such. So long as the incurved are retained—and 
I see no signs of their being pushed out by their 
more showy rivals—let us insist upon regularly- 
arranged and overlapping florets that, when properly 
developed, will form a bloom, globular in form and 
full in the centre. On the other hand, the florets of 
the Japanese incurved must not be so regularly 
arranged as to form a globe. With regard to the 
typical Japanese, it is not necessary I should say 
much, because I have now nothing to do with the 
merits of blooms when in competition, but I would, 
in passing express my entire concurrence with the 
action of the Catalogue Committee in abolishing the 
class for Japanese reflexed. I have never liked the 
class, and experience in judging has convinced me 
that it was unnecessary and undesirable. The 
reflexed section does not require any special comment 
except to say that it would be a great gain to improve 
the class by adding to it a considerable number of 
varieties, that we may have finer flowers and a 
greater diversity of colour in the section. 
No change, in the present state of our knowledge, 
is necessary in the case of the large and Japanese 
Anemones, and with reference to the question that is 
sometimes raised as to the desirability of merging 
them into one class, I will say that the operation 
will be just as reasonable as merging the incurved 
and Japanese into one section. Were these two 
Anemone-flowered sections to be formed into one, 
the effect w ould probably be to give rise to a race 
lacking the perfection of form of the large-flowered 
and the lightness and elegence of the Japanese. It is 
assumed that there is a special difficulty in dis¬ 
tinguishing the two sections, but this is not so when 
it is remembered that both the cushion and ray 
florets of the large-flowered should be quite regular, 
and that in the other both may be of varying lengths, 
and should be characterised by irregularity. I have 
arranged the pompons in three classes, and in 
suggesting one for fringed pompons I do so for the 
purpose of giving those with florets, fimbriated or 
fringed, an equal value to these in which the florets 
are regular at the margin and not divided at the apex. 
The fringed varieties are rapidly increasing in 
numbers, and comprise many that are of exquisite 
beauty, and I am of the opinion that we should fully 
recognise all thoroughly distinct types. In the case 
of varieties with hirsute appendages, I would suggest 
that those varieties only having blooms on which the 
production of glandular hairs is constant should be 
admissible to the class. I mention this because 
under certain conditions the florets of some of the 
incurved varieties, such as Princess Teck and its 
several forms, become hirsute, and to include these 
would be absurd. 
The single varieties, owing to the great diversity 
in the form of the flowers, have occasioned some 
difficulty: but I have thought it advisable to limit 
them to two classes for the present, one embracing 
those with blooms not exceeding 3 in. in diameter, 
and the other those of which the blooms exceed that 
size ; single blooms should not, as a rule, contain 
more than two rows of ray florets, but in some cases 
three rows may be admissible. With reference to 
this point, it appears desirable to state, although it 
should not be necessary to do so, that a semi-double 
variety is not converted into a single by the removal 
of a portion of the ray florets. 
(To be Continued.) 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW. 
LEEDS. — Nov. 24 th and 25 th. 
The Leeds Paxton Society’s seventh annual show 
was held in the Town Hall, and was opened by A.T. 
Lawson, Esq., J.P., who was accompanied to the 
platform by His Worship, the Mayor (Sir James 
Kitson, Bart., M.P.,) and Grosvenor Talbot, Esq. 
Mr. Lawson considered the list of subscribers a 
small one and appealed to all lovers of flowers to 
increase it. The Mayor in proposing a vote of 
thanks to Mr. Lawson, said it was a pleasure to 
gentlemen to encourage their gardeners to compete, 
as it stimulated them to greater efforts, and made 
their occupation more interesting. 
The show was the best ever held in Leeds ; in 
quality, number of exhibits, and financially it far 
exceeded that of any other year in the history of the 
society. There were nearly 500 entries, most of 
which were staged. Although there was a slight 
falling off in the vegetables, it was more than made 
up for in the increase in cut blooms. On entering 
the large hall, the scene was most charming. 
Great credit is due to the curators, Messrs. Bailey 
Bussie, Daniels, and Benham, for the very effective 
manner in which they arranged the specimen plants, 
entered for competition, on the orchestra, with Chry¬ 
santhemums dotted here and therein betwixt them, 
which greatly enhanced the appearance of the hall. 
The groups were arranged, the Chrysanthemum on 
one side and the miscellaneous groups on the other of 
the hall. The cut blooms, fruits and table plants 
were staged on tables running across the centre of 
the hall, while the vegetables were in another room 
off the large hall. 
In the open class for miscellaneous groups E. B. 
Faber, Esq., Belvedere, Harrogate (gardener, Mr. 
Townsend), was an excellent first with a well- 
arranged group forming a square, for which in 
addition to the first prize, the committee awarded 
him a special Certificate of Merit for artistic arrange¬ 
ment. Raised on rustic corkwork, in the centre of 
this group was an exceptionally well-grown piece of 
Cocus weddeliana surrounded by well-coloured 
Crotons and Orchids. Mr. Taylor, nurseryman, 
Potternewton, near Leeds, was second. There was 
a keener competition in the local class for miscel¬ 
laneous groups. These were arranged to form a 
semi-circle. L. Clayton, Esq., Oak Hill, Moortown 
(gardener, Mr. Fleet) was placed first; Mr. J. W. 
Oxley, Esq., J.P., Spenfield, Headingley (gardener, 
Mr. Richer), second; and G. R. Portway, Esq., 
Ashfield Grove, Headingley (gardener, Mr. 
Edwards), third. 
In the Chrysanthemum groups the quality of 
blooms was a great advance on former years. The 
first prize was awarded to Mrs. Tetley ; the second 
to Mr. Pettinger, nurseryman, Harrogate ; third to 
M. Kitchen, Esq., Ellerclose, Roundhay (gardener, 
Mr. Gamble); and the fourth to Miss Lambert, Rose 
Courts, Headingley (gardener, Mr. Warren). 
In the open classes for cut blooms there was a 
marked increase upon former years in the entries. 
The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Harrington, Elvaston 
Castle, Derby (gardener, Mr. G. H. Goodacre) was 
the most successful in these classes, having gained 
the Challenge Cup both in the class for eighteen 
*'incurves,” and for eighteen Japanese. The latter 
cup he has won for the second time in succession, 
consequently he has won it outright this time. There 
were nine entries in this class, the competition was 
very keen, the blooms being exceptionally good for 
so late a date. The Earl of Harrington staged most 
magnificent blooms in the following varieties :—Mrs. 
W. H. Lees, two blooms of Edith Tabor, two of 
Mme. Carnot (one a massive bloom which gained 
premier prize as being the best Japanese bloom in 
the show), Mutual Friend, John Seward, Golden 
Gate, Duke of York, Mrs. H. Weeks, Etoile de Lyon, 
JulesChretien.Mr.C.H. Payne, International, Niveus, 
Rose Wynne, Silver Ring, and Miss Rita Schroeter. 
C H. Wright. Esq., J.P., Halston Hall, Oswestry 
(gardener, Mr. Roberts), was second in this class, 
having staged excellent blooms of the following:— 
Mme. Carnot, Etoile de Lyon, Primrose League, 
Thomas Wilkins, Rose Wynne, Viviand Morel, Mrs, 
C. H. Payne, Mrs. W. H. Lees, Duke of York, Mrs. 
E. D. Adams, Amos Perry, Mme. Ad. Chatin, Hairy 
Wonder, L’lsere, W. H. Lincoln, Olive Oclee, and 
Mons. Gruyer. Mr. J. Backhouse, Beverley, was 
placed third. 
In the class for eighteen 11 incurves ” the Earl of 
Harrington again took the first place of honour with 
the following: two blooms of C. H. Curtis, one of 
which a very fine b loom, gained the premier place as 
the best “ incurve ” in the show, two of J. Agate, J. 
Fulford, W. Tunnington, Empress of India, Golden 
Empress, two of Princess of Teck, Hero of Stoke 
Newington, Charles Gibson, Mrs. J. Gardiner, Mrs. 
S. Coleman, Miss Haggas, Major Bonaffon, Lord 
Alcester, and Mrs. W. Carpenter. Messrs. Pearson 
& Sons, Notts, were a good second ; and C. H. 
Wright, Esq , was third. In the class for twelve 
" incurves,” distinct, the Earl of Harrington was 
again first; the Marquis of Ripon, Studley Royal, 
Ripon (gardener, Mr. Kcel’er), second ; and C. H. 
Wright, Esq., third. For twelve Japanese distinct, 
the Earl of Harrington came first; C. H. Wright, 
Esq., second, and C. J. Ormerod, Esq., Green Royd, 
Brighouse (gardener, Mr. Barber), third 
In the local classes for cut blooms, a marked im¬ 
provement was noticeable; indeed, some of the 
blooms were almost equal to those in the open 
classes, which must be a great encouragement to the 
committee. The principal prize-winners in these 
classes were Mrs. Bowering, Mrs. Tetley, Sir James 
Kitson, Bart., and A. T. Walker, Esq. The com¬ 
mittee offers here again two Challenge Cups, one for 
twelve incurves and one for twelve Japanese. In the 
former class, Mrs.Bowering,Allerton Hall (gardener, 
Mr. Moore), was first, and therefore winner of the 
Challenge Cup, with splendid blooms of C. H. 
Curtis, J. Agate, Mrs. R. C. Kingston, Lord 
Alcester, Alfred Salter, Golden Empress, Empress of 
India, John Fulford, M.P. Martignat, R. Bahuant, 
