372 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 13, 189V. 
the incurved or so-called Chinese race was 
developed from forms that would be classed 
amongst Japanese varieties at the present 
day. From this point of view it can hardly 
be argued that the two races are so funda¬ 
mentally and constantly distinct that 
neither would give rise to a variety (without 
intercrossing) that could with propriety 
be classed in the other section. We think 
it quite possible in batches of seedlings ; 
and more easy for either incurved or 
Japanese varieties to give rise to forms, in 
all respects intermediate between the two 
sections. 
To return to the innovation, we consider 
that if any has been made, it was the 
admission of the varieties first mentioned 
above into the incurved section. This was 
done by a majority of the voters of the 
Floral Committee of the N.C.S., when 
First-class Certificates were accorded C. 
H. Curtis and James Agate. As the event 
has proved, it is now too late in the day to 
enter a protest against the admission of 
these and others of similar type amongst 
the incurved section. Chrysanthemum 
growers and exhibitors all over the country 
are enamoured of these so-called new forms, 
as was evident by a simple examination of 
the premier stands at the Jubilee Celebra¬ 
tion of the N.C.S., during the first week of 
November last, and a fortnight later in the 
Scottish capital, when Duchess of Fife was 
sanctioned as a true incurved variety by the 
judges, as was duly recorded by us at the 
time. A few dissentient voices might have 
been heard, but we are always prepared for 
such an occurrence. If the varieties in 
question be examined, it will be seen that 
they differ in no essential particular from 
the older types of incurved Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, except that the florets are slightly 
more pointed. But the gradation is very 
easy and natural if we look at Mrs. R. C. 
Kingston and then Princess of Wales. 
There are certainly rougher or looser types 
included in this section than several of 
those concerning which the dispute arose— 
varieties, in fact, that require to be taken 
from the second crown bud to get them in 
proper exhibition form. If the skill of the 
cultivator can get over a difficulty in this 
way, it redounds all the more to his credit. 
There can be little doubt that the most 
attractive feature of the newer types is 
their superior size to the older favourites. 
This was, indeed, sorely needed to resusci¬ 
tate the failing popularity of the incurved 
race, which for some years past has retro¬ 
grading into the limbo of obscurity and 
neglect. Many cultivators have an idea 
that the old race is degenerating fast, but 
it may possibly be due to their failing 
popularity, and the consequent lack of 
enthusiastic cultivators to uphold their 
cause. The Japanese varieties are gener¬ 
ally more easily managed, and their 
excessive variation both in size and colour 
will readily account for their widespread 
popularity. There are some who would even 
go further than this so as to include the 
Japanese incurved amongst the true in¬ 
curved race; but the range of variation 
amongst varieties of the former type is too 
great for us to give our adhesion to it, 
seeing that it would altogether nullify the 
aim and purpose of classification. 
To settle the vexed question of the 
classification of the disputed varieties, the 
Floral Committee of the N.C.S. made a 
recommendation, some time ago, to the 
General Committee to appoint a Special 
Committee of Growers to investigate the 
matter and submit a report. The latter 
was presented on the 25th ult., and accepted 
by the General Committee. The finding 
of this Special Committee is somewhat 
different to that adopted by the framers of 
the Jubilee Edition of the Society’s 
Catalogue, but their decision was ratified, 
so that the society will not only abide by it, 
but the judges at their shows, as well as 
the shows of affiliated societies, will have to 
adjudicate the awards in accordance with 
the same. Duchess of Fife is recorded in 
the catalogue as Japanese, and the 
Egyptian as Japanese incurved. Both are 
now admitted as incurved Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, together with Perle Dauphinoise, 
Ma Perfection, Rena Dula, Miss Louise D. 
Black, Mrs. Airdrie, Rose Owen, Ideality, 
King of Orange, L’Amethyste, Golden 
Nugget, Miss Phyllis Fowler. Leonard 
Payne, Mr. J. Kearn, Mr. James Murray, 
Triomphe d’Eve, Percy Surman, Mrs. F. 
Hepper, Miss Dorothy Foster, Miss Violet 
Foster, and Mr. James Eadie, The classi¬ 
fication of Harold Wells remains an 
indefinite quantity owing to the voting on 
both sides of the question being equal. 
This, at first sight, would seem strange if it 
is admitted to be a sport from Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, but it would not be difficult to 
prove that sports sometimes differ from 
their parents, not merely in colour, but 
also in form. In any case we congratulate 
the National Chrysanthemum Society in 
being able to agree upon the admission of 
the above list amongst incurved Chry¬ 
santhemums. 
-- 
The Apple contains more phosphorous than any 
other fruit or vegetable. 
Glasgow Chrysanthemum Society. — We learn that 
at a general meeting of the Glasgow Chrysanthemum 
Society, held on 16th January, it was decided that 
the society be discontinued. This has, we under¬ 
stand, been brought about owing to the unsatisfactory 
financial results of the show in November last. 
The Scilly Isles are now sending us an abundance of 
cut flowers. In a few more weeks we shall be having 
early Potatos and Tomatos from thence. The trade 
between these islands and our own in garden produce 
is enormous. Speaking of their geographical posi¬ 
tion, Sir George Newnessays, “ They are on the way 
to nowhere, and yet they are most interesting, and so 
far as this country is concerned, unique.” 
Cattleya Trianaei backhouseana.—This beautiful 
variety is still held in high estimation by growers, a 
fact that may be accounted for not alone by its 
admittedly handsome appearance, but because it is 
relatively scarce, and growers long to add it to their 
collections of choice and select Orchids. A piece of 
it turned up in the Central Sale Rooms of Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris, at Cheapside, on the 5th inst., 
and found an eager buyer at fifteen guineas. 
I lines s of Mr. D. Dewar.—The many friends of the 
well-known Curator of the Botanic Gardens, Glas¬ 
gow, Mr. D. Dewar, will regret to learn of the serious 
illness through which he has been passing since 
Christmas. We are glad to inform our readers, how¬ 
ever, upon inquiries which were made last week, 
that the operation which the patient has undergone 
has been quite successful, and that he is now pro¬ 
gressing towards recovery. We were distressed to 
hear that Mr. Dewar had been confined to bed for 
weeks with an abscess in the kidneys; but are now 
equally pleased to learn that the operation has been 
successful, and that Mr. Dewar is making good 
progress towards convalescence. 
Ulster Horticultural Society (Belfast Show).—At the 
last committee meeting of the above society it was 
decided to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the 
Queen this year by offering £100 and three medals 
for competition in the class for forty-eight Japanese 
blooms, at the annual show on the 16th and 17th 
November next. The money is to be divided into 
seven prizes as follows : —1st, /40 and Gold Medal; 
2nd, £25 and Silver Medal; 3rd, £15 and Bronze 
Medal; 4th, £10; 5 tb * £5 ■ 6th, £i> aQ d 7th, £2. 
The committee decided to open this event, along with 
a few others, to gardeners of the United Kingdom. 
The prize is to be called the Victoria Jubilee 
Championship, and is presented by the Lady 
Mayoress of Belfast and ladies of Ulster. 
Early Primroses have been found in quantities as 
far back as January 17th, on banks and in ditches in 
the neighbourhood of the pretty bay of Lough-shinny, 
between Rush and Skerries, Ireland. 
A curious Floral Design.—At the death of a light- 
houseman, belonging to the United States, a local 
florist was somewhat non-plussed by receiving an 
order for a floral emblem made to resemble a 
breeches buoy. The floral artists were puzzled for a 
while, but finally set to work to construct something 
which, when finished, looked like a hybrid between 
a breeches buoy and a small schoolhouse. 
Intense Frost in Aberdeenshire. —In the city of 
Aberdeen ig° of frost were registered on the 4th inst., 
but landwards the frost was much more intense. At 
Kintore the thermometer registered 40° of frost or 
S° below zero. At Inverurie the thermometer was 
2 0 below the record for that place on the occasion 
of the severe winter two years ago. In the early part of 
1895 as many as 45 0 of frost were registered in some 
parts of the country, so that the severe weather of 
last week was not a record breaking one. Some of 
the rivers were partly frozen over, including the 
Ythan, at Ellon, where a child was accidentally 
drowned, by falling through and being carried under 
the ice. 
Leighton Buzzard Horticultural Society.—At the 
recent annual meeting of this society Dr. Pratt 
presided. The secretary, Mr. A. Collier presented 
the financial statement for the past year. The total 
receipts from the August show, together with the 
subscriptions, amounted to £321 5s. 8d., and the 
expenditure, including /131 4s. 4^. as prizes, totalled 
£263 14s. 8d., leaving a balance of £5 7 11s., reduced 
from £65 ns. 5d. in hand after the last show. A loss 
of £8 was thus apparent on the year's working. Mr. 
A. Collier was then re-elected secretary, and further 
additions were made to the list of vice-presidents. 
Various alterations were made in the schedule of 
classes for the next show, which is to take place on 
August 12th, the two expensive classes in the open 
division for groups of stove and greenhouse plants 
being eliminated. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. — A 
performance of the comedy-opera “ Dorothy ” in aid 
of the Victorian Era Fund being raised by this 
institution to commemorate the sixtieth year of Her 
Majesty’s reign will be given (under distinguished 
patronage) at St. George’s Hall, Langham Place, 
W., on the evening of Thursday, February 18th, 
1897, by the members of the Westminster Amateur 
Operatic and Dramatic Society, with full orchestra. 
Amongst the list of gentlemen who have kindly 
consented to act as hononary stewards, we 
observe many names well known to horticul¬ 
ture. Mr. H. Morgan Veitch, 16, Clifford’s Inn, 
E.C., is undertaking the duties of honorary secretary, 
and from him tickets may be obtained. A praise¬ 
worthy movement this, and one to which we 
wish an unstinted measure of success. 
Popular Gardening at Halstead.— A lecture on 
popular gardening was given in the Halstead 
Assembly Room on Monday evening, January 25th, 
by Mr. C. Wakely, horticultural lecturer to the 
Essex County Council. The chair was taken by the 
Rev. T. G. Gibbons. Mr. Wakely commenced by 
dealing with the necessity for taking an interest in 
the land, and said that although the difficulties in 
the way of the cottager and allotment holder were 
considerable, they might be overcome. He then 
gave practical information with regard to the 
manuring and digging of the land. He recommended 
soil that was of a stiff character to be dug in the 
autumn or early winter months. Rotation of crops 
was also considered. Dealing with Potatoes he re¬ 
commended the use of medium sized sets, planted 
fourteen inches apart, and 2$ feet between the rows. 
Such varieties as Abundance, Satisfaction, and 
Windsor Castle should be grown extensively, 
although Beauty of Hebron and Magnum Bonum 
still held their own against all comers. Mr. Wakely 
also detailed the cultivation of the Onion, Turnip, 
Carrot, Parsnip, and Beetroot. A few questions 
were asked at the close, and replied to by the 
lecturer. Mr. A. W. Kibble announced that four or 
five similar lectures had been arranged for, and 
would be given in a month or two’s time. 
