December 22, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
269 
century because they have been so full of interest. 
We have got to the top of the hill (for the century 
seems like a hill that we have been climbing), and 
the discoveries along the way have made us wonder 
how many more we will see. 
The Chrysanthemum has developed to a marvellous 
extent. There is no end of types, each quite 
capable of being fixed, and later on may be developed, 
so that in a dozen or twenty years’ time we may 
reasonably expect to see as great divergence between 
types and sections of Chrysanthemums as there are 
between the members of the genus Brassica—the 
Cabbage tribe. 
The Kale of the cottager's yard, the Cauliflowers 
and Broccoli of our up-to-date gardens, together 
with the different kinds of Cabbages, including 
Brussels Sprouts, have all originated from the wild 
Cabbage that grows on our shores. All our beauti¬ 
ful Roses, too, have come from a few species, and 
other examples could be quoted. Can we, then, even 
guess at what the Chrysanthemum may give rise to ? 
From certain indications we seem to be on the verge 
of a new field of experiment and selection. 
Take the case of the decorative section. It is 
certainly a good while ago since Mrs. Filkins as a 
spidery variety was first seen, but additions have 
been slow. One or two nurserymen, however, have 
lately specialised this section, and we are having a 
more distinctly spidery race than the old progeni¬ 
tor. There are now Silk Twist, Golden Thread, 
White Thread, and others; and these we think 
ought to be specialised as much as possible. On the 
lines that these varieties point out to us, a distinct 
section might be raised, having long and exceed¬ 
ingly fine petals. Then the Sam Caswell and Miss 
Harvey types seem distinct enough to be worked out 
also as a definite section, possessing stouter and 
shorter petals, though still much finer than any 
Japanese variety. Golden Faden sets us wondering 
whether a ray-petalled strain quite distinct from the 
singles could not be evolved ; and Cheveux d’Or 
and some of the newer seedlings that have already 
appeared, indicate a type of bloom with somewhat 
fluted petals and incised or lobed tips, which also 
could be further improved and defined. And lastly 
there are the boutonniere varieties, which, however, 
approach to the pompons, but might be raised to 
special importance by selection and.study, 
Within the last four or five years a considerable 
amount of attention has been spent on how staging 
at shows can be most effectively performed to suit 
the wishes of the ordinary visitor and of the 
exhibitors. Hitherto the exhibitors have provided a 
show on their own lines of interest. The public, 
however, who pay for admission to such shows have 
had to be catered for—have had to be attracted by 
the introduction of features that begin to satisfy 
their ideals. Thus we have a greater number of 
vase classes, and a more extended employment of 
the aesthetic and less formal system of arrangement. 
For years some of the leading Chrysanthemum 
nurserymen have made excellent and elaborate 
exhibits, and so far as we can judge it has been to 
their own advantage, and has certainly added 
quality and variety to the shows. Such exhibitors 
should in every way be encouraged. The displays 
made by them has a greater persuasive influence in 
bringing in new patrons to the ranks than all the 
long flat lines of exhibition blooms. There 
should be, however, even a greater amount of 
variety in the best exhibition groups. At present 
the bulk of the blooms are those of recently intro¬ 
duced varieties of Japs., and when the exhibitor is 
limited to so many feet of space we cannot find fault 
with him for only using varieties whose inclusion 
guarantees "orders.” But if those who have 
proved themselves to be able to show well, had 
greater space allocated to them, we should much 
like to see all classes of Chrysanthemums—Japs., 
incurved, singles, pompons, decorative, Anemone- 
flowered, and others—included. These could be 
arranged in the form of minor groups yet conjointly 
forming a whole. 
It would be a wise advance if the committee of 
the N.C.S. in framing next season's show schedules 
would enlarge and offer substantial prizes for a great 
leading class to include all sections of Chrysanth¬ 
emums on the lines laid down in Class XXIV. of 
the November show this year.— J. H. D. 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.— December i8fA. 
Winter-flowering Begonias, including Ensign and 
B. Gloire de Lorraine were again in stroDg force on 
Tuesday last, and decorative Chrysanthemums 
monopolised a fair amount of space. The first of 
the groups of forced Daffodils also made its appear¬ 
ance so that there is time for a very lengthy season. 
Orchid Committee. 
Present. —Harry J. Veitcb, Esq., in the chair ; with 
Messrs. James O'Brien, De B. Crawshay, H. M. 
Pollett, H. Ballantine, H. Little, F. Sander, H. J. 
Chapman, W. H. Young, H. A. Tracy, F. J. Thorne, 
E. Hill, Jas. Douglas and Jeremiah Colman. 
J. W. Moore, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Morris), Chard- 
war, Bourton-on-Water, exhibited a collection of 
Cypripediums in the cut state, including many fine 
flowers of the richly blotched C. insigne montanum 
type. He also had fine flowers of C. i. Sanderae, C. 
i. Ernesti, C. arthurianum, C. vexillarium and many 
other hybrids. They “were set up in vases with 
Maidenhair Fern and attracted a great amount of 
attention. (Silver Flora Medal.) 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea staged a 
group of Orchids, including plants and cut flowers, 
set up with Palms and Adiantum. Very fine were 
C. oenanthum superbum, C. Euryades, C. Morganiae 
langleyense, C. Leonidas, C. arthurianum pulchellum, 
C. Actaeus, C. leucorhodum, C. leeanum superbum, 
C. Niolae and many others. Laeliocattleya Pallas, 
Lc. Semiramis and Lc. Cassiope major were also 
prominent and interesting. A fine contrast was 
presented between the orange sepals and petals and 
the purple lip of Laeliocattleya leucasta. (Silver 
Flora Medal.) 
J. Hubert Grogan, Esq., Worthing, exhibited 
Laeliocattleya lucasiana. Cypripedium insigae 
Grove House var., Laelia gouldiana alba and Laelia 
autumnalis alba were shown by Col. Shipway (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. W. Walters), Grove House, Chiswick. 
M. Charles Maron, Brunoy, France, exhibited 
Cattleya Ledaand dowiana Rosita, a very handsome 
form with a large lip, streaked orange, and rich 
purple petals, fading to cream in the centre, and 
Laeliocattleya leucasta. Messrs. F. Sander & Co., 
St. Albans, exhibited a basket of hybrid Epiden- 
drums, varieties of Epidendrum Endiesio-Wallisii, 
with stems io in. to 15 in. high. 
F. W. Moore, Esq., Royal Botanic Gardens, Glas- 
nevin, exhibited Neobenthamia gracilis, having a 
dense truss of white flowers, a spike of the rich chest¬ 
nut-brown Houlletia odoratissima Lindeni, Maxil- 
laria picta, and M. punctata. Henry Little, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. Howard), The Barons, East Twicken¬ 
ham, staged Cattleya percivaliana Little’s var. R I. 
Measures,Esq., Ladymead, Rogate, Sussex, exhibited 
the beautiful hybrid Cypripedium Charles Rickman. 
W. A. Bilney, Esq., Fir Grange, Weybridge, 
exhibited Cymbidium traceyanum Fir Grange var., 
a fine plant carrying two spikes of bloojns, of hand¬ 
some size and richly coloured. Chas. Stewart Harris, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. E. Davis), Avenue House, South- 
gate, staged Cypripedium insigne Hilda Davis. 
Floral Committee. 
Present. —W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair ; with 
Messrs. Charles T. Druery, H. B. May, R. Dean, 
Wm. Howe, W. Bain, Chas. E. Pearson, Charles E. 
Shea, George Gordon, Herbert J. Cutbush, W. J. 
James, E. T. Cook, Chas. Blick, Geo. Paul, H. J. 
Jones, and James Walker. 
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, again 
exhibited their new strain of winter flowering 
Begonias, the colours of whose double flowers are 
variously crimson, crimson-scarlet, and shades of 
these warm colours. The plants are bushy and 
very floriferous. They also showed trusses of their 
Javanese Rhododendrons and plants of Coleus thyr- 
soides. (Silver Flora Medal.) 
Earl of Ancaster (gardener, Mr. J. Butler), Stam¬ 
ford, showed a group of well flowered Begonia Gloire 
de Lorraine edged with a couple of Vines of Lygodium 
scandens, 17 ft. each in length. The point of interest 
in the plants of this group was that they were all in 
very small pots, and meant for impromptu table 
decoration, or for small edging plants to a table. 
(Silver Banksian Medal.) 
Messrs. Wells & Co., Ltd., Redhill, Surrey, staged 
pyramids of the docorative Chrysanthemums Letrier, 
white ; and Golden Princess Victoria. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshuni, 
sent up the variety of Ilex Aquifolium named 
Marnock, which approaches I. A Hendersonii The 
branches were well berried. They also exhibited the 
new scarlet Carnation called America. The plants 
are robust, about 2 ft. tall, and floriferous. The 
blooms are strong and showy, furnishing a useful cut 
flower at this time. 
Messrs. R. & G. Cuthbert, Southgate Nurseries, 
Middlesex, showed a very even and strongly flowered 
batch of Narcissus Telamonius plenus var. Cuthbert's 
Early Double Golden. The chief point of merit of 
this variety is its exceeding earliness. It has flowered 
for three weeks, and the blooms are bright, large and 
strong. (Bronze Flora Medal.) 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, came 
forward with a highly attractive exhibit of Zonal 
Pelargonium trusses set up in tall glasses above 
white paper. The newer representatives were, W. 
E. Corden, rich scarlet; Winston Churchill, white 
centre with rose-amaranth border; General Buffer, 
mauve-amaranth suffused with scarlet; Lord Roberts 
still deeper in colour, having even a tinge of violet; 
Mrs. Brown-Potter, bright rose ; Lilacina Improved, 
Barbara Hope, reddish-rose ; Lady E. Malet, shell- 
pink edged rose ; Mary Pelton, rich-rose pink, and 
some grand unnamed seedlings. The exhibit was the 
centre of much admiration. (Silver Flora Medal.) 
Lord Aldenham (gardener, Mr. E. Beckett), Alden- 
ham, Elstree, showed a wonderfully fresh collection 
of decorative varieties of Chrysanthemums. These 
were arranged in stout vases above white paper, and 
were given ample space. The vases of blooms were 
of massive dimensions and each truss was bright and 
strong. Some of the finer of these included Jessica, 
a white, fringe-petalled variety ; Kate Williams, a 
golden yellow single; Princess Victoria, creamy; 
Golden Gem, King of the Plumes, Golden Thread, 
and the rich yellow Anemone pompon variety 
Eugenie Lanjailet. (Silver Flora Medal.) 
Messrs. Sander & Co., St. Albans, sent a finely 
flowered early batch of Coleus thyrsoides. This 
was flowered at Kew about two years ago, and has, 
on numerous occasions, attracted considerable 
attention. It is handsome in so far that it has long 
racemes or thyrses of deep’ but bright blue 
flowers. Cuttings are taken in April, and can be 
grown on through the summer for a winter display. 
It succeeds in a cool house. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 
Present. —George Bunyard, Esq., in the chair; 
with Messrs. James H. Veitch, C. Herrin, S. 
Mortimer, Alex. Dean, H. Esling, F. Q. Lane, Edwin, 
Beckett, J. Willard, G. Reynolds, Jos. Cbeal, and 
H. Balderson. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, 
showed a fine lot of their new variety of Cabbage 
named Cannell's Defiance. These were from seeds 
shown in July of this year. 
Messrs. Watkins and Simpson, 13, Exeter Street, 
Strand, showed Celery Covent Garden Red; 
Bibby’s Defiance ; and Standard Bearer, each 
receiving an Award of Merit. 
Messrs. Barr & Sons, King Street, Covent Garden, 
showed Celery Champion Solid White. (Award of 
Merit.) 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., received Awards 
of Merit for Celery Ivory’s Pink, and Veitch's 
Early Rose. The Messrs. Veitch also showed 
Carrots in the varieties James' Intermediate Model, 
and Matchless, all of which were exceedingly good 
samples. 
Messrs. James Carter & Co., High Holborn, 
London, made an attractive display with a collection 
of Capsicums, which were well fruited and sturdy. 
(Silver Banksian Medal.) 
A small show of Apples was brought together from 
various parties including the Earl of Ilchester (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. C. Dixon), Holland House, Kensington ; 
Mr. James Douglas, Great Bookham, Surrey; Mr. 
W. W. Cox, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, who 
showed finely coloured, evenly sized specimens of 
Ben Davis, Spy, Golden Russel, Wagner, King and 
Ontario. The dishes were placed upon paper 
marked with stars and stripes. 
Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Berkhamsted also showed 
fruits. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford, 
Dorking ; and Capt. Carstairs, Newbury, were also 
exhibitors. 
A dish of Potato Dumfries Model from Messrs. 
Kerr Bros., Dumfries, received an Award of Merit. 
Messrs. Lee & Co., Knightrider Street, Maidstone, 
showed a fresh fruit and milk bottling apparatus 
