October 15, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
829 
in mind that they should be perfectly clean before being 
written upon, or the ink will not show after a little time. I 
could mention many more items just as useful as the fore- 
going, but they may be found in any nurseryman’s catalogue, 
and can be obtained at any time. lb Thatcher. 
Wistow Gardens', Leicester. 
Some Funny Notions. 
Someone has said somewhere that* we are all a little mad on. 
some point or other, and I have often thought that there is 
even more than the proverbial grain of truth in that remark. 
Fortunately or unfortunately, according to how we look at 
the matter, we do> not see our own “ daft bits,” or, shall I rather 
use a kinder word—“ eccentricities.'’ 
Others, of course, would call these eccentric traits “ hobbies, 
and I will allow everyone to use the word that they most, 
prefer. I once served under a man who had the most pro 
nouneed aversion to his men using the garden walks. If it 
was at all possible, you must never set foot or wheel a barrow 
on a walk, but. always go by the alleys at the back of the 
borders. Another of this gardener’s eccentric notions was for 
ridging every part of the garden. This was bad enough in a 
place undermanned, but he had a. perfect mania, for having the 
ridges; as straight as a dart. This, of course, took time which 
could ill be spared, but that was no matter if his dearly-loved 
ridges were straight. 
Another very good gardener 1 served with, and one of the 
best authorities on hardy fruit it has ever been my privilege 
to know, could not for his life grow good Grapes. When: I 
state that he invariably started the Vines at a temperature of 
70 deg., this w*ill not be wondered at. He never seemed to be 
able to get over this initial blunder. Another of his notions 
was to strip every leaf from Ills Tomato®. To say that they 
presented a comical appearance is what everyone will admit, 
and the limit was of very poor size or quality. A gardener 
that I once knew slightly had a. great notion of renovating 
his Vine and Peach borders during the dead of winter.. On 
one occasion an early vinery was undergoing this renovating 
process when veiy severe frost, set in. To the average gar¬ 
dener this would have meant stop, but not so our friend. The 
men were unable to chop, the fresh soil owing to the frost, and 
were bid tumble it in a® it. was in big frozen lumps. Curiously 
enough, the Vines did first-rate for all this rough treatment. 
This man had also a great aversion to his men doing any work 
without his orders. If he had happened to he called away, 
and the men finished the job they were at before his return, it 
was always best to remain idle until heii came back. This was 
no fault, but to begin some necessary work without Iris orders 
was unpardonable. I recently heard of a man who was; tho¬ 
roughly convinced that the only way to grow fine Grapes was 
to keep his inside border covered with about a foot of solid 
eowdung. Well, I would not have fancied eating those Grapes, 
and I think I am safe in saying that if he did grow good Grapes, 
it was in spite of, not because of his treatment. Certainly, red 
spider would seldom have a look-in there, which is in itself a 
comfort. 
Most of us no doubt know the man who would not plant a 
Leek without first, hacking the ends off the leave® and cutting 
most, of the root® away. Or the man who is certain his Car¬ 
nations would newer root if the points of the leaves; were not 
cut. off. These notions 1 , of course, are absurd, but ten to; one 
each of us ha® a notion, on some .subject just- asi absurd to the 
average looker-on as these are to us. So. it is from, no feeling 
of superiority nor belief in my own infallibility that I pen 
these lines, Irut only in, the hope that they may be new to 
some of the “ G.W.” readers. C. Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
Big Apple. —An Apple, 15 in. round, and weighing 1 lb. ozs., 
has been grown at Studley Royal Gardens, Yorks. 
SOCIETIES. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
October 5th and 6th. 
The early autumn exhibition of Chrysanthemums was held in 
the Crystal Palace on the above dates, and, though the weather 
was fine except on the afternoon of the first, day, the attendance 
of visitors was thin. In several of the classes for cut blooms, 
especially for tile twenty-four, twelve, and six blooms, there were 
some large and handsome samples for October; but w© should 
have liked to see more competition in the classes for early- 
flowering Chrysanthemums and Pompon varieties. Several very 
large and effective groups of Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Roses, 
and Asters were features of the show. Large collections of fruit 
were also- present. 
The premier honour for twenty-four blooms of Japanese 
Chrysanthemums, of which eighteen had to he distinct, was 
secured by Mr. W. Ring, gardener to J. Warren, Esq., Capel 
House, Waltham Cross. He had two very even stands, including 
handsome blooms of Mafeking Hero, Marquis V. Venosta, Bessie 
Godfrey, Bronze; S. d’Octobre, Miss Coomber, Mrs. J. C. Neville, 
Mrs. H. Emmerton, Ethel Fitzroy, Mermaid, Miss Olive Miller, 
and Mrs. J. Thorny croft. The two first mentioned were the 
largest blooms. Mr. James Brookes, gardener to W. J. Newman, 
Esq., Totteridge Park, Totteridge, Herts, was a good second, 
though the average of his blooms was distinctly smaller. Fine 
blooms were G. Henry, Miss A. Byron, Mrs. T. W. Poekett, 
Godfrey’s Pride, Miss E. Fulton, and Marquis V. Venosta. Mr. 
C. J. Ellis, gardener to. H. L. Bisclioffsheim, Esq. , Warren House, 
Stanmore, came in third with several good blooms. There were 
five entries in the class. 
The lead for twelve Japanese, distinct, was taken by Mr. W. 
Ring, whose blooms filled the hoards, as in the big class. His 
finest blooms were the same as in the previous class. Mr. James 
Brookes was second with a charming bloom of Souv. de Calvat 
pere, and less developed blooms of other varieties. Mr. Henry 
Perkins, gardener to the Hon. W. F. D. Smith, M.P., Greenla.nds, 
Henley-on-Thames, came in third with fine blooms of Henry 
Perkins and Mrs. T. W. Poekett. 
Mr. A. C. Horton,-gardener to H. H. Flatten, Esq., Harwood 
Hall, Upminster, E-sex, took the lead for six blooms with splendid 
samples of Mrs. G. Mileham, Edith Shrimpton, and Mrs. T. W. 
Poekett. Mr. George Halsey, gardener to Mrs. Jeremiah Lyon, 
Ricldings Court, Caterham Valley, was a good second, his bloom 
of Mrs. G. Mileham being grand. Messrs. Saltmarsh and Son, 
Chelmsford, came in third. 
In the class for twelve bunches of early-flowering Pompons the 
lead was taken by Mr. E. F. Such, Maidenhead, with such 
beautiful varieties as Mine. E. Lefort, Strethmeath, White Pet, 
and Mr. J. Selby. Mr. D. B. Crane, 4, Wood view Terrace, Arch¬ 
way Road, Highga.te, was a very good second. 
The best, two vases of twelve blooms each were exhibited by 
Mr. James Brookes, who had long trails of Ampelopsis Veit chi 
and Asparagus. Mr. John Fulforcl, gardener to F. D. Lambert, 
Esq. , J.P., Moor Hall, Cookham, Berks, was second : and Messrs. 
Saltmarsh and Soil came in third. 
Mr. D. B. Crane, had the. best twelve bunches of early-flowerino- 
Chrysanthemumis, having fine hunches of Goacker’s; Crimson, 
Harvest Home, Robert Pemberton, Improved Masse, Carrie, etc. 
Mr. Eric F. Such also had a fine lot of this class, including Horace 
Martin and Goacher’s Crimson. 
Miss Fair weather, Bifrons, Canterbury, had the best decoration 
of Chrysanthemums for a dinner table, using crimson and yellow 
varieties, with Asparagus and grasses. Miss F. L. Brewster. 12, 
St. Peter’s, Canterbury, was second ; Mr. W. Jones, gardener to 
Mrs. Bangs, Ellesmere Lodge, Snatesbrook, Essex, was third ; 
and Miss C. B. Cole, Feltham, Middlesex, fourth. There; were 
eight entries. 
Miss C. B. Cole took the lead for three epergnes of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, followed by Mr. D. B. Crane and Mr. William Jones m 
this order. 
In the amateurs’ classes the. first award for twelve Japanese 
blooms was. taken by Mr. M. Payment, gardener to W. Beech, 
Esq., North Ockendon, Romford. His finest blooms were Henry 
Perkins and Lady Crawshaw, the former being the. best bloom of 
this variety in the show. Mr. W. Trowell, gardener to D. Link, 
Esq., Fairlight, The Avenue, Beckenham, was second. 
Mr. D. B. Crane also, took the premier award in the amateurs’ 
section for twelve . bunches of earlv-flowering Ponqxms. Mr. 
Frank Cordell, gardener to A. F. Blades, Esq., Rookfields, 
Reigate, -had the best six Japanese blooms, followed by Mr. C. 
