864 1 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 11, 1905. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
m m EXHIBITION 
t 
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE 
ON 
DRESSING. 
Much has been written at one time or 
another about dressing Chrysanthemum blooms 
for exhibition, particularly the incurved 
varieties; but with the appearance of new and 
larger varieties every year dressing becomes 
more difficult with some of them in consequence 
of their being so nearly related to the Jap. in¬ 
curved. Many a time have we seen very good 
blooms of both varieties standing down in the 
prize list simply because they have not been 
dressed as they ought. 
We think that the Japanese varieties do not 
get as much preparation for the show-board as 
is absolutely necessary; certain it is we have 
seen it written in up-to-date papers that all 
they require is to turn them upside down and 
give a good shaking. Nothing is more mislead¬ 
ing to the uninitiated than such absurd state¬ 
ments. We do not say every variety of Jap. 
requires dressing—on the contrary, there are 
some that are much prettier shown as they 
grow naturally ; but picture to yourself two 
blooms of, say, Mrs. Yallis, the one with the 
petals all intermixed and the other dressed and 
every petal reflexed so as to show the best 
colour and form. We have no hesitation in 
saying the dressed bloom will carry more points 
than the other one. But one should not wait 
till an hour before the show to start dressing 
blooms ; they should be gone over at least every 
other day when opening, and varieties that 
should be reflexed when finished must have the 
petals turned down, as all varieties will not do 
it without help. Take Mrs. Barkley for 
instance ; we think we are right in saying Mrs. 
Barkley came out as a reflexed Jap. (at least 
we have been under, that impression), but not 
five per cent, will reflex if left alone. We have 
seen this variety exhibited both as a Jap. 
reflexed and a Jap. incurved ; but then there is 
no comparison in the two blooms, the reflexed 
one being larger and showing a better colour, 
consequently is worth more on a board. To 
dress this variety to perfection it should be 
taken in hand when about half open, or even 
before, and every petal reflexed as they mature. 
The same remarks apply to many other 
varieties : Countess of Arran, Lord Ludlow, 
Geo. Carpenter, Henry Perkins, Nellie Bean, 
and others. 
Incurved varieties require much more dress¬ 
ing than do the Japanese, a good few of which 
should be started on early. When about half 
open a sharp eye should be kept on varieties 
such as Mrs. Bryce, Lady Isabel, Mme. Ferlat, 
Mrs. W C. Egan, Mr.s.fH. J. Jones and a host 
of others. If taken on early buds some are 
sure to come too full, showing petals coming 
the wrong way, some with mere than one 
centre, and if left alone will not make blooms 
fit to show. These should have some of the 
petals removed from the centre with the steel 
tweezers, so as to make room for them all to 
develop. A little experience in this way will 
teach one how and when to do it. 
Some varieties, such as Curtis, do not need 
touching to any extent until taken off the 
plant; we have always found it difficult enough 
to get a sufficient number of petals to fill up. 
If a flower is a bit hollow in the top, the centre 
shorrld be taken out either with a sharp pen¬ 
knife or with the tweezers, and the petals 
pulled over until they meet in the centre; but 
previous to this the bloom should have been 
cupped, then arrange every petal in its place all 
round the flower until the bottom is reached, 
when it may be necessary to cup up a little 
tighter. We do not advise to take hold of one 
dower and keep it in the hand until it is 
finished, because a difficult dower might take 
an hour or more to dnish, and to hold it in the 
warm hand for any length of time causes the 
petals to get soft and droop, therefore we advise 
having at least three blooms cut ready for 
dressing, and when dfteen minutes have been 
spent on one dower put it in water again to 
“ give it a rest,” and make a start on another. 
Perhaps the next dower may not be quite 
dnished, but have some short petals in the 
centre. These dowers are not at all easy to 
make show blooms, but with perseverance and 
practice may be made all right. To begin, all 
the short petals should be taken out and the 
matured ones pulled over to the centre as 
advised for the hollow-centred one, and treat as 
before. We have often met with dowers the 
centre of which has extended down the sides, 
making a tram-line as it were down the side of 
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the dower. This is through neglect when the 
dower has been opening, by having had too 
many petals, some of which should have been 
taken out. These last should never be used on 
a board unless absolutely necessary, as, no 
matter how well dressed, they are always faulty. 
The best way to do them is to take out all short 
petals down the “ line ” and draw the others 
over from both sides as well as possible. 
Needless to say, when such dowers have to be 
done one’s name ought to be Job, It requires 
much practice and more patience to make an 
expert in Chrysanthemum dressing. 
Another type of Chrysanthemum we would 
like to treat on is the Japanese that sometimes 
shows an eye. These dowers, although good 
from a distance, are generally disappointing 
when inspected at close quarters, but with the 
aid of some floral gum, and another dower of 
the same variety, an expert can make a good 
one. It does not happen so much in these 
days as it did a few years ago, when there were 
not so many varieties to choose from. But if 
it did happen that one had a good dower, 
apparently, and of a colour that was required, 
then we say it might be done. Mind you, we 
should not say “ do it,” only it can be done ; 
because we know some growers would scorn 
to do anything like that, and yet they would 
not hesitate to borrow a dower from a friendly 
gardener. 
We have known two dowers made into one 
practically, before now, and perhaps, if lucky, 
may do so again. How to do it is : take a petal 
from one dower, dip the base in the doral gum, 
and insert it in the other bloom very close to 
other petals, and so on until the centre is made 
up. Be careful to put the petals right way up 
and try to make it look as natural as possible. 
When arranging dowers on a board always 
blend the colours well, and place the best 
blooms in the front row, if there are any better 
than others, because in these days of keen com¬ 
petition they must all be “ best.” The front 
row can always be better seen than the others, 
particularly the middle one, where any flower 
that is the least bit weak must be put, so as to 
hide as far as possible any defect. If dowers 
have travelled any distance, a few petals will 
very often be displaced ; therefore, never neglect 
to take your tweezers and brush, so as to give 
a touch up before judging takes place. 
Rayonnante. 
-♦- 
How to Keep them 
in 
Good Condition. 
It is not everyone that can keep Ferns in 
good condition throughout the year, hut by 
studying their wants it is clear that a Fern 
needs something more than to remain in the 
same pot always and be watered with water 
only. Tire spring, perhaps, would be the 
better time to commence operations, but as 
in autumn one sees many sickly plants, my 
few remarks will not be out of place to those 
who may be looking about for a remedy. 
Young seedlings must be the future plants, 
throwing worn-out plants away, unless they 
are something choice. These seedlings can be 
potted any time of the year, and if in a 
warm house and potted on as they require 
will soon make good plants. As must be 
evident, when they have exhausted the nutri¬ 
ment from the soil the plants will go back, 
unless potted; they can be kept going for a 
time with weak liquid manure. If the size 
limit is a 5-in. pot, frequent sowing and pot¬ 
ting on of seedlings is necessary. It may not 
have been noticed by all that when the fronds 
are fast-ripening spores the plants deteriorate, 
assuming a sickly appearance. To counteract 
this is to often be picking the ripe fronds off, 
when they will continue to throw up young 
fronds, which give a healthy appearance and 
are so much admired. 
Ferns generally will be found to do much 
better away from draughts in a humid corner, 
when they often flourish like weeds, when in 
the same house away from such a position it 
is the reverse. A Fern reminds me of a per¬ 
son trying to get somewhere out of sight, and 
it is here, anyway, that they succeed. A dry 
atmosphere must lie avoided. The things to 
