November 11, 1905. 
THE GARDEN l NO WORLD 
871 
also the old leaves that arc of no use. If 
the plants are dry a good soaking of water 
should be afforded. Carefully loosen the soil 
along both sides of the trench, then collect the 
leaves in one hand, keeping all upright, and 
working the soil about them with the other, 
which should be about 3 in. This at the base 
of the leaf stalks will be sufficient to support 
them. Give two more earthings for early 
Celery, and three for late. 
There are, of course, many methods of 
blanching, but I recommend that which 1 
have found a great success. Tie up the plants 
carefully before commencing to earth, which 
will be about 6 in. Then spray the sticks 
along with water each side, and immediately 
give them a thorough dusting with soot and 
lime, equal proportions ; this will quickly dry 
and prevent anything eating it while blanch¬ 
ing, and a stick of Celery free from riddles 
will be the result. After earthing remove the 
The great competition and fete of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society was again 
held at the Crystal Palace on the 1st, 2nd, 
and 3rd inst. The exhibits were arranged in 
the central transept and along the western 
end of the nave of the Palace. There were 
many opinions that the blooms were scarcely 
of equal quality to those of last year, but it 
would be difficult to agree altogether with that 
decision. No doubt some of the exhibits were 
not equal to those by the game exhibitors last 
year, but that is a variation which we usually 
expect. The blooms, not only in the leading 
exhibits but in the winning stands of the 
principal classes, were certainly large enough, 
and in other cases where the blooms seemed 
smaller they were very fresh, and probably 
■wanted only a few days longer to reach per¬ 
fection. In any case, the exhibits must have 
given the judges a good deal of trouble in ad¬ 
judicating the prizes, and certainly they were 
occupied apparently a longer time than usual 
in making their awards. 
The arrangements in the Palace, and also 
in the schedule, were much the same as in 
former years, the most notable change coming 
under our notice being in the class open to 
the competition of affiliated Chrysanthemum 
and horticultural societies. Instead of a cer¬ 
tain number of Japanese and incurved blooms 
being asked for, the class was altered to a 
table of Chrysanthemums to consist of any 
section, not less than four of the latter being 
represented. Exhibitors seem more disposed 
' to exhibit as individuals than in company 
with others of their local society. This may 
j be due, in a measure, to the fact that usually 
J oiK' or two of their members take the lead and 
1 can supply better blooms than all the rest put 
[ together. The trained plants, as in several 
| years past, were not in strong force, and evi- 
I dently they are not popular at the present 
day. 
Groups of Chrysanthemums have never been 
j so numerous at the Crystal Palace as they 
, used to be at the Royal Aquarium, but we 
fancy they are very much like the trained 
specimens not very popular amongst exhibi- 
I tors at the present day. This form of exhibit 
was encouraged in Ciass 1, which was for a 
floral display o.f Chrysanthemums with suit¬ 
able foliage plants in pots, to occupy a circular 
space of 300 square feet on the floor. The 
leading position was taken by Mr. Norman 
tie. Repeat the same at each operation. 
Press the soil firmly round the stick, espe¬ 
cially th© last. If any protection is required 
for late crops, two weather boards nailed 
thick-edge together, A-shape, will protect 
them better than litter. 
The Celery fly is very destructive. During 
June, if possible, water them with a mixture 
of paraffin and water (two teaspoonfuls to a 
gallon of water will make it distasteful lo 
them), spraying every night after sunset. 
Should the maggots appear later, squeeze 
them between the thumb and fingers. 
At all times must the plants be moist, and 
occasionally liquid manure may be given to 
a 1 vantage, as the plants are gross feeders. 
Remember that from germination to the time 
of earthing no check of any kind must be 
given, as the result will be adverse to the 
whole future growth. A. Middleton. 
The Gardens, Ooombe Lodge, Croydon. 
Davis, Framfield, Sussex, who had a well- 
furnished group consisting of a high dome¬ 
shaped mass in the centre with large-flowered 
Chrysanthemums, around which was a broad, 
flat margin of Maidenhair Ferns, in which 
magnificent blooms with long stalks were ar¬ 
ranged. He also had four tall ornamental 
vases placed at intervals in this border, and 
filled with large-flowering varieties. Between 
every two vases was a distinct design. Tire 
second award went to Messrs. John Peed and 
Son, Roupell Park Nurseries, West Norwood, 
London, whose group was somewhat similar, 
but had a larger central mass dipping slightly 
near the edge, in which Chrysanthemum 
plants were stood at intervals. 
Four prizes were offered for twelve vases of 
specimen blooms of five flowers each, and cut 
with long stems. This class occupied the 
greater portion of one of the long tables. The 
lead was taken by Mr. W. Iggulden, Locks 
Hill Nurseries, Frome, Somerset, who had 
very large blooms of Eleanor Duchess of 
Northumberland, Henry Perkins, Bessie- God¬ 
frey, Valerie Greenhanr, Souvenir de Calvat, 
Pere, General Hutton, President Viger, Mar¬ 
quis V. Venosta, Miss E. Fulton, Mrs. 
Barkley, Mme. P. Radaelli, and Mr. F. S. 
Vallis. The second prize was secured by Mr. 
Charles Beckett, gardener to Sir W. G. 
Pearce, Bart., Chilton Lodge, Hungerford. 
The third award went to Mr. C. J. Dicker, 
gardener to the Hon. Miss Canning, Frant 
Court, Sussex. All these and several other 
of the exhibits were certainly fine. 
As above stated, the National Competition 
of Affiliated Societies was altered in character. 
The Epsom and District Chrysanthemum 
Society took the lead with a table of large 
and small blooms in vases, set up with 
autumn-tinted foliage, the Japanese blooms 
being placed at the back and the other types 
in front. Mr. G. Hunt was the only contri¬ 
butor to the display. The Wanstead and 
District Chrysanthemum Society took the 
second place with a similarly arranged group, 
and seven of the local growers contributed to 
the exhibit. 
The competition for the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society’s Holmes Memorial Chal¬ 
lenge Cups was as keen as ever, the competi¬ 
tion being greatest, however, in the class for 
Japanese blooms. The leading place for 
thirty-six incurved blooms distinct was se¬ 
cured by Mr. W. lliggs, gardener to J. B. 
Hankey, Esq., Fetcham. Park, Fetcham, 
Lcatherhead, who had many blooms of re¬ 
markable size. The small and neat old- 
fashioned incurved varieties have been all but 
completely ousted from the show-boards, and 
the blooms seem to be getting larger with each 
set or introduction of new varieties. Some 
of the finest blooms were Buttercup, Mrs. F. 
Judson, Margaret Brown, Boccace, W. Pas- 
coe, Miss E. Seward, Embleme Poitevin, Mrs. 
G. Denyer, G. W. Matthew, Frank Ham¬ 
mond, Duchess of Fife, Topaze Orientale, 
Charles Bacque, and others. Mr. W. Mease, 
gardener to A. Tate, Esq., Downside, Leather- 
head, took the second place with a well-grown 
lot of blooms, including grand samples of 
Mrs. Bryce, Ialene, Buttercup, Pantia Ralli, 
May Phillips, Duchess of Fife, Violet Foster, 
and others. The third award was secured by 
Mr. G. Hunt, gardener to Pantia Ralli, Esq., 
Ashtead Park, Epsom, who had many tine 
blooms. 
Great interest was centred on the class for 
forty-eight distinct Japanese blooms for the 
Holmes Memorial Challenge Cup. There 
were eleven entries, most of which would have 
been winners in former years, but the blooms 
are now of immense size, and show a great 
deal of cultural skill. Mr. W. Higgs was 
again successful with blooms crowding one 
another on the boards. The mere mention of 
a number of them will give readers some idea 
of the varieties which lead in the contest at 
the present day. Amongst them we should 
name Valerie Greenliam, Mme. C. Nagel- 
mackers, Mrs. Guy Paget, Edith Smith, Maud 
Du Cros, Mme. P. Radaelli, Ethel Fitz- 
roy. Chrysanthemist, Montingy, Duchess of 
Sutherland, Mrs. H. Weeks, Godfrey’s Pride, 
Mdlle. Anna Dobono, Ernest Penford, Miss 
Stopford, Marquis V. Venosta, Mrs. Barkley, 
Bessie Godfrey, A. L. Stevens, F. S. Vallis, 
W. R. Church, Lady Mary Conyers, Mrs. G. 
Mil-eham, and W. A. Etherington, the last 
being a huge bloom. The second place was 
taken by Mr - . James Lock, gardener to 
Sir C. Swinfen-Eady, Oatlands Lodge, Wey- 
bridge ; Mr. A. Jefferies, gardener to John 
Balfour, Esq., Moor Hall, Harlow, Essex, 
came in third ; Mr. G. Hunt was fourth, and 
an extra prize was awarded to Mr. George 
Hall, gardener to the Dowager Lady Ash¬ 
burton, Melcliet Court, Romsey, Hants. All 
of the above were certainly grand exhibits, 
and the fresh condition and shapely character 
of the blooms put up by Mr. -Mease would 
have lead one to expect a prize for them, but 
such was not the case. The notable feature 
in the competition for the Holmes Memorial 
Cups was that most of the leading growers 
are located within a short distance of each 
other in Surrey. 
The competition for the president’s prize 
was also remarkably keen, there being no less 
than fifteen entries for twenty-four Japanese! 
blooms. The lead was taken by Mr. Thomas 
Stevenson, gardener to- E. Mocatta, Esq., 
Woburn Place, Addlestone, who had many 
grand blooms of varieties already mentioned, 
but including also equally fine o'nes of Mrs. .1. 
Dunn, Mrs. A. H. Lee, Mildred Ware, and 
Mrs. W. Mease. He was followed by Mr. 
Thomas Waller, gardener to A. C. Ham- 
mersley, Esq., Abney House, Bourne End, 
Bucks; Mr. George Hall, gardener to-- the 
Dcwager Lady Ashburton ; Mr. James Lock, 
and Mr. W. Higgs respectively. Each one 
had splendid stands of blooms crowding one 
another, upon the boiards. 
The class for twelve Japanese blooms also 
drew fifteen entries, and is usually a popular 
class at each succeeding show. Mr. Thomas 
Stevenson likewise took the lead in this class. 
/^'HRYSANTHE/ V \U/ V \S , 
At The Crystal Palace. 
Grand Exhibition 
by the N.C.S. 
/wwwwwvww 
