954 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
. _ (CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
^ - SYDENHAM 
- AT 
WINTER EXHIBITION OF THE N.C.S. 
The early winter exhibition of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums and otlrhr flowers, under the auspices of 
the National Chrysanthemum Society, was 
held at the Crystal Palace on the 6th and 7tli 
inst., when a very respectable show indeed 
was got together. Mostly every one with 
whom we came in contact was agreed that- it 
was the best winter exhibition which the 
society has yet held. We remember when this 
same exhibition was held in January, and the 
flowers then presented a very sleepy appear¬ 
ance, besides being very small, and, in many 
cases, out of character. 
Those at the Palace on the dates mentioned 
admirably represented most of the sections, 
the most deficient class being the Pompon, 
which appears to be gradually dropping out 
of cultivation, or, at all events, disappearing 
from the showboards. Why that should be 
we cannot say, as they are admirably adapted 
for floral decorations. At present, however, 
those who are specialists in that department 
appear to be satisfied with the fairly large 
blooms as grown for market, or else singles, 
spidery varieties, and other decorative types. 
It may be that these we have just mentioned 
present a more artistic, graceful and less 
lumpy form than the more solid though minia¬ 
ture Pompon varieties. 
The Japanese blooms were not equal to 
those shown in November, but they were cer¬ 
tainly as fine as ever we have seen them in 
December. The groups offered nothing 
special from what have been seen at the Palace 
in former years at this season. Those 
devoted to flowering, berried, and foliage 
plants were, of course, limited to the types 
usually cultivated at this time of the year, 
and not many of the ardent lovers of the 
Chrysanthemum seem to trouble much about 
this class of exhibit. The growers of big 
blooms certainly acquitted themselves ad¬ 
mirably, and even in some cases those who 
were first prize winners at the November ex¬ 
hibition assisted the show by sending exhibits 
of blooms not for competition. 
The miscellaneous exhibits were in most 
cases very appropriate, consisting, as they did 
in most cases, of Chrysanthemums of various 
types, the large Japanese section being quite 
prominent. Indeed, in this class some of the 
blooms were quite as large as those to be seen 
in November, and probably, in many cases, 
represent varieties that are naturally late 
flowering. Within the last two> decades the 
cult of the Chrysanthemum has been respon¬ 
sible for creating a considerable number of 
varieties that naturally bloom in the months 
of October, November, or December. It 
follows, then, that no special effort or scien¬ 
tific requisite is necessary to have Chrysan¬ 
themum blooms during the last three months 
of the year. By special treatment we have 
seen large flowering Chrysanthemums bloom¬ 
ing at midsummer, and those who give their 
attention to such things can, by special treat¬ 
ment, get Chrysanthemums at any period of 
the year. 
The Autumn Queen will, however-, remain 
the flower most in request during the three 
waning months of the year, and, though tree 
Carnations may yet acquire great popularity 
for winter work, we think the Chrysanthemum 
will hold its own for many years to come, 
because more decidedly fit for cultivation by 
those who have less convenience for growing 
Carnations. 
Competition was keenest in the open 
classes, and the first was set apart for twenty- 
four blooms of Japanese Chrysanthemums. The 
premier position was taken by Mr. G. Hunt, 
gardener to Pantia It alii, Esq., Aslrtead Park, 
Epsom, who had grand blooms of Mary Inglis, 
D. Pywell, Godfrey’s Pride, Algernon Davis, 
Mrs. R. Oberthur, E. Slirimpton, C- J. 
Salter, Duchess of Sutherland, and others. 
The blooms were fresh, but not so large as in 
November. Mr. W. Mease, gardener to A. 
Tate, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, was a 
very good second with splendid blooms of 
Algernon Davis, Mme. .Carnot, Mrs. Thirksil, 
Mrs. T. Lunt, and others. Mr. J. Simon, 
gardener to W. W. Mann, Esq., Ravenswood, 
Bexley, Kent, came in with a good assortment 
of colours for the third place. 
In the class for twelve Japanese blooms, the 
first place was taken by Mr. H. Parr, gar¬ 
dener to F. A. Bevan, Esq., Trent Park, 
Barnet, who had larger blooms than in the 
big class, consisting of fine specimens of G. J. 
Warren, W. R. Church, Guy Hamilton, Mme. 
Carnot, etc. He was followed by Mr. G. 
Hunt, with an even stand, and Mr. W. 
Seward, The Beeches, Hanwell, W., came 
in third. 
Mr. John Aplin, gardener to W. Heath 
Baker, Esq., Hasfield Court, Gloucester, had 
the best six Japanese blooms, showing 
splendid specimens of Mrs. Swinburne, Mrs. 
J. E. Dunne, and Mrs. Barkley. The blooms 
in this stand were amongst the largest in the 
competition classes. 
For twelve incurved varieties Mr. G. Hunt 
took the first place with really fine blooms of 
F. Hammond, Mme. Lucie Faure, May 
Philips, Triomphe de Month run, The Major, 
and others. Mr. W. Mease took the second 
place with some fine blooms, and Mr. John 
Aplin came in third. 
For twenty-four bunches of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, any section, the lead was taken by Mr. 
George Hemming, Alexandra Park, N. He 
had bunches of blooms, similar to those grown 
for market purposes. He also took the lead 
for twelve vases of Japanese Chrysanthemums 
showing similarly grown flowers in bunches. 
Single Chrysanthemums were still in good 
form, and the prizes offered for six bunches 
of large flowering and six of small flowering 
single Chrysanthemums brought a fair num¬ 
ber of respectable exhibits. The premier 
place for the small flowering types was taken 
by Mr. C. Brown, High-street, Abbots Lang¬ 
ley, Herts, with varieties similar in size to 
Miss Mary Anderson. The same exhibitor 
took the lead for six bunches of decorative, 
spideiy, thread-petalled or plume Chrysan¬ 
themums. The varieties were King of the 
Plumes, Sam Carwell, Cannell’s Favourite, 
Mrs. Filkins and others. 
In the amateurs’ class for twelve Japanese 
blooms the lead was taken by Mr.- Charles. 
M. Collingwood, St. David’s Hill, Exeter, who- 
had fresh blooms in a variety of colours, but 
of moderate size. 
The most tastefully arranged hand-basket 
of Chrysanthemums was shown by Miss C. B. 
Cole, The Vineyard, Feltham. The handle 
was done with blooms of Chrysanthemum Mrs. 
Filkins and the berries of the Fiery Thom. 
The same Chrysanthemum was largely used in 
the body of the basket, together with Physalis 
Franclieti, orange seeds of Iris foetidissima 
and various types of autumn tinted foliage. 
December 16, 1905. 
Miscellaneous. 
Mr. IV. Higgs, gardener to J. B. Hankey, 
Esq., Fetcham Park, Fetcham, Leatherhead 
exhibited several stands of incurved Chrysan¬ 
themums in very fine form. Besides incurved 
varieties we have already mentioned, he also 
had grand blooms of lalene, IV. Higgs, Em- 
bleme Poitevin, Doris Raymer, Egyptian, and 
Miss E.. Seward. This being a non-competi¬ 
tive exhibit was awarded a Gold Medal for its 
excellence. 
Another very fine amateur exhibit, that is, 
non-commercial, was a table of Begonias 
shown by Mr. John Fleming, gardener to’Lady 
Pigott, Wexham Park, Slough. Mr. Fleming 
grows several specialities of Begonia, Gloire 
de Lorraine and its sports, such as Turnford 
Hall and Mrs. Leopold de Rothschild. The 
plants were larger than ever, and all of them 
were grown from cuttings. Indeed, the finest- 
plant was produced from a leaf cutting, and 
measured 3^ ft. in diameter. He has most 
faith, however, in cuttings for young plants, 
and the other specimens were slightly smaller, 
but none of them less than 2 ft!"” in diameter’ 
although grown in 6 in. and 8 in., and even a 
few. in smaller, pots. He also had a fine 
strain of Primula obconica. (Gold Medal.) 
Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Hither 
Green, Lewisham, had a new design of ar¬ 
rangement of his exhibit, upon the floor in¬ 
stead of on a table. At the back were large 
masses of big blooms of Chrysanthemums on 
bamboo stands, with smaller bunches in front 
arranged in bamboo tripods. Single blooms 
were also arranged along the front. A judi¬ 
cious use of tall plants of Cocos flexuosa was 
made, and the ground-work of the exhibit con¬ 
sisted of various types of Ferns. He was 
accorded a First-class Certificate for the pure 
white Japanese variety, Mrs. Swinburne. 
Other grand blooms were Mrs. G. Beech, 
Bessie Godfrey, Mrs. C. Crossley, Oakland 
Belle, H. Shoesmith, Chrys. Montigny, F. S. 
Vallis, and _ various others. This was the 
finest exhibit in the Palace, and received a 
large Gold Medal. 
( Mr. Norman Davis, Framfield, Uckfield, 
Sussex, had a massive exhibit on a high 
table, the blooms being arranged in an 
undulating bank, backed up with Palms. 
Tire big blooms were arranged in wide bamboo 
stands. He was accorded a First-class Certi¬ 
ficate for Mrs. G. Beech, a bright yellow sport 
from Mrs. Swinburne. Other fine blooms 
were Mme. R. Oberthur, Algernon Davis, 
Mrs. Swinburne, British Empire, Princess 
Mafalda, and many others. (Gold Medal.) 
Mr. Robert Forster, The Cemetery, Nun- 
head, S.E., received a large Silver Medal for 
a group of Chrysanthemums, Cypripedium 
insigne, C. spicerianum, Palms, and other 
plants. 
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, had 
a group of large single, spidery and Pompon 
Chrysanthemums in vases. A bank of Begonia 
Ensign and other winter-flowering Begonias 
was in splendid condition. They also showed 
Pelargonium flowers. (Gold Medal.) 
Messrs. Hugh Low and Co., Bush Hill Park, 
Enfield, had a very interesting exhibit of tree 
Carnations, amongst which, very fine, were 
America, Queen Louise, Harry Fenn, Cress- 
brook, Aurora, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. T. IV. 
Lawson, and Governor Roosevelt. They also 
staged cut flowers of Roses and plants of Cycla¬ 
men and Acacia. (Silver Gilt Medal.) 
Messrs. IV. IVells and Co., Merstham, Sur¬ 
rey, had a large exhibit of Chrysanthemums, 
chiefly Japanese. They were accorded a First- 
class Certificate for Miss Miriam Hankey, 
bearing enormous blooms 7^ in. wide and 
8 in. to 9 in. deep. The whole bloom was sil- 
very-pink, being darkest on the lower part. 
A fine new incurved variety was Triomphe de 
