778 
THE GARDENING WORLD , 
December 19, 1908. 
Ghfgsapt^er^unps at the 
- - - Grgstal Palace. 
■+• = 
’VTlttUu SxMWtttm oi tU N.&.S. 
The Early Winter Exhibition of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society was 
held at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, on 
the 2nd and 3rd insts., during dry but 
cold weather. Some of the varieties that 
can be timed up to perfection at the 
beginning of November can also be 
shown in tolerable form at the' beginning 
of December by slightly different treat¬ 
ment. The flowers that appeared at the 
Palace were, therefore, not a remainder 
hanging over from November, but flowers 
cut from plants grown for the purpose. 
To give an idea of the varieties suitable 
for a December exhibition and of suitable 
size for staging on boards, we may men¬ 
tion the names of the varieties in the 
first prize exhibit of eighteen Japanese 
Chrysanthemums not less than twelve 
varieties. Mr. G. Hunt, gardener to 
Pantia Ralli, Esq., Ashtead Park, 
Epsom, was the champion on this oc¬ 
casion and exhibited splendid blooms of 
Miss Miriam Hankey, Mme. R. Cadbury, 
Algernon Davis, John Peed, Mrs. J. C. 
Neill, W. H. Whitehouse, W. M. Moir, 
Bessie Godfrey, Mrs. H. Perkins, R. C. 
Pulling, Thomas Stevenson, Mme. R. 
Oberthur and Mrs. A. G. Pirie. Good 
stands were also put up by Mr. H. Hum¬ 
phrey, gardener to the Rt. Hon. Lord 
Ludlow, Lamport, Northampton, and Mr. 
W. Mease, gardener to A. Tait, Esq., 
Downside, Leatherhead, who were win¬ 
ners in this order. 
Mr. Hunt also took the lead for twelve 
Japanese blooms, distinct, and here again 
he exhibited a number of the same varie¬ 
ties and the larger ones were Mrs. J. C. 
Neill, John Peed and Mme, P. Radaelli. 
In this class he was succeeded by Mr. W. 
Mease and Mr. J. Preece, gardener to 
Miss Willmott, Warley Place, Brentwood. 
In the class for twelve incurved varie¬ 
ties Mr. G. Hunt again took the lead 
followed by Mr. J. Preece and Mr. W. 
Mease. The blooms he showed were W. 
W T ainwright. May Phillips, Mdlle. L. 
Faure, G. W. Matthews, Ialene, Marjorie 
Shield, Mrs. J. Hygate and The Egyp¬ 
tian, the rest being duplicates. All three 
stands contained beautiful compact 
blooms, such as are essential for a stand 
of Japanese Chrysanthemums. 
There were nine entries for a dinner 
table decorated with Chrysanthemums, 
and the lead was taken bv Mr. T. W. 
Stevens, gardener to W. H. Stone, Esq., 
Donnington, Laurie Park Gardens, 
Sydenham. He emnloved plumy yellow 
and chestnut-red Chrysanthemums with 
trails of Selaginella and Ampelopsis 
Veitchii. Mrs. A. Robinson, Norhvrst, 
Park Hill. Carshalton, used bronze Chry¬ 
santhemums chiefly, but the exhibit was 
somewhat more heavily built. Mr. A. W. 
Trossell, gardener to H. Attenborough’ 
Esq.,' St. Helens, The Avenue, Becken¬ 
ham, used much larger yellow blooms 
and took the. third place. 
Chrysanthemums in vases were another 
mature of the show, as they were staged 
in considerable variety. For nine vases 
of- six blooms each the lead was taken by 
Mr. G. Hunt and the blooms were similar 
to those shown on the boards. He also 
took the lead for twelve vases of single 
varieties showing beautiful bunches of 
Lady Windsor (white and rose), Edith 
Pagram (pink), Doreen (yellow), Annie 
Farrant (crimson-red), Mr. Will Jordan 
(lake) and Golden Star. 
For a large vase of exhibition Japanese 
and incurved blooms with any kind of 
foliage, the lead was taken by Mr. R. B. 
Luck, gardener to J. C. Ern, Esq., Wood- 
hall, Dulwich, who mixed his large 
blooms with Fern fronds and highly 
coloured Barberry leaves. 
The class, for a large vase of single 
spidery, plumy or thread-petalled Chry¬ 
santhemums offered some scope for grace¬ 
ful arrangement. The class for a large 
vase of Pompon Chrysanthemums ar¬ 
ranged with foliage also offered similar 
possibilities; in both classes the lead was 
taken by Miss C. B. Cole, The Vineyard, 
Feltham, who cut her flowers with long 
stems so that the lower ones could hang 
down and cover the vase somewhat after 
the manner of showing decorative ffases 
of American Carnations at the present 
day. 
In an amateur’s class for a large vase 
of Chrysanthemums arranged with foliage 
and berries the lead was taken by Mr. W. 
Webb, gardener to J. Chapman, Esq., 
Melrose, Laurie Park Road, Sydenham. 
He built up a very massive vase by the 
use of Asparagus and large Fern fronds. 
The competition in each of these classes 
for vases was very good. 
There were also some good stands of 
large blooms exhibited by amateurs so 
that they must now be highly experienced 
in keeping Chrysanthemums through the 
dampest and worst period of the year. 
The best stand of twelve blooms came 
from Mr. W. Walters, Alexandria Road, 
Burton-on-Trent. 
Miscellaneous. 
The principal features of the miscel¬ 
laneous exhibits were Chrysanthemums 
and Apples. Mr. H. J. Tones, Ryecroft 
Nurseries, Hither Green, Lewisham, had 
an extensive and effective group of Chry¬ 
santhemums in bamboo stands and vases. 
Amongst these- he had Palms and Pine¬ 
apple plants and cut blooms in front 
(Gold Medal - ). 
The Nova Scotia Government had an 
attractive exhibit of red Apples, ■ bottled 
Gooseberries and other fruits. (Large 
Silver Medal). 
Messrs. W. Wells &- Co., Ltd., Mers- 
tham, staged Chrysanthemums, chiefly 
single varieties with some large blooms. 
A rather distinct new variety was Cloth 
of Gold which might be described as old 
gold colour.. (Large Silver Medal). 
Messrs. John Peed & Son, West Nor¬ 
wood, had alpines and Cacti. 
Mr. Norman Davis, Framfield, Sussex, 
had a varied display of single Chrysa 
themums on bamboo stands in bask 
and vases. (Gold Medal). 
Alessrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanh 
staged Chrysanthemums and cut flow.- 
of Pelargoniums. (Large Silver Meds’ 
The British Columbia Government a < 
set up an attractive lot of highly colour 
Apples, such as are grown there. Son 
of the Apples grown m Canada are idc 
tical with our own, but more high 
coloured. (Large Silver Medal). 
Mr. Philip Ladds, Swanley, had a tat 
of Chrysanthemums and Palms with 
larger circular group on the floor. (G c 
Medal). 
Digging and Trenchin; 
One of the most important, if not tl 
most important, of garden operations, 
trenching the ground to a proper dept 
No form of culture will repay one 
well as a thorough preparation of tl 
soil in the late autumn, and done in sue 
a way that it will be well exposed 
winter frosts. 
If the ground is of a light, sane 
nature, digging before the approach < 
winter is not so imperative; but if it 
of a strong, clayey character, then wir.t; 
digging is of the utmost value, and whe 
turning the ground, be careful always t 
leave as rough a surface as possibh 
When turned up in the rough, a large 
surface is exposed to the frost. A so 
turned up in this manner is not only in: 
proved by the action of the frost, but 
is also properly aerated. And this is 
point in culture that does not always ge 
the attention it deserves. Heavy' soil 
are therefore much benefited by deep dig 
ging before winter sets in, whilst light 0 
sandy soils are perhaps most benefite 
by being well turned up juSt before crop 
ping operations commence. 
hen trenching take out the openinj 
soil according to its depth, one or tw< 
feet down, and about two feet wide, righ 
across the piece of ground requiring to h 
turned up. The earth taken out shouh 
be removed to the other end of the piece 
Next turn the top of the second two fee 
into the bottom of the first trench, so tha 
when it is finished the soil originally a 
the top will be turned to the bottom. Re 
peat this process right through unti 
finished, and the last trench will be fillec 
up with the soil carried over from th< 
first. It is of the greatest importance t< , 
note that only good, rich, fertile soi 
must be turned up; if the bottom is da; 
or gravel, this must only be loosened 
and tnen allowed to remain where it is 
If all garden ground were broken u] 
as deep as possible, and worked in thf 
way, crops would be had a half heavier 
and also of far better quality than at pre 
sent. By adopting such a system, and ; 
thorough rotation of crops, less manun 
would also be required, and vegetable: 
■would be stronger, better shaped, as ir 
the case of root crops, and no mattei 
what kind of crops were grown, thee 
would be sweeter and far more palatablf 
and nourishing. 
It is something to be able to grow nice 
crisp, sweet vegetables, and this cannot 
be done where there is too free use of too 
rank or badly made manure. 
HoRTUS. 
