NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
About Chrysanthemums. —We heard several times 
during the summer that chrysanthemums had about had 
their day, but there is as much reason to believe that the 
snowdrop and crocus would be forgotten as to assert that 
chrysanthemums are no longer favorites. Each day our 
affection gets stronger, and when we see by frost and 
storm each one of our summer favorites laid low, then is 
the time our hearts are full of praises for our last and 
constant entertainer. 
There cannot be any of Fashion’s fickle mandates con¬ 
sidered where a flower so constant and true has our af¬ 
fection, and when one so easily grown as the chrysanthe¬ 
mum is the subject. If proof is wanted that there is less 
interest taken in the chrysanthemum to-day than there 
was a year since, we have only to note how many new 
chrysanthemum shows are being gotten up this sea¬ 
son. Raisers of new varieties are prepared to surprise" 
us with many new forms and several new colors. We 
have seen a few of the newer kinds, and though it is as 
yet early to give a full list, the following are entirely 
novel and distinct Japanese: Cceur fidele , silvery white 
Violet centre ; Jupiter, deep maroon ; Lakmi, golden sal¬ 
mon ; M. Boucot, rose-striped violet; M. Ghys, white with 
yellow centre; M. Raoux, amaranth, with white points, 
and Souvenir de Haarlem, violet and gold. Among the 
Chinese which flower later we note: Exposition de 
Chalons, violet and white; M. V. Morel, white and yel¬ 
low ; and New York, amaranth, gold and white, a mag¬ 
nificent variety. The best new pompon is Caeur-joie, 
deep crimson, each petal lined with golden yellow. 
* 
* * 
The Chrysanthemum Appreciated. —At a recent 
wedding in this city, where several hundred dollars were 
spent for floral decorations, not a flower was to be seen 
but the chrysanthemum. Had this been one of the dic¬ 
tates of fashion it would not have been worthy of note, 
because fashion has complete control over it devotees, and 
it matters not what the decree may be, or how ridiculous 
one may appear in its compliance, society never objects. 
In this case fashion was not consulted, and the chrysan¬ 
themum was selected for its true loveliness, and for its 
seasonable fitness. 
* 
* * 
New York Horticultural Society. —After a long season 
of rest this society shows remarkable vitality and has 
announced a Chrysanthemum Exhibition worthy the name 
The exhibition will be held in Horticultural Hall, November 
4, 5 and 6. The premium soffered are exceedingly liberal 
amounting to nearly one thousand dollars, and are nearly 
equally divided between the professional and amateur 
classes. The display promises to be the finest ever seen 
in this country, as the principal growers have been actively 
and systematically at work for the past year in growing 
the noble specimens that are to compete for the prizes. 
The secretary says: “ The specimens, too, will be finer 
than ever, especially the Standard or Tree Chrysan¬ 
themums with wide-spreading heads and as many as three 
and four sorts growing on a single stem. 
“ The cut-flower department will be represented by 
700 varieties, some single blossoms measuring 21 inches 
in circumference, and the Japanese sorts will be queer 
and enchanting, more so than any ever before seen out¬ 
side the gardens of the Mikado in Tokio.” 
Among prominent exhibitors will be Mr. James R. 
Pitcher, of Short Hills, N. J., who, as an enthusiast in 
chrysanthemum culture, has over six hundred specimen 
plants, and will send to this exhibition 175 varieties, a 
number of them his own seedlings, never before shown. 
Mr. Pitcher intends exhibiting at the chrysanthemum 
display in the American Institute. To the November 
chrysanthemum shows in Boston and Philadelphia he 
will send cut-flowers. 
* 
* * 
American Institute Floral Exhibition.— A new de¬ 
parture in the arrangement of the exhibition, held 
September 30 and October 1, 2 and 3, was a special 
hall set apart for the display, which added much to 
the effect of both plants and flowers, and was appre¬ 
ciated by the exhibitors and public alike. The ex¬ 
hibition of plants was quite large; a fine group of 
palms, staged in an alcove, was well done. Some fine 
specimen agaves and a few curious cacti had many ad¬ 
mirers. The general collection of plants consisted of 
nicely-colored crotons, dracasnas, ferns and small palms. 
There were special classes for zonal pelargoniums 
(geraniums), coleus and ferns. Some tuberous-rooted 
begonias were very handsome, the flowers on some be¬ 
ing quite four inches in diameter. A group of fancy¬ 
leaved caladiums, of the latest new kinds, were most ex¬ 
quisite ; words can hardly express the interest centred in 
this lovely piece of vegetable tracery. Some dracaenas 
and a few other miscellaneous window plants were also 
an attraction. Hanging baskets and wardian cases were 
well shown, also a few orchids, among which were the 
curious butterfly-like Oncidium papellio and the scarce 
Cypripedium Spicerianum, with its slipper and sandal 
flowers. 
The cut-flowers were well shown in goodly quantities ; 
especially fine were the dahlias, gladioli, zinnias and 
verbenas. A seedling dahlia, “ J. S. Burgess,” rich ma¬ 
roon crimson, of fine shape and depth of petal, was 
awarded the medal of excellence ; another, “ The Ge- 
nesta,” nearly black, with lustrous blush tips of the finest 
form and of medium size, was well shown. 
The display of “made-up,” or “pieces,” as designs in 
flowers are known, was considerably above the average 
and on the whole meritorious. A very handsome panel 
of moss, 30x20 inches, covered with Statice maritima 
lightly draped over it, with a grouping of fine roses in¬ 
terspersed with Asparagus tenuissimus and other fo¬ 
liage, was a very excellent piece, as was a “picture,” 
