April  22,  1897 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
345 
Notes  by  the  Way. 
The  movement  on  the  Continent  appear*  to  be  still  spreading,  and 
it  may  not  be  long  before  we  have  the  gratification  of  recording  that 
Chrysanthemum  Societies  have  been  established  in  Portugal,  in  Spain, 
and  in  Italy.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  a  meeting  was  held  in 
Amsterdam  of  several  Dutch  nurserymen,  with  the  result  that  a 
Chrysanthemum  club  was  started,  110  members  joining  at  the  first 
meeting.  We  await  with  no  small  degree  of  interest  further  particulars, 
as  the  President  and  Secretary  are  well  known  to  us  as  ardent 
“  Mummers  ”  for  some  years  past. 
Concerning  the  alphabetical  arrangement  of  Chrysanthemum  names 
for  catalogue  purposes,  a  subject  that  has  occupied  much  time  and 
attention,  and  which  M.  O.  de  Meulenaere  so  well  set  the  example  in 
his  excellent  catalogues  of  1801  and  1895,  M.  Couillard,  the  registrar 
of  the  French  N.C.S,  contributes  to  “  Le  Chrysanth^me”  for  April  a 
lengthy  article,  in  which  Feveral  weak  points  in  the  system  are  referred 
to,  and  an  invitation  extended  to  all  who  are  interested  in  the  subject  to 
consider  the  question  in  all  its  phases,  so  that  it  may  be  fully  discussed 
at  the  Orleans  Conference  next  November.  * 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  alphabetical  list  in  the  Jubilee 
edition  of  the  N.C.S.  catalogue  is  based  upon  M.  de  Meulenaere’s  system, 
but  there  are  minor  points  in  which  differences  are  likely  to  arise.  M. 
Couillard  rightly  considers  that  a  common  understanding  should  be 
come  to,  so  that  English,  Belgian,  and  French  catalogues,  official  and 
otherwise,  should  agree.  In  the  Jubilee  catalogue  the  principal  noun 
is  taken  as  the  word  under  which  the  variety  should  be  catalogued  ;  but 
in  a  name  like  Rein£  des  Abeilles,  R6  d’ltalia,  or  Queen  of  England, 
differences  of  opinion  may  alfound  as  to  which  is  the  principal  noun, 
and  especially  where  the  catalogue  is  dealing  with  a  foreign  name. 
M.  Couillard,  as  a  Frenchman,  is  probably  feeling  what  seme  of  us  as 
Englishmen  have  long  ago  felt.  I  believe  some  of  our  English  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  growers  will  be  invited  to  attend  the  Conference,  so  that  any 
intending  to  do  have  plenty  of  time  to  consider  any  suggestions  that 
they  may  wish  to  make. 
Personally  I  think  the  great  majority  of  English  exhibitors  are 
indifferent  to  the  question,  but  they  are  not  so  in  regard  to  the  length 
of  the  names,  nor  to  their  foreign  appearance.  Of  course  we  cannot 
expect  French  growers  who  know  no  English  to  name  their  varieties 
with  plain  easy  English  names,  and  so  long  as  we  are  dependent  on  the 
foreigner  for  so  large  a  number  of  our  novelties  so  long  will  this  incon¬ 
venience  exist,  And  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  we  are  not  the  only 
purchasers  to  be  considered.  Looking  over  the  new  lists  I  notice  several 
curiosities  of  nomenclature  that  may  cause  trouble.  Such,  for  instance, 
as  La  Rhune  (not  Le  Rt6ae),  Montagne  d’Oo,  Premier  Congres  de  la 
S.F.D.C.,  Naissance  de  la  S.F.D.C.,  Figueris,  Noely,  La  Faridondaire 
Hortulanus  J.  K.  Budde,  S.  M.  l’Imperatrice  Marie  F . and 
Madame  la  Comtesse  Melchior  du  Chaffaut  ;  but  on  the  whole  we  seem 
to  be  improving,  and  many  of  these  phantoms  only  frighten  us  in  the 
spring,  for  when  autumn  comes  round  we  inquire  sometimes  for  them, 
and  echo  answers,  Where  ? 
In  the  recently  published  Bulletin  of  the  French  Horticultural 
Society  are  two  articles  oh  the  Chrysanthemum,  which  show  that  our 
young  French  friends  during  their  temporary  stay  are  on  the  look-out 
for  anything  of  horticultural  interest.  One  is  called  the  “  Royal  Aquarium 
Chrysanthemum  Show,”  and  the  other,  “Chrysanthemums  at  Rochford’s 
Nursery,”  the  latter  being  accompanied  with  a  list  of  varieties  grown 
there. 
In  a  New  Zealand  schedule  of  a  Chrysanthemum  Show,  to  be  held 
this  month,  I  see  it  is  to  be  held  in  the  Society’s  large  marquee.  Oh  I 
happy  New  Zealanders  !  The  plants  are  grown  out  of  doors,  and  only 
covered  with  calico  or  some  light  covering  to  keep  the  rain  off.  and  the 
feast  of  flowers  is  held  in  a  marquee.  I  am  wondering  what  an  Aquarium 
Show  would  be  like  next  November  if  held  in  a  marquee,  the  Society’s  or 
otherwise.  This,  however,  is  in  the  North  Island  ;  further  South,  I  am 
told,  the  cultivation  and  exhibition  of  the  flower  more  nearly  approach 
English  methods — C.  H,  P. 
AS  OF  A  DREAM. 
When  “A.  D.”  hoisted  me  on  to  my  “Memorials  of  Planting”  I 
little  thought  that  their  advent  would  appear  in  the  same  pages  that 
chronicled  the  death  of  our  dear  old  friend,  Dr.  Hogg,  though  it  seems 
impolitic  in  me  to  write  him  “  old,”  as  being  his  senior.  The  observation 
of  Mr.  G.  Abbey,  on  page  249,  where,  to  my  great  surprise,  be  says, 
“I  have  only  seen  him  twice,”  brings  back  to  my  mind  “a  r?d  letter 
day.” 
Twenty  years  bad  expired  since  I  began  sending  “  copy  ”  to  the 
“Cottage  Gardener,”  which  first  began  to  toddle  at  Winchester,  and  then 
when  it  was  strong  enough  ran  off  to  Fleet  Street,  where  I  had  occasion 
to  call  for  the  first  time  to  Bee  Mr.  Johnson  and  the  Doctor.  They  were 
together  in  the  room.  Upon  learning  who  I  was  out  rushed  the  Doctor, 
who  literally  hauled  me  in  to  Mr.  Johnson.  Those  who  are  alive  and 
knew  them  both  can  picture  in  their  minds  the  sort  of  reception  I 
received.  It  was  “  really  Upwards  and  Onwards.”  After  some  time  of 
talk  by  the  trio  the  Doctor  said,  “  Suppose  we  run  down  to  Greenwich 
and  have  a  little  dinner?”  “Agreed,"  said  Mr.  Johnson,  and  off  we 
went  there  and  then,  two  editors  and  he  of  Woodstock  to  the  Temple 
Pier,  where  the  prow  of  the  boat  pointed  to  the  way  we  Bhould  float. 
Never  was  whitebait,  &c.,  &c.,  more  enjoyed,  or  laughter  pealed  forth 
more  heartily  than  during  that  “  little  dinner.”  Well,  “there  is  another 
and  a  better  world.” 
I  must  now  hark  back.  I  left  you  last  at  page  226,  in  1837.  Early 
in  the  spring  of  that  year  I  visited  my  native  home.  Col.  Rushbrooke, 
with  his  family,  had  about  1830  gone  to  reside  in  France  for  a  term. 
The  Colonel  on  his  return  brought  home  grafts — Court  Pendu  Plat, 
M&re  de  Manage,  and  other  famous  foreign  Apples.  The  Colonel  was  a 
horticulturist  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society,  Regent’s 
Park.  I  did  not  let  my  opportunity  slip— for  the  grafts  had  grown  into 
flourishing  young  trees — to  beg  of  Mr.  Wigg  scions  to  take  back  with 
me  to  Shropshire.  I  knew  of  a  nice  lot  of  young  Crab  stocks  growing 
in  a  cottage  garden  at  the  “  Hope,”  and  my  scions  were  quickly  whip 
grafted — every  one  took,  and  did  well. 
James  Hardwick,  our  village  carpenter,  was  a  capital  tutor  to  me  in 
grafting,  a  man  who  was  much  employed  then  by  Mr.  Andrew  Knight, 
when  he  had  grafting  to  be  done.  Saddle  and  cleft  grafting  were  his 
usual  modes ;  in  cleft  more  particularly  he  was  a  proficient.  I  send 
you  knife  he  used*  ;  I  have  two,  so  I  will  make  you  a  present  of  the 
instrument  as  a  curiosity.  The  blades  were  made  at  Shrewsbury  ;  the 
handle  and  fastening,  as  you  may  shrewdly  guess,  were  his  own  handy- 
work.  Good  old  James — he  stood  6  foot  at  least,  was  lanky  withal,  and 
had  an  immense  Roman  nose,  of  which  he  made  good  use  in  his  articula¬ 
tion.  He  posed  as  a  man  of  taste,  and  judgment  to  boot.  Upon  my 
once  questioning  him,  “  why  he  had  not  sang  in  the  church  choir 
lately,”  with  an  habitual  shrug  of  his  shoulders  he  answered,  “  If  we 
are  to  sing,  let’s  sing  ;  but  if  we  are  to  shout,  let’s  shout.”  I  knew  this 
to  be  rather  a  side  slap  at  Jones,  so  to  try  and  smooth  the  troubled 
waters  I  said,  “  Oh,  but  Hardwick,  the  Scriptures  do  not  forbid  us  to 
shout  ;  and  besides,  if  the  choir  did  not  raise  their  voices,  nothing  could 
be  heard  but  the  music.”  “  Music  1  ”  Another  shrug.  We  rejoiced  in  a 
base  (let  the  spelling  stand,  Mr.  Editor)— a  base  viol,  a  fiddle,  an  oboe,  a 
clarionet,  an  old  copper  French  horn,  and  a  flute,  the  latter  often  produc¬ 
ing  more  blow  than  melody.  Nevertheless,  the  whole  thing  was  hearty, 
and  Hardwick  relented.  Mr.  St.  John  used  vicariously  to  call  hfen  “  the 
stork,”  from  the  peculiarity  of  his  carriage,  and  his  resemblance  to  that 
stalking  bird.  He  was  an  excellent  carpenter,  however— constructed 
all  our  aviaries  and  hen  houses,  and  a  universal  help  for  me  during  my 
long  residence  in  Salop.  Requiescai  in  pace. 
Now  for  a  change.  During  an  interval  from  planting,  I  will,  if  you 
think  fit,  relate  a  circumstance  of  “  felling.”  On  the  margin  of  the 
churchyard  in  the  foreground  of  the  sketch  previously  sent  there  grew 
six  very  large  Elm  trees.  They  had  for  many  years  passed  their  best 
limit,  and  after  the  manner  of  their  ilk  had  become  very  unsafe. 
Frequently  a  large  bough  would  come  crash  down  amongst  the  tombs 
and  gravestones,  or  across  the  road,  threatening  expense  to  the  vicar, 
or  danger  to  wayfarers.  Our  factotum’s  health  had  given  way,  and 
Richard  James  had  now  taken  a  circumscribed  place  of  William  Jones. 
But  James  was  never  Jones.  I  remember  once  telling  him  that  I  would 
almost  as  soon  trust  a  cow  in  the  garden  as  himself,  at  which  he  was 
mighty  indignant,  and  begged  me  to  remember  that  he  had  lived  with 
“  Yarl  Powi8  at  Walcot.”  I  found  out  afterwards  that  his  employment 
with  the  Earl  of  Powis  was  the  care  of  a  brace  of  mules.  However, 
James  had  been  employed  by  Sir  William  Rouse  Boughton  and  other 
gentlemen  in  the  neighbourhood,  a  good  deal  in  the  woods,  and  coula  fell  a 
tree  to  a  nicety,  so  I  felt  the  casting  of  these  churchyard  trees  to  be  safe 
under  his  control.  ,  ,  . 
All  went  well  till  the  fourth  tree  was  ready  for  a  few  final  strokes  ot 
James’  axe,  when  the  rope  attached  to  the  upper  part  of  this,  the 
largest  Elm,  slipped  off.  The  tree  was  « tottering  the  men  were  too 
heavy  to  undertake  thdrisk  of  mounting  to  readjust  the  rope,  but  unless 
it  was  done  the  tree,  with  nothing  to  guide  it,  might  fall  prostrate, 
smashing  amongst  the  gravestones,  *and  its  top  limbs  go  crash  through 
the  new  south-east  window  that  Mr.  St.  John  had  90  long  been  endeavour¬ 
ing  to  get  placed  there.  There  was  no  time  for  discrimination,  the 
generalship  seemed  to  devolve  at  once  on  me,  and  the  fighting  part 
as  well.  “  Now,  James,  tie  the  spare  rope  to  the  end  of  the  long  ladder, 
and  you,  Fenny,  and  young  Williams,  raise  it  whilst  I  '  butt.’  Yind 
this  handkerchief  round  my  waist,  and.  secure  the  rope  to  it  with  a  bow. 
Now  all  hold  to  the  rope  attached  to  the  top  of  the  ladder  to  prevent  it 
bearing  too  heavily  against  the  bole  of  the  tree,  and  up  I  go  to  try  my 
’prentice  hand  at  slinging  and  tying  a  woodman’s  knot.”  Done!  and 
down  I  slipped  on  the  ladder,  which  was  a  familiar  exercise.  “  Down 
with  it :  and  Penny  and  Williams  make  the  rope  all  taut — quick  !  James, 
you  know  all  the  rest.”  So  with  a  few  strokes  of  his  axe  he  caused 
the  monster  to  be  thrown  on  to  the  bank  exactly  where  it  was  wanted 
*  The  knife  is  a  novelty,  admirably  adapted^  for  its  purpose,  and  will  be 
(reserved  ;  blade  nearly  one-eighth  of  an  inch  thick  at  the  back,  If  inch  wide, 
,nd  4  inches  long  ;  handle  octagonal,  slightly  thickening  to  the  butt  where  it 
3  44  inches  in  circumference,  54  inches  long;  attachment  of  the  blade  to  the 
landle  ingenious  and  effective.  Evidently  James  Hardwick  liked  a  good  grip 
or  making  his  “  clefts,”  and  he  had  one.  The  knife  will  be  handy  for 
mening  boxes  of  fruit  and  other  produce,  the  lids  of  which  are  not  infrequently 
ecured  with  8 -inch  French  nails.  We  are  much  obliged  to  our  vivacious 
ictoo-enarian  (can  it  be  ?)  and  shall  hope  to  meet  him  at  Shrewsbury. 
