438 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
KovJmter  7,  H96. 
MoNS.  Ernest  Calvat. 
The  gentleman  whose  poitrait  accompanies  this  notice  (sse  page  431) 
is  known,  at  least  by  name,  to  every  lover  of  the  Chrysanthemum  in  this 
country,  and  his  popularity  is  all  the  more  deserving  when  we  remember 
that  up  to  the  year  1891  our  new  Continental  Chrysanthemums  were 
annually  received  from  various  raisers  who  had  long  been  engaged  in 
the  work,  whose  names  were  widely  known,  but  whose  products  were 
unhappily  beginning  to  show  many  signs  of  deterioration.  At  one  time 
it  seemed  as  if  the  American  raisers  were  likely  to  have  the  monopoly  of 
supplying  us  with  high-class  novelties  in  future,  but  just  at  the  critical 
moment  Mons.  Ernest  Calvat  stepped  into  the  breach  and  saved  the 
long  earned  honour  of  his  native  land. 
Four  years  ago  his  name  was  unknown  here,  but  fortunately  for  all 
parties  concerned  he  was  discovered  by  a  gentleman  well  known  in 
English  Chrysanthemum  circles,  with  the  result  that  the  new  raiser’s 
seedlings  were  brought  into  prominence,  and  they  being  recognised  by  our 
growers  and  exhibitors  as  being  of  a  high  standard  of  excellence,  success 
followed  almost  immediately. 
The  subject  of  our  present  article  is  the  son  of  Mons.  Ernest  Calvat,  at 
one  time  Mayor  of  Grenoble,  and  was  born  there  forty-three  years  ago, 
so  that  he  is  still  a  comparatively  young  man.  He  was  educated  in 
France  until  he  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  his  father,  who 
had  important  business  relations  with  this  country  and  with  our 
Australian  colonies,  sent  him  to  a  boarding  school  at  Highgate  in  the 
North  of  London  to  improve  and  complete  his  study  of  the  English 
language,  which  he  speaks  most  perfectly.  After  spending  some  time 
there  he  returned  home  to  France  and  was  placed  in  the  glove-making 
establishment  of  his  father,  there  to  learn  the  business.  In  1880 
M.  Calvat,  senior,  retired,  leaving  his  son  head  of  the  firm,  and,  like 
many  other  men  deeply  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits,  he  found  a 
relaxation  from  the  cares  of  business  in  attending,  to  his  garden,  his 
chief  hobby  perhaps  being  Roses. 
About  eight  years  ago  he  was  deeply  smitten  with  the  Queen  of 
Autumn,  and  forthwith  renounced  his  former  favourites  entirely.  In 
1889  the  climate  and  situation  of  his  garden  favouring  the  process  he 
raised  his  first  seedling  Chrysanthemums,  and  became  so  enthusiastic  in 
the  work  that  he  resolved  to  cultivate  a  race  of  novelties  remarkable  for 
their  dimensions,  in  which  he  has  succeeded  to  a  greater  extent  no  doubt 
than  his  early  expectations  could  warrant. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  give  a  list  of  all  his  seedlings  of  the  past  few 
yeirs,  but  taking  a  tew  of  the  leading  ones  as  shown  in  the  audit  of  the 
N. C.S.  (November,  1894)  show,  and  which  appears  in  the  “  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Year  Book  ”  for  1895,  the  following  may  be  taken  to  be  the 
greatest  favourites  with  English  exhibitors  ; — Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne, 
Mdlle.  Th^i^^e  Rey,  President  Borel,  Van  den  Heede,  Madame  Charles 
Capitant,  Commandant  Blusset,  Louise,  Pr6fet  Robert,  Vice-President 
Calva%  Mons.  Panckoucke,  Madame  Calvat,  Madame  Carnot,  Madame 
Ad.  Chatin,  Madame  Ad.  Giroud,  and  Madame  M.  Ricoud. 
Last  year  eighteen  of  M.  Calvat’s  seedlings  received  first-class  certi¬ 
ficates  and  awards  of  merit  at  the  N.C.S.  and  R.H.S.  Floral  Committee 
meetings,  and  this  year,  as  early  as  the  end  of  October,  three  others 
have  been  similarly  honoured — viz..  Pres.  Armand,  Mons.  C.  Molin,  and 
Boule  d’Or  by  the  N.C.S.,  and  the  latter  by  the  R.H.S.  also.  The  total 
number  of  certificates  awarded  for  his  seedlings  of  1892,  1893,  and  1894, 
without  taking  into  account  the  possibility  of  his  1895  novelties,  is  some¬ 
thing  like  thirty,  or  three  times  as  many  as  all  the  other  French  novelties 
put  together  in  the  same  period.  Mona.  Calvat  is  a  regular  exhibitor  at 
the  meetings  of  the  N.C.S.  Floral  Committee,  where  his  novelties 
generally  excite  much  interest,  and  the  year  before  last  he  was  awarded 
a  silver  medal  of  the  Society  for  an  unusually  fine  collection  of  twenty- 
four  cut  blooms,  a  distinction  never  previously  conferred  on  any 
foreign  exhibitor  at  the  Society’s  meetings. 
On  the  Continent  similar  high  honours  have  been  awarded  him,  not 
only  at  the  numerous  shows  in  his  own  country,  but  in  Belgium  and  in 
Austria.  It  seems  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  the  great  majority  of 
Mons.  Calvat’s  seedlings  belong  to  the  Japanese  section.  Here  and  there 
an  incurved  variety  may  be  found,  but  the  greatest  triumphs  of  his 
cultural  skill  are  to  he  found  in  that  class  to  which  the  French  seem 
to  delight  in  limiting  their  energies. 
In  conclusion,  we  can  only  say  that  we  hope  he  will  long  be  spared 
to  carry  on  his  interesting  work,  and  with  the  same  degree  of  success 
as  heretofore  ;  but  the  French  must  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that 
they  have  strong  competitors  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  that 
the  greatest  danger  to  a  raiser’s  reputation  is  the  sending  out  of  too 
many  varieties.  A  rigid  system  of  selection  is  a  -sme  qua  non  to  main¬ 
tain  pre-eminence  as  a  Chryfanthemum  raiser. 
^ons.  Calvat  is  a  member  of  several  important  horticultural  societies 
in  T  ranee,  Vice-President  of  the  Horticultural  Society  of  the  Dauphiny, 
a'member  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  and  Chevalier  of  the 
Merite  Agricole. — P. 
Duchess  of  York:. 
Kindly  allow  me  to  thank  Mr.  Merlyneux  for  his  timely  note  on  the 
above  variety  (page  416).  No  doubt  over-propagation  has  much  to 
answer  for,  but  strong  looking  plants  received  in  the  spring  have  not 
given  quite  the  results  one  could  have  wished,  and  we  in  our  district 
have  had  more  inferior  blooms  than  good  ones,  hence  the  complaint. 
But  we  are  c  intent  to  wait  and  try  again  for  better  results.  1  fully 
agree  with  your  correspondent  as  to  the  beauty  and  refinement  of  a  good 
bloom  of  this  variety,  and  admit  it  as  an  ideal  type,  with  everything 
rough  and  coarse  enti'-e'y  eliminated, — R.  P.  R. 
Chrysanthemum  Ohas.  H.  Curtis. 
Among  recent  introductions  to  the  Chrysanthemum  family  the 
Japanese  section  is  more  largely  represented  than  that  of  the  incurved. 
In  Chas.  H.  Curtis,  however,  which  is  well  pourtrayed  in  the  engraving 
(fig.  69),  we  have  a  beautiful  flower,  raised  from  a  seedling  by  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones  of  Lewisham.  The  colour  is  a  deep  rich  yellow  ;  the  blooms 
are  large,  well  incurved,  with  the  florets  slightly  pointed,  as  in  Madame 
Barrier.  It  is  a  free  grower,  of  medium  habit,  and  said  to  be  good  from 
any  buds.  We  have  heard  remarks  passed  respecting  this  variety 
that  the  flowers  are  too  flat,  and  not  of  sufficient  depth.  Any  such 
arguments  were,  however,  completely  refuted  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
show  on  Saturday  last,  where  in  several  of  the  winning  stands  superb- 
flowers  were  noticed.  The  bloom  sent  to  our  artist  was  not  a  perfect 
one,  as  it  is  really  more  globe  shaped  than  it  is  shown. 
This  new  incurved  Chrysanthemum  will  be  well  exhibited  this 
season  I  prognosticate.  For  some  time  we  have  been  searching  for  a 
yellow  variety  to  take  its  position  in  the  back  row  amongst  the 
“  Queen  ”  family.  A  rich  yellow  is  not  common  amongst  incurved 
varieties,  now  that  we  so  seldom  meet  with  Jardin  des  Plantes.  The 
subject  of  this  note  just  meets  the  requirements  alluded  to.  Well- 
developed  blooms  measure  5  inches  in  diameter,  and  from  3  inches  to 
4  inches  deep.  The  florets  are  somewhat  narrow,  incurving  perfectly 
toward  the  centre.  The  colour  is  intensely  yellow.  In  height  the 
plants  do  not  go  beyond  5  feet,  except  in  a  very  few  instances.  Those 
who  do  not  already  possess  this  incurved  Chrysanthemum  should  lose  no 
time  in  adding  it  to  their  list. — E.  M. 
Havant  Show. 
Table  decorations  at  the  late  Havant  Chrysanthemum  Show  were  a 
distinct  feature,  so  well  were  they  done.  For  a  table  6  feet  by  3  feet  to 
be  dressed  with  any  kind  of  flowers  there  were  but  three  entries,  but  as 
they  possessed  much  taste  in  arrangement  the  display  was  a  pleasing 
one.  Mrs.  Conway  gained  the  premier  award  for  an  arrangement,  in  her 
best  style,  of  suitable  flowers  not  too  heavily  dispoted.  Miss  Newman 
second,  and  Mrs.  Horn  third. 
Chrysanthemum  Mons.  R.  Bahuant. 
I  SEE  in  the  Journal  for  October  26th  your  correspondent  “  M.,”  in 
answer  to  Mr.  Osborne’s  note  of  the  week  previous,  says  of  the  above, 
“  I  do  not  consider  this  variety  worth  the  trouble  entailed  in  growing 
it ;  seldom  do  we  meet  with  a  perfect  bloom,  nearly  all  lack  the  two 
essentials — depth  and  solidity.”  My  experience  is  the  opposite  to  this, 
as  with  us  it  makes  a  perfect  flower,  combining  all  the  points  necessary 
in  a  good  incurved  flower.  Our  buds  were  taken  this  season  about 
August  14th,  and  the  flowers  are  now  at  their  best.  Perhaps  “M.’s” 
experience  of  this  is  in  the  south  ;  if  so,  it  is  not  the  only  variety  amongst 
the  incurved  section  which  it  is  possible  to  have  in  better  condition  in  the 
north  than  in  the  south.  As  our  plants  are  all  grown  for  home  use,  and  not 
for  exhibition,  there  is  nothing  special  in  their  treatment,  and  feeding  is 
never  resorted  to  until  after  the  buds  are  taken. — J.  Tunnington, 
Bipley  Castle  Gardens, 
Chrysanthemums  at  Woodhatch. 
The  Reigate  district  of  Surrey  has  many  fine  growers  of  the  autumn 
queen,  but  none  excel  Mr.  Salter,  or  the  superb  collection  which  he 
annually  produces  for  the  satisfaction  of  his  employer,  Mr.  T.  B. 
Haywood.  The  collection,  some  600  plants  strong,  is  displayed  in  two 
long  lean-to  houses,  where  fine  banks  are  formed,  and  the  characteristics 
of  each  variety  can  be  seen.  Mr.  Salter  is  not  one  of  the  omnivorous 
exhibitors,  but  he  both  grows  and  shows  well.  Many  of  the  best  new 
Japanese,  as  well  as  older  ones,  are  here,  and  special  interest  attaches  to 
a  new  white  from  Australia  named  T.  B.  Haywood  that  is  very  fine. 
Florence  Emma  is  another  charming  white  from  the  same  source.  Mr. 
Richard  Dean,  Charles  Davis,  Col.  Commandant  Blusset,  Lady  E. 
Saunders,  Mons.  Gruyer,  Deuil  de  Jules  Ferry,  Madame  P.  H.  Dewolfs, 
Beauty  of  Exmouth,  Souvenir  la  Petite  Amie,  are  but  a  few  of  the  very 
fine  flowers  here. 
Incurveds  are  all  very  fine,  and  Mr.  Salter  is  specially  strong  in 
Anemones,  for  which  section  he  has  a  strong  penchant.  Delaware,  Mrs. 
Luke  Benedict,  W.  W.  Astor,  Minnie  Chate,  Thorpe,  jun..  Sir  W. 
Raleigh,  Owen’s  Perfection,  and  Nouvelle  Alveole  are  but  a  few  of  the 
finest  ;  and,  indeed,  beautiful  they  are.  The  new  reflexed  Clara  Leal  is 
charming  ;  so  too,  is  the  straw  yellow  Sabine.  Pompons  are  remarkably 
well  done  too,  and  are  here  highly  favoured.  Elsie  Walker,  golden 
buff ;  Prince  of  Orange,  golden  red  ;  Pygmalion,  red  chestnut ;  Maid 
of  Kent,  Toussaint  Mauriset,  Black  Doaglas,  Golden  Mdlle.  Marthe, 
St.  Michael,  Eynsford  Gem,  maroon  magenta,  are  a  few  that  stand  out 
as  fiist-rate  in  this  section.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  Wcodhatch 
collection  is  a  thoroughly  representative  one. 
Chrysanthemums  at  Hill  House,  Langport. 
For  several  years  there  have  been  grand  displays  of  Chrysanthemums 
at  Hill  House,  the  Langport  residence  of  Vincent  Stuckey,  Esq.,  and 
Mr.  J.  Lloyd,  the  gardener  in  charge,  has  been  most  successful  as  an 
exhibitor.  This  season  the  blooms  are  opening  somewhat  early,  and 
that,  too,  in  spite  of  none  of  the  buds  having  been  taken  before  the  end 
of  August.  Fortunately  they  are  keeping  better  than  they  have  done 
in  any  previous  year,  and  the  quality  throughout  is  most  satisfactory — 
they  have,  in  fact,  never  been  eo  fine  before  at  Hill  House.  Somewhere 
