532 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  5, 1»95. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
On  Wednesday,  November  27th,  the  Floral  Committee  of  this  Society 
held  a  meeting  at  the  Koyal  Aquarium,  Mr.  T.  Bevan  presiding.  Con¬ 
sidering  the  lateness  of  the  date  there  was  an  excellent  display,  Mr. 
K.  Owen’s  being  by  far  the  most  imposing  and  attractive,  and  for  which 
he  was  awarded  a  small  silver  medal.  Other  good  exhibits  were  set  up 
by  Mr.  W.  Wells,  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Mr.  Weeks.  M.  Ernest  Calvat,  Mr. 
H.  Briscoe  Ironside,  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Fowler.  First-class  certificates  were 
awarded  as  follows  : — 
IF.  Slogro  te. — A  large  globular  Japanese,  somewhat  loosely  incurving, 
with  broad  florets  ;  colour  deep  golden  yellow.  Shown  by  Mr.  W.  Slogrove. 
Olive  Oclee. — A  Japanese  incurved  with  florets  of  medium  size  ; 
colour  deep  golden  bronze  tinted  purple.  From  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones. 
Surprise. — Japanese  Anemone  of  good  size  with  flat  ray  florets  curly 
at  the  tips  ;  colour  lilac  mauve.  Also  from  Mr.  Jones, 
Among  other  novelties,  some  good  ones  being  honoured  with  the 
request  to  be  sent  up  again,  were  M.  Demay  Taillandier,  a  large  Japanese, 
deep  crimson  and  gold  ;  Madame  J.  Bernard,  a  very  distinct  Japanese 
incurved,  colour  rich  rosy  pink  of  a  pure  and  deep  shade,  silvery 
towards  the  tips  ;  Longe  d’Or,  a  large  yellow  incurving  Japanese  ;  and 
Souvenir  de  ma  Soeur,  a  large,  flesh  coloured  Japanese  ;  R,  B.  Martin 
is  a  Japanese  with  very  long  florets,  colour  crimson  and  yellow  ;  Miss 
Phyllis  Fowler,  a  pale  primrose  incurved,  of  good  form  and  size ; 
Madeline  Davis,  a  large  exhibition  Japanese  with  narrow  florets,  pale 
rosy  mauve,  and  reverse  of  silvery  pink.  General  Roberts,  Bellem, 
Pearl  of  Maidenhead,  and  several  others,  would  all  have  gained  high 
honours  a  few  years  ago.  _ 
The  Floral  Committee  of  this  Society  held  a  meeting  at  the  Royal 
Aquarium  on  Tuesday,  the  3rd  inst.,  when  Mr.  Bevan  presided.  Mr. 
W,  Wells,  Mr.  Godfrey,  Mr.  R.  Owen,  Mr.  Jones,  were  among  the 
principal  exhibitors.  First-class  certificates  were  awarded  as  under  : — 
Mrs.  C.  E.  Sh'’a. — A  Japanese  with  drooping  florets,  long,  and  of 
medium  width  ;  colour  white,  tinted  sulphur  or  primrose.  This  was 
staged  by  Mr.  A.  Haggart. 
Golden  Bart. — A  free-flowering  good-sized  Japanese  decorative 
variety  having  long  flat  florets.  The  colour  is  striking  and  distinct,  being 
of  a  pure  pale  golden  yellow.  This  will  probably  become  a  useful  market 
variety.  Raised  and  shown  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Jenkins  of  Hampton  Hill. 
King  of  Plumes. — A  small  Japanese  variety,  useful  only  for  decorative 
or  cutting  purposes  ;  colour  deep  yellow.  Exhibited  by  Mr,  Owen  of 
Maidenhead, 
Some  other  promising  novelties  were  submitted,  the  best  being 
J.  W,  McHattie,  Japanese,  colour  crimson  and  gold  ;  H.  W.  Reiman, 
rich  golden  yellow,  a  Japanese  ;  The  Egyptian,  an  incurving  Japanese, 
chestnut  purple  ;  L’Ambthiste,  violet  amaranth,  incurved  ;  Mrs.  W,  Troy, 
pale  canary  yellow,  Japanese  incurved  ;  and  Ada  Owen,  a  deep  shaped 
incurved,  colour  straw  yellow.  _ 
The  annual  dinner  of  this  Society  was  held  at  Anderton’s  Hotel  on 
Thursday  last,  the  President,  Sir  Edwin  Saunders,  occupying  the  chair, 
and  being  supported  by  Dr.  Grigg,  Mr.  Sowerby,  Secretary  of  the  Royal 
Botanic  Society,  and  all  the  officers  of  the  Society.  There  was  a  large 
attendance,  and  the  chief  interest  of  the  gathering  centred  in  the  dis¬ 
tribution  of  the  special  prizes  and  medals  won  on  the  occasion  of  the 
Society’s  recent  show  at  the  Aquarium.  The  usual  programme  was 
provided  of  toasts  and  speeches,  and  the  musical  arrangements  were 
carried  out  by  Mr.  Mortimer  Dudman. 
The  toast  of  the  evening  was  that  of  “  The  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society,”  proposed  by  the  Chairman,  v/ho  commented  in  eloquent  terms 
on  the  beauty  and  usefulness  of  the  flower  they  all  loved  so  well,  and 
who  also  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the  social  and  political  features 
of  China,  from  which  country  the  flower  was  first  derived. 
“  Affiliated  Societies  ”  was  proposed  by  Mr.  T.  W.  Sanders,  and 
responded  to  by  Mr.  Weeks  of  the  Bromley  Chrysanthemum  Society, 
who,  vvhile  regretting  they  had  lost  the  Society’s  shield,  announced  the 
intention  of  that  Society  to  compete  for  it  again  in  1896.  He  also 
complimented  Mr.  W.  H.  Lees  on  his  great  achievement  in  winning  it 
for  the  Southgate  Society,  and  also  on  having  gained  other  notable 
prizes  during  the  season.  Mr.  W.  H.  Lees  was  called  on  to  receive 
the  two  Holmes’  Memorial  cups,  which  the  Secretary  stated  bad  never 
previously  been  won  both  by  the  same  competitor. 
Mr.  B.  Wynne  proposed  the  health  of  the  President,  who  replied  in  a 
short  but  appropriate  speech,  expressing  his  pleasure  at  being  present 
once  more  at  their  annual  gathering.  Other  toasts—"  Vice-Presidents 
and  C;mmittees,”  “Donors  of  Special  Prizes,”  “The  Visitors,”  and 
“  The  Press,”  were  duly  honoured. 
In  the  course  of  the  evening  it  was  announced  that  Mr.  A.  Taylcr  had 
again  undertaken  the  arduous  task  of  making  an  audit  of  all  the 
varieties  shown  in  the  cut  bloom  classes  at  the  November  show.  It 
appears  that  they  numbered  3720.  Of  these  1950  were  Japanese,  in 
203  varieties  ;  591  were  incurved,  in  seventy-six  varieties,  and  the 
remaffiing  1171  belonged  to  the  reflexed.  Anemone,  Pompon,  and  single- 
flowered  sections.  Of  varieties  in  the  Japanese  section  shown  more  than 
fifty  times  the  following  names  were  given  : — Colonel  W.  B;  Smith, 
113  times  ;  Viviand  Morel,  99  ;  Sunflower,  90  ;  Charles  Davi9,f88  ;  Mrs. 
C.  Harman  Payne,  73  ;  Edwin  Molyneux,  67  ;  Mdlle,  Thbi^se  Rey,  55  ; 
Philadelphia,  61. 
The  proceedings,  which  were  of  a  hearty  nature,' were  brought-^to  a 
conclusion  about  11  P.M — A  VISITOR. 
N.C.S.— Secretarial^Methods. 
I  WAS  conversing  with  a  member  of  the  N.C.S.  Committee  at  the 
Aquarium  show  on  November  5th,  when  he  seemed  somewhat  aggrieved 
that  no  luncheon  was  provided  at  the  expense  of  the  Society  for  the 
Committee.  I  bad  forgotten  the  conversation  until  it  was  recalled  to 
my  memory  to-day  when  reading  your  reference  to  the  absence  of  any 
official  notification  being  received  by  you  of  the  holding  of  the  annual 
dinner.  Is  our  Society  so  poor  that  it  cannot  afford  to  offer  to  its 
workers  the  usual  hospitality  extended  by  provincial  societies  to  all  who 
help  forward  the  success  of  their  shows  ? 
The  letter  from  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  N.C.S.  in  reply  to  your 
request  for  information,  which  you  publish,  is  one  which  the  members 
generally  will  not  approve  of,  and  I  regret  that  Mr.  Dean  should  have 
couched  his  reply  in  such  objectionable  terms.  Considering  the  excellent 
reports  you  give  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Society — greatly  valued  by  the 
members — I  should  have  thought  that  he  would  have  been  glad  to  have 
w'elcomed  you  in  courteous  terms  to  one  of  the  principal  functions  of 
the  Society,  to  which  be  otherwise  so  efficiently  acts  as  Hon.  Secretary. 
— Member  op  the  N.C.S. 
[And  a  very  prominent  member,  too,  who  has  done  yeoman’s  work  in 
popularising  tire  Chrysanthemum  and  contributing  to  the  extension  of 
and  improvement  in  its  cultivation.  We  have  not  a  word  to  say  against 
the  customs  of  the  N.C.S.  Committee.  To  offer  hospitality  in  the  same 
generous  way  as  at  some  provincial  shows  to  all  who  have  helped  the 
Society  would  be  to  invite  an  army  of  its  friends.  We  admit  fully  the 
secretarial  capacity  of  the  present  official,  and  had  we  been  informed 
that  our  notification  of  the  meeting  had  been  accidentally  overlooked, 
that  would  have  been  sufficient,  but  we  naturally  resented  his  putting 
on  our  simple  and  necessary  inquiry  an  interpretation  wholly  foreign  to 
its  nature.  We  have  received  many  references  to  the  peculiar  episode, 
but  only  publish  one,  as  it  is  rather  amusing.] 
A  Crack  on  the  Head  (Not  for  Muzzled  Reporters), 
Little  Tom  Tucker,  who  sang  for  a  supper. 
And  doubtless  enjoyed  that  repast. 
Was  in  far  better  plight  than  the  man  who  would  write 
Of  the  dinner,  but  yet  have  to  fast. 
Oh  !  incurveds  and  Japs — reflexed,  too,  perhaps. 
This  lesson  you  teach  is  a  puzzle. 
When  the  N.C.S.  feast,  reporters,  at  least. 
Might  safely  go  in  with  a  “  muzzle.” 
I  can’t  understand,  for  I  live  in  a  land 
That  is  poor  ;  but  has  not  come  to  that 
For  a  meal  or  a  bed,  or  a  crack  on  the  head 
Is  heartily  given  by - Pat. 
N.C.S.  Rules,  and  Awards  of  Floral  Committee. 
I  FIND  I  am  accredited  in  last  week’s  issue  of  your  Journal  and 
others  with  a  silver  medal  for  a  collection  of  seedling  Chrysanthemums 
exhibited  at  the  Floral  Committee  of  the  N.C.S.  on  the  20th  inst.  I 
believe,  however,  that  I  did  not  even  receive  what  is  sometimes  refreshing 
to  an  amateur,  especially  when  in  company  with  the  great  resources  of 
the  trade — viz. ,  a  vote  of  thanks — as  I  have  had  no  official  communication 
on  the  point.  I  feel,  therefore,  only  a  little  uncertain  as  to  whether  I 
ought  not  to  accept  a  brass  farthing  for  the  silver  medal.  When  the 
Committee  broke  up  on  the  20th  inst.  I  certainly  received  congratulation* 
on  having  obtained  a  silver  medal,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  were  such 
an  award  made  it  was  wholly  undeserved,  and  1  hold  to  the  opinion  that 
medals  or  certificates  should  not  be  lavishly  distributed  to  be  appreciated. 
Strangely  enough,  at  the  meeting  the  week  after — viz.,  the  27th  inst, — I 
was  still  informed,  semi-cfficially,  that  the  award  in  question  had  been 
made,  but  that  the  minutes  not  being  forthcoming  any  uncertainty  on 
the  point  could  not  be  determined.  However,  I  think  it  most  probable 
that  no  award  was  made,  and  that  very  possibly  a  misunderstanding 
arose  owing  to  the  recent  application  of  an  old  regulation  of  the  Floral 
Committee — viz.,  “  that  no  certificate  shall  be  awarded  to  any  new 
variety  unless  supported  by  a  majority  of  those  present  at  the  meeting” 
— and  this  regulation  has,  I  learn,  been  made  to  apply  not  only  to 
certi float ea  bu  t  generally.  The  eccentricity  of  this  regulation  has  been  seen 
during  the  last  fortnight  in  the  National  Society  not  being  in  a  position 
to  express  any  opinion  as  to  whether  a  certain  variety  was  an  incurved 
or  not,  the  votes  of  a  majority  of  those  present  not  having  been  obtained. 
Now,  Sir,  It  often  happens  that  one  does  not  feel  justified  in  voting, 
or  prefers  to  adopt  the  medium  course  of  not  voting  at  all,  and  yet, 
supposing,  e.g  ,  there  a:e  eighteen  members  present,  and  nine  vote  for  a 
certiflcate  and  two  against,  the  certificate  is  lost,  as  those  not  voting  are 
counted  as  having  voted  against.  This  is  a  further  instance  confirming 
the  view  so  often  expressed  that  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  N.C.S. 
require  a  thorough  levision,  and  make*  one  think  in  spare  moments  that 
after  all  there  is  something  in  the  London  cabman’s  reply  that  he  didn’t 
know  where  to  find  the  Courts  of  Justice,  but  perhaps  the  gentleman 
might  wish  to  be  taken  to  the  Courts  of  Law. — Henry  Briscoe- 
Ironside,  Cedar  Lodge,  Bai-gcss  Hill. 
