January  27,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
85 
know  to  what  section  it  belongs.  It  can  only  be  love  for  the  peculiar 
that  places  L'Isere  before  Charles  Davis.  Fancy,  too,  Philadelphia  occu¬ 
pying  a  much  higher  position  than  Eobert  Owen,  itself  one  of  the  best  of 
.Japanese  incurved  varieties.  I  regard  an  audit  of  Chrysanthemums,  Roses, 
Potatoes,  Apples,  or  aught  else,  in  an  educational  point  of  view,  as  being 
a  means  of  instruction  in  the  selection  of  varieties.  The  audit  under 
consideration,  however,  I  regard  as  being  purely  a  sentimental  one.— 
Sadoc. 
Chkysanthemum  Joseph  Chamberlain. 
This  variety  was  missed  from  my  list  of  new  Japanese,  which  I  much 
regi'et.  As  an  exhibition  bloom  it  should  do  good  service.  A  seedling 
from  Edwin  Molyneux,  it  possesses  much  of  the  brilliant  colour  of  that 
variety,  yet  lacks  a  trifle  of  its  brightness.  From  the  raiser,  Mr.  H. 
Weeks,  Thrumpton,  Derby,  I  a  short  time  since  received  bloom's  gatherer 
from  plants  growing  out  of  doors,  and  certainly  they  were  very  fine 
examples,  showing  what  a  really  deserving  Japanese  variety  it  is. 
Typical  blooms  are  large  enough  for  any  purpose,  the  florets  being  long, 
flat,  and  of  medium  width.  The  colour,  bright  glowing  crimson,  is  a 
welcome  addition,  intensified  as  it  is  by  the  golden  reverse  of  each  floret. 
Chrysanthemum  White  Mrs.  Filkins. 
This  is  one  of  the  many  novelties  sent  out  by  Mr.  H.  Cannell  during 
the  last  twenty  years.  Certainly  it  is  not  the  least  important  of  the 
additions  made  to  the  Chrysanthemum  list.  In  size,  form,  and  character 
the  new  comer  resembles  its  parent,  but  is  pure  white.  For  wreaths  and 
bouquets,  as  well  as  for  the  decoration  of  the  dw’elling  house  in  vases,  a 
great  future  lies  before  this  Chrysanthemum. —E.  Molyneux. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
A  MEETING  of  the  General  Committee  of  this  Society  was  held  on 
Xlonday  evening  last  at  Anderton’s  Hotel,  Fleet  Street,  Mr.  T.  W. 
Sanders  presiding.  Much  of  the  business  was  purely  of  a  formal  nature, 
such  as  correspondence,  notifications  of  special  prizes,  and  a  considera¬ 
tion  of  the  proposed  new  rules  to  be  submitted  to  the  annual  meeting,  the 
chief  item  of  which  is  the  suggested  appointment  of  a  Finance  Committee. 
The  Classification  Committee  will  hold  a  meeting  on  IMonday  next,  to 
take  into  consideration  various  Chrysanthemums  of  doubtful  classification. 
A  rough  financial  statement  was  submitted,  and  also  an  estimate  of  the 
value  of  the  prizes  to  be  offered  for  competition  at  the  Society’s  shows 
during  the  ensuing  year.  The  annual  meeting  will  be  held  on  28th 
February.  Several  new  members  were  elected. 
The  Best  Varieties. 
The  question  may  well  be  asked  “Who  is  to  decide  ?”  in  reference 
to  the  best  sixty,  fifty,  or  any  particular  number  of  varieties.  For  my 
part  I  cannot  perceive  any  particular  gain  obtainable  from  lists  which 
include  the  oldest  and  latest  introductions  so  confusedly  mixed.  What 
the  average  amateur  grower — and,  indeed,  the  professional,  too— is  more 
directly  concerned  about  is  the  best  of  the  modern  or  latest  novelties. 
The  best  twelve,  twenty-four,  or  thirty-six  of  the  season  1897-98  given 
by  the  leading  experts  would  impart  more  valuable  information  than  the 
tabulating  of  old  and  new  ones  in  the  order  of  their  individual  merits. 
IMr.  Wells’  list  includes  some  that  have  lost  ground,  and  with  many 
growers  are  entirely  discarded,  notably  Mrs.  C.  H.  Bayne,  Madame  M. 
Ricoud,  Mdlle.  Therfese  Key,  and  International.  However,  this  is  but 
a  brief  list  of  objections  out  of  so  long  a  list,  and  it  cannot  be  disputed 
that  the  selection  of  sorts  given  is  a  good  one.  It  could  not  be  expected 
that  Mr.  Wells’  list  would  be  a  counterpart  of  Mr.  Godfrey  s  ;  tastes 
vary,  and  so  do  varieties  of  Chrysanthemums  under  different  growers' 
treatment.  It  is  strange  that  Etoile  de  Lyon,  which  is  so  universally 
accounted  coarse,  should  still  commend  itself  to  notice  and  be  shown  so 
frequently  as  it  is  ;  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Bayne  is  even  worse,  size  is  its  only 
quality,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  its  white  sport  has  come  to  stay. 
The  Editor’s  announcement  of  a  promised  list  of  the  best,  determined 
by  so  large  a  number  of  growers,  will  now  be  anticipated,  and  oppor¬ 
tunities  will  be  afforded  of  comparing  the  select  stock  and  allow  of 
additions  to  be  made  where  it  is  considered  necessary.  Mr.  Molyneux’s 
selections  have  been  read  with  the  usual  interest,  and  his  advice  proved 
a  help  to  many.  A  small  selection  for  market  work,  early,  midseason,  or 
late,  would  be  useful  to  a  large  section  of  your  readers,  so  would  one  for 
private  growers  who  do  not  require  so  limited  a  selection,  because  a 
different  purpose  is  required  of  them. — W.  S.,  Wilts. 
Humea  elegans. — It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  this  beautiful 
plant  cannot  be  surpassed  for  general  effectiveness  in  the  flower  garden 
during  the  summer  months,  for  whether  as  a  back  row  to  a  ribbon  border, 
as  a  single  specimen  to  sink  into  the  lawn,  or  to  form  “  dot  ”  plants  in  the 
beds,  its  graceful  orange-red  drooping  plumes  have  a  charming  effect, 
especially  when  planted  near  a  rivulet  or  fountain.  The  culture  of  the 
Humea  is  very  simple,  and  I  have  found  that  a  cool  treatment  during 
autumn  and  winter  for  those  plants  intended  for  planting  out  is  much 
the  best.  The  seed  is  sown  in  the  early  part  of  July  in  pans  of  well- 
prepared  light  soil,  placed  on  a  shelf  in  a  warm  house,  and  covered  with  a 
piece  of  glass.  When  the  seedlings  make  their  appearance  the  glass  is 
removed,  and  the  receptacles  placed  in  a  cooler  house  near  the  roof 
glass.  When  the  rough  leaf  is  reached  we  prick  them  off  into  thumb 
pots,  keeping  shaded  from  the  bright  sun  for  a  few  days,  afterwards 
removing  them  to  a  cold  frame.  They  are  potted  as  required  in  a 
compost  of  equal  parts  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  well  decayed  manure,  with 
sand  added.  On  the  approach  of  severe  weather  the  plants  should  be 
removed  to  a  suitable  house  for  the  winter,  the  temperature  of  which  is 
kept  at  about  45°  to  50°. — H.  T.  M. 
GARDENERS’  ROYAL  BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
Annual  General  Meeting. 
As  is  customary,  Simpson's  Hotel,  in  the  Strand,  was  the  meeting' 
place  for  the  officers  and  friends  of  this  admirable  Charity,  at  the  annuM 
general  meeting  on  Thursday  last.  From  a  point  of  view  of  numbers 
the  gathering  was  a  comparatively  small  one,  but  everyone  present  was  a 
loyal  supporter,  so  that  the  business  was  despatched  very  expeditiously. 
Brior  to  the  ordinary  there  was  a  special  general  meeting  to  appoint 
Trustees,  in  the  place  of  the  late  Dr.  Robert  Hogg,  and  of  Mr.  .John  Lee, 
who  has  resigned.  The  gentlemen  selected  were  the  Hon.  Walter 
Rothschild  and  Bruno  Schroder,  Esq.,  both  of  whom  are  well-known 
financiers,  and  whose  appointments  cannot  be  other  than  a  matter  for 
congratulation  to  the  members  of  the  Society.  These  gentlemen  having 
been  unanimously  elected,  the  ordinary  meeting  was  entered  upon,  under 
the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch.  Amongst  those  present 
were  Dr.  IMaxwell  T.  Masters,  and  Messrs.  Arthur  W.  Sutton,  Thos. 
Manning,  A.  Outram,  W.  Cobb,  Jas.  H.  Veitcb,  J.  Fraser,  W.  Roupell, 
W^  Denning,  J.  Willard,  J.  Hudson,  A.  F.  Barron,  and  W.  White 
(Worcester  Auxiliary),  with  Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  the  popular  Secretary. 
The  first  proceeding  was  the  reading  of  the  report  and  balance-sheet  for 
the  past  year,  and  readers  will  find  on  perusing  these  how  satisfactory  is 
the  status  of  the  Society,  and  how  carefully  and  judiciously  it  is  managed. 
Report  op  the  Committee  for  1897. 
It  affords  the  Committee  considerable  satisfaction  to  submit  their 
annual  report  for  the  year  1897,  together  with  an  audited  statement  of 
accounts,  and  in  doing  so  they  are  thankful  to  be  able  to  record  the  con¬ 
tinued  prosperity  of  the  Institution,  and  its  increased  benefit  to  those 
old  and  needy  people  in  whose  behalf  it  was  founded. 
With  great  pleasure  the  Committee  have  to  report  that  the  fifty-ninth 
anniversary  festival  dinner  in  aid  of  the  funds  held  in  May  last  was  most 
successful,  and  they  desire  to  express  their  gratitude  to  the  Right  Hon. 
Lord  Rothschild  for  so  kindly  occupying  the  chair  on  that  occasion,  and 
for  his  able  advocacy  of  the  claims  of  the  Charity,  which  met  with  so 
liberal  a  response.  They  would  also  gratefully  acknowledge  their 
indebtedness  to  those  gentlemen  who  so  kindly  served  as  Stewards,  to  those 
who  sent  flowers  and  fruit,  and  to  other  friends  "who  in  any  way  assisted 
in  making  the  festival  a  complete  success. 
During  the  past  year  nineteen  pensioners  have  died,  seven  of  them 
leaving  widows,  of  whom  five,  whose  cases  on  being  carefully  investigated 
and  found  to  be  in  every  way  satisfactory,  have  been  placed  on  the  pension 
list  at  £16  a  year,  in  succession  to  their  late  husbands,  in  accordance  with 
Rule  III.,  13.  The  Committee  have  now  the  pleasure  to  announce  that 
they  have  decided  to  add  nineteen  additional  pensioners  to  the  number 
now  on  the  funds,  ten  of  whom,  having  been  accepted  under  Rule  III,  5, 
they  recommend  the  subscribers  to  place  on  the  pension  list  without  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  an  election  ;  the  remaining  nine  will  be  elected  by 
votes  from  the  approved  list  of  candidates  in  the  usual  way.  This 
addition  will  make  the  total  number  of  pensioners  168,  the  largest 
number  of  Ijeneficiaries  receiving  permanent  aid  since  the  founda¬ 
tion  of  the  Institution.  And  yet  there  will  be  thirty-five  unsuccessful 
candidates  who  will  perforce  have  to  w'ait  for  that  assistance  which  they 
so  much  need.  The  Committee  heartily  wish  it  were  possible  for  them 
to  render  aid  to  a  larger  number,  but  with  financial  responsibilities  to 
those  now  on  the  funds,  which  are  impossible  to  accurately  calculate, 
they  do  not  feel  in  a  position  to  recommend  a  further  increase  in  the 
annual  expenditure  than  that  entailed  b^’  the  addition  cf  the  number 
already  stated. 
In  the  past  year  there  have  been  in  aid  of  the  Charity  held  an  amateur 
operatic  performance  at  St.  George’s  Hall,  kindly  organised  by  Mr. 
H.  Morgan  Veitch  ;  a  flower  and  fruit  stall  at  the  Richmond  Horticultural 
Exhibition,  kindly  arranged  by  Mrs.  Algernon  Chancellor  ;  garden  fetes 
at  Reigate  and  other  places,  concerts  at  Altrincham,  and  various  other 
functions  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  to  the  promoters  of  which,  one 
and  all,  the  Committee  tender  their  very  hearty  and  sincere  thanks.  They 
would  also  gratefully  recognise  the  self-denying  labours  of  the  Hon. 
Secretaries  of  the  several  auxiliaries,  which  are  still  attended  with  marked 
success,  and  are  the  means  of  creating  a  widened  interest  in  the  good 
work  of  the  Institution. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Committee  in  their  last  report 
announced  their  intention  to  send  to  each  unsuccessful  candidate  at  the 
1897  election  the  sum  of  £5  on  .June  21st,  in  honour  of  the  Diamond 
-Jubilee.  This  they  are  happy  to  say  was  done,  and  the  grateful  letters 
of  acknowledgement  received  from  the  recipients  showed  how  greatly 
appreciated  were  the  welcome  and,  in  many  cases,  timely  gifts.  The 
Committee  likewise  announced  that  they  had  inaugurated  a  fund  to 
commemorate  the  long  and  beneficent  reign  of  our  beloved  Queen — the 
Batroness  of  the  Charity.  This  fund,  by  her  Majesty’s  gracious  permission, 
they  proposed  to  call  the  “  Victorian  Era  Fund.”  They  are  now  gratified 
beyond  measure  to  state  that  the  appeal  issued  in  its  behalf  was  most 
generously  responded  to,  the  sum  of  £^75  being  received,  which  amount  has 
been  invested  in  the  names  of  the  Trustees  in  Great  Western  Railway  3  per 
cent,  guaranteed  consolidated  stock,  and  the  interest  derived  therefrom 
will  be  annually  divided  pro  rata  amongst  those  unsuccessful  candidates 
who  formerly  were  subscribers  to  the  Institution,  in  order  to  render  them 
some  temporary  assistance  whilst  awaiting  election,  but  no  candidate 
may  receive  more  than  £10  in  any  one  year. 
The  Committee  would  like  to  mention  the  names  of  all  those  who  have 
so  liberally  and  kindly  contributed  to  this  special  object  ;  but  whilst 
