152 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  17,  1898. 
but  on  the  under  side,  either  pushing  through  a  stoma  or  boring  through 
the  epidermis.  Once  in,  the  germ  tube  pushes  its  way  by  sheer  force  of 
growth  in  the  tissues,  abstracting  the  contents  of  the  cells  and  multiply¬ 
ing  its  threads  or  mycelial  hyphse  in  a  very  determined  manner.  In  hard 
tissue  it  makes  little  headway,  the  spots  being  small,  and  the  leaf  not 
relatively  so  much  injured  as  when  the  leaf  is  fleshy  and  soft.  In  the 
large  leaf  the  hyphae  strikes  deeper  and  the  pustules  are  larger,  often 
covering  the  under  side  of  the  leaf  surface  with  brown  spores.  Every 
one  of  these  spores,  no  matter  whether  from  the  small  pustule  or  the 
large  one,  is  capable  of  continuing  the  plant,  being,  in  fact,  a  part  of  the 
parent  endowed  with  all  its  inherent  properties.  It  cannot,  however, 
reproduce  anything  but  itself. 
The  cultivator  can  do  something  to  ward  off  the  attacks  of  the  ])arasite 
upon  the  assumption  that  rust  arises  from  weakness  of  plant — the  induce¬ 
ment  of  in-and-in  breeding  and  forcing  of  stock,  indifferent  nutrition,  and 
improper  treatment.  The  hardier  variety  or  the  sturdier  cutting  has  the 
best  chance,  and  the  plant  duly  supplied  with  silicates,  grown  steadily 
under  full  light  and  air,  will  have  stouter  cell  walls,  all  knit  together  in 
the  most  effective  manner  for  defence.  There  may  not  be  any  disease  in 
such  case,  but  there  arise  circumstances  over  which  the  cultivator  has 
practically  no  control,  such  as  those  of  the  elements  in  respect  of  wet  or 
sunless  weather,  and  then  the  rust  appears,  but  it  could  not  have  come 
without  spores  to  produce  it.  Against  their  germination  we  should  not 
only  fortify  the  plant  on  strict  hygienic  lines,  but  protect  the  foliage  by  a 
coat  of  mail. 
The  cuttings  would  never  have  had  rust  had  they  been  protected  by 
dipping  before  infection  in  Bordeaux  mixture.  True,  they  may  have  been 
infested  when  received,  then  when  disease  appears,  use  repressive  measures 
promptly.  The  fungus  is  the  whole  and  sole  thing  to  get  rid  of,  and  only 
killing  will  do  it.  Treat  the  cuttings  with  a  fungicide,  old  rusted  and 
badly  affected  plants  burn,  giving  no  quarter  to  the  enemy.  Fungicides 
need  to  be  employed  where  the  fungus  enters  the  plant — namely,  by 
the  leaves,  mostly  from  the  under  side.  The  disease  is  not  taken  from 
the  soil  by  the  roots. 
If  growers  of  Chrysanthemums  will  neither  use  liquid  nor  powder 
insecticides  early  and  systematically,  they  may  become  growers,  not  of 
clean  plants,  but  producei-s  of  myriads  of  spores  of  the  minute  though 
destructive  parasite.  It  seems  desirable  that  raisers  of  plants  for  sale 
should  pay  attention  to  this  matter  alike  in  their  own  interests  and  for  the 
general  well-being  of  the  “Autumn  Queen.  "  Its  enemy  is  with  us — of 
that  thereAian  be  no  doubt — and  will  increase  and  multiply  as  the  Potato 
disease  fungus  did,  and  does,  under  favourable  conditions  for  development. 
— G.  Abbey. 
The  Late  Belfast  Chrysanthemum  Show. 
I  tiAVE  just  read  with  interest  Mr.  Peter  Brock’s  notes  on  the  above 
show  in  your  issue  for  February  lOtb,  and  as  it  concerns  myself  I  shall 
be  much  obliged  if  you  will  kindly  allow  me  a  little  space  for  my  reply. 
Firstly,  I  am  at  one  with  INlr.  Brock  when  he  states  that  the  valuable 
prizes  offered  in  the  big  class  were  a  great  attraction.  They  undoubtedly 
were.  Probably  some  of  the  best  blooms  seen  last  year  were  staged  at 
that  fine  show.  No  less  than  fourteen  stands  of  forty-eights  competed, 
including  some  from  our  best  English  growers. 
Secondly  comes  the  disputed  point  relating  to  Mr.  Mease  and  the  sj)ort 
from  Madame  Carnot  which  he  staged  in  his  second  prize  stand.  Mr. 
Brock  states  that  it  was  a  case  in  which  some  judges  would  not  have 
hesitated  to  disqualify  according  to  the  reading  of  the  schedule,  which 
stated  that  all  varieties  must  be  in  commerce.  I  am  not  so  sure  almut 
that.  I  may  state  that  I  was  the  sole  judge  in  this  big  class.  Anyone 
acting  as  a  judge,  I  care  not  what  in,  undertakes  a  very  responsible 
duty,  and  unless  one  is  absolutely  certain  before  be  does  so,  he  has  no 
right  to  disqualify  ;  far  better  give  the  exhibitor  the  benefit  of  the  doubt. 
I  do  not  for  one  moment  pretend  to  be  a  perfect  judge,  far  from  it,  but  I 
do  claim  to  know  something  about  Japanese  Chrysanthemums.  1  can  tell 
Mr.  Brock  that  we  grew  both  Yellow  Madame  Carnot,  supplied  by  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones,  and  George  Warren,  from  Mr.  Wells,  and  he  may  be 
surprised  to  know  that  with  us  the  Yellow  Carnot  came  about  as  pale  as 
the  flower  shown  by  Mr.  Mease,  and  how  could  anyone  justly  disqualify 
a  bloom  simply  because  it  was  pale  in  colour  the  first  year  it  was  in 
commerce  ?  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  in  nearly  all  cases  the  colour  varies 
considerably  in  Chrysanthemums  ?  As  examples,  take  Etoile  de  Lyon  or 
Viviand  Morel.  At  the  late  big  show  of  the  National  held  at  the  Rr>yal 
Aquarium  I  believe  that  Mr.  Mease  showed  the  same  variety  as  Y'ellow 
Madame  Carnot  which  received  the  prize  as  the  best  Japanese  bloom  in 
the  show,  and  it  was  passed  as  such  liy  two  of  our  best  judges. 
I  will,  as  near  as  I  am  able,  relate  the  facts  of  the  case  at  Belfast.  In 
going  through  the  stands,  to  ascertain  if  the  exhibitors  had  complied 
with  the  rules  as  to  the  varieties  staged,  I  passed  the  bloom  in  question  as 
a  poor  specimen  of  Yellow  Madame  Carnot  without  reading  the  name,  so 
that  Mr.  Brock  will  allow  I  must  have  considered  it  something  like 
Y'ellow  Madame  Carnot.  During  the  early  afternoon  a  protest  was 
lodged  with  the  Secretary,  as  Mr.  Mease's  assistant  had  labelled  it 
primrose  sport  of  Y^ellow  Madame  Carnot.  Now,  on  the  face  of  this  it 
certainly  looks  like  a  clear  case  of  infringement  of  the  rules.  Mr.  Wells, 
of  Chrysanthemum  fame,  came  to  me,  and  said  it  was  entirely  his  fault ; 
he  told  Mr.  IMease’s  representative  to  name  it  as  he  did,  at  the  same  time 
saying  it  was  the  variety  catalogued  by  Mr.  Jones.  Mr.  Mease  s  man 
confirmed  this,  stating  he  should  have  named  it,  as  instructed  by  Mr. 
Mease,  Yellow  Madame  Carnot.  Now,  under  the  circumstances,  believing 
as  I  did  the  case  was  a  pure  mistake,  I  would  not  consent  to  disqualitj'. 
At  the  same  time,  I  do  not  pretend  to  say  there  are  not  two,  and 
probably  three  sports  varying  in  shades  of  colour.  I  shall  be  glad  to 
hear  what  Mr.  Mease  has  to  say  on  the  matter.  I  may  mention  that 
I  have  had  no  communication  with  Mr.  Mease,  either  direct  or  indirect, 
since  the  show  respecting  it. 
Thirdly,  Mr.  Brock  complains  about  the  cardboard  used  in  the  third 
prize  stand.  If  Mr.  Brock  had  a  clear  case  here,  why,  may  I  ask,  did  he 
not  protest  at  the  proper  time,  and  not  bring  up  a  matter  of  this  kind 
months  after  the  event,  waiting  for  someone  else  to  do  what  he  was  not 
anxious  to  do  himself?  But,  if  of  any  comfort  to  him,  I  may  say  that, 
cardboard  or  no  cardboard,  the  third  prize  stand  would  have  received  the 
same  award  from  any  responsible  judge.  1  much  regret  this  little 
friction.  I  can  conscienciously  say  that  I  acted  quite  impartially,  taking 
ihe  greatest  pains  in  making  the  awards,  and  I  received  nothing  but 
kindness  from  the  able  Secretary  and  other  officers  of  the  Society,  as  well 
as  many  gardeners,  both  Irish  and  Scotch. — Edwin  Beckett,  Aldenham 
House  Gardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 
[IVe  suspect  there  are  few  more  competent  judges  of  Japanese  blooms 
than  Mr.  Beckett,  and  none  more  conscientious.  In  such  important  classes 
we  should  have  thought  that  two  competent  judges  would  have  been 
engaged.  An  individual  judge  may  be  so  absorljed  in  the  work  of 
adjudication  as  to  overlook  for  a  moment  the  exact  terms  of  the  schedule.] 
Collarets  at  the  Belfast  Show. 
May  I  be  allowed  to  remark  apropos  of  the  “  Belfast  Chrysanthemum 
Show  Reflections,”  page  122,  that  though  late  in  coming  they  are  better 
late  than  never.  The  facts  as  related  by  your  courageous  correspondent, 
so  far  as  the  cardboard  collarettes  were  concerned,  are  exactly  such  as 
were  related  to  me  by  an  inde])endent  gentleman  who  went,  and  saw,  and 
returned  disgusted  that  such  things  were  permitted,  and  not  only 
permitted,  but  apparently  effected  their  purpose  of  gaining  points. — 
Faddy. 
Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  monthly  meeting  was  held  in  the  Society’s  room  on  Wednesday, 
the  9th  inst.,  when  Mr.  W.  H.  Winter  read  an  essay  on  “  Plant  Life.” 
He  referred  to  the  varied  phenomena  of  the  vegetable  world,  such 
as  growth,  food,  fertilisation  and  propagation,  and  explained  the  cellular 
tissue  of  plants,  the  principal  organs,  root  action,  circulation  of  the  sap, 
and  other  matters  relative  to  the  subject.  There  was  a  good  attendance, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  essay  a  very  interesting  discussion  was  taken  up 
by  a  number  of  the  members,  when  much  valuable  information  was 
imparted.  The  floral  exhibits  for  professional  members  were  Tulips  in 
pots,  which  produced  a  good  number  of  competitors.  Mr.  S.  Lomas 
secured  Jirst  prize,  Mr.  Chas.  Scott  second  prize,  and  Mr.  Thos.  Brewer 
the  third  prize.  The  exhibits  for  amateurs  should  have  been  pot  plants 
in  bloom,  but  to  the  surprise  of  the  officials  not  a  single  exhibitor  turned 
up,  probably  for  the  first  time  since  the  establishment  of  the  Society. 
Messrs.  W.  Artindale  &  Son  of  the  Sharrow  Vale  Nursery  exhibited,  not 
for  competition,  three  large  tubs  of  Tulips.  They  were  of  three  varieties, 
and  so  good  that  the  judges  awarded  them  a  cultural  certificate.  The 
introduction  of  new  members  and  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  essayist  closed 
the  meeting.  Mr.  John  Ilaigh  presided. 
Honours  Divided. 
In  spite  of  Lord  Chesterfield’s  aphorism,  “There  never  were  since 
ihe  beginning  of  the  world  two  cases  exactly  parallel,”  we  find  the 
Chrysanthemum  in  the  matter  of  big  blooms  supplying,  apparently,  the 
missing  link  ;  and  another  fact  for  our  law  givers  and  dispensers  to  face. 
That  there  can  be  no  better  than  the  “  best  ”  goes  without  saying,  and 
when  the  judges  award  dual  honours,  or,  rather,  split  the  premiership  as 
previously  related  and  commented  upon  on  page  122,  we  must  admit  that 
either  their  perceptic  faculties  were  at  fault  or  that  the  paragon  of  ])olite 
teaching  was  not  infallible. 
Assuming  for  all  practical  purposes  that  the  blooms  were  of  equal 
merit  so  far  as  human  judgment  could  discern,  and  that  not  even  the  wisdom 
of  Solomon  could  have  settled  the  matter  more  wisely,  the  question  still 
asserts  itself.  Which  was  the  “  best  bloom  ”  in  the  show  ?  According  to 
my  interpretation  of  the  simple  scheduled  dictum,  the  “  best  bloom,” 
there  was  none,  for  on  the  same  line  of  reasoning  it  is  possible  if  not 
probable  that  occasion  may  arise  when  three  specimens  may  claim  division 
of  the  honours  ;  and,  although  the  possibility  may  be  remote,  and  the  pro¬ 
bability  infinitesimal,  it  is  not  sufficient  to  exclude  four  “  best”  (?)  blooms. 
Still,  I  take  it  that  neither  the  wording  of  the  schedule  nor  the  sense  of  it 
admit  of  any  such  interpretation,  and  in  the  matter  of  what  has  occurred, 
assuming,  of  course,  that  the  points  of  merit  were  equal,  there  w'as  no 
“best  bloom  ”  in  the  show.  Hard  as  it  may  appear  in  dually  discounting 
extraordinary  merit,  the  arrival  at  that  decision,  which  is  logically  a  just 
one,  would  appear  to  be  the  correct  interpretation  of  the  matter. 
But  there  is  another  side  of  the  question  directly  bearing  upon  the 
particular  case  under  notice,  and  is  it  fair,  one  may  ask,  to  either  section 
of  the  Chrysanthemum  as  represented  by  a  perfect  bloom  of  that  peerless 
beauty,  Mrs.  A.  Hardy,  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  “  high-class  specimen  of 
Empress  of  India  ”  on  the  other,  to  place  them  in  juxtaposition  ?  I  have 
ventured  to  give  high  meed  of  praise  to  Mrs.  A.  Hardy,  knowing  what  it 
is  when  in  perfection,  how  difficult  it  is  to  obtain,  and  how  seldom  such  is 
obtained.  Justice  should  be  done  to  both  sections,  which  that  loosely 
constructed  dictum,  “  the  best  bloom  in  the  show,”  does  not  admit  cf. 
Is  it  lair  ?  Others  better  qualified  to  judge,  but  not  more  interested,  may 
agree  with  me  that  it  is  not.  If  so,  then  what  is  not  lair  is  unfair,  and  the 
sooner  ths  lax  method  of  selecting  the  best  bloom  from  rival  sections  the 
better  it  will  be  generally  for  all  concerned,  particularly  for  the  judges 
whose  difficulties  appear  to  grow  in  ratio  to  the  development  of  high 
culture. — V  espa. 
