February  17,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
153 
The  N.C.S.  Smoking  Concekt. 
The  gathering  for  smoking  and  singing  at  Anderton’s  Hotel  cn 
Monday  night,  inaugurated  by  the  Committee  of  the  National  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Society,  was  a  great  success.  Mr.  .lames  II.  Veitch  acquitted 
himself  admirably  in  the  chair,  and  the  singing  and  smoking  by  some 
200  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  of  a  high  order  of  merit,  not  that  all  sung 
or  all  smoked,  but  only  that  they  were  there  and  happy.  It  is  expected 
that  a  sufficiently  large  sum  was  realised  to  place  the  Society  on  a  firm 
and  independent  basis,  and  that  it  will  soon  be  capable  of  holding  its 
shows  anywhere  where  room  can  be  found  for  them.  The  cigarettes, 
speeches,  vocalism,  and  everything  else  were  of  the  best  brands,  and 
though  it  is  thought  no  profit  would  be  derived  by  the  famous  hotel, 
it  is  hoped  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  will  be  greatly 
strengthened,  and  that  the  efforts  of  the  Committee  and  Secretary  to 
that  end  will  be  correspondingly  ajipreciated. — A  Chtel. 
New  French  Chrysanthemums  op  1897. 
After  visiting  the  Ghent  and  Paris  shows  in  1896,  where  we  saw  a  large 
number  of  the  new  seedlings  that  flowered  last  autumn  for  the  first  time 
in  England,  there  was  an  especial  interest  in  watching  their  development 
after  cultivation  by  English  growers.  As  might  be  expected,  Mons. 
Calvat’s  novelties  formed  the  bulk  of  the  additions  to  our  already 
extensive  collections,  and,  as  was  expected,  many  of  his  1897  varieties 
seem  likely  to  occupy  a  foremost  position  on  our  show  boards  in  the  future, 
for  those  who  are  most  interested  in  the  subject  from  a  pecuniary  point 
of  view  proclaim  them  to  be  novelties  of  the  very  highest  order. 
Good  as  many  of  them  were  on  the  Continent,  they  seem  to  have 
improved  in  many  instances  both  in  size  and  solidity.  A  few,  perhaps, 
were  not  quite  so  clear  and  pure  in  cjlour,  but  even  then  these  exceptions 
are  in  the  minority.  The  most  effective  and  distinct  to  my  taste  are 
N.C.S.  Jubilee,  Topaze  Orientale,  Mdlle.  Lucie  Faure,  Madame  Ferlat. 
Mdlle.  Laurence  Z4de,  Werther,  Directeur  Liebert,  and  Solid  d’Octobre 
among  the  Calvat  race,  while  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  Mons.  Nonin, 
a  Parisian  grower,  had  a  fairly  large  representation  among  the  novelties. 
A  raiser  once  more  generally  known,  Mons.  de  Keydellel,  distributed 
some  fair  novelties  that  seem  likely  to  please  a  certain  class  of  cultivators, 
his  best  being  unquestionably  Lucille  Mathieu  de  la  Drome. 
After  carefully  going  over  my  notes  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  the 
undermentioned  will  be  those  that  suit  the  taste  best  of  the  English 
exhibitor. 
Directeur  Lichert  (Calvat).— Japanese  of  large  size  and  compact  build. 
The  florets  are  of  medium  size,  grooved  and  curly  ;  colour  deep  lilac  mauve. 
Lucille  Mathieu  de  la  Drome  (Heydellet). — This  promises  to  be  a  useful 
addition  to  the  old  florists’  type  of  incurved  varieties.  It  is  large  in  size 
and  deeply  built  ;  the  florets  are  rather  narrow,  and  regularly  incurving  ; 
colour  pale  golden  yellow. 
Madame  Ferlat  (Calvat). — A  grand  massive  .Japanese  incurved  of  great 
size  and  substance.  The  florets  are  heavily  grooved  ;  the  colour  pure 
pearly  white. 
Mdlle.  Laurence  ZMe  (Calvat). — Another  big  globular  .Japanese  incurved, 
with  grooved  pointed  florets  of  medium  width  ;  inside  colour  violet 
amaranth,  reverse  silvery  pink. 
Princesse  de  Galles  (Calvat). — Japanese  with  very  long  florets,  which 
are  grooved  and  of  medium  width  ;  colour  pale  pink  shaded  yellow,  tinted 
purple. 
Topaze  Orientale  (Calvat). — A  solid,  compact  incurving  .Japanese,  very 
globular  and  regular  in  form  ;  florets  grooved  and  broad  ;  colour  pale 
lemon  yellow. 
Mons.  G.  Chahanne  (Calvat). — A  closely  built  Japanese  incurved  with 
rather  broad  florets  ;  colour  rich  golden  yellow. 
Souvenir  de  Molines  (Calvat). — Japanese,  close  and  compact  in  build  ; 
golden  carmine  bronze,  reverse  golden, 
Leocadie  Gentils  (Quetier), —  A  sport  from  Enfant  des  deux  IMondes, 
raised  in  France  last  year.  It  has  narrow  grooved  florets,  the  blooms  are 
of  large  size,  and  the  colour  pale  pure  lemon  yellow  y,  very  hairy. 
Mdlle.  Louis  Brossillon. — This,  too,  is  a  Japanese  Mcurved  of  very  large 
size.  It  has  medium  sized  grooved  florets  that  are  twisted  and  intermingly. 
It  is  said  to  be  a  seedling  from  Madame  Carnot,  and  its  colour  is  a  pure 
white,  very  slightly  tinted. 
Dr.  H.  Pietro  Baragiola  (ReydelleC'.— Japanese  with  narrow,  flat, 
reflexing  florets,  not  large,  but  very  striking  and  distinct.  The  colour  is 
deep  golden  yellow,  shaded  rosy  carmine. 
Madame  G.  Bruant  (Calvat). — A  monster  Japanese  with  very  long 
drooping  florets;  colour  pale  rose  shaded  purple  towards  the  tips  ;  centre 
almost  white. 
Soleil  d'Octobre  (Calvat). —  A  rather  early  blooming  Japanese  with 
medium  sized  drooping  florets,  curling  at  the  tii)8  ;  colour  a  pretty  shade 
of  pale  lemon  yellow  ;  reverse  silvery. 
Werther  (Calvat).^ — Globular  .Japanese  of  large  size,  having  grooved 
incurving  florets  ;  colour  rich  deep  rosy  amaranth,  reverse  silvery.  A  fine 
effective  novelty. 
Vicomte  Roger  de  Chezelles  (Calvat). — AVrongly  described  in  most 
reports  as  Vicomtesse.  A  very  large  Japanese,  the  centre  florets  incurving 
and  closely  resembling  Mr.  Briscoe  Ironside  s  seedling  Arena  ;  colour 
golden  yellow  bronze,  reverse  silvery  yellow. 
Madame  Ph.  Rivoire. — This  is  a  .lapanese  also  of  great  size  ;  florets  ver} 
broad  and  ribbed  on  the  reverse  ;  colour  pure  white. 
Mdlle.  Lucie  Faure  (Calvat). — A  mo.st  superb  novelty  of  the  .lapanese 
incurved  type.  The  florets  are  of  great  length,  good  substance,  and  deeply 
grooved  ;  one  of  the  purest  whites,  and  will  probably  rank  as  one  of 
Calvat’s  best. 
Madame  Ed.  Roger  (Calvat). — .Japanese  incurved  ;  florets  of  medium 
width  and  grooved,  large  solid  globular  shaped  blooms.  This  is  a  most 
distinct  novelty,  being  of  a  pale  but  decided  sea  green  colour,  which,  in  its 
early  stages,  is  very  effective. 
N.C.S.  Jubilee  (Calvat). — Another  very  fine  globular  Japanese  incurved 
variety  ;  the  florets  are  broad  and  grooved,  colour  pale  lavender  pink,  with 
silvery  pink  reverse.  A  noteworthy  acquisition  in  its  section. 
Mons.  Massange  de  Tjouvrex  (Calvat). — Also  of  the  .1  apanese  incurved 
tj’pe  ;  florets  of  medium  width,  colour  a  very  fine,  clear  shade  of  pale 
yellow. 
Souvenir  de  Madame  F.  Rosette  (Calvat).^ — A  big  solid  .Japanese  incurved, 
with  good  florets  pointed  at  the  tips  ;  colour  plum  coloured  amaranth, 
with  silvery  amaranth  reverse. 
Mons.  Tluguier  (Reydellet). — A  very  large  .Japanese,  but  rather  flat 
in  liuild  ;  incurving  florets  of  good  substance,  and  grooved  ;  colour  pale 
rosy  mauve,  reverse  silvery  pink. 
Papa  Villard  (Nonin).— Japanese,  of  good  size,  but  not  over-large  ; 
the  florets  are  rather  broad,  curling  at  the  tips  ;  colour  very  deep  rosy 
mauve,  with  silvery  reverse. 
Madame  Desblanc  (Reydellet). — An  incurved  Japanese  with  twisted 
intermingling  grooved  florets  of  medium  width  ;  a  pretty  shade  of  bright 
rosy  pink.  — C.  Harman  Payne. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
February  9th. 
Scientific  Committee.— Present— Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the 
chair)  ;  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Mr,  Bennett-Poe,  Mr.'  McLachlan,  Mr.  Veitch, 
Kev.  G.  H.  Engleheart,  Mr.  Sutton,  Mr.  Shea,  Mr.  Douglas,  Mr.  Michael, 
and  Rev.  Prof.  Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Evolution  Committee  op  the  Royal  Society. — Mr.  Bateson 
called  attention  to  the  eustence  of  the  Evolution  Committee  of  the  Royal 
Society,  the  object  of  which  is  to  promote  accurate  observations  of  facts 
relating  to  variation,  heredity,  selection,  and  other  phenomena  connected 
with  the  evolution  of  plants  and  animals.  A  horticultural  sub¬ 
committee  has  been  appointed  to  further  the  above  objects  in  the  ho])e 
that  any  persons  engaged  in  practical  horticulture  may  be  willing  to 
assist  the  Committee  by  communicating  the  results  obtained,  and  allowing 
their  operations  to  be  oltserved  and  recorded.  The  Secretary  of  the 
Scientific  Committee  will  ))e  glad  to  receive  any  communications. 
Currant  Blight. — Mr,  Berry  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the  history 
and  progress  of  this  destructive  injury,  especially  to  Black  Currants  in 
Kent.  It  was  first  observed  some  ten  years  ago,  but  has  now  reached 
alarming  dimensions.  Miss  Ormerod  recommended  picking  off  and 
destroj’ing  the  buds  infested  with  the  mite  (Phytoptus  ribis),  the  cause  of 
the  complaint.  This  was  done,  but  last  year  a  sudden  development 
occurred,  when  picking  became  useless.  The  “  Baldwin.”  a  very  heavy 
cropper,  was  the  variety  most  seriously  attacked.  The  “  Red  Budded 
Naples  ’  were  only  slightly  affected,  but  this  variety  is  not  a  heavy 
cropper,  and  the  fruit  being  more  readily  shed,  it  is  not  so  useful  as  the 
Baldwin  for  market  purposes.  He  suggested  that  experiments  might  be 
carried  out  at  Chiswick  to  discover  which  was  the  most  blight-resisting 
variety,  as  was  done  with  other  plants  in  Victoria  in  the  Horticultural 
Gardens,  so  as  to  aid  the  fruit  industry  in  Australia.  ^Jr.  Mcl,achlan 
gave  some  account  of  the  general  habits  of  the  Phytopti,  remarking  (hat 
this  species  was  first  noticed  by  Westwood  some  thirty  j  ears  ago.  It  is 
nearly  legless,  and  lives  inside  the  bud,  consequently  ii  is  very  difficult 
to  reach  by  means  of  insecticides.  He  could  only  recommend  hand 
picking,  unless  a  mite-proof  variety  could  be  found,  as  they  had  raised 
more  or  less  phylloxera-proof  Vines.  Mr.  Michael  also  contributed 
further  details,  observing  that  all  the  species  of  Phytoptus  were  parasites, 
and  that  while  many  species  might  attack  the  same  plant,  a  single  species 
might  also  live  on  many  kinds.  They  were  excessively  minute,  possessing 
only  two  pairs  of  legs  instead  of  eight,  and  always  protect  themselves, 
so  that  it  becomes  a  very  difficult  matter  to  reach  them,  &s~e.g.,  in  the 
curled-up  edges  of  leaves,  and  within  buds.  It  had  been  found  that 
kerosene  emulsion  continuously  applied  by  spraying  had  been  more  or 
less  effective  against  P.  pyri,  but  acari  are  far  less  sensitiv3  to  chemicals 
than  insects.  The  eggs  especially  have  a  dense  cuticle,  so  as  to  render  it 
quite  impervious  to  chemical  action  ot  insecticides.  The  only  chance  was  to 
repeat  the  process  of  spraying,  and  catch  the  successive  broods.  The  only 
thing  absolutely  fatal  to  acarus  life  was  boiling  water  ;  eggs  and  all 
were  destroyed  at  once.  Mr.  Berry,  in  repb'ing,  observed  that  the 
remedy  hitherto  suggested  of  cutting  down  the  shoots  of  the  Currant 
bushes  attacked  was  quite  useless.  Mr.  Veitch  suggested  that  analysis 
of  the  branches  of  the  varieties  affected  or  otherwise  might  reveal  some 
differences,  but  Mr.  Wilks  expressed  himself  as  very  doubtful  of  any 
appreciable  differences  being  attainable  even  if  they  exist.  Mr.  Engle¬ 
heart  raised  the  question  as  to  whether  the  Baldwin  variety  was  weaker 
than  others  through  over-propagation,  but  Mr  Michael  added  that 
Phytopti  do  not  by  any  means  prefer  weaker  plants,  but  are  found  more 
usually  on  perfectly  healthy  ones. 
Carnations  and  Caterpillars.  —  IMr.  Douglas  exhibited  some  grubs 
received  from  Mr.  White,  Wateringbury,  Kent,  but  the  species  was  not 
readily  determinable  without  being  bred  to  the  imago  stage.  It  was 
suggested  that  gas  lime  should  be  used,  as  for  wireworm,  to  destroy  them. 
Pines,  Diseased. — Specimens  of  Scotch  Fir  and  of  Abies  Nordraanniana 
were  received  from  Mrs.  Marshall,  Skelwith  Fold,  Amhleside,  the  former 
attacked  by  the  Pine  beetle,  the  latter  by  Kermes  abietis.  This  insect 
has  always  proved  to  be  very  fatal  to  this  species  of  Abies,  and  the  only 
