March  3,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
187 
UMS 
NATIONAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SOCIETY- Annual  Meeting. 
The  members  of  this  Society  mustered  in  strong  force  on  Monday 
evening  last  at  Anderton’s  Hotel,  when  Mr.  T.  W.  Sanders  occupied 
the  chair.  After  the  Secretary  had  read  the  notice  convening  the 
meeting,  he  then  presented  the  annual  report  and  financial  statement, 
and  also  submitted  a  statement  as  to  the  reserve  account. 
The  Chairman,  in  moving  their  adoption,  said  that  the  annual 
report  and  financial  statement  as  read  out  to  them  by  the  Secretary 
represented  the  work  of  the  past  year,  and  it  was  for  that  meeting  to 
say  whether  the  members  present  considered  it  to  be  satisfactory.  The 
motion  was  seconded  by  ]\Ir.  H.  J.  Jones. 
Mr.  .1.  R.  Starling  desired  to  say  a  few  words  before  retiring 
from  his  post  as  Treasurer.  He  had  been  with  them  for  twenty  years. 
At  first  they  were  small  in  numbers,  but  the  Society  had  now  become  so 
gigantic  that  it  required  someone  able  to  give  more  attention  to  the 
duties.  He  considered  he  had  only  been  Treasurer  in  name.  AVhat 
Mr.  Holmes  had  begun  Mr.  Dean  bad  followed.  He  reproached  neither, 
but  it  was  not,  he  thought,  the  way  things  should  be  done.  He  thought 
they  ought  to  have  paid  auditors,  and  a  Treasurer  who  could  do  the  work. 
He  had  always  done  his  duty  and  given  the  time  he  could,  but  the 
state  of  the  accounts  w’as  not  such  as  he  liked  to  leave  or  see  the  Society 
in.  The  Society,  he  thought,  was  big  enough  now  to  have  properly 
appointed  auditors  and  to  have  the  accounts  set  forth  in  proper  form. 
He  had  no  complaint  to  make,  and  he  regretted  leaving  after  being  with 
them  twenty  years,  but  could  not  undertake  the  duties  which  must 
necessarily  increase. 
Mr.  R.  Dean  gave  an  explanation  of  several  items  now  outstanding, 
and  thought  the  Committee  was  justified  in  saying  that  the  financial 
position  was  sound. 
Mr.  Geo.  Gordon  felt  the  finances  required  careful  consideration, 
and  pointed  to  the  rate  at  which  some  of  the  items  had  grown,  making 
comparisons  between  1891  and  the  past  year.  He  thought  the  great 
point  was  to  pay  their  way  before  they  incurred  expense,  and  it  was 
most  important  to  consider  what  they  were  going  to  do  for  1898.  The 
amount  to  be  provided  for  jirizes  by  the  Society  at  its  four  shows  was 
£610,  while  it  could  not  be  expected  that  the  income  would  lie  very 
largely  increased.  As  the  balance  appeared  to  be  so  small,  he  would 
like  to  know  where  the  money  was  coming  from.  It  was  a  matter  that 
ought  to  be  faced  by  the  members,  and  as  an  amendment  he  moved 
“  That  the  report  and  financial  statement  be  referred  back  to  the  General 
Committee,  with  instructions  to  prepare  a  proper  balance-sheet,  and  to 
prepare  an  estimate  of  expenditure  for  1898,  and  to  report  on  the 
advisability  of  a  reduction  in  the  number  of  the  shows,  or  in  the  amount 
of  prize  money  during  the  current  year.” 
Mr.  .1.  W.  Moorman,  in  seconding  this  amendment,  objected  to  the 
statement  that  the  Society  was  financially  sound,  and  in  support  of  which 
he  said  that  the  gentleman  who  had  been  nominated  to  fill  the  vacant  post 
of  Treasurer  would  only  accept  office  on  condition  of  the  debts  being  pre  ¬ 
viously  paid.  Mr.  T.  Bevan  also  supported  the  amendment,  and  suggested 
the  necessity  for  a  proper  balance-sheet,  and  thought  the  meeting  should 
be  adjourned  till  that  was  done.  Another  member  comnlained  that  the 
financial  statement  had  not  been  printed  for  the  use  of  members. 
Mr.  Dean,  in  replying  to  some  of  the  criticisms,  referred  to  the  new 
schedule  for  1898.  Though  the  Society  increased  in  numbers,  yet  the 
annual  loss  of  non-paying  members  was  large,  and  he  attributed  the 
increase  of  prize  money  to  the  action  of  the  Schedule  Sub-Committee, 
which,  if  not  checked,  would  land  them  in  bankruptcy.  Mr.  W.  11.  Lee6 
protested  as  a  member  of  that  Committee. 
Mr.  Cholmeley  moved  that  the  accounts  be  printed  and  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  members  at  least  seven  days  before  the  date  of  the  proposed 
adjourned  meeting.  That,  he  ventured  to  say,  ivas  the  usual  commercial 
way,  and  it  was  not  usual  to  ask  for  them  to  be  passed  without.  They 
might  be  right,  and  no  doubt  were,  but  he  considered  he  should  see  for 
himself.  He  did  not  believe  the  Society  was  in  a  position  of  bankruptcy. 
At  this  juncture  inquiries  were  made  as  to  voting  by  proxy,  but  the 
Chairman  pointed  out  this  would  involve  an  alteration  of  rules. 
Mr.  Spicer  moved  that  the  meeting  be  adjourned  for  a  month,  but 
finally  agreed  to  three  weeks.  The  auditors  would,  no  doubt,  prepare  a 
balance-sheet  when  they  knew  the  Society  wished  every  liability  placed 
before  it.  The  Committee  would  also  look  into  the  question  of  what 
could  be  done  during  the  ensuing  year. 
Mr.  Gordon’s  amendment  having  become  the  substantive  motion,  it 
was  carried,  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Monday,  the  21st  March, 
at  6  P.M.  There  was  a  long  agenda  paper,  but  all  other  business  usually 
transacted  at  the  general  meeting  must  stand  over  until  the  date 
mentioned. 
The  interest  in  the  proceedings  was  keen,  but  the  discussion  orderly 
and  dignified. 
Report  oe  the  Committee,  1897. 
At  the  termination  of  another  year’s  operations,  your  Committee  can 
congratulate  the  members  upon  the  steady  and  satisfactory  progress  still 
being  made  by  the  Society.  Its  work  during  the  past  twelve  months  was 
carried  on  with  energy  and  success  ;  its  resources  are  as  great  as  ever  ; 
its  supporters  more  numerous  ;  it  is  financially  sound  ;  and  its  prestige 
knows  np  diminution.  During  the  year  four  exhibitions  were  held,  and, 
as  is  usual,  they  were  of  a  high  order  of  merit.  The  meetings  of  the 
Floral  Committee  maintain  their  interest  and  usefulness,  and  the  societies 
in  affiliation  show  a  substantial  increase. 
In  common  with  some  kindred  societies,  your  Committee  took  steps  to 
commemorate  the  Diamond  .lubilee  of  her  Majesty  the  (^ueen  by  institut¬ 
ing  some  special  classes,  which  were  competed  for  at  the  November  show, 
and  proved  interesting  features.  A  Commemoration  Fund  was  opened, 
and  a  fair  proportion  of  the  amount  offered  as  special  prizes  obtained. 
The  Jubilee  edition  of  the  Catalogue,  1896,  is  still  in  constant 
demand  ;  it  has  been  found  most  useful  by  affiliated  societies,  and  it  will 
be  gratifying  to  the  compilers  to  know  how  greatly  it  is  appreciated. 
Inquiries  are  being  made  as  to  the  probable  issue  of  a  supplement  ;  a 
desire  is  also  occasionally  expressed  that  the  publication  of  a  Year  Book 
be  continued  if  possible. 
The  Classification  Colnmittee  have  held  a  sitting,  and  dealt  with 
certain  varieties  of  incurved  flowers,  defining  their  proper  position.  This 
Committee  has  sought  and  obtained  from  the  General  Committee  larger 
powers,  which  will  enable  them  to  make  from  time  to  time  such  recom¬ 
mendations  affecting  the  exhibition  of  plants  and  blooms  which  it  may 
appear  desiralde  to  adopt  in  practice. 
A  sub-committee  has  l)een  entrusted  with  the  revision  of  the  rules  ; 
and  after  full  and  patient  consideration  have  recommended  material 
alterations,  which  they  believe  will,  if  adopted,  improve  the  procedure  of 
the  Society  in  several  particulars,  and  bring  the  rules  generally  into  closer 
agreement  with  its  practice. 
During  the  year  ending  December  31st,  thirteen  Fellows  and  114 
ordinary  members  have  been  elected  to  the  Society,  and  the  number  of 
societies  in  affiliation  have  increased  by  eleven. 
An  agreement  has  been  entered  into  by  your  Committee  with  the 
Royal  Aquarium  Society  to  hold  four  exhibitions  in  the  present  year — 
viz.,  in  September,  October,  November,  and  December  ;  and  the  Directors 
commemorate  the  fact  that  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  has 
held  their  exhibitions  at  the  Aquarium  for  the  past  twenty-one  years,  by 
offering  special  commemorative  prizes  at  the  November  exhibition. 
The  schedule  of  prizes  for  the  four  exhibitions  has  undergone 
revision,  and  a  substantial  increase  in  money  value  has  been  made  in 
several  leading  classes.  A  special  class  for  twelve  vases  of  specimen 
blooms  of  Japanese  Chrysantbemums  has  been  introduced  at  the 
November  show,  the  President,  Sir  Edwin  Saunders,  generously  giving 
the  first  prize  of  £20. 
Your  Committee  most  heartily  thank  the  President,  as  well  as  all 
donors  of  special  prizes  at  the  various  exhibitions,  as  they  are  frequently 
the  means  of  bringing  out  some  novel  features,  adding  to  the  attractiveness 
of  the  various  shows  ;  and  highly  appreciate  the  warm  interest  Sir  Edwin 
Saunders  takes  in  the  work  and  success  of  the  Society. 
Your  Treasurer,  Mr.  ,J.  R.  Starling,  who  has  lieen  connected  with  the 
Society  by  membership  since  1878,  who  was  appointed  Treasurer  in  1879, 
and  has  held  that  office  ever  Since,  is  compelled  by  ill  health  to  insist 
upon  the  resignation  of  that  office  he,  for  the  same  reason,  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  members  a  year  ago.  Your  Committee  also  regret  the  death 
of  Lord  De  L’Isle  and  Dudley,  one  of  the  patrons  of  the  Society. 
Financial  State.aient. 
We  have  received  a  statement  of  receipts  and  expenditure,  but  owing 
to  its  hurried  preparation  and  the  indistinct  pencilling-in  of  figures  we 
are  unable  to  insure  an  accurate  representation.  As  we  should  not  like 
to  incur  the  risk  of  possible  errors  appearing,  the  statement  is  withheld. 
This  notification  is  not  in  the  least  to  be  regai’ded  as  a  complaint  against 
anyone,  as  we  assume  all  was  done  that  could  be  done  under  the  circum¬ 
stances. 
Damping  in  Chrysanthemum  Blooms. 
Anything  pertaining  to  Chrysanthemums  is  always  absorbed  by 
enthusiastic  chrysanthemistes  (Why  not  adopt  the  name  ?  It  is  expressive, 
convenient,  and  far  more  elegant  than  the  ugly  contraction  “mummers  ”) 
with  avidity,  and  perhaps  the  following  note,  though  unseasonable,  may 
evoke  other  opinions  and  throw  light  on  a  subject  that  to  me  has  always 
been  a  mysterious  calamity — I  refer  to  “damping,” 
For  some  years  I  have  observed  that  one  end  of  my  house  was  always 
much  less  subject  to  the  evil  than  the  other,  and  from  this  experience  I 
had  placed  all  my  most  susceptible  varieties  at  that  end.  I  could  never 
reason  out  why  this  end  should  be  always  so  fa\  oured  beyond  the  other, 
as  all  other  conditions  of  light  and  heat  wei-e  practically  the  same,  I  may 
say  that  the  plants  are  flowered  in  a  house  in  which  Camellias  are  planted 
in  open  beds,  and  the  house  an  iron  built  one,  consequently  the  evaporation 
from  the  open  beds  and  the  condensed  moisture  on  the  metal  surfaces 
make  it  as  undesirable  a  place  for  lug  blooms  as  could  well  be  imagined. 
There  is  a  large  cistern  underground  at  each  end  of  soft  water,  the 
hole  being  covered  with  a  moveable  flag.  I  have  always  grouped  the 
plants  over  this,  at  the  end  to  which  I  refer.  At  the  other  end  the  cistern 
has  always  been  open  and  used  for  wateriug  the  Chrysanthemums  from, 
as  more  convenient  and  supposititiously  better  for  the  plants,  while  the 
end  which  has  proved  so  signall5  free  from  damp  blooms  has  been 
watered  from  the  tap  with  water  which  is  most  decidedly  hard.  From 
this  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  soft  water  is  indirectly  conducive 
to  damping.  When  we  consider  how  seldom  a  soft  water  cistern  is 
cleansed,  and  the  nature  of  the  water  collected  from  the  house  tops  in 
autumn,  with  its  many  abominations  of  decayed  vegetable  matter,  I 
think  it  is  not  improbable  that  a  condition  of  affairs  may  arise  that  is 
distinctly  advantageous  to  the  propagation  of  this  scourge  to  chrysanthe¬ 
mistes. — R.  E.  Richardson,  Wolhion. 
