June  23.  l^gS 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
517 
abused  muriate.  The  stable  manure  is  spread  out  and  the  two 
artificials  sprinkled  on  it,  then  the  whole  mixed  together  thoroughly. 
Sometimes  the  manure  is  applied  in  autumn,  sometimes  in  winter, 
•sometimes  in  spring,  according  as  the  quarters  are  cleared.  Winter  is 
preferable,  but  not  always  practicable  in  a  nursery,  or  for  the  matter 
of  that  in  a  garden  either. 
What  has  particularly  struck  the  Belgian  nurseryman  in  connection 
with  muriate  (there  called  chlorure)  of-  potash,  is  the  fruitful  habit  it 
-engenders.  You  may  get  more  exuberance  of  growth  with  very  heavy 
dressings  of  farmyard  stuff  or  repeated  supplies  of  nitrates,  but  you 
cannot  get  so  much  fruit.  He  instanced  the  fruiting  of  Conifers,  such 
as  Abies  concolor,  which  has  been  much  more  abundant  since  the 
muriate  was  used  than  it  ever  was  before.  There  is  something 
practical  here,  surely.  Eemember  that  what  is  said  is  not  the  story  of 
a  trial  in  three  flower  pots  of  thumb  size,  with  an  observer  armed 
with  a  powerful  microscope  at  each  pot,  but  it  is  the  record  of  practical 
work  on  many  acres  of  ground  over  a  series  of  years.  Therein  lies  its 
Talue.  I  recently  ventured  to  say  a  word  in  favour  of  muriate  of 
potash.  At  the  time  I  wrote  I  did  not  even  know  Mr.  Chas.  Van 
'Geert.  Hence  his  spontaneous  and  emphatic  testimony  to  the  value 
of  a  much-maligned  fertiliser  came  as  a  pleasant  surprise. 
Calmpthout,  where  the  Van  Geert  nurseries  lie,  is  a  much-scattered 
■village,  about  eight  miles  in  extent,  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  from 
Antwerp.  It  was  a  relief  to  find  the  nursery  gate  at  the  station  part 
of  the  radius,  my  bicycle  being  at  home.  Calmpthout  alluringly 
•displays  two  inns  at  opposite  corners  on  one  side  of  the  line,  and 
the  nursery  entrance  at  the  other.  To  a  bicyclist  there  might 
Be  a  moment  of  temptation  ;  to  a  horticulturist  there  is  none.  He 
sees  a  line  of  Copper  Beeches,  an  avenue  of  Conifers  in  scores  of 
species,  and  is  at  once  at  home.  .The  Copper  Beeches  are  handsome 
pyramids,  12  to  15  feet  high,  and  perfectly  symmetrical.  Some  of 
them  go  to  Great  Britain,  but  we  have  not  too  many  yet,  nor  have  we 
of  a  numerous  array  of  other  beautiful  shrubs,  trees,  and  Conifers, 
.many  of  which  are  either  not  known  or  very  little  grown  by  us. 
There  is  an  army  of  Acers,  prominent  amongst  them  being 
■campestre  albo-punctatum,  platanoides  Keitenbachi,  p.  Schwedleri, 
Pseudo-platanus  Leopoldi,  P.-p.  Prinz  Handjery,  P.-p.  Woorlei,  and 
virginianum  aureum,  ail  beautiful  forms.  It  would  be  too  severe  a  tax 
on  the  memory  to  enumerate  every  noteworthy  deciduous  tree  and 
shrub,  but  those  who  see  them  will  not  forget  AEsculus  Briatti,  Alnus 
glutinosa  imperialis,  Aralia  Maximoviczi,  Betula  alba  atro-purpurea 
and  urticifolia,  Caragana  pendula,  Castanea  americana  rubra,  the 
■beautiful  and  hardy  Catalpa  syringsefolia  aurea,  Cerasus  Avium  fl.-pl., 
and  C.  sinensis  pendula  flore  roseo,  Cornus  sanguinea  aurea  marginata, 
Corylus  Avellana  aurea,  CratEegus  Carrier!,  single  white,  with  very 
large  red  fruits,  Fagus  sylvatica  purpurea  and  s.  p.  pendula,  Fraxinus 
excelsior  aucubsefolia,  Liriodendron  Tulipifera  fastigiatum,  Malus 
floribunda,  Parrottia  persica,  Prunus  Padus  aucubeefolia  and  P.  Pissardi, 
iQuercus  americana  rubra  and  Q.  pedunculata  fastigiata,  Robinia 
Pseudo-Acacia  semperflorens,  Sambucus  canadensis  filicifolia,  Sorbus 
Aria  lutescens,  Tilia  Beaumonti  pendula,  and  Alnus  americana 
•, pendula.  _ 
Having  regained  breath  the  visitor  will  consign  to  memory  a  few 
shrubs  proper,  such  as  Amygdalopsis  Lindleyi,  Ceanothus  Gloire  de 
Versailles,  Hypericum  Moserianum,  Ribes  pumilum  aureum.  Spiraea 
(Exochorda)  grandiflora,  Staphylea  colchica;  several  Lilacs,  such  as 
Syringa  vulgaris  alba  grandiflora  Marie  Legraye  and  Souvenir  de 
L.  Spath,  also  Viburnum  plicatum.  Then  he  will  gird  himself  for 
the  Conifers,  and  in  some  reserve  corner  of  his  capacious  brain  he  will 
rstow  away  Abies  concolor,  Nordmanniana,  Veitchi,  Alcockiana, 
Menziesi,  and  Hookeriana;  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  Alumii,  aurea,  erecta, 
glauca,  and  intertexta  ;  Juniperus  tamariscifolia  and  virginiana  aurea 
•elegantissima,  Larix  Ksempferi  and  leptolepis ;  Podocarpus  Korayana ; 
Retinospora  filifera,  pisifera  aurea  and  plumosa  aurea ;  Taxus  baccata 
hibernica  and  aurea  marginata ;  Thuja  Lobbi  albo-maculata,  T.  occi- 
dentalis  Froebeli,  globosa,  Hoveyi,  and  Spathi,  the  latter  most  singularly 
distinct ;  and  Thuiopsis  dolobrata. 
Being  now  in  good  training  he  will  recall  a  few  notable  evergreens, 
like  Cotoneaster  Hookeri,  Phillyrea  decora,  and  Sktmmia  oblata 
Veitchi.  But  the  number,  if  not  the  Equality,  being  small,  he  will 
include  with  them  a  number  of  what  the  Belgians  call  heath  soil 
plants,  such  as  Andromedas,  Clerodendron  dichotoma.  Daphne  Cneorum, 
Empetrum  nigrum,  Kalmia  latifolia  splendens.  Ledums,  Limonia 
trifoliata,  Oxy coccus  macrocarpus,  and  Xanthoceras  sorbifolia.  He 
will  include,  too,  some  of  the  beautiful  Honeysuckles  the  continentals 
grow,  such  as  Caprifolium  bractypodum,  C.  flavum,  C.  japonicum, 
and  C.  sempervirens  fuchsioides ;  as  well  as  Glycine  sinensis ;  Rubus 
fruticosus  laciniatus;  huge  quantities  of  pontica  and  mollis  Azaleas, 
ihardy  Heaths,  Aquifoliums,  hardy  Magnolias,  and  Rhododendrons. 
These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many  good  things  at  Calmpthout,  but 
if  anyone  thinks  he  can  remember  more  let  him  go  and  try.  If  he 
inquires,  as  I  did,  the  object  of  the  small  boxes  mounted  on  tall  poles 
which  are  scattered  over  the  nursery,  he  will  learn  that  they  are  to 
harbour  starlings,  which  are  thought  so  valuable,  on  account  of  the 
grubs  they  destroy,  as  to  be  worth  the  expense  of  special  shelters. 
There  are  125  of  these  boxes,  and  still  a  few  unfortunates  are  crowded 
out.  In  this  sad  experience  they  shared  the  fate  of  not  a  few  horti¬ 
culturists  at  Ghent  during  exhibition  week.  A  free  box  at  the  end 
of  a  pole  would  have  relieved  some  of  the  latter  of  an  embarrassing 
;ask.  But  that  is  another  story,  and  may  not  be  told. — W.  Pea. 
New  Zealand  Cheysanthemum  Shows. 
Me.  M.  McDeemott,  Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Cambridge  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Society,  informs  us  that  the  show  held  at  the  end  of  April  was 
larger  than  ever,  and  competition  keener,  more  exhibitors  taking  part 
and  the  finances  good.  He  further  observes  that  “Mum”  matters  are 
booming,  and  much  greater  things  are  expected  in  the  future. 
The  “Waikoto  Argus,”  in  referring  to  the  show,  says  the  blooms 
were,  on  the  whole,  above  the  usual  standard,  and  in  some  cases  they  were 
far  in  advance  of  it.  We  doubt  if  there  has  ever  been  such  a  stand  of 
six  Japanese  exhibited  at  Cambridge  in  former  years  as  those  with  which 
Mr.  Wells  took  the  first  prize.  With  the  exception  of  one  bloom,  Rose 
W vnne,  they  were  all  perfection.  Amongst  the  new  blooms  of  note  that 
caught  our  attention  were  the  following,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Wells  ; _ 
Modesta,  a  brilliant  deep  yellow,  probably  about  the  best  yellow  Jap  in 
existence  ;  White  Swan,  a  pure  white  of  the  hirsute  section,  large  enough 
for  a  show  bloom,  and  in  every  respect  the  superior  ol  Mrs,  Alpheus 
Hardy  ;  Marshall  Oyama.  a  pure  white  Japanese  incurved,  a  splendid 
keeper ;  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche,  salmon  buff ;  C.  H.  Payne,  large 
amaranth,  with  bronze  reverse  j  and  Australie,  a  large  Japanese  incurved 
crimson  lake,  with  silver  reverse.  In  Mr.  Buckland’s  stand  we  noticed 
Emily  Silsbury,  a  large  and  handsome  white  ;  J.  H.  Upton,  a  very  hand¬ 
some  full  yellow,  an  Australian  seedling  of  great  merit ;  Nyanza,  a  large 
bloom  of  deep  crimson  colour  ;  Edith  Tabor,  a  rich  clear  yellow  Jap  ; 
Mons.  J.  Allernand,  large  bloom,  quilled  after  the  style  of  L,  B.  Bird. 
Mr.  McDermott  had  new  blooms  ;  Stanley,  a  good  Jap,  apricot  bronze  ; 
Glory  of  Pacific,  a  light  pink  Jap  ;  Mrs,  E.  G.  Whittle,  white,  veined’ 
pink  ;  Olive  Oclee,  Jap  incurved,  rich  buff,  shaded  bronze  ;  Lewis  Severs, 
yellow  and  rosy  purple,  large  Jap  incurved.  Of  the  true  incurved  section 
the  new  ones  we  noticed  were  Mrs.  R.  C.  Kingston,  pale  pink  ;  Major 
Bonaffon,  rich  golden  yellow  ;  Major  W.  A.  Day,  bright  rose  (a  Christ¬ 
church  seedling)  ;  Mr.  J.  Kearn,  pure  white,  and  Bonnie  Dundee,  bronze 
yellow. 
The  show  was  opened  by  the  Mayor,  who  paid  a  great  compliment  to 
the  President,  Mr.  Wells,  for  his  successful  efforts  for  promoting  an 
extension  of  Chrysanthemum  culture  in  the  colony.  Is  he  a  connection 
of  the  “  Earlswood  Wells,”  who  introduces  antipodean  Chrysanthemums  ? 
Shows  have  also  been  held  at  Essendon,  Oakleigh,  and  Brighton,  “  down 
under.” 
Miss  Nellie  Pockett. 
Mr.  Thos.  Pockett,  a  successful  Australian  raiser  of  Chrysanthemums, 
writes  :  “  Miss  Nellie  Pockett  has  taken  the  champion  position  at  three 
shows  held  in  Victoria,  and  is  now  a  general  favourite.  Early  buds  give 
immense  blooms  of  great  depth  and  pearly  whiteness.  It  is  easier  to  grow 
than  Madame  Carnot,  of  which  it  has  become  a  dangerous  rival.”  It  is 
distributed  with  others  by  Mr.  Wells  of  Earlswood.  Mr.  Pockett  also 
refers  with  approval  to  a  new  incurved  variety,  Tooronga,  for  which  he  has 
obtained  a  first  class  certificate  ;  a  very  dwarf  grower,  with  rather  more 
colour  than  Globe  d’Or.  We  have  in  hand  interesting  notes  from  Mr. 
Pockett  on  the  raising  of  seedling  Chrysanthemums. 
Hull  and  East  Riding  Cheysanthemum  Society. 
We  have  received  the  schedule  of  this  continuously  prosperous 
Society.  The  prizes  are  good  as  usual,  and  it  is  particularly  encouraging 
to  observe  the  silver  challenge  and  cups  offered  by  amateurs— the 
25-guinea  vase,  by  William  Wheatley,  Esq, ;  silver  cups,  by  the  Mayor 
(J,  Crook,  Esq.)  and  Sheriff  (Henry  Whittick,  Esq.)  A.  S.  Ayre,  Esq., 
provides  a  challenge  plate,  value  1 0  guineas,  in  the  ladies’  decorative 
class ;  and  the  tradesmen  of  Hull  a  piece  of  challenge  plate  for 
blooms  grown  by  amateurs.  The  Society’s  chief  difficulty  appears  to 
be  in  obtaining  a  building  large  enough — large  as  the  space  is  in  the 
Artillery  Barracks — for  the  accommodation  of  visitors.  Last  year  a  bold 
experiment  was  made  in  doubling  the  price  for  admission  during  the 
evening  of  the  second  day  of  the  show.  While  it  is  gratifying  to  know 
that  no  pecuniary  loss  resulted,  it  is  all  the  same  a  pity  that  space  cannot 
be  found  for  thousands  more  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hull  to  enjoy  the  fine 
and  variedly  attractive  exhibitions. 
