322 
October  27,  189b. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND 
CO  TTA  GE  GA  R  DENER 
SEMI-EARLY  CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Formerly  we  depended  chiefly  on  the  reflexed  and  Pompon 
varieties  of  Chrysanthemums  for  affording  a  display  of  bloom  in  con¬ 
tinuance  of  the  earliest  varieties,  but  now  there  are  Beveral  of  the 
Japanese  sections  which  can  be  had  in  bloom  from  the  middle  of 
October  to  the  early  part  of  November,  this  period  comprising  the 
time  when  semi-early  varieties  may  be  considered  to  he  at  their  best. 
The  following  are  semi-early  : — 
Eclaireur  is  a  good  purple  Japanese.  Mrs.  G.  AY.  Palmer  is 
bronze  with  a  rosy  shade.  It  is  a  sport  from  Mrs.  C.  II.  Payne,  and 
is,  like  that  variety,  of  large  size.  The  flowers  are  of  good  quality  with 
broad  florets.  Geo.  Seward,  a  deep  orange  bronze  Japanese,  has  broad 
drooping  florets  The  plant  is  a  strong  grower,  and  the  blooms  are 
large.  Elthorne  Beauty  possesses  a  colour  not  commonly  met  with, 
being  a  deep  pink  or  rose,  with  silvery  reverse,  full  deep  blooms. 
Simplicity  is  an  excellent  white,  clear  in  colour  and  the  blooms  above 
the  average  size.  The  petals  incurve  at  the  points. 
Emily  Silsbury  is  another  white,  not  so  large  as  the  last-named, 
but  a  good  variety  for  October  flowering.  Mad.  Gustave  Henry 
produces  splendid  large  white  flowers  on  plants  of  a  specially  dwarf 
and  sturdy  character,  their  height  seldom  exceeding  4  feet.  All  the 
above  are  Japanese. 
In  the  incurved  section  Perle  Dauphinoise  is  a  splendid  rich  yellow, 
as  is  Louise,  flesh  pink.  The  latter  is  a  Japanese  incurved,  a  dwarf 
grower  about  3  feet,  frequently  less.  Souvenir  de  Petite  Aniie  is  one 
of  the  dwarfest  and  best  white  Japanese  varieties  for  grouping  and 
decoration.  The  flowers  are  very  pure  in  colour.  Mons.  Iloste,  a 
Japanese  reflexed  variety,  has  rosy  white,  slightly  tinted  yellow  blooms, 
fine  broad  florets.  Barbara  Forbes,  a  Japanese  incurved  white,  is  a 
good  October  flowering  variety,  4^  feet  in  height.  Ivory  is  another 
white,  dwarf  and  bushy,  with  fairly  large  flowers;  Japanese.  Lady 
Selborne,  Mdlle.  Lacroix,  and  Elaine  are  all  white  Japanese  varieties, 
which  are  still  considered  excellent  for  decoration  and  cutting,  though 
they  have  been  superseded  for  exhibition. 
The  best  October  yellow  varieties  are  Ryecroft  Glory,  October 
Arellow,  Alice  Bird,  and  Soleil  d'Octobre.  They  are  dwarf  and  compact 
growing  plants,  and  the  flowers  reflexed.  Dark  crimson  varieties  may 
be  represented  by  such  old  but  free-flowering  sorts  as  Roi  des  Precoces 
and  William  Holmes.  Few  if  any  of  the  newer  varieties  can  eclipse 
in  richness  of  colour  the  splendid  rosy  purple  blooms  of  Alexandre 
Dufour.  The  habit  of  the  plant  is  dwarf,  and  flowers  are  produced 
freely.  Lyon,  a  fine  Pompon  variety,  is  also  of  a  rosy  purple  colour, 
but  of  lesser  depth.  The  flowers  are  specially  good  and  regular  in  shape. 
Margot,  rosy  chamois  colour,  is  peculiarly  interesting,  from  the  fact 
that  the  blooms  change  their  tint  several  times.  The  variety  is 
Japanese,  but  has  no  special  merit  except  usefulness  and  attractiveness 
in  a  small  way. 
Madame  G.  Bruant,  rose  and  white  Japanese  with  broad,  flat,  and 
drooping  petals.  This  is  a  good  semi-early  variety,  the  flowers  from 
early  buds  being  very  large  and  fine.  AATerther,  a  large  purple 
Japanese,  has  solid  lovely  coloured  blooms  of  good  form.  A  most 
attractive  golden  yellow  market  variety,  not  large,  but  useful  for 
cutting  and  decoration,  is  Klondike.  It  is  very  effective,  and 
blooms  freely  in  the  middle  of  October  in  pots. 
There  are  few  of  the  real  incurved  section  of  Chrysanthemums 
which  are  naturally  early,  or  at  thqir  best  developed  condition  much 
before  November.  Among  the  earliest  may  be  noted  Mons.  R. 
Bahuant,  rose  carmine,  and  Baron  Hirsch,  orange  cinnamon.  The 
following,  too,  are  earlier  than  the  majority  in  flowering  : — C.  H. 
Curtis,  yellow  ;  D.  B.  Crane,  buff  and  red  ;  Mr.  James  Murray,  pink; 
Jeanne  d’Arc,  white  and  purple ;  Rose  Owen,  rose  coloured ;  Globe 
d’Or,  yellow  and  bronze. 
The  truest  semi-early  varieties  are  those  which  bloom  quite 
naturally  during  October;  but  many  of  the  large  flowered  Japanese 
varieties  are  induced  to  form  early  buds  and  produce  good  blooms 
earlier  than  November.  Blooms  are  thus  secured  for  special  purposes, 
and  to  prolong  a  display  over  a  longer  period.  This  is  chiefly  effected 
by  pinching  out  the  points  at  the  end  of  March,  and  giving  good 
culture  with  an  early  move  into  flowering  pots.  The  buds  are  secured 
in  August,  or  very  early  in  September  in  the  case  of  some  varieties. 
Under  favourable  conditions,  which  consist  of  having  the  plants 
standing  in  an  open  situation,  insuring  good  healthy  root  action, 
regular  watering,  judicious  feeding,  top-dressing,  prevention  against 
insect  attacks,  and  other  little  details  known  to  the  enthusiastic 
cultivator,  much  can  be  done  in  bringing  the  flowering  to  a  successful 
issue. — S.,  Qravesend. 
REMINDERS. 
The  ventilation  of  the  structures  occupied  by  Chrysanthemums  is 
a  matter  which  should  be  well  attended  to.  Constant  ventilation  is 
advisable,  though  less  is  necessary  at  night  than  during  fine,  warm, 
clear  days.  It  is  a  safe  plan  to  increase  the  amount  of  air  admitted 
early  in  the  morning,  always  provided  the  wind  is  not  strong  or  tog 
prevails.  Draughts  should  be  avoided.  AVhen  the  atmosphere  is 
heavy  with  fog,  mist,  or  small  rain,  the  Chrysanthemum  structure  is 
likely  to  become  close  and  muggy,  and  under  these  conditions  the 
spread  of  mildew  or  leaf  rust  is  probable.  A  little  fire  heat,  along 
with  a  reasonable  circulation  of  air,  is  a  considerable  help  at  this  time, 
as  it  promotes  a  buoyant,  healthy  atmosphere. 
AVell  grown,  healthy  plants,  are  not  often  attacked  with  green  fly, 
but  if  any  should  appear  it  will  be  wise  to  fumigate  or  vaporise,  so  as 
to  destroy  it.  Earwigs  are  often  found  on  the  plants  after  bousing, 
and  when  they  lodge  in  the  blooms  soon  disfigure  the  petals.  Indi¬ 
cations  of  their  presence  may  be  noted  by  scattered  florets.  Dead  and 
withered  foliage  on  the  plants  provides  shelter  for  them,  hence  remove 
all  such  as  frequently  as  possible,  especially  in  a  crowded  collection,  to 
prevent  their  depredations,  as  well  as  further  deterioration  of  the 
foliage.  A  large  collection  will  also  derive  benefit  if  the  plants  which 
are  past  their  best  are  removed,  either  to  another  house  or  a  less 
favourable  position  in  the  same  structure.  Immediately  the  flowers 
are  useless  take  the  plants  outside  and  cut  them  down.  Avoid  cutting 
them  down  inside,  or  the  spores  of  mildew  and  rust  fungus,  if  any, 
may  be  disseminated  in  all  directions  on  hitherto  healthy  plants. 
The  plants  will  vary  in  their  requirements  as  regards  water  and 
stimulants.  Clear  water  only  ought  to  be  given  plants  in  full  develop¬ 
ment.  Those  advancing  may  be  assisted  with  clear,  weak  liquid  manure, 
and  others  not  so  forward  may  have  supplies  a  little  stronger.  Strong 
rooting  plants  require  more  attention  than  weaker  growers. 
Bright  sunshine  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  fall  directly  on  large 
developed  blooms.  They  are  liable  to  be  scorched — or,  at  any  rate, 
some  of  their  freshness  and  beauty  diminished.  The  incurved  are 
more  sensitive  than  the  Japanese,  and  coloured  blooms  more  so  than 
white.  Fully-developed  flowers  may  be  preserved  for  a  considerable 
period  if  cut  and  placed  in  water  in  a  cool,  dark  room.  Retain  plenty 
)f  stem,  and  cut  off  a  portion  each  day. — E.  D.  S. 
THE  N.C.S.  MEDALS. 
Is  there  any  standard  by  which  the  medals  of  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society  are  awarded  at  their  exhibitions  ?  At  the  one 
held  on  the  12th,  13th,  and  14th  inst.,  much  surprise  was  expressed  as 
to  the  allotment  of  the  various  medals.  The  gold  medal  was  awarded 
to  a  trade  grower  for  a  nicely  arranged  bank  of  Chrysanthemum  and 
foliage  plants ;  two  circular  groups  in  this  bank  were  formed  entirely 
of  foliage  plants,  and  the  remaining  portion  of  the  bank  was  also 
greatly  assisted  by  a  large  number  of  the  same  class  of  plant.  From 
what  can  be  gathered,  the  Society  does  not  insist  that  the  plants  shall 
be  grown  by  the  exhibitor,  and  they  may  be  obtained  from  Covent 
Garden  or  elsewhere.  Picking  up  a  circular  issued  by  this  exhibitor, 
I  note  it  is  distinctly  stated  that  his  Chrysanthemums  have  won 
several  gold  medals.  Would  it  not  have  been  more  correct  to  say 
that  some  at  least  of  these  medals  were  won  by  choice  stove  and 
greenhouse  plants  ?  The  daily  press  in  notices  of  the  show  in  most 
cases  only  calls  attention  to  this  one  exhibit,  and  we  are  informed  that 
“  Mr.  Blank  -was  awarded  a  special  gold  medal  for  his  magnificent 
Chrysanthemums.” 
In  the  gallery  a  table  of  ordinary  Asters  or  Michaelmas  Daisies 
was  honoured  with  a  silver-gilt  medal.  A  table  of  Dahlias  had  a 
similar  award,  but  one  of  the  most  striking  exhibits  in  the  show — 
viz.,  a  splendid  collection  of  the  same  flowers,  had  no  higher  honour. 
The  exhibit  consisted  of  a  large  pyiamid  of  handsome  Cactus  Dahlias 
surrounded  with  several  smaller  groups  of  Pompon  anu  other  forms. 
All  were  effectively  arranged,  though  rather  formal,  still  they  were  not 
so  formal  as  the  other  table,  which  consisted  mainly  of  a  display  of 
the  lumpy  Show  Dahlias  staged  on  the  usual  harsh  green  boards. 
Now  there  were  twenty  times  the  number  of  blooms  in  the  large 
group,  they  covered  much  more  space  than  the  first  named,  and  made 
a  more  striking  display,  and  yet  both  received  the  same  honour. 
Then,  again,  a  long  table  was  nicely  arranged  with  Carnation 
blooms,  and  what  were  considered  the  finest  Chrysanthemum  blooms 
exhibited  by  any  trade  grower  in  the  show.  This  exhibit  was 
recognised  less  by  the  Society  than  were  the  collection  of  Asters  or 
boards  ot  Dahlias,  for  only  a  silver  medal  was  awarded.  Can  it  be 
thought  after  such  examples  as  these  the  medals  are  awarded  according 
to  merit  ?  If  they  are  there  was  something  radically  wrong  at  the 
late  show,  for  one  collection  of  Dahlias  was  much  superior  to  the 
others,  and  the  Chrysanthemums  and  Carnations  were  a  much  more 
meritorious  exhibit  than  the  table  of  Asters,  although  the  medal 
awarded  would  cause  anyone  to  think  they  were  not  so. — Fairplay. 
[Not  quite  “anyone,”  for  our  correspondent  would,  no  doubt,  and 
justly,  like  to  be  regarded  as  someone,  and  he  is  clearly  not  in  accord 
with  the  judges’  estimates  of  merit.] 
