Novembi  r  3,  1HU8. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
contains  nearly  fifty  classes,  and  is  thoroughly  representative  of  the 
flower. 
Tuesday  15th  commences  a  busy  week  in  the  north.  The  Leeds 
Paxton  Society  holds  its  tenth  Show  in  the  Town  Hall ;  Brighton,  in 
the  Dome  ;  and  Lister  in  St.  George’s  covered  Market  Hall  in  Belfast. 
At  the  first-named  Show  cut  blooms  are  well  provided  for,  a  silver 
challenge  cup  along  with  £5  is  the  encouragement  to  exhibit  but 
twenty- four  incurved  specimens  in  not  less  than  eighteen  varieties. 
At  Brighton  some  of  the  best  shows  have  been  seen  in  the  past  that 
it  is  possible  to  conceive.  Cultivators  around  have  a  suitable  climate 
and  a  charming  site  to  display  their  produce.  To  the  Ulster  Society 
belongs  the  honour  of  offering  the  most  valuable  prizes  for  cut 
blooms  during  the  present  season  ;  £50  is  to  be  expended  in  six 
prizes  in  one  class — viz.,  that  for  forty-eight  Japanese  blooms,  to 
contain  not  le-s  than  three  dozen  varieties.  In  order  to  encourage 
home  growers  who  labour  under  suggested  disadvantages  as  to  climate, 
an  additional  sum  of  £10  is  offered  by  Mr.  W.  T.  Braithwaite  to  the 
Irish  grower  who  shall  be  in  the  order  of  merit  of  first,  second,  or 
third.  In  all  nineteen  classes  are  provided  for  cut  rlooms,  therefore  a 
thoroughly  good  display  should  result.  Groups  of  Chrysanthemums 
and  specimens  receive  much  encouragement  also. — E.  Molyneux. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS  IN  SOUTH  WALES. 
Having  lately  had  an  opportunity  of  viewing  several  of  the 
largest  collections  of  Chrysanthemums  in  S.  Wales,  it  may  interest 
some  of  your  readers  to  hear  what  is  going  on  in  these  parts. 
My  first  visit  was  to  Picton  Castle,  where  Mr.  Humble  manages  to 
grow  some  wonderfully  well-finished  incurved  blooms.  I  caught  him 
in  midst  of  housing  his  plants,  and  a  most  promising  collection  they 
made,  especially  his  favourites.  Mr.  Durable  says  he  cannot  grow7  Japs, 
but  that,  I  think,  is  quite  a  matter  of  opinion.  Julia  Scaramanga, 
Madame  Carnot,  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche,  E.  Molyneux,  Australie,  and 
the  new  Mary  Molyneux  are  all  impressed  on  my  memory  as  promising 
some  good  blooms.  I  cannot  leave  Picton  without  a  word  of  praise  to 
Mr.  Dumble  for  the  fine  show  of  Grapes  he  has,  especially  the  White 
Muscats,  which  were  a  sight  to  be  remembered. 
I  next  paid  a  visit  to  Duffryn  House,  Mountain  Ash,  w7here  Lord 
Aberdare’s  gardener,  Mr.  Davies,  is  trying  his  hand  at  exhibition 
blooms  for  the  first  time.  He  has  some  healthy  plants,  but  they  are. 
housed  in  a  large  lean-to  vinery,  which  struck  me  as  being  too  lofty. 
Mr.  G.  W.  Palmer,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Madame  G.  Henri,  Australie, 
Graphic,  and  International,  wrere  some  that  I  remember  as  likely  to 
do  Mr.  Davies  a  good  turn.  If  he  can  finish  his  blooms  anything 
after  the  style  of  some  of  his  vegetables  we  shall  hear  more  of  him 
next  month. 
A  fortnight  later  I  paid  that  enthusiastic  grower.  Mr.  G.  Drake  of 
Cardiff,  a  visit,  and  there  saw  300  or  more  plants  grown  in  deep 
7-inch  pots,  and  the  results  certainly  seem  to  have  justified  Mr. 
Drake’s  experiment.  Looking  into  a  span-roofed  Tomato  house,  with 
a  cemented  floor,  an  array  of  fine  blooms  meets  the  eye.  The  most 
conspicuous  amongst  them  were  Ella  Curtis,  E.  Tabor,  Mrs.  Lewis, 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Palmer,  Mutual  Friend,  Belle  Mauve  (a  charming  bloom), 
Madame  Bergier,  Werther,  Madame  G.  Bruant,  Lady  Hanham,  Mrs. 
Lees,  Pride  of  Madford  (very  fine),  Mrs.  S.  C.  Probyn,  Robert  Powell, 
E.  Molyneux,  N.C.S.  Jubilee,  and  Simplicity.  Mr.  Drake  also  grows 
a  large  number  of  plants  for  cut  blooms,  and  these  dwarf  specimens 
are  a  great  testimony  to  the  care  and  attention  that  Mr.  Drake  bestows 
on  his  Mums. 
Leaving  Mr.  Drake  I  next  wended  my  way  to  The  Heath,  near 
Cardiff,  where  Mr.  Joy,  a  successful  exhibitor  last  year,  was  on  the 
look  out  for  me,  and  took  me  round  his  collection  of  Japs,  which  were 
all  safely  housed  in  a  span-roofed  structure  and  in  the  early  vinery. 
Mr.  Joy  is  certainly  to  be  congratulated  on  the  results  of  his  efforts. 
Amongst  the  novelties  he  has  a  useful  coloured  seedling;  it  is  a  deep 
old  rose  colour  free  from  shading,  with  very  broad  petals,  aud  should 
be  heard  of  later  on.  Wilton  Beauty,  a  curiously  coloured  bloom  of 
large  dimensions,  was  particularly  noticeable.  Amongst  many  heavy 
flowers  the  following  deserve  a  word  of  praise,  and  should  repay  Mr. 
Joy  for  his  care  and  attention — Pride  of  Madford,  E.  Molyneux,  C.  W. 
Richardson,  Phoebus,  Madame  G  Henri,  Oceana,  President  Nonin,  a 
lovely  bloom;  V.  Morel,  N.C.S.  Jubilee,  Australie,  G.  J.  Warren,  very 
promising;  Graphic,  Lady  Ridgway,  Lady  Byron,  and  Elthorne 
Beautv.  Mr.  Joy  also  showed  me  some  healthy  Cattleyas  and 
splendid  bunches  of  Grapes. 
Dulwich  House,  Llandaff,  is  the  new  location  of  Mr.  John  Howe, 
the  1896  Cardiff  champion,  who  left  Lanelay  House,  Llantrissant,  last 
November.  I  there  found  some  400  plants,  all  Japanese,  making  a 
goodlv  show  in  a  large  Peach  house.  Amongst  the  most  prominent 
were  Madame  Louis  Reray,  Oceana,  Charles  Davis,  Madame  Ferlat, 
Mons.  B.  Varlot,  Pride  of  Madford,  Madame  G.  Henri,  Phoebus,  Mons. 
Chenon  de  Leche,  Mdlle.  L.  Zede,  Australie,  Miss  M.  Molyneux, 
Elthorne  Beauty,  International,  Royal  Standard,  and  Madame  Carnot. 
Mr.  Howe  has  a  fine  collection  of  Crotons  and  specimen  plants,  also  a 
choice  show  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums.  Considering  the  disadvantage  he 
315 
has  been  under  in  having  to  make  a  fresh  start  under  new  conditions, 
Mr.  Howe  deserves  great  credit,  and  we  shall  doubtless  see  his  name 
well  to  the  front  at  Cardiff  Show. — H.  A.  A. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS  IN  SURREY. 
Whatever  may  be  the  claims  of  other  counties,  we  can  claim 
to  have  in  Mr.  W.  Mease,  Downside,  Leatherhead,  one  of  the 
champion  growers  of  Chrysanthemums,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  in 
any  private  garden  in  the  kingdom  there  can  be  seen  a  grander  lot 
of  blooms,  Japanese  and  incurved,  than  Mr.  C.  J.  Salter  has  at  Wood- 
hatch.  Unfortunately  this  fine  grower  is  too  largely  debarred  from 
competing  at  exhibitions,  more's  the  pity.  At  Kingston  in  a  few 
days  will  be  a  keen  competition  for  the  fine  challenge  vase,  one  of  the 
finest  of  its  kind  in  the  kingdom,  and  the  two  most  formidable 
competitors  again  are  Surrey  men,  in  the  persons  of  Mr.  G.  Hunt  of 
Ashtead  Park  and  Mr.  King  of  Holmwood.  Other  high-class  growers 
are  Messrs.  Paddon  of  Bramley  Park,  Higgs  of  Fetcham  Park, 
Baker  of  Ewhurst,  Gibson  of  Morden  Park,  the  two  Aldermans,  Sturt 
of  Rouud  Oak,  Mileham  of  Leatherhead,  and  many  others,  so  that 
were  county  to  challenge  county,  Surrey  would  indeed  be  hard  to  heat. 
E  ven  in  regard  to  trade  growers,  the  county  has  its  share  in  Mr.  W.  Wells 
of  Earlswocd,  one  of  the  largest  in  the  kingdom,  and  Mr.  H.  Shoesmith  of 
Woking.  I  hope  on  furnishing  so  formidable  a  list  of  Surrey  growers  of 
first-class  meiit,  no  one  will  assume  that  I„am  inviting  those  of  some 
other  county  to  tread  on  the  tails  of  my  coat ;  but  if  Middlesex,  which 
has  a  champion  grower  also  in  the  person  of  Mr.  W,  H.  Lees,  would 
throw  down  the  gauntlet,  a  very  pretty  fight,  florally,  might  result. 
WOQDHATCH. 
I  have  recently  had  an  opportunity  to  see  a  few  of  our  leading 
county  collections,  earliest  amongst  which  was  that  of  Woodhatch, 
Reigate,  the  residence  of  T.  B.  Haywood,  Esq.  Here  Mr.  Salter  has 
his  battalions  of  plants  paraded  in  two  long  lean-to  houses,  and 
presenting  a  superb  show.  Finer  quality  in  all  sections — and  literally 
all  are  grown — it  would  be  indeed  difficult  to  see  anywhere.  Of 
specially  fine  form  in  Japanese  were  Lady  Ridgway,  Pride  of  Stokell, 
Lady  Hanham,  Phoebus,  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche,  Madame  M. 
Ilicoud,  Pride  of  Madford,  Lucille  du  Drome,  Mrs.  J.  Lewis,  Madame 
Desblanc,  C.  B.  Haywood,  Madame  Carnot,  Simplicity7,  E.  Molyneux, 
Col.  W.  B.  Smith,  John  Rockett,  N.C.S.  Jubilee,  Congies  du  Bourges 
(rich  magenta),  Lady  Byron,  Marie  CalvaQ  Australie,  Nellie  Pockett 
(a  beautiful  variety),  Miss  Elsie  Teichmann,  Amiral  Avellan,  with 
many  other  Japanese.  Also  of  incurved?,  Alfred  Lyne,  Globe  d’Or, 
Jeanne  d’Arc,  Baron  Hirsch,  R.  C.  Kingston,  Lord  Wolseley,  Prince 
Alfred,  John  Douvhty,  Violet  Tomlin,  Mrs.  Coleman,  C.  H.  Curtis,. 
Mrs.  J.  Mearns,  with  numerous  others.  Not  only  are  the  blooms  of 
the  finest,  but  the  plants  are  clean  and  finely  foliaged.  It 
seems  as  if  the  dreaded  rust  had  no  terrors  here.  Amongst  other 
sights  here  is  a  span-house  filled  with  Zonal  Pelargoniums  in  glorious 
bloom,  certainly  not  to  be  excelled  anywhere.  The  entire  gardens 
and  houses  are  exceedingly  neat  and  clean,  and  reflect  on  the  gardener 
high  credit. 
WOODSIDE. 
Woodside,  Leatherhead,  the  residence  of  A.  Tate,  Esq. — The 
very  high  position  to  which  Mr.  W.  Mease  has  attained  naturally 
renders  his  collection  one  of  exceeding  interest ;  not  only  does  it 
include  many  high-class  novelties,  but  also  all  the  varieties  are 
produced  in  exceptionally  fine  form.  The  bulk  of  the  plants  are 
arranged  in  two  large  span  houses,  and  the  blooms  come  near  the 
glass.  Special  raised  paths  are  made  to  enable  the  flowers  to  be  easily 
seen  by  visitors  ;  chief  amongst  them  as  new  and  most  beautiful  was 
R.  H.  Pearson,  so  tentatively  named,  one  of  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones’  seedlings, 
a  singularly  rich,  brilliant  yellow  of  flattish  form,  quite  the  richest  of 
that  colour  yet  seen.  In  form  it  comes  near  to  Mons.  Chenon  de 
Leche,  which  is  here  so  wonderfully  fine,  in  many  flowers.  Singularly 
beautiful  for  so  old  a  variety,  quite  marvellous,  are  the  blooms  of 
E.  Molyneux ;  indeed,  I  do  not  think  1  have  ever  seen  finer.  Swanley 
Giant  is  gigantic  ;  so,  too,  is  Mrs.  White  Popham.  A  very  beautiful 
new  one  is  James  Bidencope.  Quite  of  lovely  form  is  N.C.S.  Jubilee. 
Very  full,  too,  is  Mons.  M.  de  la  Rocheti&re,  Lady  Ridgway,  Lady 
Hanham,  Chas.  Davis,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Palmer,  Mons.  Panckoucke,  Mutual 
Friend,  Modesto,  Miss  Nellie  Pockett,  Mrs.  W.  Mease,  so  very  beautiful 
and  refined  and  so  distinct  from  G.  J.  Warren  ;  Robert  Powell,  Australie, 
Mrs.  C.  Orchard,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Bevan,  Madame  Gustave  Henri,  Oceana, 
Madame  P.  Rivoire,  Madame  C.  Bruant,  Surpasse  Admiral,  Ella  Curtis, 
Matthew  Hodgson,  Graphic,  Robert  Owen,  and  so  on  ad  infinitum. 
Incurveds  are  a  little  late,  but  will  presently  be  in  fine  form.  It  is 
altogether  a  splendid  collection,  one  worth  going  a  long  journey 
to  see. 
Earlswood. 
Mr.  W.  Wells’  Collection  at  Earlswood. — I  have  but  time  just  to 
note  some  of  the  leading  varieties  in  this  remarkably  fine  collection, 
one  perhaps  unexcelled  for  variety  and  extent  in  the  kingdom.  That 
new  yellow,  Le  Grand  Dragon,  is  very  striking,  and  wonderfully  fine 
