December  29,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
499 
iCH^gaNTH 
uivts 
HINTS  TO  SOCIETIES. 
With  the  early  announcement  of  next  season’s  fixtures  a  similar 
issue  of  the  prize  schedules  of  the  leading  societies  may  reasonably  be 
expected.  I  fail  to  see  why  these  cannot  be  issued  quite  early  in  the 
new  year.  As  a  rule  we  hear  quickly  how  much  money  has  been 
carried  over  to  the  reserve  fund,  and  how  much  has  been  disbursed 
in  local  and  other  charities.  If  the  accounts  for  the  current  year 
can  be  so  readily  made  up,  there  seems  to  be  no  tangible  reason 
why  the  prizes  for  the  next  show  cannot  be  equally  as  expeditiously 
arranged. 
The  early  issue  of  schedules  I  am  aware  affects  only  one 
class — exhibitors.  These,  of  course,  cannot  be  dispensed  with,  and 
therefore  deserve  much  more  consideration  than  they  at  present  receive 
in  some  quarters.  The  seasonable  publication  of  the  schedule  and  its 
accompanying  regulations  may  make  all  the  difference  to  a  society 
whether  they  have  an  increased  number  of  exhibitors  or  the  reverse. 
A  thoughtful  cultivator  will  at  once  acquire  a  sufficient  number  of 
varieties  in  the  several  sections  of  Chrysanthemums.  It  is  useless  to 
expect  exhibitors  to  do  this  if  the  list  is  deferred  till  April,  for  example. 
To  those  persons  who  intend  to  offer  prizes  for  specified  varieties  or 
sections,  my  hint  is  equally  applicable. 
I  hope  the  executive  of  the  N.C.S.  will  see  the  force  of  these 
remarks  and  set  an  example  to  smaller  societies,  especially  now  that 
the  question  of  the  classification  has  become  so  prominent  a  point. 
Affiliated  societies  should  be  bound  by  the  rules  governing  the 
parent.  The  early  issue,  then,  of  the  N.C.S.  prize  schedule  would 
enable  all  societies  connected  to  copy  any  important  items  that 
are  likely  in  the  coming  season  to  require  more  thau  ordinary 
attention. 
Unless  due  notice  is  given  in  an  affiliated  society’s  schedule,  I  fail 
to  see  how  exhibitors  can  be  held  responsible  for  items  contained  in 
the  parent  schedule  and  omitted  from  their  own. 
A  secretary  of  an  affiliated  provincial  society  quite  recently  said  to 
me,  “  If  the  parent  does  not  advise  its  children  fully,  can  you  wonder 
at  such  children  desiring  a  fresh  parent  ?  ” 
The  introduction  of  new  classes  should  be  the  aim  of  all  com¬ 
mittees,  as  well  as  maintaining  the  old  ones,  no  matter  how  satisfactory 
they  may  have  been.  An  impetus  is  provided  by  adding  classes  that 
are  far  removed  from  stereotyped  lines,  as  in  catering  for  the  exhibitor 
the  committee  must  not  lose  sight  of  the  visitor,  who  is  indispensable 
as  a  means  of  filling  some  portion  of  the  coffers.  The  general  visitor 
to  a  Chrysanthemum  show  quickly  tires  of  the  same  type  of  bloom 
and  method  of  arrangement.  A  constant  succession  of  variety  is 
necessary  to  yearly  whet  his  appetite. 
Variety  in  Chrysanthemums  is  less  numerous  at  the  present  time 
than  was  the  case  half  a  dozen  years  since.  This  may  appear  a 
surprising  statement,  but  is  a  fact  not  to  be  controverted.  Granted 
the  Japanese  section  contains  more  variety  of  form  and  colour,  but 
there  is  a  corresponding  decrease  in  other  sections.  No  one,  I  think, 
will  contend  that  the  incurved  varieties  are  equal  to  former  days. 
Then  there  is  the  almost  total  extinction  of  the  reflexed  section,  also  a 
big  decline  in  Anemone-flowered  sorts.  Pompons,  Anemone  pompons, 
and  single  flowered  varieties  are  less  numerous,  while  the  fimbriated 
and  scented  ones  are  entirely  lost  sight  of.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that 
increased  interest  is  necessary  in  the  arrangement  of  the  remaining 
sections. 
It  will  generally  be  conceded  that  at  the  majority  of  exhibitions 
the  cut  blooms  cause  the  greater  attraction  for  visitors,  and  provide 
deep  interest  for  exhibitors.  In  some  few  instances,  like  the  Hull 
Society  for  example,  groups  of  plants  arranged  for  effect  are  the  chief 
items  in  the  schedule. 
Assuming,  then,  that  cut  blooms  afford  the  greater  interest,  the 
next  point  that  will  strike  the  majority  is  the  manner  in  which  they 
ought  to  be  and  are  staged  to  produce  the  best  effect,  and  give  an 
increased  impetus  to  cultivation.  Those  who,  like  myself,  have  had 
ample  opportunity  of  seeing  Chrysanthemums  staged  in  a  variety  of 
ways  will  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  cut  blooms  from  a 
decorative  point  of  view'  are  the  most  effective  when  arranged  with  a 
portion  of  their  pwn  foliage  in  vases.  Various  numbers  in  a  vase 
have  been  tried,  from  one  to  twelve.  Three  blooms  of  one  variety, 
cut  with  stems  not  less  than  15  inches  long,  is  a  method  that  will 
commend  itself  to  many.  Mixed  colours  in  the  same  vase  are  not  as 
a  rule  satisfactory,  and  where  too  many  blooms  are  employed  the 
natural  form  and  elegance  are  lost  by  overcrowding. 
Classes,  then,  might  be  provided  for  a  stipulated  number  of 
varieties — three  blooms  of  each  in  one  vase.  This  is  the  method 
adopted  by  the  Scottish  Horticultural  Association  with  so  much 
success  during  the  last  three  years.  Baskets  containing  twelve 
specimen  blooms,  accompanied  with  suitable  foliage  of  any  plant, 
shrub,  or  tree,  is  another  style  of  illustrating  how  large  blooms  of 
Chrysanthemums  may  be  utilised  for  the  decoration  of  the  drawing¬ 
room  or  hall.  Vases  or  baskets  filled  wfith  sprays  of  undisbudded 
varieties  provide  a  rich  floral  treat,  and  serve  as  a  comparison  with  the 
large  blooms.  Nearly  every  autumn  show  has  classes  set  apart  for 
six  blooms  of  any  white,  yellow,  and  crimson  variety.  Such  classes 
afford  abundant  opportunity  of  testing  the  method  of  staging  blooms 
in  vases. 
It  is  idle  to  suppose  that  the  public  still  clings  unhesitatingly  to 
the  older  style  of  arranging  blooms  on  the  ordinary  green  painted 
boards  with  the  aid  of  cups  and  tubes.  It  is  equally  a  fact  that 
specimen  plants  of  the  various  types  or  sections  of  Chrysanthemums 
do  not  meet  with  the  same  favour  from  the  public  that  was  formerly 
the  case.  Such  plants,  severely  trained  and  furnished  with  from  fifty 
to  200  blooms,  all  mathematically  arranged  within  a  given  space,  were 
a  credit  to  the  producer,  but  as  illustrating  the  Chrysanthemum  as  a 
decorative  plant  a  complete  failure. 
Dwarf  specimens,  furnished  with  ample  leafage  and  carrying 
specimen  blooms,  are  much  more  useful,  as  they  harmonise  with  other 
plants,  and  are  now  a  distinct  feature  at  autumn  shows.  Instead  of 
the  huddled  together  masses  of  plants  so  common  a  few  years  since, 
the  majority  of  present  day  groups  of  plants  show  a  much  better  style 
of  arrangement.  Foliage  plants  like  Crotons,  Rex  Begonias,  Marantas, 
Alocasias,  Aralias,  and  Palms  associate  themselves  so  agreeably  wfith 
Chrysanthemums  that  many  pleasing  combinations  are  available. 
Single-stemmed  plants  limited  to  3  feet  high  growing  in  6-inch 
pots  deserve  encouragement,  as  they  are  useful  when  arranging 
groups  and  also  for  vases  in  rooms.  Prizes  are  yearly  offered  at 
Winchester  for  six  plants  of  auy  white  flowered  variety  and  a  similar 
number  of  any  yellow.  Such  classes  as  these  all  tend  to  make 
Chrysanthemum  shows  interesting. 
Another  suggestion  and  I  have  finished.  All  blooms  and  specimen 
plants  should  be  named.  To  the  ordinary  visitor  this  omission  is  most 
annoying,  as  it  so  often  deprives  persons  of  the  opportunity  of 
adding  to  their  collections  approved  varieties,  and  rendering  the  whole 
exhibition  more  interesting,  perfect,  and  satisfactory  to  all  concerned. 
Prompt  disqualification  in  any  class  where  the  exhibitor  fails  to  obey 
the  existing  laws  is  a  proper  means  of  checking  such  irregularities. — 
E.  Molyneux. 
NEW  JAPANESE  CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  1898  additions  are  of  a  rather 
high  order  of  merit,  the  only  difficulty  being  to  limit  the  selection  to 
something  like  a  reasonable  number.  Amongst  Japanese  there  are 
some  noble  varieties  that  are  bound  to  take  a  leading  place.  Alter 
seeing  a  very  large  number  at  our  floral  meetings  and  at  the  trade 
displays,  1  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  undermentioned  varieties 
make  a  useful  and  promising  selection  :  — 
Miss  Mary  Underhay  ought  to  become  a  favourite,  as  it  is  one  of 
the  best  of  the  Japanese  incurved  type  that  has  been  raised  in  the 
colonies.  The  florets  are  of  medium  width,  grooved,  and  of  good 
substance ;  the  colour  is  a  rich,  clear  shade  of  pure  yellow. 
Mrs.  Ernest  Carter  has  long  drooping  florets  very  closely  arranged ; 
the  colour  is  a  very  delicate  shade  of  deep  primrose  yellow. 
Lord  Cromer  is  a  variety  with  medium-sized  recurving  florets, 
blooms  very  large,  colour  rich  velvety  crimson,  with  a  reverse  of  gold. 
H.  J.  Jones  is  a  Japanese  with  long  florets  of  medium  width  and 
large  blooms ;  the  colour  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  crimsons  possible ; 
reverse  and  centre  gold. 
Madeline  Davis  is  of  great  size.  The  florets  are  long,  twisted,  and 
intermingling ;  colour  pale  lilac  mauve,  pinkish  towards  the  centre. 
Miss  Nellie  Pockett,  of  colonial  origin,  has  narrow  grooved  florets, 
incurving  and  pointed  at  the  tips,  and  is  a  closely  built  flower ;  colour 
pure  glistening  white. 
Chatsworth  is  from  the  same  source  as  the  preceding.  It  has  long 
narrow  drooping  florets,  forming  a  very  deep  flower ;  colour  white 
streaked  with  pinkish  purple. 
Purple  Emperor  is  a  fine  deep  type  of  Japanese,  not  over-large  ; 
the  florets  are  of  medium  width  and  grooved ;  the  colouring  is 
rich  and  effective,  being  of  a  velvety  shade  of  plum  coloured 
amaranth  with  a  reverse  of  silver. 
Mr.  T.  Carrington  is  a  worthy  companion  to  such  flowers  as  Pride 
of  Madford  and  Australie,  to  both  of  which  it  bears  a  family  likeness. 
A  massive  Japanese  incurved  with  long  florets  of  medium  width, 
grooved  and  pointed  at  the  tips;  colour  deep  bright  purple,  reverse 
silvery  pinK. 
