August  31,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
187 
completed  the  display  which  was  most  effective.  It  would  be  hardly 
fair  to  pass  this  beautiful  park  without  reference  to  the  grand  effect  pro¬ 
duced  by  the  splendid  Palms  in  variety,  Musa9,  Bamboos,  and  Perns  that 
are  so  effectively  displayed. 
Journeying  next  to  Hyde  Park  one  becomes  at  once  cognisant  or  the 
vicinity  of  fashion,  as  represented  not  only  by  the  visitors  one  meets  but 
by  the  style  of  the  park  itself.  Everything  is  of  the  most  refined  order, 
and  in  the  summer  bedding  this  is  very  apparent,  though  some  of  the 
latest  efforts  in  employing  new  plants  did  not  strike  me  as  being 
successful. 
Here  again  the  Ivy-leaved  Pelargonium  is  doing  good  service,  and  as 
employed  the  plants  are  excellent  for  the  purpose.  The  large  specimens 
entirely  do  away  with  the  squatty  appearance  they  sometimes  present. 
A  pretty  bed  was  composed  of  giant  plants  of  Souvenir  do  Chas  Turner, 
Fuchsia  fulgens  with  its  grand  foliage,  tall  Fuchsias,  Calceolaria 
amplexicaulis,  with  African  and  French  Marigolds  edged  with  broad 
blocks  of  Leucophyton  Browni  and  Alternanth-.ra.  It  reads  a  9trange 
combination,  but  it  is  most  effective. 
In  a  large  oblong  bed  we  meet  a  somewhat  similar  arrangement, 
though  composed  of  different  plants.  Acalypha  marginata,  with  Ivy¬ 
leaved  Pelargoniums,  Cannas,  standard  Fuchsias,  summer-flowering 
Chrysanthemums.  The  pretty  little  Cuphea  platyccntra.  Coreopsis 
anceolata,  with  a  deep  border  of  Antennaria  tomentosa,  in  which  plants 
of  Pelargonium  Black  Vesuvius  were  dotted  at  intervals,  formed  the 
combination. 
Proceeding,  the  next  bed  to  take  the  eye  was  one  of  dark  Heliotropes 
of  the  tall  pyramidal  type,  with  Mrs.  G.  Rundle  Fuchsias  of  similar 
stature ;  patches  or  clusters  of  bright  Montbretias  were  dotted  in  at 
intervals.  The  edging  was  Alternanthera.  A  pair  of  large  carpet  beds 
were  bright  and  effective,  but  as  they  are  difficult  to  describe  without  a 
plan  I  must  pass  them  with  the  mere  mention. 
A  bed  of  scarlet  Begonia  seedlings,  in  which  plants  of  Grevillea 
robusta  were  dotted,  attracted  my  attention,  for  it  was  the  only  instance 
throughout  my  tour  where  I  saw  the  tubwous  Begonia  at  all  happy  or 
even  presentable.  The  dark  blue  edging  of  Lobelia  and  groundwork  of 
golden  Creeping  Jenny  were  very  pleasing.  A  pretty  bed  was  composed 
of  rather  tall  plants  of  Eucalyptus  Gunni,  Molopospermum  cicutarium 
with  Fern-like  foliage,  dwarf  Cockscombs  to  lend  colour,  with  a  flooring  of 
Alternanthera. 
In  spite  of  all  this  modern  bedding  an  odd  bed  of  bright  “  Geraniums  ” 
here  and  there  had  a  wonderfully  pleasing  effect.  The  vivid  scarlets 
thrown  down  on  the  broad  expanses  of  grass  filled  the  visitors  with 
admiration.  The  specimen  flowering  plants  so  freely  used  in  this  park, 
such  as  blue  and  white  Plumbagos,  tall  Fuchsias,  giant  Pelargoniums, 
Heliotropes,  Bougainvilleas,  and  many  others  form  quite  a  feature,  which 
might  be  copied  in  private  gardens  with  advantage. — A  Country  Visitor 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  Executive  Committee  of  this  Society  held  a  meeting  on 
Monday  evening  last  at  Carr’s  Restaurant,  Strand,  Mr.  P.  Waterer 
being  in  the  chair.  The  usual  preliminaries  of  reading  the  minutes 
and  correspondence  having  duly  received  attention,  the  Secretary 
called  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Society  had  since  its  last  meeting 
lost  several  of  its  members  by  death,  viz.,  Messrs.  George  Fry,  T.  W. 
Girdlestone,  and  J.  T.  Saltmarsh.  The  Foreign  Secretary,  Mr.  Harman 
Payne,  also  reported  the  death  of  Mr.  Henry  L.  de  Viltnorin,  who  was 
one  of  the  honorary  Fellows  of  the  N.C.S. 
The  Secretary  announced  that  Mr.  Taylor’s  audit  of  varieties 
shown  at  the  November  Exhibition  was  not  completed  in  time  for 
publication  in  the  schedule,  but  that  the  figures  in  comparison  with 
those  of  the  previous  year  might  prove  interesting,  and  were  as 
under.  In  the  cut  bloom  classes  the  numbers  were  : — 
Japanese 
...  1737 
in  1898 
...  1370 
Incurved  ... 
...  630 
...  664 
Reflexed 
24 
15 
24 
Pompons  ... 
...  102 
55 
...  144 
Anemones  ... 
...  264 
J1 
...  276 
Singles 
48 
55 
180 
Total 
...  2805 
Total 
•  ••  2t)i)S 
Mr.  Howe  was  elected  to  a  seat  on  the  Schedule  Sub-Covnmittee» 
and  Mr.  W.  J.  Godfrey  to  one  on  ihe  Classification  Committee,  in 
place  of  Mr.  W.  II.  Lees,  who  resigned.  The  Floral  Committee  sub¬ 
mitted  a  report  consisting  of  several  alterations  in  its  regulations,  and 
a  statement  was  also  made  respecting  the  Society’s  new  medal,  which 
it  was  hoped  would  be  ready  shortly. 
The  annual  dinner  was  left  in  the  hands  of  a  small  Sub-Committee, 
consisting  of  Mr.  H.  Taylor,  Mr.  Simpson,  and  Mr.  Moorman. 
The  Bideford  Horticultural  Society,  the  Southend  Chrysanthemum 
Society,  and  the  Wellingborough  Chrysanthemum  Siciety  were 
admitted  in  affiliation  ;  and  the  roll  of  membership  was  increased  by 
the  election  of  thirty  new  Fellows  and  members. 
In  view  of  the  meeting  next  month  of  the  horticultural  section  of 
the  British  Commission  of  the  Paris  International  Exhibition  of  1900, 
it  was  resolved  that  Mr.  P.  Waterer  and  Mr.  C.  Harman  Payne  be 
elected  as  delegates  to  represent  the  N.C.S.  on  that  occasion. 
Fungus  on  Chrysanthemums. 
From  all  quarters  comes  the  cry,  Can  you  tell  me  what  is  the 
matter  with  my  Mums  ?  If  I  were  of  a  nervous  disposition  I  should 
feel  fungus  creeping  all  over  me,  for  I  have  had  enough  sent  by  post 
lately  to  supply  all  England,  let  alone  our  little  stock.  Generally  the 
request  is,  What  can  I  do  to  stop  it  ?  As  I  have  repeatedly  said, 
paraffin  is  the  best  preventive,  and  if  it  cost  a  guinea  a  pint  it  would 
be  thought  more  of  (as  an  insecticide)  than  it  is.  It  must  be  used 
carefully,  at  the  rate  of  not  more  than  a  wineglassful  to  2  gallons  of 
water,  and  be  kept  thoroughly  agitated,  when  its  value  will  soon  be 
recognised. — W.  Wells. 
Disbudding  Chrysanthemums. 
Cultivators  of  the  Chrysanthemum  might-  safely  be  divided  into 
two  classes:  the  one  grows  for  cutting  and  decoration,  the  other  for 
exhibiting.  Some  of  the  former  are  very  careless  in  many  respects 
in  relation  to  disbudding,  while  the  latter  is  and  must  be  most  anxious 
and  careful,  as  upon  this  depends  to  a  large  extent  the  success  of  his 
labour.  The  two  have  in  view  very  dissimilar  objects,  and  follow  two 
distinct  systems  of  cultivation.  In  gardens  "where  these  autumn 
flowers  are  grown  little  or  no  heed  is  given  to  disbudding,  or  it  is 
carelessly  performed,  and  perhaps  at  a  stage  when  the  plants  would 
receive  no  benefit  from  the  operation. 
Chrysanthemum  cultivation  has  increased  considerably  during  the 
past  few  years,  nevertheless  the  plants  are  only  poorly  grown  in  many 
establishments.  If  these  growers  would  follow  in  some  details  the 
system  pursued  by  exhibitors  they  would  profit  considerably.  Dis¬ 
budding  to  a  certain  extent  is  as  necessary  when  growing  for  decora¬ 
tion  as  for  exhibition,  only  the  former  need  not  disbud  so  severely 
and  devote  all  the  energy  and  strength  of  the  plant  to  the  production 
of  one  or  two  blooms.  The  exhibitor  desires  size  as  well  as  other 
qualities,  and  the  strength  of  the  plant  must  be  concentrated,  therefore 
careful  and  judicious  disbudding  i-  necessary.  It  is  equally  so  with 
the  other  if  he  require  a  good  bush  carrying  a  number  of  flowers.  It 
must  be  early  decided  how  many  shoots  the  plant  is  to  carry,  pinching 
the  points  out  of  the  shoots  in  its  early  stages  until  the  required 
number  are  formed,  say  from  six  to  twelve,  or  as  many  more  as  the 
cultivator  considers  essential.  These  shoots  must  be  allowed  to  extend, 
and  all  side  growths  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves  be  removed  as  they 
appear  as  well  as  suckers.  W hen  the  plant  has  one  or  two  stems 
they  often  show  a  bud  during  the  mouth  of  May;  this  must  be 
removed. 
The  month  of  July  is  rather  a  critical  stage,  and  many,  especially 
beginners,  for  whom  these  notes  are  intended,  fail  to  produce  fine 
flowers.  The  plants  during  that  month  show  what  is  known  to 
Chrysanthemum  growers  as  the  July  bud.  This  bud  is  useless. 
Chrysanthemum  experts  glancing  through  the  plants  about  that 
season  of  the  year  quickly  form  an  idea  if  they  are  right  for  producing 
good  blooms  provided  all  goes  well  afterwards.  \\  hen  the  bud 
alluded  to  is  appearing  the  prints  of  the  shoots  shoulu  at  once  be 
removed,  and  all  the  side  shoots  except  the  most  promising  one,  which 
should  be  encouraged. 
If  the  plants  have  not  sufficient  shoots  they  can  form  two  or 
three  shoots  from  this  bud  to  flower  eventually  on  the  crown  bud, 
which  is  the  next  that  appears.  Remove  the  three  shoots  that  would 
spring  from  beneath  and  grow  some  G  or  more  inches  in  length,  and 
then  form  other  buds,  which  are  known  as  the  terminal  bud.  If  the 
flowers  are  taken  from  this  bud  the  centre  one  must  be  selected,  and 
the  small  buds  surrounding  it  must  be  removed. 
When  growing  the  plant  with  one  or  two  stems  (incurved  varieties 
are  alluded  to),  it  is  not  always  wise  to  select  the  crown  bud  as 
recommended  by  many.  If  the  plants  are  very  strong  and  the 
varieties  inclined  to  be  coarse,  and  the  crown  bud  is  selected,  the 
flowers  are  sure  to  be  coarse,  or  what  has  been  termed  overgrown. 
Some  may  be  ready  to  contest  this  point  and  assert  that  the  crown 
bud  produces  the  finest  flowers.  I  am  willing  to  grant  that  many 
fine  well-shaped  flowers  are  produced  from  the  crown  bud  of  the  Mrs. 
George  Rundle  type,  but  it  will  with  many  other  varieties  produce 
deformed,  ragged,  and  worthless  blooms.  An  intimate  knowledge  <>f 
the'  plants  and  whether  the  blooms  they  produce  are  liable  to  be 
coarse  or  naturally  come  well-shaped  is  requisite  in  attaining  successful 
results.  The  cultivator  should  also  grow  the  same  variety  in  both 
ways,  and  then  note  the  difference.  It  is  difficult  in  this,  as  in  many 
other  operations  connected  with  gardening,  to  lay  down  minute  rules 
for  guidence,  which  can  only  be  attained  by  experience  and  intelligent 
observation. — P  ractice. 
