424 
November  16,  1699. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
N.C.S.  FLORAL  COMMITTEE. 
On  Monday  last  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  Floral  Committee  of 
the  above  Society  at  the  Royal  Aquarium,  Westminster,  Mr.  T.  Bevan 
presiding. 
A  first-class  certificate  was  awarded  to  Ralph  Hatton,  incurved,  large 
flower,  silvery  mauve,  inside  florets  rosy  mauve ;  broad,  tightly 
incurved  florets  ;  flower  of  good  type.  From  H.  Weeks,  Thrumpton 
Ilall  Gardens,  Derby. 
Commendations  were  awarded  to  General  Symons,  immense  incurved 
flower,  pale  golden  buff,  inside  of  florets  pale  crimson,  medium  width, 
from  Mr.  Weeks  ;  Vicar  of  Leatherhead,  large  graceful  Japanese,  build 
similar  to  a  Carnot,  colour  golden  yellow,  deepening  in  colour  in 
centre,  long,  medium,  slightly  twisting  and  curlmg  florets,  from  H.  J. 
Jones  ;  George  Towers,  medium  sized  Jap,  very  bright  rosy  purple 
colour,  silvery  reverse,  broad  florets  of  medium  length,  and  slightly 
pointed,  commended  for  its  colour,  from  Mr.  Weeks;  Mrs.  F.  B. 
Garrard,  another  medium-sized  Jap,  rather  broad  florets  of  poor 
substance,  colour  primrose,  deepening  to  yellow  in  centre,  very  pleasing 
colour,  from  Mr.  T.  Priest,  Cherry  Tree  Lane,  lver  Moor,  Bucks;  Mrs. 
Grogan,  an  incurved  variety  of  a  rose  pink  colour,  with  bread  petals, 
also  from  Mr.  Priest ;  Little  Pet,  a  pretty  small  flowered  single,  colour 
rose  pink,  of  good  form,  free  flowering  plant,  from  Mr.  G.  W.  Forbes, 
The  Gardens,  Regent  House,  Surbiton. 
The  Committee  wished  to  see  again  Capt.  A.  D’ Albert,  Flying  Fox, 
and  Arthur  King.  Votes  of  thanks  were  passed  to  Mr.  Priest  for  an 
exhibit  of  seedlings,  and  to  Mr.  G.  Bear  for  a  similar  exhibit. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM  CHALLENGE  VASES. 
It  would  be  very  interesting  to  learn,  after  the  pressure  incidental 
to  show  reports  is  over,  the  opinions  of  Chrysanthemum  exhibitors 
who  are  large  growers  as  to  their  regard  for  challenge  vases  or  cups. 
It  is  very  well  known  that  probably  the  oldest,  and  at  one  time  the 
most  notable  in  the  kingdom,  was  that  of  the  old  Kingston  Society. 
From  its  original  institution  many  years  ago  till  last  year  a  vase 
valued  at,  and  costing  £25,  was  provided,  with  moderate  cash  prizes 
for  twenty-four  Japs  and  twenty-four  incurved  ;  but  in  the  two 
years  during  which  the  last  vase  was  in  competition  the  entries  fell  to 
four,  and  in  years  previously  they  seldom  exceeded  five.  As  of  late 
the  cups  had  been  won  outright  in  two  years,  it  was  in  the  matter 
of  expenditure  practically  adding  £12  10s.  to  the  prize  money  each 
year. 
This  year  the  old  cup  class  was  displaced  by  one  for  thirty-six  Japs, 
distinct,  with  four  money  prizes  of  the  value  of  £21,  and  the  result 
was  five  entries.  Yet  complaint  was  made  in  some  directions  that 
the  show  had  suffered  by  the  abolition  of  the  cup  class.  Now  last 
year,  each  competitor  paying  an  entrance  fee  of  21s.,  the  entire 
produce  was  ninety-six  Japs  and  ninety-six  incurved,  or  a  total  of  192 
flowers.  This  year,  the  exhibitors  paying  half  a  guinea  entrance  fee, 
there  was  a  total  of  180  flowers,  ail  tine,  and  making  a  far  superior 
show  to  what  was  made  the  previous  year.  How,  then,  could  the 
show  have  suffered  because  of  the  abolition  of  the  cup  class  ?  Still 
it  would  be  interesting  to  learn  whether  exhibitors  prefer  cups  to  good 
cash  prizes. — A.  D. 
THE  VASE  CLASS  AT  THE  AQUARIUM. 
Whilst  looking  at  the  competition  evoked  by  the  all  too  liberal 
prizes  offered  for  Chrysanthemums  in  vases  at  the  recent  Royal 
Aquarium  Show,  an  eminent  grower  and  exhibitor  remarked,  “  We 
seem  only  to  have  gone  Irom  one  formality  in  staging  flowers  to 
another.”  That  exactly  represented  my  own  opinion,  but  I  had 
farther  held  that  the  change  was  rather  for  the  worse  than  for  the 
better ;  for  whilst  flowers  set  up  in  boxes  may  seem  flat  and  formal, 
at  least  the  blooms  are  seen  advantageously.  But  in  this  great  vase 
class,  whilst  the  exhibits  were  arranged  in  formal  lines,  at  formal 
heights,  on  long  formal  tables,  they  were  all  staged  in  vases  that 
were  throughout  far  more  prominent  than  were  the  flowers,  and  were 
indeed  to  anyone  of  taste  most  offensively  intruded. 
The  receptacles  employed  may  be  the  best  that  our  insular  art  can 
devise,  but  they  absolutely  lacked  beauty,  and  really  detracted  from 
the  excellence  of  the  flowers  in  them  than  added  anything  good 
to  them.  The  blooms  shown,  especially  those  of  the  two  best 
exhibits,  were  remarkably  fine.  Of  their  kind  they  were  superb  ;  but 
after  all,  how  relatively  unattractive  as  exhibited  !  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  general  appreciation  of  the  blooms  by  onlookers,  not 
one  could  admit  that  generally  the  entire  exhibit  was  beautiful. 
Should  this  class  be  perpetuated  it  is  much  to  be  hoped  that  competitors 
be  allowed  a  free  hand  in  decorating  their  collections  with  plants  and 
foliage  just  as  they  may  prefer,  uniformity  in  that  respect  being 
undesirable. 
But  whilst  no  points  should  be  allowed  for  the  decoration,  the 
merit  of  the  exhibits  being  looked  for  in  the  quality  of  the  flowers 
shown  in  the  vases,  disqualification  should  follow  in  any  case  in  which 
the  exhibit  was  not  dressed  as  mentioned.  Such  an  arrangement 
would  suffice  to  insure  something  far  prettier  than  was  seen  the  other 
day,  and  would  not  add  to  the  heavy  duties  of  the  Judges  in  making 
the  awards.  But  to  deal  with  such  a  class  fairly  in  such  a  hall  as  is 
that  of  St.  Stephens,  two  broad  tables,  certainly  not  less  than  6  feet 
wide,  should  be  placed  at  their  disposal.  These  must  be  parallel  to 
each  other,  and  be  fully  10  feet  apart — the  exhibits  being  arranged 
on  each  table  to  face  to  the  centre,  and  in  three  rows,  or  in  a  space 
from  8  to  9  feet  long. 
That  would  enable  competitors  to  do  their  very  best,  primary 
consideration  being  given  to  the  exposing  of  the  blooms  fully  to  view. 
Care  should  be  taken  to  have  some  distinctive  or  dividing  line  of  plants 
between  each  exhibit,  the  entire  length  of  the  tables  being  faced  with 
small  Ferns,  drooping  variegated  Panicum,  Isolepis,  with  any  suitable 
small  foliage  plants  added.  If  such  an  arrangement  did  not  in  the 
hands  of  experienced  plant  decorators  create  a  class  of  singular  beauty 
and  wonderful  attraction,  then  would  plants  and  flowers  utterly  fail 
to  furnish  such  charms. — D. 
GROWING  DWARF  CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Dwarf  Chrysanthemums  are  very  effective  when  in  bloom,  and  for 
many  purposes  form  valuable  decorative  plants.  They  are  extremely 
uselul  to  the  exhibitor  who  employs  them  to  finish  off  his  groups  of 
larger  Chrysanthemums,  or  to  add  effect  and  brilliancy  of  colour  to  a 
miscellaneous  arrangement  of  plants ;  in  fact  they  are  useful  as  dot 
plants  in  any  large  floral  arrangement.  They  break  up  hard  straight 
lines,  and  lend  themselves  to  tasteful  association  with  green  foliage, 
especially  Ferns.  For  placing  among  other  plants  on  greeuhouse 
staging  they  are  none  the  less  serviceable,  became  being  portable  they 
may  be  raised  to  any  height  required. 
For  room  and  window  decoration  dwarf,  bushy  specimens  in  full 
bloom  are  exceedingly  attractive.  Such  plants  will  last  a  long  time  in 
a  light,  cool  window,  and  for  vases  in  a  room  they  may  be  employed 
occasionally  for  a  limited  period,  as  the  Chrysanthemum  is  not  adapted 
for  remaining  long  in  a  semi-dark  position,  the  foliage  soon  suffering. 
There  are  various  ways  of  cultivating  dwarf  Chrysanthemums, 
and  in  these  notes  I  will  first  mention  one  that  is  not  generally 
adopted,  but  yet  is  a  useful  method  of  dealing  with  dwarf  cultivation. 
This  refers  to  the  growth  of  old  cut-down  plants,  such  as  have 
flowered  the  previous  year.  The  suckers  from  the  base  of  these, 
instead  of  being  taken  off  and  inserted  as  cuttings  in  December  or  the 
following  months,  are  allowed  to  grow,  but  they  should  develop  under 
the  hardiest  conditions,  preferably  under  the  shelter  of  a  wall  with  the 
pots  plunged  in  ashes.  If  such  a  position  is  not  available  or  prove 
unsuitable,  the  next  desirable  place  is  a  cold  frame,  from  which  the 
lights  can  be  removed  on  every  favourable  occasion.  When  the  lights 
are  not  off  air  should  circulate  freely,  except,  of  course,  in  severe 
weather.  All  weakly  growths  ought  to  be  cleared  off  the  plants,  so 
that  none  but  the  stoutest  and  cleanest  growths  are  permitted  to 
develop.  The  soil  must  be  kept  moist.  Towards  the  end  of  March 
the  lights  on  the  frame  may  be  entirely  dispensed  with. 
Continue  careful  attention,  and  about  the  middle  of  May  the  stout 
and  sturdy  growths  which  are  available  may  be  prepared  as  cuttings 
and  inserted  singly  in  small  pots  in  the  usual  mixture  of  loam,  leaf 
soil,  and  sand.  A  frame  can  be  requisitioned,  but  this  time  it  should 
cover  a  mild  hotbed  on  which  the  pots  may  be  placed,  but  near  the 
glass.  Water  in  the  cuttings,  and  apply  shade  to  the  glass  during 
bright  sunshine.  Lightly  dew  the  plants  over  each  afternoon,  keeping 
the  lights  closed.  As  soon,  however,  as  it  is  seen  rooting  has  com¬ 
menced  admit  air  gradually.  When  fully  established — and  this  mutt 
be  watched  for,  as  all  will  not  be  equally  advanced — take  out  the 
plants,  giving  them  a  cooler  and  more  airy  position  close  to  the  glass 
m  another  frame.  Admit  plenty  of  air,  and  attend  strictly  to  the 
watering,  examining  the  plants  several  times  daily  for  this  purpose. 
The  growth  must  be  kept  dwarf  and  sturdy,  and  to  insure  this 
the  repotting  should  not  be  delayed  alter  the  small  pots  are  fairlv 
furnished  with  roots.  If  these  plants  are  allowed  to  become  rool- 
bound  the  growth  will  become  spindly  because  of  the  check  which 
is  thus  given.  The  plants  may  be  repotted  into  the  6-inch  size, 
using  a  compost  of  three  parts  loam,  one  of  leaf  soil,  and  one  of 
decayed  manure,  with  a  sprinkling  of  wood  ashes  and  bone  meal. 
Drain  the  pots  efficiently,  and  in  potting  make  the  soil  very  firm  about 
the  plants.  Some  of  the  strongest  rooting  can  have  7-inch  pots. 
Each  plant  must  have  a  neat  stake  to  keep  the  growth  upright. 
Syringe  the  plants  freely  for  a  day  or  two,  but  apply  water  to  the 
roots  before  the  leaves  flag. 
