476 
■JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
November  30,  1899. 
MRS.  ALFRED  TATE. 
Time  was  when  the  old  Etoile  de  Lyon  Chrysanthemum  was 
found  on  every  exhibition  board  of  Japanese  varieties,  and  it  was  then 
considered  a  strong  flower  which  would  count  well  with  the  Judges. 
Nowadays,  however,  it  is  seldom  indeed  that  an  exhibition  bloom  is 
seen,  as  it  has  been  completely  ousted  from  the  favour  of  cultivators 
by  the  scores  of  newer  and  frequently  better  sorts  for  the  purpose  in 
view.  Now  we  are  going  back  to  the  old  favourite  in  form  though  not 
in  colour,  and  the  new  variety  has  been  named  Mrs.  Alfred  Tate. 
Three  flowers  were  exhibited  at  the  Drill  Hall  at  the  last  meeting  by 
Mr.  W.  H.  Lees,  gardener  to  E.  A.  Bevan,  Esq.,  Trent  Park,  New 
Barnet,  and  the  I1  loral  Committee  recommended  an  award  of  merit. 
From  one  of  these  blooms  the  photographic  illustration  (fig.  84)  was 
taken.  The  flower,  as  may  be  seen,  has  depth  and  solidity  with 
the  flat  pointed  florets  of  the  parent  from  which  it  sported.  The 
colour  is  a  warm  terra-cotta  with  a  deep  golden  reverse  that  should 
add  materially  to  the  general  effect  of  a  stand..  We  understand  that 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  of  Lewisham,  holds  the  stock. 
NATIONAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SOCIETY. 
On  Wednesday,  the  22nd  inst.,  the  Floral  Committee  of  the  above 
Society  held  a  meeting  at  the  Royal  Aquarium,  Mr.  T.  Bevan  presiding. 
A  first-class  certificate  was  awarded  to  Madame  Yon  Amdrd,  a  pale 
sulphur  sport  from  Mutual  Friend,  which  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  W.  H. 
Lees. 
There  were  several  other  fine  novelties,  Lily  Threlfall,  a  big, 
deeply  built  incurved,  colour  creamy  white,  being  commended  ;  Helen 
Shripton,  a  large  Japanese,  crimson  and  gold,  C.  F.  Bates,  a  large 
yellow  incurved,  and  Mrs.  Alfred  Tate,  a  warm,  golden  terra-cotta 
sport  from  Etoile  de  Lyon,  being  the  most  noteworthy.  A  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Witty  for  a  group  of  the  curious 
“What  Ho.” 
On  Monday  evening  last  the  Executive  Committee  of  this  Society 
held  a  meeting  at  Carr’s  Restaurant,  Strand,  Mr.  Percy  Waterer  pre¬ 
siding.  After  the  minu'es  had  been  read,  Mr.  Harman  Payne  briefly 
alluded  to  the  visit  of  the  N.C.S.  deputation  to  the  Lyons  Show  and 
promised  to  submit  a  report  at  a  subsequent  meeting ;  he  also  pro¬ 
posed  that  the  Danish  Chrysanthemum  Society  should  be  admitted 
in  affiliation.  A  list  of  prize  money,  cups  and  medals  awarded  at 
the  recent  November  show  was  confirmed,  and  a  resolution  passed 
that  the  usual  dinner  to  the  Floral  Committee  be  given  at  the  close 
of  the  season. 
SECTIONISING  JAPANESE  CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
I,  like  many  more,  am  not  in  favour  of  this  plan.  I  have  seen  so 
many  attempts  that  it  seems  to  me  to  be  useless  to  try  to  get 
uniformity  in  the  stands.  Varieties  vary  so  much  in  their  developing 
stages  as  to  render  them  quite — undecipherable,  if  you  like;  I  cannot 
find  any  word  to  better  express  what  I  mean..  Take  Pride  of  Madford 
for  example.  This  Australian  variety  is  generally  recognised  as  an 
incurved  Jap,  and  thus  it  is  seen  nine  times  out  of  ten,  but  the  tenth 
time  probably  produces  a  much  more  brilliant  bloom  than  all  the  nine 
put  together,  simply  because  some  growers  have  found  a  way  of  pro¬ 
ducing  this  variety  in  a  true  reflexpd  form.  In  this  way  that  beautiful 
amaranth  or  purple  colour  so  well  displayed  on  the  surface  of  the  florets 
is  fully  exposed.  Instances  have  come  under  my  notice  this  season 
■where  such  blooms  have  been  awarded  the  prize  for  premier  examples, 
and  not  one  single  petal  in  them  showed  the  slightest  tendency  to 
incut  ve.  Such  instances  as  this  seem  to  render  the  idea  of  sectionising 
the  Japanese  varieties  useless. 
Scores  of  instances  might  be  quoted  of  other  varieties  developing 
in  the  same  way.  Even  the  varieties  named  by  “  A.  D.,”  page  446, 
are  not  without  except'on.  Ftr  instance,  Mdlle.  Therese  Rey^is  not 
by  any  means  an  incurving  variety  when  in  its  true  character;  the 
florets  are  distinctly  flat,  with  a  recurve  on  each  side  when  nearing 
the  tips.  The  graceful  manner  in  which  the  florets  of  this  variety  assume 
aT  semi-drooping  character  constitutes  the  whole  charm  in  the  flower, 
h  nfortunately  we  seldom  see  it  now,  as  it  is  not  large  enough  for 
present  day  requirements.  Australie  even  reflexes  its  florets  perfectly 
at  times,  and  I  must  confess  that  in  this  way  I  like  it  much  better 
than  as  generally  seen — neither  fully  reflexed  nor  well  incurved,  not 
nearly  so  perfect  in  form  as  an  incurved  as  Mr.  T.  Carrington,  which 
some  authorities  consider  is  too  much  like  Australie  to  be  shown 
together. 
Mrs.  C.  H.  Payne  is  only  a  poor  representative  of  the  incurved 
Japanese  section.  I  have  not  come  across  a  single  bloom  of  it  this 
season  that  could  truthfully  lay  claim  to  such  title.  The  N.C.S. 
Classification  Committee  do  not  recognise  it  as  an  incurved  form  at 
all.  Upon  this  ground  it  would  be  disqualified  by  any  affiliated 
society.  Even  the  new  Mrs.  Barkley,  which  I  look  upon  as  one  of 
the  finest  introductions  of  recent  times,  is  oftener  seen  with  incurving 
florets  than  aught  else;  but  to  see  it  quite  reflexed,  with  that  charm¬ 
ing  tine  of  soft  rosy  mauve  on  the  surface  of  its  florets,  I  do  not  know 
who  would  wish  to  look  upon  the  silvery  reverse  when  the  florets  are 
incurved. 
“A.  D.”  is  much  happier  in  his  quotation  of  varieties  of  a  reflexing 
habit,  but  even  there  criticism  is  possible.  Nellie  Pockett,  for 
example,  is  classed  as  a  reflexed  flower,  whereas  it  is  distinctly  an 
incurving  variety.  I  have  not  seen  or  heard  of  it  other  than  as 
belonging  to  this  section.  Pride  of  Exmouth,  too,  is  more  often 
loosely  incurving  than  otherwise.  Below  I  give  the  names  of  a  dozen 
varieties  that  I  regard  as  typical  of  incurving  Japanese ;  doubtless 
some  may  take  exception  to  these.  Neilie  Pockett,  Emily  Towers, 
Oceana,  Mrs.  H.  Weeks,  Duke  of  Wellington,  Robert  Powell,  Mr. 
T.  Carrington,  N.C.S.  Jubilee,  Lady  Ridgeway,  W.  Curshaw,  Western 
King,  and  President  Bevan.-  -E.  Molyneux. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM.  CULTURE  FOR  BEGINNERS. 
Doubtless  the  attractions  of  the  numerous  Chrysanthemum  ex¬ 
hibitions  held  in  various  parts  of  the  country  will  engender  a  desire 
on  the  part  of  many  people  to  cultivate  the  plants  and  flowers  for 
themselves.  Those  who  intend  doing  so  must  shortly  make  up  their 
minds  to  commence  with  the  propagation  of  cuttings,  though  the 
culture  may  be  started  in  the  spring  by  purchasing  plants  established 
in  small  pots  and  growing  them,  first  in  cold  frames,  and  afterwards 
outdoors,  until  the  flowering  period.  A  good  hou-e,  capable  of  being 
warmed  with  hot-water  pipes  for  keeping  out  damp  and  frost,  is 
essential.  The  requirements  of  Chrysanthemums  when  in  bloom  are 
not  great ;  watering  the  plants  and  managing  matters  so  that  the 
atmospheric  conditions  are  right  are  the  chief  items. 
In  propagating  and  establishing  young  Chrysanthemum  plants,  not 
much  heat  is  required,  but  there  should  be  sufficient  to  keep  away 
frost  from  old  plants  and  young  cuttings.  A  greenhouse  which  can 
be  heated  sufficiently  for  this  is  the  best  place  for  propagating  cuttings, 
because  they  can  be  better  attended  to  in  such  a  structure  than  in  a 
cold  frame.  Chrysanthemums  which  naturally  flower  rather  late  in  the 
season  are  propagated  from  cuttings  earlier  than  those  which  bloom 
first.  The  first  cuttings  should  therefore  be  inserted  in  November  and 
early  December,  the  midseason  flowering  sorts  about  Christmas  time, 
and  early  flowering  varieties  during  the  first  two  months  of  the  new 
year.  March,  too,  is  a  good  time  to  propagate  any  section,  especially 
small  flowering  sorts. 
Healthy  growths  from  suckers  produce  the  best  plants,  and  these 
will  invariably  be  found  at  a  distance  from  the  main  stem,  and  should 
be  devoid  of  flower  buds.  Cuttings  of  some  varieties  are  very 
persistent  in  forming  flower  buds,  and  on  these  plants  it  is  difficult  to 
find  growths  which  do  not  produce  them.  The  cuttings  may  be  3  or 
4  inches  long,  sturdy,  green  and  healthy,  with  freedom  from  mildew. 
Cut  close  below  a  joint  with  a  sharp  knife,  removing  the  bottom  leaves. 
If  the  cuttings  are  to  be  inserted  singly,  2|-inch  pots  must  be 
prepared  to  receive  them,  but  larger  pots  can  be  employed  for  a 
greater  number  of  cuttings,  three  or  four  being  inserted  round  the 
edge  of  3  or  3^-inch  pots.  The  compost  must  be  light  and  sandy, 
equal  parts  of  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand  forming  a  very  good  mixture. 
Shake  the  soil  gently  down  in  the  pots,  and  surface  the  whole  with 
sand.  Insert  the  cuttings  firmly,  taking  care  that  the  base  of  each 
rests  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole  made.  Water  them  in  with  a  fine 
rosed  can,  which  will  level  the  soil  and  freshen  the  cuttings. 
Success  in  rooting  the  cuttings  readily  largely  depends  on  keeping 
them  fresh,  and  this  can  only  be  done  by  preventing  the  leaves 
flagging.  Dry  shelves  in  an  airy  structure  are  not  suitable  positions, 
but  stand  the  pots  on  a  moist  base,  and  cover  with  a  hand-light. 
A  small  frame  with  movable  lights  is  suitable,  also  a  bottomless  box, 
on  which  panes  of  glass  may  be  laid.  The  inside  of  the  glass  must  be 
wiped  dry  every  morning.  The  most  congenial  temperature  is 
between  40°  and  50c.  A  high  temperature  weakens  the  cuttings, 
causing  them  to  extend  in  growth  before  enough  roots  are  formed, 
hence  a  low  temperature  is  safer  than  a  high  one.  The  soil  must  be 
kept  moist.  Immediately  roots  form  admit  air  gradually,  until  the 
covering  of  glass  can  be  dispensed  with  entirely.  A  position  close  to 
the  glass  must  after  this  be  found  for  the  rooted  plants,  in  order  to 
keep  them  sturdy ;  and  water  should  be  given  each  time  the  surface 
becomes  dry,  examining  the  pots  daily  to  ascertain  their  condition. 
In  a  short  time  the  potting  of  each  plant  separately  will  be 
required,  while  those  in  single  pots  may  have  a  shift  into  the  next 
size ;  but  ail  will  not  be  ready  at  the  same  time,  the  rooting  power 
of  varieties  differing.  The  compost  for  this  potting  may  be  two 
parts  loam,  one  part  leaf  soil,  crushed  charcoal,  and  sand.  After  this 
