December  7,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
501 
housing  of  the  plants  should  take  place.  Accommodate  them  in  a 
cool  structure,  but  if  they  are  to  flower  in  it  it  ought  to  be  heated  for 
the?purpose  of  drying  up  damp  and  the  general  welfare  of  the  flowers. 
— E.  D.  S. 
INCURVED  CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
This  once  favoured  section  has  undergone  a  great  change  within 
the  last  few  years,  and  one  must  be  an  ardent  admirer  of  them  to  speak 
well  of  the  greater  number  of  blooms  staged  at  recent  shows.  Excellent 
specimens  have  been  rare,  the  great  majority  being  large,  it  is  true, 
but  rough  and  dull  coloured.  We  do  not  think  exhibitors  take  so 
much  pains  with  them  as  in  years  gone  by,  and  the  introduction  of 
many  bad  types  has  helped  to  make  the  section  less  interesting. 
Really,  with  few  exceptions  the  incurved  varieties  of  to-day  are  bad 
types  of  the  Japanese,  sorts  that  will  not  grow  large  enough  to  be 
classed  among  the  latter. 
Duchess  of  Fife  as  a  white,  and  C.  H.  Curtis  as  a  yellow,  are 
excellent  when  well  grown,  and  Madame  Ferlat  of  the  newer  forms  is 
a  fine  white,  but  Chrysanthcmiste  Bruant,  Mdlle.  Lucie  Faure,  Miss 
V.  Foster,  Miss  D.  Foster,  Mrs.  N.  Molyneux,  and  The  Egyptian, 
among  many  others,  have  taken  away  the  refinement  once  seen  in 
stands  of  incurved  flowers.  Lord  Alcester,  Empress  of  India,  Princess 
of  Wales  and  the  like,  which  were  the  favoured  varieties  in  many  a 
winning  stand,  are  now  seldom  seen  ;  at  least,  in  anything  like  good 
form. 
The  cause  of  this  is  not  so  much  that  the  varieties  ara  “worn 
out,”  as  so  many  express,  but  we  venture  to  think  they  are  overgrown. 
If  one  would  start  next  season  with  cuttings  not  rooted  before  the 
end  of  January  and  grown  in  a  cool,  steady  manner  in  frames,  subse¬ 
quently  restricted  to  pots  not  more  than  9  inches  in  diameter,  and 
nothing  but  good  sound  loam,  rammed  tightly,  to  grow  in,  we  would 
guarantee  capital  results,  provided,  of  course,  that  the  ordinary  details 
of  culture  be  carried  out.  One  other  thing  we  would  insist  upon,  and 
that  is  that  “  artificial  ”  manures  be  safely  placed  under  lock  and  key. 
Firm,  well-ripened  growth  is  needed,  and  an  abundance  of  roots  below. 
Incurved  Chrysanthemums  will  find  a  few  admirers  undoubtedly 
on  account  of  their  neatness  as  show  flowers,  and  also  because  they  are 
thought  difficult  to  grow.  This  fact  will  remain  an  incentive  to  many 
gardeners  in  a  wish  to  produce  fine  specimens.  But  as  decorative 
types  they  are  not  to  be  compared  to  the  Japanese,  in  which  section 
all  forms  of  flowers  may  be  found,  incurved  ones  indeed,  far  more 
beautiful  than  those  classed  as  such.  The  little  popularity  that  lingers 
around  them  would  no  doubt  fade  altogether  were  it  not  for  the  sub¬ 
stantial  prizes  which  may  be  won  at  the  shows. 
One  thing  to  make  incurved  Chrysanthemums  more  attractive  would 
be  the  introduction  of  better  colours.  The  whites  and  yellows  are 
rich,  but  other  shades  are  far  from  being  so,  and  the  difficulties  of 
hybridisers  are  great  because  this  form  of  flower  hides  its  richest 
shades,  the  outer  side  of  the  florets  being  a  reflection  of  the  inner  only. 
Nature,  therefore,  must  be  turned  inside  out.  It  will  require  this,  as 
well  as  more  care  in  their  culture  to  prevent  the  class  going  practically 
out  of  cultivation  as  the  reflexed,  the  Anemone-flowered,  and  Pompons 
are  already. — Specialist. 
SINGLE  CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
For  purposes  of  decoration  the  single  varieties  are  charming. 
There  is  a  grace  and  brightness  about  them  which  marks  their 
adaptability  for  pot  plants  and  for  cutting,  so  as  to  give  a  welcome 
variety  from  the  larger  types  of  Chrysanthemums ;  and  the  singles 
are  of  easy  culture.  Cuttings  are  rooted  from  February  to  May  to 
produce  plants  of  various  sizes.  We  top  the  growths  once  or  twice  to 
form  bushy  specimens,  and  allow  every  bud  to  develop  into  a  flower. 
When  this  is  done,  long  stems  bearing  a  wealth  of  bloom  may  be 
obtained,  and  their  spray-like  branches  are  very  effective;  nor  are  the 
singles  of  tall  growth,  that  is  if  a  proper  selection  be  made. 
The  way  of  exhibiting  them  at  shows  does  not  assist  one  in  select¬ 
ing,  because  they  are  staged  in  a  most  unnatural  manner  ;  and  some 
of  the  finest  for  that  purpose  are  not  at  all  pretty  on  the  plant.  For 
example,  the  yellow  variety,  Admiral  Sir  T.  Symonds,  is  a  semi¬ 
double  as  grown,  but  with  all  except  its  outer  row  of  florets  taken  away 
it  is  effective  as  a  show  flower,  the  colour  being  rich,  and  the  centre 
or  disc  prominent. 
Singles  proper  should  produce  one  row  of  flordts  only,  without 
manipulation.  Such  is  Mary  Andersen,  a  charming  blush  white 
flower.  Snow-wreath  is  a  lovely  white  ;  Miss  Rose  has  quite  miniature 
blooms,  but  they  come  in  such  abundance,  and  the  plant  is  so  dwarf, 
that  it  is  a  variety  of  exceptional  value  as  a  pot  plant ;  the  colour  is 
light  pink.  King  of  Siam  is  a  good  crimson.  Besides  the  above-named, 
a  few  varieties  that  please  us  are  Miss  Annie  Holden,  a  yellow  form 
of  Mary  Anderson ;  Golden  Star ;  Mrs.  D.  B.  Crane,  pretty  cerise 
shade;  Cannell’s  Gem,  rosy  purple  ;  Rev.  W.  E.  Remfrey,  purple  red  ; 
Mr.  A.  Double,  terra  cotta  ;  Scarlet  Gem  ;  Emily  Wells,  pink  ; 
Daisy  Brett,  pure  white ;  Earlswood  Beauty,  creamy  white ;  Miss  Crissy, 
chocolate  shade;  Framfield  Beauty,  crimson  ;  and  Purity,  white. — S. 
GOLD  CUP  FOR  CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Now  that  Chrysanthemum  societies  are  falmost  at  their  wits’  ends 
to  provide  sufficient  variation  and  novelty  in  their  prize  lists  to  tempt 
exhibitors,  and  entice  the  public  to  patronise  their  show,  I  would  like 
to  suggest  the  offering  of  a  gold  cup.  If  some  central  body  in 
London,  Birmingham,  York,  Hull,  or  Edinburgh  were  bold  enough 
t,o  speculate  that  far,  I  forecast  an  entire  success.  As  far  as  my 
memory  serve  me  only  one  gold  cup  has  ever  been  offered  for  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  ;  that  was  at  Devizes,  and  was  won  by  the  late  Mr.  Wild- 
Bmith — a  prize  which  he  perhaps  cherished  more  than  any  other 
amongst  his  long  list  of  winnings. 
I  am  aware  this  suggestion  entails  much  outlay  to  make  it  worthy 
of  the  object,  but  we  are  used  to  big  things  nowadays,  and  when  we 
consider  that  £100  has  been  offered  in  one  class,  what  marvel  is  there 
if  I  suggest  even  a  gold  cup  ?  Such  a  prize  would  insure  exceptional 
competition,  and  that  is  what  societies  are  continually  seeking.  Now 
that  the  time  is  approaching  for  the  drawing  up  of  prize  schedules  for 
the  next  year,  I  would  commend  this  suggestion  to  enterprising 
committees. 
Although  the  conditions  of  such  a  prize  should  be  on  a  scale  equal 
to  the  magnitude  of  the  prize,  it  ought  not  to  be  difficult  to  draft  a 
class  that  would  meet  with  general  approval ;  we  cannot  expect  to  get 
perfect  unanimity  even  in  Chrysanthemum  devotees. — E.  Molyneux, 
SMALL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SHOWS. 
Whatever  may  be  the  opinion  of  experts  when  the  time  arrives 
for  reviewing  the  great  exhibitions  of  1899,  it  is  evident  that  the 
popularity  of  the  flower  is  on  the  increase  among  the  working  classes, 
and  that  more  small  Chrysanthemum  shows  are  becoming  annual 
institutions.  Within  a  radius  of  only  a  few  miles  in  my  own  district 
I  know  of  half  a  dozen  villages  that  this  season  have  made  their  first 
attempt  at  a  Chrysanthemum  show,  and  in  all  cases,  I  believe,  with  an 
encouraging  result.  Older  institutions  of  the  kind  still  goon  and  have 
made  satisfactory  strides  since  their  inauguration. 
These  shows,  which  are  mostly  in  connection  with  local  gardening 
societies,  have  also  a  vegetable  section  where  produce  in  season  is 
exhibited,  very  often  for  only  small  prizes,  and  occasionally  on  the 
understanding  that  prizes  will  depend  on  the  financial  success  of  the 
effort.  The  greatest  interest,  however,  is  centred  in  the  Chrys¬ 
anthemum,  and  when  one  sees  the  blooms  that  working  men  with 
only  limited  facilities  can  produce  one  realises  what  a  truly  democratic 
flower  this  is.  Novelties  are  eagerly  sought  after  by  the  amateur 
growers,  who  are  well  up  to  date  in  Chrysanthemum  nomenclature  as 
well  as  methods  of  culture  and  treatment  of  different  varieties. 
Professionals  in  the  district  usually  lend  their  aid  in  showing  groups 
of  plants  and  flowers  which  enhance  the  interest  of  the  shows,  and  it 
is  always  pleasing  to  see  gardeners  doing  what  they  can  to  help  these 
infant  efforts.  It,  perhaps,  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  future  of 
the  Chrysanthemum  depends  largely  on  the  interest  taken  in  it  by  the 
masses. — G.  H.  II. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS  IN  A  FRENCH  PUBLIC  PARK. 
I  have  for  some  years  past  made  a  point  of  visiting  the  annual 
Chrysanthemum  shows  in  the  metropolitan  parks,  but  have  hitherto 
never  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  what  could  be  done  in  this  way  in 
a  continental  one  until  early  in  the  past  month.  At  Lyons  there  is 
just  outside  the  city  a  park  called  Tete  d’Or,  which  is  laid  out  in  a 
much  less  formal  way  than  some  of  ours  here  in  London.  This  park 
contains  the  municipal  greenhouses,  the  botanic  gardens,  and  a  fine 
winter  garden,  in  which,  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  Chrysanthemums 
formed  a  large  portion  of  the  display. 
In  the  first  house  we  entered  there  was  no  attempt  at  anything 
like  the  imposing  displays  of  great  sloping  banks  of  blooms  such  as  we 
see  in  the  metropolitan  parks.  It  was  a  low-pitched  span-roof  house 
with  a  great  deal  of  decorative  greenery  in  it,  and  here  and  there,  at 
somewhat  close  intervals,  were  many  a  dwarf,  well-flowered  plant,  of 
varieties  with  which  the  English  cultivator  is  familiar.  On  an  average 
they  were  neither  better  nor  worse  than  what  we  see  here,  but  the 
process  of  renewal  is  not  adopted,  and  so  it  appears  that  when  a  flower 
begins  to  fade  it  still  remains  until  quite  done  with.  In  this  house 
the  varieties  were  substantially  the  same  as  those  with  which  home 
growers  are  familiar. 
We  accomplished  this  part  while  waiting  for  the  main  body  of  the 
Congressitep,  when  presently  we  noticed  M.  Gerard,  the  distinguished 
Lyons  botanist,  and  Curator  of  the  Botanic  Gardens,  conducting  our 
fellow  visitors  towards  the  winter  gardens.  With  him  is  M.  Vigor; 
M.  Chatenay,  the  Secretary  of  the  National  Horticultural  Society  of 
France  ;  M.  Chifflot,  the  great  French  authority  on  entomology  and 
the  diseases  of  plants ;  M.  Maxime  de  la  Rocheterie,  President  of  the 
French  N.C.S.  ;  M.  Ph.  Rivoire,  the  Secretary  of  the  same  Society ; 
M.  Chatanne,  the  Secretary  of  the  Rhone  Horticultural  Society,  and 
a  host  of  other  horticultural  celebrities  from  a'l  corners  of  the  country. 
We  follow,  and  soon  reach  the  fine  g  ass  structure  called  the 
