524 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  14,  1899. 
is  at  command  they  will  soon  root.  Rather  than  place  them,  however, 
in  too  much  warmth  it  will  be  advisable  to  give  cooler  treatment  and  con¬ 
fine  the  cuttings  in  a  small  box  covered  with  glass,  under  a  hand-light, 
or  in  a  small  frame  until  rooted.  They  root  sooner  thus  treated  than 
if  fully  exposed  to  a  warm,  dry  air,  or  in  a  cool  draughty  atmosphere. 
Due  attention  must  be  given  them  in  the  matter  of  supplying  a  little 
fresh  air  and  wiping  condensed  moisture  off  the  glass,  blit  imme¬ 
diately  they  are  rooted  commence  gradually  to  give  more  air  and  afford 
a  light  position  on  a  shelf,  maintaining  the  soil  moist. 
The  next  step  will  be  to  pot  them  singly  in  the  smallest  pots 
the  roots  can  be  accommodated  in  readily.  Return  them  to  the 
shelf,  and  when  established  pinch  out  the  point  of  each  plant  to  induce 
the  formation  of  more  shoots.  By  the  time  these  have  broken  into 
growth  the  next  shift  into  a  larger  pot  may  be  made.  Free  growth 
will  follow,  and  when  each  shoot  has  extended  4  inches  another 
stopping  may  be  carried  out.  In  April  give  another  shift  into  5  or 
6-inch  pots,  according  to  the  size  pot  in  which  the  plant  is  growing. 
Afford  frame  treatment  for  a  time  with  free  exposure  on  favourable 
occasions  until  the  plants  can  stand  outside  in  a  sheltered  position 
altogether.  In  June  give  the  last  shift  into  7  or  8-inch  pots.  Employ 
a  substantial  and  generous  compost,  making  it  firm  about  the  roots. 
Stand  the  plants  on  a  moist  bed  of  ashes  for  the  summer,  and  give 
regular  attention  in  watering,  supporting  the  growths,  and  judicious 
feeding.  The  blooms  are  best  on  terminal  buds. 
For  outdoor  culture  grow  the  plants  in  pots  until  May,  and  then 
plant  out  not  less  than  3  feet  apart  in  fertile,  though  not  heavily 
manured,  soil.  Water  when  required  until  established,  and  support 
the  growths  as  they  advance  with  three  or  four  stakes,  having  some 
tying  material  run  round  them.  Keep  the  soil  free  from  weeds,  and 
allow  all  the  buds  formed  to  expand.  From  these  plants  plenty  of 
flowers  will  be  produced  during  October  and  November.  For  pot 
culture  the  ordinary  Pompons  may  be  supplemented  with  the  Pompon 
Anemone  varieties  The  catalogues  of  the  trade  growers  always  include 
Pompons,  and  a  good  selection  of  both  sections  may  be  made  from 
them,  as  there  are  but  few  varieties  which  are  not  worthy  of  culture. — 
E.  D.  S. 
RETIREMENT  OF  A  SUCCESSFUL  EXHIBITOR. 
After  eleven  years  of  success  in  growing  and  showing  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums,  Mr.  Robinson,  gardener  to  Lord  Ludlow,  Haywood,  Westbury, 
Wilts,  retires,  and  as  he  has  had  ample  opportunity  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  the  varied  characters  of  both  new  and  old  varieties  of 
each  section  Chrysanthemum  societies  inquest  of  competent  judges 
would  do  well  to  bear  Mr.  Robinson’s  name  in  mind..  Not  a  few 
societies  find  a  difficulty  in  obtaining  expert  men,  because  there  are 
so  few  who  do  not  exhibit,  and  unless  judges  are  up  to  date  in 
their  knowledge  of  the  newer  varieties,  dissatisfaction  among  exhi¬ 
bitors  is  sure  to  be  more  or  less  prominent.  During  the  past  eleven 
seasons  Mr.  Robertson  has  taken  105  first  prizes  out  ol  a  total  of  182  in 
the  classes  at  such  first-class  shows  as  the  Royal  Aquarium,  Crystal 
Palace,  Devizes,  Bristol,  Bath,  Reading,  Swindon,  Trowbridge,  and 
Frome.  New  varieties  have  been  always  a  special  feature  of  the  Hey- 
wood  collection,  and  their  cultivation  having  received  Mr.  Robinson’s 
personal  attention  he  must  be  fitted  in  a  marked  degree  as  a 
judge. — W.,  Wilts. 
THE  N.C.S.  MIDWINTER  EXHIBITION. 
It  is  doubtful  if  this  show  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  leading 
Chrysanthemum  Society  serves  any  purpose.  To  horticultural 
exhibitors  at  any  season  of  the  year  we  look  for  object  lessons.  I 
must  confess  to  a  keen  sense  of  disappointment  after  carefully  viewing 
the  exhibition  in  question.  I  failed  to  find  even  one  item  that  could 
be  termed  new  or  fresh  in  any  form.  If  such  a  meeting  at  that 
season  of  the  year  was  the  means  of  unearthing  new  varieties  of  the 
autumn  queen  specially  suited  for  December  flowering  I  should  not 
have  been  induced  to  write  this  note  of  disappointment.  I  failed, 
however,  to  find  one  single  variety  that  had  its  origin  at  this  show. 
This  weakness  is  much  emphasised  by  the  fact  of  only  two 
varieties  being  certificated  at  the  meeting  of  the  Floral  Committee 
held  on  that  day.  In  this  case  one  was  a  single  flowered  variety, 
and  the  other  a — to  some — well-known  Japanese  variety — J.  R. 
Upton — which  was  seen  in  exceedingly  good  condition  at  several 
provincial  shows  in  November  ;  which  fact  goes  to  prove  what  I 
say,  that  this  meeting  of  the  N.C.S.  did  little  for  the  advancement 
of  new  or  improved  varieties  of  the  Chrysanthemum  in  any  section 
or  for  any  purpose. 
One  point  about  the  holding  of  this  show  that  is  an  advantage 
to  some  is  that  the  “lesser  lights”  of  the  exhibition  fraternity  are 
allowed  to  have  a  look  in,  as  seldom  do  the  “  giants  ”  compete. 
Whether  this  fact  is  owing  to  the  big  men  being  satisfied  with 
their  success  during  the  previous  month  or  whether  the  inducements 
at  the  midwinter  meeting  are  not  strong  enough  to  entice  them  to 
risk  the  chance  of  sullying  their  reputation  is  a  moot  point. 
If  this  midwinter  show  is  to  be  of  any  real  benefit  we  must  look 
for  a  new  set  of  December  flowering  varieties.  If  this  aim  could  be 
assured,  then  would  lovers  of  Chrysanthemums  generally  receive 
direct  benefit.  As  far  as  I  could  see  at  the  late  show  not  one  variety 
that  could  in  any  sense  be  termed  a  December  flowering  sort  was  to 
be  found.  The  stands  were  made  up  with  stock  varieties,  such  as  the 
various  members  of  the  Carnot,  Morel,  and  Molyneux  families,  as  well 
as  from  such  well-known  names  as  Matthew  Hodgson,  Mr.  Joseph 
Chamberlain,  Golden  Gate,  Le  Grand  Dragon,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  and 
M.  Chenon  de  Leche.  It  could  not  be  said  that  the  blooms  lacked 
frostiness  or  quality,  as  the  bulk  of  them  carried  much  quality,  and, 
for  such  varieties  at  this  season  of  the  year,  were  really  well 
represented. 
If  further  proof  were  required  concerning  the  methods  of  staging 
the  Japanese  varieties  in  vases,  as  compared  to  the  older  plan  of 
arranging  them  on  the  orthodox  stand  in  cup  and  tube,  it  could  here 
be  found  abundantly.  One  of  the  most  interesting  classes  was  that 
for  single  flowered  varieties  in  bunche3  arranged  in  vases.  Such  a 
class  well  represented  this  section  in  its  true  character  as  a  decorative 
flower.  If  more  such  classes  were  provided  at  all  the  autumn  shows 
much  would  be  done  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  many  shows. — Sadoc. 
YET  ANOTHER  CUP. 
Ere  yet  the  ink  is  dry  which  has  written  appeals  for  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  a  great  Grape  trophy,  our  enthusiastic  friend  Mr.  Moly¬ 
neux  proposes  that  Chrysanthemums  should  have  a  gold  cup.  Well 
might  the  Editor  exclaim,  now  the  idea  is  started,  Why,  let  ’em  all 
come.  Besides  Chrysanthemums  there  are  Roses,  Dahlias,  Carnations, 
Begonias,  and  other  things  all  in  arms  to  have  special  cups,  and  the 
proposal  to  have  a  Grape  trophy  has  aroused  the  sensibilities  of  the 
other  fruits,  especially  Apples  and  Pears,  and  even  Potatoes,  and  such 
common  things  as  ordinary  vegetables  want  to  be  similarly  honoured. 
Even  the  delicately  flavoured  Onion  sighs  for  such  recognition.  Let 
us  have  one  thing  at  a  time  if  you  please.  The  Editor  has  now  to  lick 
into  shape  the  proposals  for  the  great  Grape,  or,  shall  we  say,  “  fruit  ” 
trophy.  If  in  the  recesses  of  his  sanctum  he  sings,  Let  ’em  all  come, 
I  know  that  he  does  not  mean  all  at  once,  but  only  one  at  a  time,  and 
whilst  writing  about  the  “  Grape  ’’  trophy  I  venture  again  to  express 
a  hope  that  it  will  be  for  “  fruit,”  so  that  there  may  be  for  its 
existence  far  wider  sympathy  than  attaching  it  solely  to  Grapes  would 
produce.  For  one  grower  of  Grapes  who  could  enter  for  such  a  com¬ 
petition  as  this  trophy  should  produce  there  would  be  twenty  general 
Iruit  growers;  and  whilst  I  should  not  object  to  the  class  being  one 
year  for  Grapes  only,  certainly  another  year  it  should  be  for  prescribed 
collections  ot  indoor  fruits  or  of  outdoor  fruits,  or  of  Apples  and  Pears, 
thus  enabling  all  fruitists  to  compete  for  the  honour  of  holding  the 
trophy  one  year  or  another. — A.  D. 
SMALL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SHOWS. 
I  am  quite  at  one  with  “  G.  H.  H.”  (page  501),  as  to  what  the 
masses  are  likely  to  do  in  the  culture  of  Chrysanthemums.  I  am 
strongly  of  opinion  that  rather  than  so  many  professionals  starting 
small  shows,  we  should  encourage  the  working  classes  in  their  ideals 
and  endeavours  to  bring  about  the  best  culture  at  their  command. 
I  have  never  yet  met  the  gentleman  who  could  afford  a  subscription  to 
deny  it,  when  he  knew  that  his  money  was  being  used  for  the  edifica¬ 
tion  of  amateurs  and  cottagers. 
Frequently  I  have  seen  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Manchester  some 
excellent  specimen  plants  taking  first  prizes  in  open  as  well  as  local 
classes,  and  on  inquiry  I  have  been  informed  that  such  e.  one  was 
gained  by  a  joiner  or  a  signalman.  When  one  gets  such  information 
imparted,  it  only  goes  to  show  that  in  the  near  future  6there  is  an 
increasing  class  of  enthusiasts  amongst  the  masses  who  will  demand 
all  the  sympathy  and  help  of  those  in  higher  places — not  only  for  the 
effect  it  will  have  on  this  generation,  but  on  others  to  come. — R.  P .  R. 
BIRMINGHAM  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SOCIETY. 
On  the  7th  inst.  the  Committee  and  friends  of  this  Society 
assembled  to  dine  in  celebration  of  the  annual  show.  Mr.  W.  B. 
Latham,  Curator  of  the  Botanical  Gardens,  as  usual  occupied  the  chair. 
After  the  loyal  toast  Mr.  John  Careless  in  giving  that  of  the  Society 
expatiated  upon  the  good  work  which  the  Society  had  done  in  the 
past,  in  stimulating  an  increased  love  for  flowers  among  all  classes  of 
society.  He  particularly  complimented  ihe  exhibitors  of  the  “groups 
of  Chrysanthemums  arranged  for  effect,”  which  were  shown  at  the 
recent  exhibition,  also  extolled  the  Committee  for  having  introduced 
a  section  of  fruit  (in  the  recent  instance  Grapes),  and  which  was  to 
be  devoted  to  the  hospitals  of  the  city.  Mr.  Latham  in  responding 
remarked  that  the  shows  had  become  so  extensive  that  for  the  last  three 
occasions  Bingley  Hall  had  to  be  laid  under  requisition  instead  of  the 
equally  popular  Town  Hall.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  last  proved 
financially  unsuccessful,  and  had  entailed  a  deficit  of  about  £300,  which 
would  absorb  the  reserve  fund.  At  the  doors  £226  less  had  been  taken 
than  on  the  previous  occasion.  However,  the  members  of  the  Com- 
