36 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  9,  1896. 
Sladen  (well  known  as  tbe  author  of  “  The  Japs  at  Home,”  and  other 
works),  Major  Grahame  (la'e  of  Torquay),  and  others.  The  designs, 
with  which  his  paper  was  illustrated,  had  been  kindly  prepared  by  Mr. 
Shelly,  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Society. 
In  1820  only  twelve  sorts  of  Chrysanthemums  were  known  in  England. 
To-day  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society’s  catalogue  contained  the 
names  of  something  like  4000  varieties,  aud  it  was  by  no  means  a  com¬ 
plete  list.  The  first  exhibition  took  place  at  Norwich  in  1830,  when  nine 
varieties  were  shown. 
Culture. 
In  dealing  with  the  culture  of  the  plants  grown  on  the  “  big  bloom  ” 
system,  Mr.  Smale  said  sturdy  cuttings  or  slips  should  be  taken  from 
plants  which  had  been  in  the  open  ground,  and  subsequently  potted  and 
placed  in  a  cool  house  in  December.  This  plan  could  not  be  adopted  in 
the  case  of  absolute  novelties,  for  the  reason  that  many  new  varieties 
did  not  show  themselves  at  their  best  until  two  or  three  years  after 
their  introduction  into  commerce.  They  were  what  were  termed  over- 
propagated.  A  notable  iostance  of  a  novelty  being  over- propagated  was 
found  in  the  once  famous,  but  now  almost  extinct  Mrs.  Alpheus  Hardy, 
the  first  of  the  hirsute,  or  hairy  section.  The  original  plant  was  bought 
by  a  firm  of  American  florists  for  £300  (probably  the  highest  price  ever 
paid  for  a  Chrysanthemum)  from  a  lady  who  had  received  it  from  a 
friend  in  Japan.  The  florists  made  the  most  of  their  bargain,  for  every 
joint  was  rooted,  and  in  a  very  short  time  35,000  cuttings  were  ready 
for  distribution. 
The  best  time  to  commence  rooting  cuttings  was  in  December,  and 
thence  to  February  ;  but  after  that,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  they 
would  not  give  large  blooms.  He  preferred  rooting  them  in  a  warm 
greenhouse  in  a  light  saDdy  soil  mixed  with  a  little  peat,  which  held 
the  moisture.  Water  and  shaiing  were  necessary  to  prevent  flagging, 
New  and  scarce  varieties  were  the  most  difficult  to  propagate,  and  the 
time  of  rooting  greatly  varied.  As  soon  as  rooted  the  plants  should  be 
potted  in  rich  soil  and  kept  in  rather  a  close  atmosphere,  then  gradually 
hardened,  and  in  April  stood  out  of  doors  in  a  sheltered  position.  As 
they  were  potted  they  should  have  richer  soil,  and  great  attention  should 
be  paid  to  this  in  the  final  potting  in  June  or  July.  After  dealing  with 
the  manurial  requirements  of  the  plants  Mr.  Smale  dwelt  exhaustively 
with  disbudding,  the  best  methods  for  destroying  insect  pests,  damping, 
and  the  dressing  of  blooms  for  exhibition  purposes. 
Sections  and  Names. 
Chrysanthemums  were  divided  into  some  half  dozen  sections,  the 
incurved,  Japanese,  rt flexed,  Anemone,  Pompons,  and  singles.  Tbe 
Japanese  were  divided  into  retiexed  and  incurved  ;  the  hirsute,  or  hairy 
varieties,  and  the  eccentric,  or  unclassable  varieties,  such  as  the  spider, 
the  threaded,  and  other  similar  curiosities.  There  is,  or  wtu,  one  of  the 
spider  varieties  in  the  Mikado’s  private  garden,  which  required  two  rows 
of  riDgs  to  support  each  bloom.  The  tubular-petalled  variety  known  as 
Good  Gracious  1  was  appropriately  Darned,  as  it  was  quite  a  unique 
flower,  and  attracted  attention  at  once.  Some  of  the  names  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  were  of  appalling  length,  and  required  a  very  large  label 
to  hold  them.  For  instance,  tbe  modest  bloom  before  him  was  afflicted 
with  the  Dame  Souvenir  He  L’Exposirion  de  Grenoble,  which  was  to  say, 
‘‘In  memory  of  the  Grenoble  Exhibition.”  One  could  not  help 
wondering  why  the  date  and  a  few  other  particulars  were  net  added. 
After  quoting  other  curious  names,  and  explaining  how  they  weie 
abbreviated,  the  h  cturer  proceeded  to  observe  that  the  French  were  the 
greatest  offenders  wit  h  regard  to  Chrysanthemum  r  o.nenclature,  nut  the 
Americans  were  wiser  and  went,  in  for  such  names  as  Kioto,  Creole, 
Latest  Fad,  Hallowe’en,  Parting  Guest,  aud,  of  course,  Trilby. 
Novelties. 
Novelties  were  obtained  in  three  ways— by  raising  seed,  by  perpetuating 
or  “fixing”  accidental  “sports,”  aud  by  raking  up  some  ancieur,  for¬ 
gotten  variety,  and  giving  it  a  new  name.  Seedlings  up  to  withiu  a  few 
years  ago,  were  almost  exclusively  raised  in  France.  Then  after  the 
“  Mrs.  Alpheus  Hardy  ”  bloom  to  which  he  had  referred,  the  Americans 
took  to  importing  seed  from  Japan,  and  lastly,  a  few  English  growers 
tried  their  hands  at  it.  By  far  tbe  most  successful  of  these  latter  was 
Mr.  C.  E.  Shea  of  Foots  Cray,  who  saved  his  own  seeds,  and  to  whom 
they  owed  many  very  beautiful  varieties.  In  America,  Mr.  Spaulding 
of  Orange,  New  Jersey,  Messrs.  Pitcher  &  Manda  of  New  York,  and 
Mr.  E.  G.  Hill,  were  amongst  the  most  prominent.  The  American 
standard  was  not  as  high  as  ours  with  regard  to  show  blooms.  In  that 
country  the  prevailing  style  was  to  show  the  flowers  in  vases,  eeveral 
flowers  of  a  variety  together. 
None  of  these  raisers  had  as  yet  produced  a  blue  Chrysanthemum, 
nor  did  he  think  they  ever  would.  The  nearest  shade  to  blue  which  he 
thought  would  be  obtained  was  found  in  a  variety  named  Creole,  which 
he  grew  for  the  first  time  last  year,  having  received  it  direct  from 
America.  They  occasionally  read  romantic  stories  of  a  blue  Chrysan¬ 
themum  being  guarded  jealously  in  Buddhist  monasteries,  and  a 
sensational  romance  on  the  subject  with  the  title  of  “  The  Quest  of  the 
Blue  Chrysanthemum,’’  might  be  popular.  The  discoverer  of  the 
realisation  of  those  visionary  stories  might  be  sure  of  a  huge  fortune, 
should  he  be  able  to  introduce  the  blue  Chrysanthemum  into  commerce. 
Spouts. 
Sports  were  accidental  growths,  which,  without  any  apparent  cause, 
produced  blooms  of  a  different  colour  to  those  on  the  original  plant. 
Cuttings  were  taken  from  these  shoots,  and  if, when  grown  into  plants  they 
bore  blooms  of  the  new  colour,  “  the  sport  ”  was  said  to  be  fixed,  and  a 
new  variety  obtained.  They  were,  however,  not  always  distinctive  enough 
to  be  of  value.  In  conclusion,  Mr.  Smale  said  in  writing  the  paper  he  had 
recognised  the  fact  that  the  audience  for  which  it  was  intended  would 
include  those  who  already  knew  something  of  the  Chrysanthemum  from 
a  horticultural  point  of  view,  and  those  who  only  knew  it  as  a  beautiful 
autumn  flower.  His  aim  had  been  to  interest  both  sections,  and  he 
sincerely  trusted  that  he  had  not  altogether  failed  to  do  so.  Mr.  Smale 
was  heartily  thanked  for  his  highly  interesting  and  instructive  paper. 
STRAFFAN  GARDENS,  KILDARE. 
Picturesque  Straffan  ;  quiet,  restful,  and  satisfying.  To  my  mind 
I  always  see  it  at  its  best,  but  the  friendly  hand  which  gives  the  grip 
of  welcome  as  the  first  down  train  glides  into  the  little  station  has 
previously  indited  the  pitiful  tale,  “  Nothing  to  see  ;  all  cut  down  ;  12°  of 
frost.”  The  implied  hint  of  a  long-postponed  visit  is  unheeded.  I  know 
him  of  old,  and  on  some  points  we  agree  to  differ.  This  is  one.  Oh, 
stop  your  jehu,  my  trusty  fren’ ;  that  view  from  Straffan  Bridge, 
marvellous  in  the  glory  of  a  dying  year  ;  a  gentle  slope  of  gorgeous  tints 
from  the  lofty  Beeches  to  the  still  waters,  broken  here  and  there  by 
masses  of  Dogwood  fringing  the  informal  ban  Its.  It  is,  of  course,  the 
season  for  such  sights,  but  there  is  a  secret  in  this  matchless  scene 
locked  in  two  bosoms  possibly — that  of  the  Liffey  and  that  of  my 
friend,  for  the  ministeriDg  hand  has  been  here,  which,  combined  with 
the  damp  breath  of  the  river  and  that  12°  of  frost,  have  produced  the 
effect.  “Ah,  but  you  should  see  it  against  the  rising  sun,”  says 
“  Nothing  to  see.”  I  spare  his  feelings. 
Somehow  the  pleasures  of  Straffan  are  unconsciously  interwoven 
with  the  welcome.  From  the  porch  of  F.  B.’s  house  it  beams  again, 
just  tinged  with  a  little  anxiety  as  to  whether  we  shall  stand  all  day 
pitying  the  venerable  Reve  d’Or,  whose  golden  dreams  were  rudely 
shattered  by  the  frost  king  last  winter.  There  are  cuttings  of  the  ham 
species  inside  to  discuss,  and  did  ever  cuttings  of  any  kind  take  such 
deep  root  in  a  hungry  medium  before  ?  I  trow  not.  It  is  not  surprising 
that  the  only  daughter  of  the  house  should  be  labelled  Rosi.  Tbe  only 
wonder  is  that  the  boys  escaped  beiDg  Vandas  or  Csttleyas,  so 
impregnated  is  the  air  with  the  purest  of  human  pleasures.  A  spray 
here  and  there,  negligently  arranged  in  vases,  display  to  perfection  a 
a  few  bit*  from  the  outer  wo  lil,  lor  tbe.  caring  hand  is  a  sparing  haud, 
corrective,  too,  if  necessary — at  least,  so  I  infer  from  a  little  reminiscence 
of  years  ago,  when  a  delinquent  of  the  “  Jearnes  de  Plush”  order  was 
caught,  full  haudtd. 
The  good  things  planted  by  the  boys  on  tbe  low  wall  opposite  the 
house  have  grown  apace  since  last  noted  and  mentioned  in  the  notes. 
Looking  at  this  ideal  gardener’s  home  one  cm  but  imagine  the  tender 
memories  of  it  these  youngsters  will  carry  with  them  iDto  a  ruder  world. 
Before  leaving  this  wall  gardeu,  Edraianthus  pumilus,  Campanula  Zossi, 
and  C.  garganica  hirsuta  are  noted  a*  being  happy  in  tbe  position. 
Bunches  of  coral-red  berries  on  a  free-growing  shrub  are  striking. 
“  What  is  it  ?  ”  asks  the  learner.  “  Oh,”  says  the  learned,  “  Cotoneaster 
rigida.  Not  half  enough  known.”  “  I  am  glad  to  hear  it.  It  robs 
ignorance  of  humiliation.”  Near  this  Romneya  Coulteri  is  developing 
into  a  bush,  and  a  thousand  things  we  then,  aud  here,  pass  by  have 
waxed  and  waned,  and  are  now  at  rest. 
But  time  flies,  quicker  here  than  elsewhere  I  think.  Tbe  first  house 
we  eater  is  a  temperate  one,  and  always  gsy  with  the  brightest,  and  best 
of  its  class.  Chrysanthemums,  of  course,  dwarf  plants  ot  such  varieties 
as  Mdlle.  Elsie  Dordan,  Miss  Rose,  a  pretty  single,  with  a  few  choice 
Japs  and  incurveds  (the  bulk  are  housed  elsewhere),  do  not  monopolise 
or  swamp  the  attractions  of  minor  things.  Amongst  the  latter  some 
plants  of  Nerine  coruscans  major  are  particularly  brilliant.  Whilst 
the  soft,  pale  mauve  blossoms  of  N.  ertspum  are  not  less  attractive. 
Begonia  Octavie  is  purity  itself  in  its  virgin  white. 
Warmer  regions  succeed  this,  and  unusually  vigorous  plants  of 
Impatiens  Hawkeri  are  decked  with  bloom.  I.  auricoma  is  also  well 
cropped  with  its  quaintly  formed  orange  blossoms.  Eucodonia  nsege- 
loides  lilacina  is  very  pretty  and  useful,  having  the  character  (but  not 
looking  it)  of  standing  weli  as  a  decorative  plant.  Dichorisandra  thyrsi* 
flora  in  bloom  displays  a  charming  bit  of  blue.  Arranged  in  the  Fern 
house  is  a  batch  of  Saintpaulia  ionantha,  varying  in  tint  from  pale  lilac 
to  deep  blue  ;  evidently  this  is  one  of  those  novelties  which  has  come  to 
stay.  Through  a  haze  of  greenery  in  the  orangery  bright  blossoms  of 
Fuchsia  corymbiflora  are  revealed,  and  Vitis  vinifera  purpurea  is  a  most 
distinguished  looking  Vine. 
There  is,  indeed,  but  little  time  for  more  than  a  passing  glance  as  we 
walk  and  talk,  for  the  cream  is  yet  to  come.  It  is  a  way  they  have  at 
Straffan  of  giving  you  the  goodies  at  the  last — these  are  the  Orchids, 
and  what  better  dessert  could  one  have  on  an  autumn  day  than  a  feast 
of  Cattleya  labiata,  C.  Bowringiaua,  and  C.  pumila,  and  these  in  their 
various  degrees  of  good,  better,  best?  My  old  friend  flatters  himself, 
like  Dickens’  Major  Bagstock,  in  being  cute,  and  wins  many  a  prize 
amongst  unproved  imported  pieces.  Examples  of  this  are  not  wanting 
in  the  aforementioned  Cattleyas  nor  in  the  cool  house  adjoining,  where 
a  particularly  fine  variety  of  Oncidium  Forbesi,  with  rich  brown 
varnished  flowers,  is  admired.  The  character  is  well  revealed  in  a 
Rhododendron  of  the  Jasminiflorum  type  named  Brilliant,  in  the  cool 
Orchid  house.  A  collection  of  Odontoglossums  looks  happy.  Just  a 
J  “  leetle  ”  wet  for  the  season,  I  remark.  “No,  they’re  all  right,”  says 
he  of  the  roving  eye,  which  nothing  can  escape ;  for,  a  moment 
