56 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  16,  1896. 
A  Good  Late  Crimson  Variety  Wanted. 
Having  been  for  many  years  a  reader  flf  the  Journal  I  thought 
perhaps  some  of  your  correspondents  would  be  able  to  inform  me  (as  a 
grower  of  Chrysanthemums  for  market)  of  a  good  crimson  one — “late  ” 
So  far  as  I  know  we  have  none,  and  to  my  mind  it  would  be  invaluable, 
as  the  preponderance  seems  to  be  in  favour  of  whites  and  yellows,  while 
a  good  crimson  is  lacking. — P.  C.  Cornish. 
The  N.C.S.  Jubilee  Celebration. 
In  common  with  numbers  of  others  interested  in  the  Chrysanthemum 
I  am  in  receipt  of  a  circular  calling  attention  to  the  above,  and  a  pro¬ 
posed  schedule  of  classes  for  the  same  ;  and  also  an  appeal  for  special 
subscriptions.  I  have  no  complaint  whatever  to  make  with  regard  to 
the  proposed  celebration,  as  it  is  an  object  well  worthy  of  the  Society  ; 
but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that,  after  all,  it  is  not  the  N.C.S.  that 
was  established  fifty  years  ago,  biat  the  Stoke  Newington  Society,  which 
expired  many  years  ago,  when  the  Borough  of  Hackney  Society  was 
instituted.  The  case  seems  to  be  very  like  what  would  have  been  seen  if 
Germans  were  to  claim  the  foundation  of  the  present  German  empire  from 
the  origin  of  the  kingdom  of  Prussia.  We  should  say  that  was  a  stupid 
claim.  I  can  but  think  that  the  assumption  that  the  N.C.S.  has  been  in 
existence  fifty  years  comes  into  the  same  category.  Or,  who  can  tell, 
perhaps,  should  the  Society  endure  so  long,  there  may  be  a  further 
jubilee  celebration  organised  fifty  years  from  the  date  of  the  actual 
organisation  of  the  N.C.S. 
It  is  stated  in  the  circular  issued,  “  The  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  was  founded  in  1816.”  That  is  so  far  from  being  the  truth  that 
it  is  marvellous  it  should  appear  in  print.  Turning  to  the  rules,  I  find 
that  the  Society  actually  formed  in  1846  was  the  Stoke  Newington. 
Later  it  became  the  Borough  of  Hackney.  Mr.  Cannell,  in  a  recently 
issued  catalogue,  tells  his  readers  that  when  he  proposed  the  purely  local 
organisation  then  existing  should  be  changed  or  reorganised  into  a 
national  society,  the  then  President  vigorously  opposed  it.  That  fact 
shows  that  the  original  local  societies  never  had  the  slightest  claim  to 
be  regarded  as  national  ;  therefore  to  claim  that  the  existing  National 
Society  was  organised  in  1846  is  singularly  wide  of  the  truth. 
I  do  not  know  whether  the  present  Committee  is  ashamed  of  its  lowly 
beginnings.  It  is  not  at  all  an  uncommon  failing  in  these  days,  but  the 
circular  issued  most  wantonly  ignores  the  existence  of  the  former  Stoke 
Newington  and  Borough  of  Hackney  Societies.  It  is  so  very  easy  in 
consequence  to  draw  one’s  own  inferences.  In  spite  of  these  criticisms, 
which  are  honest  and  mean  a  warm  regard  for  the  truth,  I  have  every 
desire  to  give  some  pecuniary  help  towards  the  undoubtedly  heavy 
expenses  that  will  be  incurred  in  carrying  out  the  proposed  celebration. 
Still.  £1000  seems  to  be  an  enormous  sum,  of  which  the  proposed  feeding 
of  the  Bods  at  the  Hotel  Metropole  will  doubtless  absorb  £250.  Is  a 
mere  dinner  worth  one  tithe  of  that  sum  ?  Is  not  such  an  expenditure 
literally  squandering  money  that  could  be  much  better  utilised  ? 
Then  the  sums  set  as  prizes  against  the  proposed  competitive  classes 
are  large,  and  calculated  to  excite  some  cupidity.  Only  very  few 
growers,  however,  can  benefit  by  these  classes  and  prizes,  whilst  the 
great  body  of  smaller  growers  would  have  no  chance.  What  are  these 
great  growers  prepared  to  do  in  the  matter  of  subscriptions  to  start 
with?  We  ought  to  see  what  they  are  prepared  to  do,  and  also  the 
trade  Chrysanthemum  growers  before  the  ordinary  members  of  the 
Society  and  the  general  public  are  invited  to  render  assistance.  I  am 
willing  to  do  all  in  my  power  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  and  to  extend  its  popularity,  but  I  cannot  see  why  I  should 
subscribe  purely  to  put  money  into  the  pockets  of  interested  growers 
solely. 
It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  foreign  members  are  invited  to  compete 
in  one  class,  which,  if  largely  entered  in,  might  make  the  most  attractive 
class  in  the  show,  but  they  have  no  other  encouragement  than  cheap 
medals  afford.  John  Bull  in  this  instance  shows  how  tightly  he  can 
hold  on  to  the  ready,  but  it  is  exceedingly  selfish  all  the  same.  Surely 
the  Committee  will  see  later  that  the  foreign  member  is  entitled  to  the 
same  pecuniary  consideration  as  is  the  home  member.  Finally,  though 
referring  to  a  reconstruction  of  the  show  on  the  third  day,  nothing  is 
said  in  the  circular  as  to  its  nature.  Does  it  mean  that  it  reverts  to  the 
ordinary  November  exhibition  then?  That  much  should  be  stated.— 
A  Member. 
Chrysanthemums  as  Border  Plants. 
If  the  claims  of  a  plant  to  our  notice  be  measured  by  its  services 
when  other  flowers  are  scarce,  the  Chrysanthemum  will  give  place  to  very 
few,  if  any  ;  for  in  the  dull  autumn  months,  sometimes  up  to  Christmas, 
it  cheers  us  with  its  varied  hues.  Each  individual  floret,  too,  has  been, 
through  the  skill  and  patience  of  cultivators,  made  to  conform  to  a  high 
standard  of  excellence,  and  without  diminishing  the  constitutional 
vigour  of  the  plant,  as  in  the  case  of  some  other  plants  that  have  under¬ 
gone  improvement  at  the  florist’s  hands.  The  Chrysanthemum,  on  the 
contrary,  seems  to  be  quite  as  hardy  and  as  accommodating  as  of  old, 
when  its  varieties  were  few,  and  the  flower  very  loose  and  ill-formed. 
The  cultivation  of  the  Chrysanthemum  is  very  simple,  and  as  an 
outdoor  plant  it  may  be  said  to  take  care  of  itself.  A  little  attention  is 
necessary  in  preserving  the  plant  in  winter  in  stiff  damp  soils,  for  slugs 
are  apt  to  destroy  it ;  a  covering  of  coal  ashes  is  a  good  protection. 
Frost,  unless  very  intense,  rarely  injures  it,  and  it  is  not  particular  as  to 
soil  and  position  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  will  luxuriate  in  very  unpromising 
situations,  and  many  a  town  garden  is  enlivened  with  the  bloom  of  this 
plant  in  autumn  year  after  year. 
For  outdoor  display  I  would  give  the  preference  to  the  Pompon 
varieties  for  neatness  of  habit,  diversity  of  colour,  and  better  adapt¬ 
ability  to  bouquet  making  ;  but  some  of  the  intermediate  class  between 
these  and  the  large-flowering  are  also  good,  as  well  as  several  of  the  large 
kinds.  The  colours  will,  of  course,  depend  on  the  taste  of  the  grower 
and  his  requirements  ;  but  as  a  general  rule,  where  blooms  out  of  doors 
are  wanted  as  late  as  it  is  possible  to  have  them,  the  colour  which  seems 
to  be  best  capable  of  bidding  defiance  to  the  autumn  rain  is  bright 
yellow.  Chrysanthemums  of  this  colour  appear  to  withstand  the  bleach¬ 
ing  effects  of  moisture  better  than  those  of  any  other,  and  even  slight 
frosts  that  tinge  the  points  of  the  petals  do  them  less  harm,  for  the 
yellow  is  converted  into  a  sort  of  bronze  colour,  but  the  tips  of  a  white 
or  pink  flower  which  has  been  exposed  to  frost  show  damage  from  that 
cause  more  consp;cuously.  A  good  yellow  helps  also  to  brighten  up  all 
around  it;  the  dull  foliage,  dark  ground,  and  even  murky  atmosphere  at 
the  time  the  plant  flowers  require  some  lively  colour  to  give  cheerfulness. 
A  good  white,  I  admit,  would  be  as  well,  perhaps  better  ;  but  the  greater 
delicacy  of  that  colour,  and  its  liability  to  be  injured  in  the  way 
described,  are  great  drawbacks  ;  while  all  dark  colours,  as  maroon,  crimson, 
purple,  and  rose,  fade  or  bleach  into  tints  very  different  from  what 
they  ought  to  be,  and,  of  course,  much  less  beautiful.  These  remarks, 
it  will  be  understood,  relate  to  the  kinds  recommended  for  very  late 
flowering.  Earlier-flowering  varieties  may  be  of  any  colour.  Both 
early  and  late  varieties  may  be  planted  with  advantage  in  places  where 
a  somewhat  mild  autumn  may  be  expected,  or  where  flowers  for  cutting 
are  wanted. 
The  propagation  of  the  Chrysanthemum  is  so  simple  that  I  need  not 
advert  to  it  here  further  than  to  remark  that  I  would  recommend  not 
turning  out  too  early  those  plants  which  have  not  been  planted  out — say 
till  the  end  of  April,  as  slugs  are  so  fond  of  them  ;  but  plants  growing 
out  of  doors  may  be  taken  out  of  the  ground,  divided,  and  replanted  any 
time  in  April,  throwing  a  little  soot  or  lime  over  their  crowns  to  keep 
marauders  at  bay.  Ordinary  soil  will  in  most  cases  answer  without 
manure,  but  the  latter  may  be  added  when  it  is  too  light  or  poor. 
Thinning  out  some  of  the  shoots  of  old  stools,  if  any  such  have  been 
left,  may  be  necessary  later  ;  but  do  not  shorten  those  intended  to 
flower,  otherwise  a  blank  may  occur.  In  general  it  is  advisable  to  take 
up  and  replant  at  least  once  in  two  years,  for  if  this  is  not  done  the 
flowers  are  poor  or  indifferent. — J.  R.  N. 
EUPHORBIA  JACQUINEEFLORA. 
Although  the  genus  Euphorbia  is  a  very  large  one  there  are  few 
species  that  commend  themselves  to  the  attention  of  cultivators  of  stove 
plants.  Euphorbia  jacquiniseflora  (or  fulgens)  I  think  occupies  the  most 
prominent  position  amongst  those  grown.  It  is  very  different  in  habit 
and  general  appearance  from  the  rest.  It  blooms  at  the  present  season  of 
the  year,  at  which  time  its  intense  scarlet  flowers,  on  wreath-like  shoots,  are 
unsurpassed  by  any  plant  in  cultivation.  It  is  a  free  grower  and  equally 
free  in  blooming.  The  flowers  last  well  either  on  the  plant  or  when  cut 
and  placed  in  water.  It  gives  a  succession  of  flowers  from  a  second 
growth,  which  the  plants  make  after  the  first  flowering  shoots  have  been 
cut.  The  beauty  of  the  flowers  is  much  increased  by  the  dark  green 
lanceolate  leaves,  which  are  very  slightly  distributed  amongst  them.  It 
combines  well  with  almost  any  other  flowers,  being  especially  suited  for 
employing  in  large  vases,  where  its  flat  sprays  can  with  the  greatest 
advantage  be  employed  as  a  base  for  lighter-coloured  flowers. 
Some  growers  have  experienced  a  difficulty  in  rooting  cuttings  of  this 
plant.  The  soft  sappy  nature  of  the  young  shoots,  if  taken  after  they 
have  extended  considerably,  causes  them  to  be  very  subject  to  damp  ;  in 
fact,  if  cuttings  be  made  in  the  ordinary  way  very  few  will  root.  If, 
however,  in  the  spring  the  young  shoots  that  are  made  after  the  plants 
have  bloomed  are  taken  off  with  a  heel  when  about  5  or  6  inches  in 
length  and  inserted  in  small  pots,  well  drained,  filled  with  silver  sand, 
placed  in  a  temperature  of  70°,  and  covered  with  propagating  glasses,  not 
one  in  twenty  will  fail  to  root.  It  is  the  heel  of  partially  solidified  wood 
that  is  essential  to  success.  So  managed,  they  will  root  in  a  few  weeks, 
after  which  the  glasses  must  be  removed  and  plenty  of  light  given. 
When  the  plants  are  fairly  established  transfer  them  to  4-inch  pots. 
They  thrive  well  in  good  fibrous  loam,  to  which  should  be  added  one- 
fifth  part  of  sand.  Drain  the  pots  sufficiently,  as  the  roots  are 
very  impatient  of  stagnant  moisture,  and  too  much  water  should 
not  be  given  until  the  roots  have  taken  well  to  the  soil.  The 
plant  has  naturally  an  erect  habit,  not  disposed  to  branch  much. 
To  counteract  this  the  shoots  ought  to  be  stopped  or  bent  down 
when  they  get  fairly  into  growth,  so  as  to  induce  them  to  break 
back.  The  temperature  may  be  allowed  to  rise  in  the  day  to  75°  or  80° 
with  sun  heat,  ventilating  in  the  morning  according  to  the  state  of 
the  weather,  and  closing  the  house,  whilst  the  sun  is  on  the  glass  suffi¬ 
ciently  to  raise  the  heat  for  an  hour  or  two  to  80°  or  85°,  syringing  at  the 
same  time.  The  plants  will  require  a  thin  shade  when  the  sun  is 
powerful,  but  should  have  plenty  of  light,  or  the  natural  straggling 
habit  will  be  increased. 
