156 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  20,  189fi. 
valuable  aid.  To  none  is  my  thanks  more  due  than  to  my 
assistant,  Mr.  James  Threlfall,  for  services  cheerfully  rendered 
in  tabulating  the  returns  —  work  which  demanded  assiduous 
attention  and  scrupulous  care  in  the  interests  of  accuracy. 
Owing  to  the  great  rapidity  in  which  varieties  increase  and  the 
size  of  the  clasies  also  at  the  leading  shows,  it  was  felt  that  the 
selection  of  varieties  ought  to  be  on  a  larger  scale  than  hitherto. 
In  the  Japanese  section  fifty  varieties  were  asked  for,  with  a  final 
selection  of  twenty-four  from  the  fifty.  The  opinion  of  electors 
regarding  the  most  deserving  new  varieties  was  also  requested,  as 
a  selection  in  this  section  requires  most  careful  consideration 
nowadays,  owing  to  the  immense  increase  of  varieties  annually. 
The  Editor  desired  me  also  to  extend  the  election  to  the  incurved 
section,  by  reason  of  the  opinions  expressed  in  these  columns  at  the 
last  election.  As  this  is  the  first  time  that  the  incurved  varieties 
have  been  dealt  with  in  this  manner  the  results  cannot  fail  to  be 
interesting,  as  a  large  increase  in  the  number  of  varieties  has  taken 
place  during  the  last  ten  years. 
As  showing  the  wide  range  of  opinion  as  to  what  constitutes  the 
best  list  of  fifty  varieties  in  the  Japanese  section,  it  is  only  necessary 
to  point  to  the  fact  of  there  being  no  fewer  than  258  varieties  named 
by  105  electors  ;  107  took  part  in  the  election,  but  two  failed  to 
send  in  returns  in  the  Japanese  section.  In  the  final  selection  of 
twenty-four  varieties  145  names  are  given.  The  fifty-one 
electors  who  take  part  in  the  selection  of  twelve  new  Japanese 
varieties  travel  over  a  wide  range,  135  names  being  recorded. 
In  the  returns  received  for  thirty-six  varieties  of  incurved  107 
names  are  given  by  the  ninety-nine  voters,  and  in  the  final 
twenty-four,  seventy-nine  names  are  mentioned. 
The  voting,  as  might  be  expected  from  such  a  wide  range, 
contains  some  peculiarities.  Although  105  voters  took  part  in 
the  election,  three  failed  to  make  a  final  selection  of  twenty- 
four  Japanese.  In  the  selection  of  twelve  new  varieties  of 
Japanese  only  fifty-one  ventured  to  give  an  opinion.  The  reason8 
stated  for  this  omission  by  so  many  was  that  they  had  not  had 
the  opportunity  to  inspect  the  new  sorts,  and  preferred  to  leave 
this  selection  to  those  who  had.  This  is  entirely  commendable, 
and  cannot  fail  to  impress  on  all  interested  the  desire  to  elicit  the 
most  trustworthy  information.  In  spite  of  the  opinion  so  often 
expressed  in  some  quarters  that  the  interest  taken  in  the  incurved 
section  is  fast  losing  its  hold  upon  cultivators,  no  less  than  ninety- 
nine  electors  sent  in  returns  in  this  section. 
My  remarks  upon  the  position  attained  by  certain  varieties 
must  of  necessity  be  brief.  In  the  Japanese  section  the  results 
show  that  four  varieties  tie  for  the  first  place.  He  would,  indeed, 
be  a  bold  critic  who  would  say  that  either  of  the  four  does  not  merit 
the  distinction.  It  cannot  but  be  pleasing  to  myself  to  find  the 
variety  bearing  my  name  occupying  such  a  prominent  position 
after  being  in  cultivation  ten  years.  Sunflower,  sent  out  two  years 
later,  also  occupies  a  high  position.  Mr.  Canned,  the  introducer  of 
both,  would  be  justified  in  reiterating  the  opinion  he  gave  respecting 
the  prospective  popularity  of  the  former  at  the  time  of  its  intro¬ 
duction.  With  the  exception  of  Stanstead  White  and  Etoile  de 
Lyon,  no  variety  in  the  first  fifty  can  claim  more  than  six  years  of 
existence.  W.  H.  Lincoln,  introduced  in  1890,  comes  next  in  point 
of  age.  Yiviand  Morel  was  raised  by  Lacroix  in  1891.  As 
showing  the  regard  in  which  varieties  of  this  type  of  bloom  are 
still  held  one  has  only  to  point  to  the  position  occupied  by  its 
sport,  Charles  Davis. 
Madame  Carnot  and  Mons.  Panckoucke,  both  recent  introduc¬ 
tions  by  Mons.  Calvat,  take  a  very  high  position  in  the  list.  The 
former  is  undoubtedly  the  best  white-flowered  Chrysanthemum  in 
existence,  while  the  latter  occupies  a  similar  place  amongst  yellow- 
flowered  varieties.  Mdlle.  Therese  Rey  still  maintains  its  popu¬ 
larity.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Lees  comes  well  to  the  front,  and  no  wonder  ; 
when  well  grown  it  is  one  of  the  best  of  Japanese  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums.  I  must  confess  I  am  somewhat  surprised  to  find  Etoile 
de  Lyon  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Payne  so  high  in  the  list,  as  when 
ordinarily  cultivated  both  exhibit  a  want  of  refinement. 
W.  Seward,  owing  to  its  unique  colour,  still  keeps  a  good  position. 
Pallanza  occupies  a  place  that  should  commend  this  variety  to 
cultivators,  as  it  is  quite  one  of  the  best  of  yellow-flowered  sorts. 
Readers  will  note  the  almost  entire  absence  of  the  hirsute  section. 
Hairy  Wonder  alone  finds  a  place  in  the  first  fifty ;  while,  with 
the  exception  of  Mrs.  W.  J.  Godfrey  and  Mrs.  Alpheus  Hardy, 
no  variety  is  mentioned  in  the  long  list  of  258  varieties,  which  is 
a  proof  of  the  lack  of  appreciation  of  this  section. 
In  the  selected  twelve  new  sorts  of  Japanese,  that  chance 
seedling,  Edith  Tabor,  occupies  the  post  of  honour,  Mrs.  H.  Weeks 
coming  next  with  six  fewer  votes.  When  carefully  inspected  this 
selection  cannot  fail  to  impress  those  interested  as  to  the  excellence 
of  the  varieties  chosen  ;  having  regard  to  the  individual  merit  of 
each,  not  one  of  the  twelve  varieties  can  be  accused  of  a  want  of 
refinement.  This,  in  my  opinion,  is  a  proof  that  cultivators 
recognise  quality  in  preference  to  mere  size. 
In  the  incurved  section  Lord  Alcester,  Empress  of  India,  and 
Jeanne  d’Arc  secure  an  equal  number  of  votes  —  ninety-nine. 
Since  its  introduction  the  first  named  has  been  regarded  as  an 
ideal  bloom.  To  this  varioty  more  premier  awards  have  been  made 
than  to  any  other  two.  Queen  of  England  runs  those  previously 
named  closely,  and  so  do  four  members  of  the  Princess  of  Wales 
family — viz.,  the  original,  Mrs.  S.  Coleman,  Miss  M.  A.  Haggas, 
and  Miss  Violet  Tomlin.  The  newer  Charles  H.  Curtis  occupies  a 
high  position  in  the  list,  which  it  deserves.  Robert  Petfield  and 
James  Agate  deserve  the  place  they  occupy.  Both  these  recent 
introductions  give  the  type  of  bloom  required. 
Several  members  of  the  Queen  family  are  found  rather  low  on 
the  list,  notably  Mrs.  Robinson  King,  John  Doughty,  and  Golden 
Queen  of  England,  which  is  mainly  owing  to  their  being  somewhat 
difficult  to  cultivate.  The  last  named  is,  however,  given  under 
three  separate  names,  the  original,  John  Lambert  and  Emily  Dale, 
which  accounts  in  some  measure  for  the  low  position  occupied  by 
the  type.  Globe  d’Or  has  come  well  to  the  front,  especially  as  it 
is  quite  of  recent  introduction.  Members  of  the  “  Teck  ”  family 
do  not  occupy  a  high  position  ;  this  is  owing  to  the  difficulty 
experienced  in  having  representative  blooms  of  each  at  given  times, 
especially  in  the  North  of  England  and  Scotland.  Varieties  that 
exhibit  so  few  distinctive  points,  extremely  narrow  petals,  roughness 
of  outline,  and  other  defects,  find  few  admirers.  A  smooth  surface 
is  as  important  in  an  incurved  bloom  as  is  size  in  the  Japanese. 
The  following  brief  extracts  from  letters  received  show  to 
some  extent  the  opinions  regarding  the  election  itself,  and  the 
advantages  derived  from  it  : — Mr.  J.  Dumble,  Picton  Castle 
Gardens,  Haverfordwest,  writes,  “I  am  very  pleased  to  see  you 
again  purpose  publishing  a  list  of  the  best  Chrysanthemums.  In 
South  Wales  growers  and  exhibitors  are  considerably  on  the 
increase,  and  it  is  to  the  ‘Journal  ’  we  look  for  help  in  the  selection 
of  the  best  and  new  varieties.” 
Mr.  W.  Messenger,  Wolverstone  Park,  Ipswich,  says,  “  I 
herewith  enclose  Chrysanthemum  lists.  I  shall  await  their 
publication  with  curiosity,  as  no  doubt  there  will  be  great  differ¬ 
ences  of  opinion  as  to  many  of  the  best  varieties.  If  one  had  to 
select  new  varieties  from  the  numerous  catalogues  issued  I  fear 
the  mind  would  be  plunged  into  chaos  and  darkness.” 
Mr.  J.  Folkard,  Sandhutton  Hall,  York,  writes,  “  I  have  great 
pleasure  in  forwarding  you  lists  of  Chrysanthemums.  I  am 
sure  you  must  have  a  stout  heart  to  undertake  the  task  of 
tabulating  the  many  lists  that  will  be  sent  to  you.  ‘Mum’ 
growers  are  heavily  indebted  to  you  for  the  assistance  you  give 
them  through  the  medium  of  the  ‘Journal.’” 
Mr.  R,  Jones,  Barford  Hill,  Warwick,  says,  “  These  elections 
cannot  fail  to  be  of  service  to  all  Chrysanthemum  growers, 
whether  they  are  exhibitors  or  not.” — Edwin  Molyneux. 
[The  thanks  of  the  Editor  are  cordially  tendered  to  Mr. 
Molyneux  and  to  all  who  have  co-operated  with  him  in  this 
election.  The  names  of  the  varieties  that  follow  aa  the  first 
