394 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Ootober*22,  1896 
AN  American  Gold  Medal. 
We  have  pleasure  in  announcing  that  the  Chrysanthemum  Society  of 
America  desires  to  offer  a  special  prize  of  a  gold  medal  to  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society,  to  be  competed  for  at  the  forthcoming  Jubilee 
Ezhibition.  In  the  event  of  its  acceptance  on  Monday  evening  next  by 
the  General  Committee  of  the  N.C  S.  this  American  gold  medal,  which 
is  of  the  value  of  £6,  is  to  be  awarded  to  the  best  twelve  commercial 
blooms,  one  variety,  from  any  source,  to  be  considered  from  an  American 
point  of  view— viz.,  exhibited  in  a  vase  (to  be  provided  by  the  exhibitor), 
with  not  less  than  18  inches  of  stem,  of  a  pleasing  saleable  colour,  with 
size  ard  substance  also  to  be  considered.  Further  particulars  can  be 
obtained  of  Mr.  R.  Dean,  Hon.  Sec.,  N.C.S. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
We  are  requested  to  state,  in  reference  to  the  Great  Jubilee  exhibi¬ 
tion,  which  opens  at  the  Royal  Aquarium  on  Tuesday,  November  3rd, 
with  a  second  competition  on  Thursdav,  November  5th,  that  all  entries 
for  either  show  must  be  sent  in  to  the  Secretary,  Mr.  R.  Dean,  Ranelagh 
Road,  Ealing,  by  Friday,  October  30th,  to  enable  the  large  amount  of 
clerical  work  to  be  got  through  in  time.  Everything  must  be  staged 
ready  for  the  Judges  by  10  30  AM.,  on  the  mornings  of  November  .3rd 
and  November  5th.  All  plants  shown  on  November  3rd,  with  the 
exception  of  the  trained  specimens  in  Classes  2  and  3,  all  fruit  and 
vegetables,  also  all  miscellaneous  exhibits,  must  remain  until  the  evening 
of  Friday,  November  6th.  Cut  flowers  and  table  decorations  can  be 
removed  at  10  30  p.m.  on  the  evening  of  Wednesday,  November  4th. 
Strangers  exhibiting  for  the  first  time  are  informed  that  cards  for 
naming  cut  flowers  and  pins  for  securely  fastening  the  same  to  the 
stands  can  be  had  at  the  flower  show  office  in  the  Aquarium  on  the 
morning  of  each  show.  The  tables  and  other  parts  of  the  building  will 
be  roped  off  while  the  Judges  are  making  their  awards,  and  only  those 
privileged  to  be  present  while  the  judging  is  proceeding  can  be  admitted 
within  the  enclosures.  Exhibitors  are  requested  to  make  themselves 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  “  Regulations  for  Exhibitors  ”  on  pages 
55  and  56  of  the  schedule  of  prizes. 
The  Jubilee  banquet  will  take  place  in  the  Whitehall  Rooms  of  the 
Hotel  Metropole  at  6  30  on  the  evening  of  November  8rd,  Sir  Edwin 
Saunders,  the  President,  in  the  chair.  Tickets  1  guinea  each,  which  can 
be  had  of  the  Secretary. 
On  Thursday,  November  6th,  the  exhibition  will  be  largely  renewed, 
as  competitions  will  take  place  in  thirty-four  additional  classes,  and 
immediately  after  the  awards  are  made,  both  of  November  3rd  and 
November  5th,  a  catalogue  of  the  exhibits  will  be  issued  with  the  names 
of  the  prizewinners,  which  will  be  on  sale  in  the  Aquarium. 
At  7  P.M.  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  a  conference  meeting  will  take 
place  in  the  Library,  Mr.  T.  W.  Sanders  in  the  chair,  when  papers  will 
be  read  by  Mr.  George  Gordon  on  “  The  Types  of  the  Chrysanthemum, 
and  their  Characteristics,  with  Suggestions  as  to  the  Adoption  of  a  Fuller 
Classification.”  By  Mr.  Norman  Davis  on  “  The  Points  of  Quality  or 
Properties  of  the  Various  Types  as  Exhibition  Flowers,  and  the  Values  to 
be  Apportioned  to  Each  ;  ”  and  by  Mr.  C.  E.  Shea,  on  ‘ ‘  Setting  up  Blooms 
for  Exhibition,  and  the  Principles  upon  which  an  Effective  Arrangement 
of  a  Stand  are  Based." 
The  Secretary  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  is  empowered 
to  offer  admission  tickets  at  a  considerable  reduction  in  price  to  parties 
of  not  less  than  twelve  persons,  members  of  affiliated  societies,  and  some 
of  the  main  lines  of  railway  are  affording  special  facilities  for  reaching 
London. 
The  special  prizes  offered  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Veitch  Memorial 
Fund,  and  which  are  stated  by  error  in  the  schedule  to  be  "  open,”  can 
be  competed  for  only  by  amateurs  and  bona-fide  gardeners  ;  “  amateurs  ” 
being  defined  as  including  any  person  not  engaged  in  trade  as  a  dealer 
in  plants  or  seeds.  The  Turner  Memorial  cup  and  prizes,  which  by  an 
oversight  are  stated  to  be  open  to  competition  by  nurserymen  only, 
should  have  been,  and  are,  open  to  all  comers. 
An  Amateur’s  Chrysanthemums. 
It  is  always  interesting  to  the  Chrysanthemum  lover  at  this  season 
to  visit  not  only  the  establishments  of  the  wealthy  who  employ  pro¬ 
fessional  assistance  to  grow  their  flowers,  but  also  those  purely  amateur 
growers  who  accomplish  so  much  under  adverse  circumstances.  It  is 
often  a  cause  of  wonder  how  these  gentlemen  produce  such  flowers  and 
stage  them  so  well  at  exhibitions.  Mr.  A.  H.  Needs  of  Horsell,  Woking, 
the  popular  Treasurer  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association, 
is  always  a  force  to  reckon  with  when  he  enters  the  list,  no  matter  what 
the  subject  may  be,  and  for  several  years  past  has  well  maintained  his 
reputation. 
This  season  will  be  no  exception  if  his  plants  produce  all  they 
promise.  Like  many  others  he  felt  the  effects  of  the  storm,  and  had  to 
house  early.  The  only  house  he  has  for  all  purposes  is  not  all  one  could 
wish  for  this  purpose,  but  in  this  as  in  other  things  he  meets  difficulties 
manfully,  and  turns  out  from  this  house  with  a  north  aspect  what  many 
w’ould  be  very  pleased  to  possess.  Some  of  his  most  promising  plants 
tuis  year  are  Edith  Tabor,  Eva  Knowles,  Phoebus,  Louise,  Col.  W.  B. 
Smith,  Commandant  Blusset,  H.  L.  Sunderbrack,  Hairy  Wonder, 
E.  Molyneux,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Lees,  Pallanza,  although  like  several  other 
growers  he  has  doubts  of  this  ever  being  large  enough  for  exhibition 
purposes  ;  Golden  Wedding,  President  Borel,  Viviand  Morel,  Charles 
Davis,  William  Seward,  Souvenir  de  la  Petite  Amie,  and  several  others. 
—Visitor. 
October  Chrysanthemums. 
The  month  of  October  really  begins  the  season  of  large  flowered' 
Chrysanthemums.  To  have  them  blooming  the  previous  month,  except 
under  special  circumstances,  is,  to  my  mind,  having  them  out  of  season. 
Some  of  the  large  flowered  type  are  nothing  more  than  October  varie¬ 
ties,  and  seldom  do  we  see  them  later.  Whether  for  home  decoration  or 
for  exhibition  the  beat  varieties  should  be  chosen,  as  those  who  have  had 
experience  know  all  the  difference  between  the  best  and  inferior  sorts. 
Now  is  the  time  to  note  those  that  are  deserving  with  a  view  of  adding 
to  or  forming  a  collection  for  next  year. 
The  undermentioned  can  be  depended  upon  for  giving  satisfactory 
blooms.  All  are  intended  for  flowering  under  glass  of  course,  as  few  of 
the  large  blooming  section  are  suitable  for  out  of  doors. 
As  white  flowered  kinds  are  the  more  numerous  I  note  these  first. 
Emily  Sllsbury,  of  recent  introduction,  is  a  beautiful  flower  ;  Mutual 
Friend,  Souvenir  de  la  Petite  Ami,  Mrs.  J.  Lewis,  one  of  M.  Cslvat’e 
introducGons  of  the  present  year  ;  Barbara  Forbes,  Queen  of  the  Earlies,. 
W.  G.  Newitt,  and  M.  Gustave  Henry.  Amongst  yellows  we  have 
Wilfred  Marshall.  Phce'ms.  Oceana,  an  Australian  raised  variety;:. 
Tbomas  Wilkins.  Exmouth  Yellow,  Duchess  of  York,  Noces  d’Or,  and 
W.  H.  Lincoln,  Charles  Shrimpton,  crimson  and  gold  ;  Madame  Auguste 
de  Lacvivier,  rich  salmon  red,  pointed  gold  ;  Surprise,  plum  purple  ; 
William  Seward,  rich  blackish  crimson  ;  Pride  of  Madford,  rich  rosy 
amaranth  ;  Alberic  Lunden.  velvety  crimson  and  carmine  ;  Comte  F. 
Lurani,  rose  shaded  white  ;  Miss  Ethel  Addison,  violet  amaranth  ;  Mrs. 
Falconer  Jameson,  chestnut  bronze  tinted  and  striped  with  yellow  ;  W. 
Tricker,  delicate  rose,  and  its  sport,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Trafford,  bronze  rose. — 
E.  Molyneux. 
Specialities  in  Prize  Schedules. 
Following  my  usual  plan  of  noting  the  salient  points  in  the  prizes 
offered  by  the  leading  societies  devoted  to  Chrysanthemums,  I  find  I  have- 
in  my  diary  this  year  a  note  of  106  competitive  displavs,  commencing 
with  Watford  (October  27th)  and  finishing  with  Leeds  (November  24th),. 
and  it  is  a  curious  coincidence  that  exactly  this  number  was  noted  last 
year. 
At  Watford  a  capital  display  is  generally  to  be  seen  ;  liberal  prizes-^ 
are  offered,  both  for  cut  blooms  and  groups  of  plants.  On  the  following 
day  exhibitions  are  held  at  Torquay.  Blackheath  (Kent  County),  and 
Steyning.  The  Committee  of  the  Kent  County  Society  usually  offer 
good  prizes,  and  obtain  one  of  the  best  exhibitions,  especially  of  cut 
blooms,  in  the  metropolitan  area.  With  the  exception  of  Battersea  and 
Exmouth,  no  other  meetings  are  held  the  same  week. 
On  Tuesday,  3rd,  the  N.C.S.  holds  its  grand  Jubilee  celebration  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium,  and  bids  fair  to  be  the  largest  and  most  important 
exhibition  of  Chrysanthemums  yet  held.  The  schedule  of  prizes  is  most 
comprehensive,  and  ought  to  insure  keen  competition.  In  the  plant 
classes  the  prizes  are  valuable  and  numerous  ;  £10  and  a  gold  medal  as 
first  prize  are  offered  by  the  President  (Sir  Edwin  Saunders)  for  a  group 
of  Chrysanthemums  and  foliage  plants  arranged  in  a  circle.  Trained 
specimen  Chrysanthemums  also  receive  every  encouragement,  £15  and  a 
gold  medal,  with  prizes  of  £12,  £10,  and  £8  being  offered  for  nine 
specimens.  A  silver-gilt  Jubilee  medal  accompanied  with  £10  is  to  he 
awarded  to  the  winner  for  six  specimen  Pompons,  with  valuable  second, 
third,  and  fourth  prizes. 
Cut  blooms  receive  every  encouragement ;  magnificent  are  the  prizes 
offered.  The  two  principal  classes — sixty  Japanese,  distinct,  and  sixty 
incurved,  in  not  less  than  thirty-six  varieties,  and  not  more  than  two 
blooms  of  any  one  variety — have  each  £15  with  gold  medals  allotted  aa 
the  premier  award,  with  sums  of  £12,  £10,  and  £8  for  the  remaining 
prizes.  Good  provision  is  made  for  Anemone  flowered  varieties.  For 
thirty-six,  consisting  of  twelve  Japanese,  twelve  large  flowered,  distinct, 
and  twelve  Pompons,  to  be  shown  in  bunches  of  three  blooms,  each 
distinct,  £7,  £5,  £3,  and  £1  are  offered.  For  reflexed  varieties,  large,  and 
Pompon  £5,  £3,  £2,  and  £1  ;  for  twenty-four  single  flowered  varieties, 
in  bunches  of  three  and  six  each,  the  former  to  be  large  flowered  and 
the  latter  small,  the  prizes  are  £6,  £3,  and  £2.  The  difficulty  in  this 
class  will  be  to  define  the  large  and  small  blooms.  Numerous  other 
classes  are  provided  for  special  prizegivers. 
On  Thursday  and  Friday,  5ch  and  6th,  the  second  exhibition  is  to  be 
held,  which  completes  the  celebration.  The  principal  classes  are  those 
for  the  challenge  trophy,  and  the  Holmes’  Memorial  cups,  the  conditiona 
of  which  the  public  are  pretty  well  acquainted  with.  At  this  meeting 
also  numerous  special  prizes  are  offered.  F.  A.  Bevan.Esq.,  Trent  Park, 
Barnet,  gives  £10  in  four  prizes  for  twenty-four  blooms  of  white 
Japanese  Chrysanthemums  in  eight  varieties.  Foreign  members  of  the 
N  C.8.  have  a  special  class  set  apart  for  them — namely,  the  best  display 
of  blooms — for  which  silver-gilt  and  silver  medals  are  offered. 
At  Southampton  on  the,3i‘d  the  usual  exhibition  is  held;  good 
prizes  are  offered  for  both  incurved  and  Japanese  blooms.  On  the  same 
date,  in  conjunction  with  fruit,  a  Chrysanthemum  show  is  held  at 
Hereford  ;  on  the  4th  Ascot,  in  the  grand  stand  ;  and  Hitchin,  in  the 
Corn  Exchange,  have  their  usual  displays.  As  far  north  as  Stirling 
Thursday,  5th,  is  chosen  for  the  date  of  meeting.  The  Windsor,  Eton, 
and  District  Society  have  selected  the  same  date.  This  latter  is  one  of 
the  most  rising  societies  coming  within  the  metropolitan  area.  Capital 
blooms  are  annually  seen,  and  baskets  of  cut  blooms  are  a  noteworthy 
feature.  The  Devon  and  Exeter  Society  hold  their  184th  meeting  on 
the  same  date,  and  the  show  is  usually  one  of  the  best  in  the  West  of 
England.  Nottingham,  Waterford,  and  Crewe  finish  up  the  week. — 
E.  Molyneux. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
