October  2'J,  1896. 
•  JOURNAL  OF  nORTIGULTURF  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
421 
starting  them,  and  in  maintaining  them  in  the  pick  of  each  season’s 
new  varieties.  We  saw  Mons.  Freeman,  Gloire  d«  Rocher,  Avalanche, 
Viviand  Morel,  Duke  of  York,  Edwin  Molyneax,  and  a  score  of  others 
that  it  is  impossible  to  enumerate,  and  all  were  good.  Seize  an  early 
opportunity  to  go  to  see  the  plants  and  flowers  in  the  Chrysanthemum 
house  at  Finsbury  Park  is  the  advice  tendered  to  all  by — A  Hornsey 
Amateur. 
Victoria  Park. 
A  BRIGHT  and  varied  display  is  provided  here  by  the  experienced 
superintendent,  Mr.  J.  W.  Moorman.  The  plants  are  arranged  in  a 
span-roofed  house  100  feet  long  by  25  feet  wide,  a  path  running  down 
the  centre  with  undulating  banks  on  each  side,  a  row  of  semi-disbudded 
Elsie  Dordan  Pompons  being  placed  across  the  ends.  A  large  variety  of 
both  old  and  the  newer  varieties  in  all  sections  are  represented.  Of  the 
Japanese  we  noted  promising  flowers  of  Mrs.  E.  G.  Hill,  Mrs.  A.  G. 
Hubbuck,  Vice-President  Calvat,  Louise,  International,  Lady  Byron, 
Graphic,  Mrs.  E.  S.  TraflEord,  W.  Tricker,  Chas.  Davis,  Viviand  Morel, 
Madame  E.  Bey,  Sunflower,  Pride  of  Madford  (good),  Madame  Carnot 
(very  promising),  Gloire  du  Rocher  (flne  in  colour),  Mons.  Panckoucke, 
W.  Seward,  Miss  Dorothy  Shea,  Hairy  Wonder,  Mons.  Gruyer,  Phoebus, 
F,  Fewkes,  M.  de  Wolfs,  and  Robert  Owen.  Among  the  older  sorts 
Madame  Melaine  Fabre  stands  out  pleasingly  in  the  front  rank,  and  is 
much  admired. 
The  incurved  section  is  represented  by  fine  blooms  of  Mons.  R, 
Bahuant,  Baron  Hirsch,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Kingston  (fine),  Mrs.  G.  Rundle, 
and  the  primrose  and  golden  sports  of  the  same.  White  and  Golden 
Beverleys,  and  Mr.  Bunn,  Robert  Petfield  (good),  Lord  Wolseley, 
Prince  Alfred,  and  Prince  of  Wales.  A  large  number  of  the  Queen  family 
are  also  promising,  but  not  fully  out.  Large  flowering  Anemones,  as 
well  as  Japanese  Anemones,  are  also  included  in  the  display.  Descartes 
was  very  prominent,  being  early.  Nelson,  Sabine,  Gluck,  Mrs.  Judge 
Benedict,  Fabian  de  Medians,  Juno,  Duchess  of  Westminster,  M.  Charles 
Lebocqz,  and  Ratapoil  were  most  conspicuous.  Refiexed  and  Pompons 
are  largely  shown  ;  in  fact,  Pompons  in  variety  form  the  edging  towards 
the  pathway  on  each  side  of  the  long  walk,  while  Ryecroft  grown  in 
bush  form  and  partially  disbudded  brightens  the  collection  materially. 
There  are  hundreds  of  grand  buds  to  open,  and  not  a  speck  of  mildew 
to  be  seen  in  the  house, 
Southwark  Park. 
The  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Deptford,  with  its  seemingly  end¬ 
less  rows  of  houses,  its  factories,  and  its  shipping,  does  not  sound  like  the 
place  where  one  would  find  a  show  of  Chrysanthemums.  Such  is, 
however,  the  case  at  Southwark  Park,  where  Mr.  Curie  carries  out  the 
Council’s  desire  by  providing  something  well  worth  going  to  see.  The 
absence  of  fresh  air  does  not  seem  to  have  troubled  the  Southwark 
grower,  for  the  plants  are  in  every  way  creditable.  The  heights,  of 
course,  vary  very  considerably,  but  as  a  rule  they  are  not  quite  so  tall 
as  in  former  years,  while  the  wood  is  wonderfully  well  developed  for 
the  season.  The  colour  of  the  leaves  is  not  so  green  as  we  should  expect 
to  find  twenty  or  thirty  miles  from  the  metropolis,  but  they  are  stout, 
tough,  and  generally  speaking  of  fair  average  size. 
The  house  here  is  naturally  adapted  to  the  artistic  arrangement  of 
the  plants,  of  which  the  fullest  advantage  is  taken.  There  is  an  undu¬ 
lating  and  curving  central  bed  with  narrower  borders  on  the  sides,  and 
the  way  the  plants  have  been  placed,  so  that  there  should  be  no  confusion 
of  heights  or  colours,  is  highly  praiseworthy,  and  proves  the  trouble  that 
is  taken  in  this  matter.  Not  that  Chrysanthemums  alone  occupy  the 
whole  of  the  space,  as  is  generally  the  case.  On  the  contrary,  foliage 
plants,  such  as  Ficus  elastica,  Grevilleas,  Palms,  Ferns,  and  others  are 
utilised  with  telling  effect  amongst  the  more  showy  mums.  This  is  a 
system  that  has  much  to  commend  it  to  other  providers  of  displays  of  a 
similar  nature,  as  it  certainly  forms  a  restful  change  from  whole  masses 
of  flowers,  beautiful  though  such  may  be. 
The  range  of  varieties  is  extremely  wide,  as  all  that  are  worthy 
amongst  the  Japanese,  and  for  which  space  can  be  found,  are  cultivated. 
Thus  as  they  come  into  flower  to  a  large  extent  successionally,  the  display 
is  one  of  lasting  interest  to  Chrysanthemum  lovers.  The  hairy  section 
is  in  all  respects  an  excellent  one,  for  the  Southwark  grower  makes 
rather  a  speciality  of  these  flowers.  Anemones  and  Pompons,  with 
incurved  varieties,  receive  the  attention  they  deserve.  The  exhibition 
is  a  fine  one,  and  should  be  seen  by  all. — A  South  Londoner. 
Railway  Rates. — The  cost  of  carriage  of  garden  and  farm  produce 
continues  to  occupy  the  attention  of  some  of  the  railway  companies. 
Where  the  rates  have  been  reduced  and  quick  transit  afforded  the  result 
has  been  satisfactory  to  the  producer,  to  the  consumer,  and  to  the 
railway  companies  themselves,  while  the  whole  business  gives  employ¬ 
ment  to  more  persons  than  formerly.  A  few  days  ago  a  joint  Committee 
of  the  Great  Northern  and  Midland  Railways  adopted  the  following 
scale  of  rates  for  the  conveyance  of  poultry,  butter,  cream,  eggs,  fruit, 
vegetables,  and  other  farm  and  garden  produce  by  passenger  train  from 
the  stations  on  the  joint  lines  to  London,  to  include  delivery  within  the 
usual  limits.  For  any  weight  up  to  20  lbs.,  4d.  ;  for  every  additional 
5  lbs.  over  that  weight  up  to  CO  lbs..  Id.  For  the  convenience  of  the 
public  and  in  order  to  facilitate  the  working  of  the  scheme,  the 
Companies  are  arrangifig  to  supply  boxes  at  their  stations  at  a  ver^ 
■mall  charge. 
Events  op  the  Week. — The  rush  of  the  Chrysanthemum  shows 
has  now  commenced.  A  full  list  of  those  that  have  been  advertised  in 
these  columns  appears  on  page  417. 
-  Weather  in  London. — Monday  and  Tuesday  of  this  week 
were  beautiful  days.  A  trifle  cold  at  times  perhaps,  but  far  preferable 
to  the  rains  that  have  been  so  abundant  of  late.  Wednesday  morning 
opened  with  fog.  The  closing  days  of  last  week  were  very  wet. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — For  the  past  two  weeks  the 
weather  in  Scotland  has  been  very  unsettled,  rain  and  frost  alternating, 
Towards  the  close  of  last  week  heavy  snowfalls  took  place  in  the 
northern  counties,  and  sharp  frosts  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  On 
Friday  morning,  the  23rd,  11°  frost  were  registered,  7°  on  Sunday,  4°  on 
Monday.  Tuesday  opened  bright  and  fresh. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
-  The  Cardiff  Gardeners’  Association.  —  The  fortnightly 
meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  recently  in  the  Temperance  Club, 
St.  John’s  Square.  Mr,  A.  Pettigrew  presided.  There  was  an 
unusually  large  attendance  to  hear  a  lecture  by  Mr.  John  StorriC) 
entitled  “Glimpses  of  Botany  with  Microscopical  Illustrations.’’  The 
speaker  dwelt  on  Cy closes,  low  vegetables;  and  vegetable  preservation. 
The  evening  spent  was  a  most  enjoyable  and  instructive  one. 
-  Death  of  M.  Auguste  Trecul.  —  This  eminent  B’rench 
botanist  died  in  Paris  on  the  15th  inst.  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  He 
had  first  studied  chemistry,  and  was  admitted  to  practise  in  the  hospitals 
in  1841.  He  soon  devoted  the  whole  of  his  energies  to  botany,  and 
published  a  number  of  remarkable  papers,  which  brought  him  into 
notice.  A  notable  event  in  his  career  was  the  journeys  he  made  with 
the  Indian  tribes  in  tbe  Rocky  Mountains,  Texas,  and  Mexico  in  1848, 
on  a  mission  confided  to  him  by  the  Government.  The  magnificent 
collections  of  edible  roots  and  plants  used  by  the  Indians,  as  well  as  of 
the  fauna  and  flora  of  the  regions  he  had  visited,  were,  however,  lost  at 
sea.  Nothing  discouraged,  M.  Trecul  set  to  work  again  and  brought 
back  fresh  collections  in  1850. 
-  Colour  Experiments. — So  far  those  gentlemen  who  have 
conducted  experiments  with  fruits  and  flowers  for  the  production  of 
diverse  colouration  do  not  seem  to  have  met  with  much  encouragement. 
It  does  seem  as  if  Nature’s  wonderful  ways  in  creating  so  many  varied 
and  beautiful  hues  were  secrets  which  science  has  not  yet  succeeded  in 
penetrating.  All  the  same,  there  can  be  no  harm  if  experiments  in  other 
directions  be  continued,  especially  in  relation  to  Apples,  because  we 
have  been  assured,  though  to  me  always  a  matter  of  doubt,  that  certain 
mineral  applications  to  the  roots  would  produce  high  colour.  The  most 
interesting  of  flowering  plants  to  operate  upon  seems  to  be  the  Hydrangea. 
I  noticed  in  the  summer  plants  of  H.  hortensia  blooming  in  pots  in  the 
conservatory  at  Basing  Park,  both  pink  and  blue,  and  Mr.  Smythe 
assured  me  that  the  blue  tint  was  produced  by  occasional  waterings 
with  dissolved  alum.  Is  that  really  so? — A,  D. 
-  The  Postmen’s  Park. — This  is  a  space  on  the  north  side  of 
the  new  post  office  buildings  in  St.  Martin’s-le-Grand.  A  contemporary 
says  this  pretty  little  public  garden  has  pleasant  gravelled  walks,  green 
lawns,  tall  Poplars,  shady  Plane  trees,  and  a  few  flowers  at  most  times, 
and  seats  whereon  to  rest  and  admire  this  little  oasis  in  the  heart  of  the 
great  desert  of  bricks  and  mortar.  This  garden  has  entrances  in 
Aldersgate  Street  and  King  Edward  Street,  and  being  so  near  the 
General  Post  Office  it  is  so  largely  frequented  by  postmen  that  the  name 
of  “  Postmen’s  Park  ’’  has  become  quite  popular.  Curiously  enough  this 
garden,  like  many  another  in  the  City  of  London,  was  once  a  burial 
ground,  or  rather  three  burial  grounds,  for  over  what  was  once  the  City 
moat  the  burial  grounds  of  St.  Botolph,  St.  Leonard,  and  Christ  Churches 
were  made.  At  present  the  Postmen’s  Park  is  in  danger  of  being 
partially  shut  in  by  a  row  of  houses  to  be  erected  upon  a  strip  of  land 
between  it  and  Little  Britain.  This  land  was  no  doubt  formerly  used 
for  interments,  but  the  trustees  of  the  City  Parochial  Charities,  to  whom 
it  belongs,  would  be  doing  a  greater  act  of  charity  to  allow  the  land  to 
be  added  to  the  little  park  than  by  allowing  buildings  to  be  erected  and 
giving  part  of  the  income  to  be  derived  from  them  to  assist  in  the 
preservation  of  open  spaces  elsewhere,  — 
