November  19.  189R. 
489 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Then,  too,  we  have  the  uaefal  and  free*floweiing  early  Borts  and  the 
eingles,  and  here  too  they  are  grown  so  as  to  produce  a  delightful 
effect,  and  certainly  they  seem  to  have  a  wonderful  fascination  for  the 
ladies.  The  seedlings  raised  by  the  firm  are  worthy  of  inclusion  into 
•every  collection,  two  being  especially  noticeable.  Mrs.  James  Ferguson, 
a  pink  sport  from  Mary  Anderson,  giving  almost  a  bouquet  of  flower  on 
each  stem  ;  Mrs.  F.  W.  Travers,  a  lovely  dark  crimson  with  golden  eye, 
is  splendid  ;  Mrs.  Coward,  a  fine  terra  cotta,  makes  up  a  splendid  trio. 
Altogether  the  show  will  be  greatly  enjoyed  by  the  thousands  of  visitors 
■who  are  certain  to  attend  during  the  next  few  weeks, — R.  P.  R. 
Leighton. 
Leighton  of  late  years  has  enjoyed  quite  a  local  reputation  for 
Cbrysanthemnms,  Mr.  Mann,  the  gardener  in  charge,  being  an 
•enthusiastic  lover  and  grower  of  the  plant,  and  he  is  well  supported  by 
his  generous  employer,  W.  H.  Laverton,  Esq.  Until  the  present  season 
Mr,  Mann  has  been  asucceisfal  exhibitor,  but  this  is  now  discontinued, 
and  instead,  an  exhibition  on  the  place  is  arranged  so  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Weetbury  may  make  an  inspection  of  the  display  for  a 
small  charge,  the  proceeds  of  which  is  given  to  the  local  charities.  The 
lants  are  arranged  in  the  large  music  saloon,  a  detached  and  elegant 
ailding  well  adapted  to  such  a  purpose.  The  plants  are  set  out  in  ixjld 
groups  in  such  a  manner  that  visitors  can  easily  inspect  the  Individual 
merits  of  the  many  handsome  blooms  on  view.  That  the  efforts  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laverton  are  appreciated  by  the  town  and  district, 
is  evidenced  in  the  large  numbers  who  avail  themselves  of  the  oppor¬ 
tunity  thus  kindly  provided. 
Some  600  plants  are  grown  for  this  purpose,  while  a  goodly  number 
■for  decorative  and  cutting  purposes  are  accommodated  in  the  fruit 
housqs  Independent  of  the  show  blooms.  Among  those  in  flower  at  the 
time  of  my  visit  I  noticed  some  particularly  promising  blooms  of  Madame 
Carnot,  Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne,  John  Lightfoot,  Duchess  of  Wellington, 
Pride  of  Lancaster,  Viviand  Morel,  Wilfred  Marshall,  Sir  Edwin  Smith, 
Ernest  Fierrens,  Rose  Wynne.  Good  Gracious,  Pr^fet  Robert,  Com. 
Blusset,  Thomas  Wilkins,  Miss  Dorothy  Shea,  G.  C.  Schwabe,  Louise, 
'King  of  Chrysanthemums,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Lees,  E.  G.  Whittle,  Col.  T.  C. 
Bourne,  Robert  Owen,  Blma  D.  Smith,  International,  Mad.  Ad.  Chacin, 
and  Cbas.  Davis. 
Incurved  sorts  are  not  grown  now  so  largely  as  formerly,  Japanese 
being  greater  favourites,  and  are  more  showy  for  home  displays.  Some 
of  the  best  of  the  older  ones,  however,  and  a  sprinkling  of  new  ones  are 
represented,  including  one  named  Philip  Mann,  sent  out,  1  believe,  by 
Mr.  Owen,  of  Maidenhead.  Not  only  the  Chrysanthemums,  but  all  the 
<lepartmentB  of  Leighton  Gardens,  reflect  much  credit  on  its  chief,  as 
■everywhere  good  order,  combined  with  thorough  cultivation,  is  the  order 
•of  the  place,  and  apparently  no  reasonable  expense  is  spared  to  maintain 
it. — Visitor. 
Royal  Gardens 
Home  of  all  good  and  useful  things  horticultural  that  c»n  be  grown 
within  the  boundaries  of  Great  Britain,  in  the  gardens  of  Her  Majesty 
the  Queen  at  Royal  Windsor  Chrysanthemums  with  all  their  regal 
splendour  are  never  out  of  place.  Thousands  are  grown  by  Mr.  Thomas, 
and  it  may  safely  be  affirmed  that  no  man  realises  better  than  he  their 
utility  for  providing  a  display  over  a  lone  period  of  time.  In  some 
gardens  Chrysanthemums  are  the  flowers  of  a  month,  but  at  Windsor 
they  are  to  be  found  in  wonderful  profusion  from  early  October  to  well 
into  February,  or  a  time  approaching  five  months.  Thus  is  the  utmost 
benefit  secured  by  good  culture  from  these  splendid  plants,  that  for 
affording  abundance  of  cut  flowers  are  ever  in  demand,  which  the  supply 
certainly  tends  to  increase. 
Of  course,  the  plants  are  not  all  grown  for  the  production  of  large 
blooms,  because,  useful  as  these  are  in  reasonable  numbers,  they  are 
not  adapted  to  the  supply  of  a  quantity  of  flowers  from  Christmas 
onwards.  This  is  one  of  the  main  objects  kept  in  view  by  the  growers 
at  Windsor,  and  the  very  best  success  annually  crowns  their  unceasing 
efforts.  Thousands  of  flowers  may  be  cut  in  these  gardens  in  January, 
and  at  no  time  are  they  more  appreciated  for  the  Royal  apartments. 
Then  Chrysanthemums  in  probably  the  majority  of  establishments  have 
passed  the  best  of  their  beauty,  even  if  they  are  not  entirely  over, 
while  here  they  are  in  abundance. 
It  is  necessary  where  this  spring  flowering  is  a  desideratum,  to  vary 
the  t'me  of  inserting  the  cuttings,  and  not  to  submit  the  plants  to  just 
the  same  treatment  as  those  grown  for  larger  blooms  ;  in  fact,  the  latest 
plants  are  raised  from  cuttings  inserted  in  June  and  trained  as  small 
bushes  in  pots  of  from  4  to  6  inches  in  diameter.  These  make  hand¬ 
some  little  specimens,  which  carry  a  fair  number  of  flowers,  good  in 
quality,  rich  in  colour,  but  somewhat  small  in  size.  The  plants  can  be 
ntilis^  as  they  are  in  pots,  or  the  flowers  may  be  cut  for  vases,  and, 
in  either  case,  are  of  very  great  value  in  January  and  February. 
The  varieties  for  this  purpose  must  be  selected  with  caro,  as  there  are 
many  excellent  in  perhaps  all  other  respects  that  for  late  bloomin  g  are  worse 
than  useless,  for  they  take  up  valuable  space  without  providing  an  adequate 
return.  As  a  pure  white  for  flowering  at  Christmas  and  onwards, 
L.  Canning,  or  Hinde’s  White  as  it  is  called  at  Windsor,  is  probably  un¬ 
rivalled  and  certainly  unsurpassed.  As  is  well  known  the  plants  arc  of 
splendid  habit,  and  produce  their  shapely  flowers  in  great  abundance. 
'Hundreds  of  this  are  grown  by  Mr,  Thomas,  the  other  chief  favourite 
being  Golden  Gem,  a  clear  yellow.  It  is  the  coloured  counterpart  of 
X.  Canning  as  regards  habit  and  floriferouBnei>8,  and  no  greater  praise 
4han  this  need  be  bestowed.  These  form  the  backbone  of  the  varieties 
for  late  use,  and  though  others  have  been  tried  these  cJ.nnot  yet  be  ousted 
from  their  place  of  honour. 
Besides  these  the  numbers  of  plants  grown  for  large  blooms  is  exten¬ 
sive,  and  never  have  they  been  seen  in  better  health  than  this  year. 
True  the  flowers  have  not  quite  the  size  of  former  seasons,  but  there  is  a 
refinement  of  floret  and  form,  with  an  exquisite  delicacy  of  colouration 
than  which  nothing  could  be  more  pleasing,  and  which  enhances  rather 
than  detracts  from  the  general  excellence  of  the  combined  display .  The 
collection,  as  it  appeared  about  a  fortnight  ago  when  this  visit  was  paid, 
compared  very  favourably  with  auv  we  had  previously  seen  in  th© 
Royal  Gardens,  and  Mr;  Thomas  is  deserving  of  all  congratulation. 
The  plants  are  capital  examples  of  good  culture,  being  strong  and 
stout,  without  grossness,  and  carrying  leafage  of  the  very  best.  The 
arrangement,  too,  is  made  with  a  view  to  every  individual  flower  showing 
off  its  merits,  the  colours  being  so  placed  as  to  insure  each  harmonising 
with  its  neighbours  and  assisting  in  the  production  of  an  artistic  blending 
of  the  whole.  Such  being  the  case,  the  show  house,  when  full,  is  a 
beautiful  eight,  and  one  wall  worthy  of  being  seen  by  all  lovers  of 
flowers.  As  a  whole  the  plants  are  possibly  not  quite  so  tall  as  usual, 
and  this,  considering  the  structure  at  command,  is  a  decided  advantage, 
as  it  permits  the  visitor  to  see  with  the  utmost  ease  every  bloom  in  the 
house. 
Naturally  amidst  such  a  wealth  of  varieties  almost  everyone  with 
any  pretence  to  merit  is  found  at  Windsor,  but  it  is  not  proposed  to  enter 
into  any  elaborate  details  of  the  sorts  grown,  but  to  mention  a  few  of  the 
most  conspicuous  irrespective  of  whether  they  be  of  recent  introduction 
or  not.  Particularly  prominent  are  the  softly  hued  flowers  of  Primrose 
League,  while  Viscountess  Hambledon  of  singularly  rich  colour  and 
perfect  form  is  equally  pleasing.  Moie  bold  is  Commandant  Blusset  and 
the  richly  coloured  Duke  of  York,  both  in  fine  form,  as  are  Mrs.  Dr. 
Ward  and  the  older  but  still  popular  Col.  W.  B.  Smith.  Edith  Tabor, 
Coronet,  and  Phoebus  form  a  trio  of  yellows,  with  a  worthy  companion 
triplet  of  whites  m  Louise,  Madame  Carnot,  and  Nivens.  Each  in  its 
style  is  as  good  as  any  one  need  desire,  and  the  same  may  well  be  said 
of  Princess  May,  Calvat’s  Boule  d’Or,  Miss  Maggie  Blenkiron,  Thomas 
Wilkins,  Eda  Prass,  John  Shrimpton,  and  the  several  others. 
Though  BO  far  Japanese  only  have  been  mentioned,  it  must  not  be 
inferred  therefrom  that  incurved  varieties  are  unrepresented.  Not  by 
any  means,  for  they  are  favourites  of  Mr.  Thomas,  and  so  are  grown  in 
g  lodly  numbers.  All  the  standard  varieties  find  a  place,  and  in  every 
respect  are  equal  to  their  more  thowy  brethren  the  Japanese. 
Wanderer. 
Royal  Exotic  Nursery. 
If  one  were  about  to  commence  the  cultivation  of  Chrysanthemuma 
for  the  first  time  it  is  more  than  probable,  if  the  choice  of  situation 
were  entirely  open,  the  casting  vote  would  not  be  given  in  favour 
Chelsea,  with  its  smoke  and  fail  share  of  fogs.  The  assumption  would 
be  that  it  would  be  impossible  with  such  inveterate  enemies  to  secure 
even  creditable  blooms,  much  less  those  of  excellent  quality.  Bit  before 
becoming  quite  convinced  it  might  be  well  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Royal 
Exotic  Nursery,  where,  even  at  this  late  date,  they  may  be  sure' of 
finding  some  flowers  of  more  than  average  quality,  if  not  quite  up  to 
exhibition  form,  that  will  prove  wbat  incessant,  attention  by  a  capable 
cultivator  such  as  Mr,  Weeks  can  do.  The  flowers  are  there,  but  tl^y» 
it  is  perhaps  needless  to  say,  lack  the  purity  and  cleanliness  of  colour  that 
is  found  on  blooms  grown  beyond  the  radius  of  metropolitan  smokes 
and  togs. 
An  exhibition  such  as  that  at  Chelsea  is  valuable  in  more  respects 
than  one,  but  especially  as  demonstrating  the  utility  of  the  Chrysanthe¬ 
mum  as  a  town  plant  when  rationally  managed.  These  are  wonderf ally 
strong  and  healthy  ;  there  is  no  sign  of  flabbiness  in  the  foliage  or  o^sr- 
laxuriance  in  the  wood — they  are,  in  short,  s'rong  and  fresh,  and  capable 
of  producing  cuttings  of  the  best  quality.  The  prolonged  spell  of  wet 
sunless  weather  had  a  decided  effect  on  the  Veitchian  p’.ants,  for  the 
flowers  are  considerably  later  than  is  usually  the  case,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  the  buds  were  taken  at  the  customary  time.  This  could 
not  be  wondered  at  when  it  was  learned  fiom  the  grower  that  for  quite 
six  weeks  the  buds  of  some  varieties  did  not  move  in  the  slightest— 
neither  forward  nor  Wckwward,  a  condition  of  affairs  that  would  doubt¬ 
less  worry  such  au  energetic,  go-a-head  man  as  Mr.  Weeks — that  ^ 
say,  if  he  expects  the  plants  to  keep  as  incessantly  on  the  move  as  he 
does  himself. 
As  a  collection  of  varieties  this  one  is  little  short  of  perfect,  for 
procurable  one  of  merit  is  to  be  found,  which  means  that  many  hundreds 
of  plants  are  grown,  which  must  call  forth  incessant  attention.  Every¬ 
where  in  all  the  houses  in  this  foreman’s  department  where  space  can 
be  found  may  Chrysanthemums  be  seen,  and  despite  this  fact  space  is 
none  too  plentiful  ;  in  fact,  one  might  say  not  sufficiently  so.  The  large 
show  house,  with  its  immense  central  bank  and  its  narrow  side  borders, 
is  completely  occupied.  An  imposing  display  is  made  therein.  The  pirts 
are  stood  as  closely  together  as  is  possible,  and  the  arrangement  of  the 
coloure  is  highly  creditable,  and  such  as  coudnces  to  the  best  effect. 
Amidst  such  a  large  collection  it  is  almost  superfluous  to  say  that  all 
♦he  best  varieties  are  cultivated,  it  being  kept  abreast  of  the  times  by 
the  constant  additions  of  the  many  novelties.  There  are  some  sorts, 
however,  that  always  do  remarkably  well  at  Chelsea,  no  matter  whether 
the  season  be  fa'^ourable  or  not,  and  amongst  them  may  be  mentioimd 
O,  Davis,  H.  L.  Sunderbrnck,  Jobo  Lightfoot,  Mons.  Panckoucke, 
Viscountess  Hambledon,  Viviand  Morel,  and  Wm.  Tricker.  Others 
represented  are  Lady  Byron,  Mis.  John  Shrimpton,  Oceana,  Mrs.  Her¬ 
mann  Kloss,  Simplicity,  Mons.  Cbenon  de  Lech<i,  Reine  d’Angleterre, 
and  scores  of  others,  including  both  incurved  and  reflexed. — D.  B. 
