558 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  10,  1896. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
A  MEETING  of  the  Floral  Committee  was  held  on  the  Ist  inst.,  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium,  Mr,  T.  Bevan  presiding.  First-class  certificates  were 
awarded  as  under ; — 
Commodore. — A  Japanese  variety,  with  narrow  grooved  florets,  in¬ 
curving  at  first,  but  reflexing  as  the  flower  opens ;  very  full  and  double, 
colour  pale  pearly  blush,  centre  tinted.  Exhibited  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones 
of  Lewisham. 
W.  Wright. — A  very  large,  fine-looking  Japanese,  with  long  drooping 
florets  of  medium  width ;  colour,  white  striped  purple.  Also  from  Mr. 
Jones. 
There  were  other  novelties  of  promise — viz.,  Mrs.  John  Cooper,  a  rich 
crimson  sport  from  Lord  Brooke  ;  Mrs.  F.  A.  Bevan,  a  pale  yellow 
sport  from  Mme.  Carnot. 
Chrysanthemum  Thieves. 
Exhibiting  at  the  Royal  Aquariam  on  December  Ist,  2nd, 
and  3rd,  and  going  in  to  clear  away  my  exhibits  at  ten  minutes  to  nine  of 
the  last  day’s  show,  I  was  astounded  to  find  that  in  two  classes  I  was 
competing  in  everything  had  been  stolen.  A  board  of  Japanese  blooms 
I  had  there  had  the  best  blooms  taken  out  and  inferior  ones  put  in  their 
places.  What  a  shame  this  is  I  Cannot  something  be  done  so  that 
exhibits  may  stand  in  saiety  till  10  p.m.  on  the  last  day’s  show  1  I  was 
sorry  to  lose  my  things,  as  they  were  wanted,  and  I  have  decided  not 
to  show  any  more  in  this  direction  till  an  alteration  is  made. — 
Exhibitor. 
Date  of  Chrysanthemum  Shows. 
I  NOTE  several  of  the  leading  Chrysanthemum  societies  are  announcing 
the  dates  of  their  exhibitions  for  1897.  Tnis  is  a  commendable  feature, 
and  one  that  will  be  appreciated  by  smaller  societies.  To  all  concerned, 
the  clashing  of  shows  is  inconvenient  as  well  as  disappointing  to 
exhibitors  and  to  societies,  also  often  resulting  in  a  loss  of  exhibitors, 
and  at  times  a  deficit  in  finance.  To  me  there  seems  little  reason  for 
being  so  late  in  announcing  the  fixtures  of  many  leading  shows. 
Birmingham  for  years  has  set  an  example  in  this  respect.  It  was 
the  first  this  season  to  announce  its  1897  dates.  The  N.C.S.  have 
chosen  the  following  dates  for  their  three  meetings  : — October  12th, 
13th,  14th  ;  November  9th,  10th,  11th  ;  December  7th,  8th,  9th  ; 
Birmingham,  November  10th,  11th  ;  Winchester,  November  11th,  12th. 
York,  Hull,  and  Bristol  have  all  chosen  November  17»h  and  18th.  In 
the  case  of  the  former  a  third  day  is  included,  as  in  years  past. — 
E.  Molyneux. 
County  Competitions. 
The  suggestions  of  “  A.  D.”  (page  513)  with  the  object  of  improving 
Chrysanthemum  shows  in  Surrey  appear  to  me  to  be  excellent,  and  I 
hope  something  will  be  the  outcome  of  them.  Kingston,  being  the  most 
important  Society,  is  the  best  centre  to  start  in  the  matter.  I  feel 
sure  such  a  competition  as  that  named  would  awaken  fresh  interest  in 
the  Kingston  Show,  now  that  the  “  cup  class  ”  is  apparently  on  the 
down  grade. 
There  are  too  many  “  local  ”  shows— at  least,  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  Some  of  them  just  exist,  and  the  languid  interest  goes  on  from 
year  to  year,  the  prize  lists  not  being  tempting  enough  to  bring  any  but 
purely  local  contestants.  We  therefore  find  the  worst  modes  of  staging 
blooms  in  vogue,  and  grouping  of  the  most  ancient  order. 
Now,  if  something  were  done  to  amalgamate  these  societies,  the  emu¬ 
lative  spirit  would  change  the  whole,  and  the  Chrysanthemum  benefit 
thereby.  I  am  sure  lovers  of  the  flower  in  this  neighbourhood  will  assist 
in  any  object  likely  to  improve  affairs  and  widen  the  enthusiasm  among 
growers  throughout  Surrey. — H.  Shoesmith,  Wohing. 
Glasgow  Botanic  Gardens. 
This  is  the  third  year  of  the  display  here,  and  it  is  only  fair  to  say 
that  improvement  has  been  manifest  every  season.  This  year  Mr.  Dewar 
has  600  plants  in  extra,  making  3000  in  all,  and  a  larger  number  of  new 
varieties  have  been  grown  than  hitherto.  Considerable  numbers  of  seed¬ 
lings  were  raised  last  year,  and  they  are  now  showing  at  their  best. 
The  plants  were  housed  in  the  Kibble  Palace,  and  arranged  in  a 
manner  that  was  highly  creditable  to  Mr.  Dewar  and  his  assistants.  The 
central  group  was  composed  of  about  a  thousand  plants,  the  diameter 
being  35  feet  and  the  centre  about  16  feet  high,  sloping  down  to  2  feet 
from  the  floor  level.  The  individual  blooms  were  of  high  excellence,  being 
of  good  size  and  colour,  forming  a  magnificent  group.  Many  hundreds 
of  plants  were  disposed  round  the  circle  and  in  the  side  wings  at  the 
entrance. 
A  few  of  the  more  notable  varieties  were  among  whites,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Lees,  Mutual  Friend,  Mdlle.  Marie  Hoste,  Lady  Byron,  Niveus,  Madame 
Carnot,  and  Mrs.  D.  Dewar.  In  yellows  the  new  Edith  Tabor  took  the 
lead,  Mrs.  Briscoe  Ironside  was  also  very  fine.  Duchess  of  York,  Mons. 
Panckoucke,  and  many  other  well  known  sorts  were  well  grown.  Hairy 
Wonder,  Calvat’s  Equle  d’Or,  Pride  of  Madford,  and  Ch.  Schwabe  were 
all  splendid.  In  the  appreciation  of  the  visitors  Mr.  Dewar  and  his 
grower  have  their  reward. — G.  R. 
Notes  on  the  Chrysanthemum. 
In  a  recent  number  of  the  Journal  a  writer  (page  536)  makes  an 
attempt  to  degrade  to  the  level  of  vulgarity  the  large  specimen  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  blooms.  Ever  since  the  era  of  Chrysanthemum  popularity 
set  in  similar  attempts  at  disparagement  in  one  direction  or  another 
have  been  made.  By  some  of  its  detractors  it  has  been  charged  with 
crushing  out  of  cultivation  many  interesting  plants  which  formerly 
were  grown.  Another  will  probably  tell  us  that  big  blooms  are 
worthless  from  a  decorative  point  of  view,  and  every  season  brings  the 
confident  prediction  that  the  end  is  near.  Now  we  are  to  be  held  up  as 
promoters  of  vulgarity,  where  refinement  and  quality  only  should  obtain. 
Let  these  critics  look  over  the  names  of  the  prizewinners  at  the 
shows  mentioned,  and  then  pay  a  visit  to  the  establishments  over 
which  they  preside,  and  they  will  find  the  rule  to  be,  abundance  of 
vegetables,  magnificent  crops  of  Grapes,  Peach  trees  in  the  best  possible 
trim,  decorative  plants  showing  the  highest  cultural  skill  for  both  indoors 
and  out. 
In  variety  of  form  and  wide  range  in  size  the  Chrysanthemum  may 
be  compared  to  the  broader  face  of  Nature,  which  provides  admiration 
for  all  tastes  in  those  who  care  to  study  these  variations  ;  but  to  stigma¬ 
tise  the  admirer  of  a  fully  developed  tree  or  Chrysanthemum  in  all  their 
majestic  proportions  as  one  whose  taste  is  degenerate  and  vulgar,  is  as 
unreasonable  as  calling  upon  him  to  appreciate  a  stunted  sapling  because 
It  is  less.  On  the  other  hand,  a  fully  developed  Hawthorn,  like  a  smaller 
type  of  Chrysanthemum — having  each  their  individual  characteristics, 
calling  forth  the  admiration  due  to  their  special  beauties — are  yet  lack¬ 
ing  the  grandeur  of  the  fully-developed  Oak. 
Another  fallacious  argument  often  brought  to  bear  is  that  the 
popularity  of  the  Chrysanthemum  is  on  the  wane.  The  results  of  the 
past  season’s  exhibitions  wherever  they  aie  well  managed  give  a  flat 
contradiction  to  this  argument.  At  Hull  several  hundreds  were  unable 
to  gain  admission  to  the  show,  whilst  at  York  the  attendance  the  first 
day  and  evening  was  a  marvel,  the  spacious  exhibition  building  being 
packed  from  galleries  to  doors.  At  Liverpool,  Hartlepool,  Sheflield,  and 
Leeds  the  reports  of  attendances  are  equally  of  a  cheering  character. 
These  are  societies  of  long  standing,  some  of  them  covering  seventeen 
years’  experience,  yet  every  year’s  success  gives  encouragement  for 
extended  efforts  and  guarantees  of  future  success. 
One  of  the  chief  factors  in  this  continued  success  may  be  traced  to 
efforts  of  the  local  exhibitors  to  master  the  cultural  details  of  the  plant. 
At  the  northern  shows  a  few  years  ago  the  open  class  prizes  in  bulk  fell 
to  the  Liverpool,  Midland,  and  Hull  growers.  The  steady  advance  in 
cultural  skill  of  local  growers  has  this  year  been  marked  by  the  fact 
that  they  have  been  in  many  cases  able  to  more  than  hold  their  own 
with  their  former  formidable  opponents  in  the  open  classes,  whilst  the 
numbers  and  quality  of  local  exhibits  have  given  a  distinct  lift  to  a 
higher  level  of  previous  efforts,  the  somewhat  adverse  season  notwith¬ 
standing. — A  Yorkshire  Grower. 
CHKISTMAS  ROSES. 
For  producing  a  continuous  supply  of  flowers  through  the  dull  days 
of  winter  and  early  spring  I  think  the  Helleborus,  or  Christmas  Roses, 
as  they  are  more  commonly  termed,  difficult  to  surpass.  Their  value 
either  for  decorative  purposes  or  for  cutting  cannot  be  over-estimated. 
The  Hellebores  have  long  been  considered  a  plant  of  evil  omen,  growing 
in  dark  and  lonely  places,  but  they  are  easily  cultivated  and  thoroughly 
hardy.  The  best  time  to  plant  them  in  the  open  ground  is  the  early 
spring,  just  after  their  period  of  blooming,  choosing  a  well  prepared 
border,  as  they  revel  in  generous  treatment.  If  loamy  so  much  the 
better,  with  a  south-east  or  easterly  aspect,  occasionally  mulching  with 
manure. 
As  soon  as  they  begin  to  show  for  flower,  usually  about  November,  it 
will  be  found  advisable  to  place  a  frame  over  them  ;  this  tends  to  keep 
the  flowers  clean  and  improve  the  quality. 
The  most  notable  varieties  are  H.  niger,  sometimes  called  the  Black 
Hellebore.  It  is  an  excellent  midwinter  variety,  expanding  its  flowers 
somewhat  like  a  Rose  ;  it  is  also  well  adapted  either  for  borders  or  the 
margins  of  shrubberies.  H.  niger  maximus,  the  giant-flowered,  is  also 
an  excellent  early  white.  H.  niger  major,  as  its  name  implies,  produces 
flowers  somewhat  larger  than  the  type.  I  consider  this  one  of  the  best 
varieties  we  have.  It  is  of  a  very  sturdy  habit  of  growth.  H.  niger 
minor  is  very  distinct,  but  small.  H.  niger  scoticus,  introduced  by 
Miss  Hope  of  Wardie,  who,  I  believe,  found  it  at  Aberdeen,  is  a  very 
useful  variety,  producing  large  white  flowers.  H.  niger  angustifolius  is 
one  of  the  best  that  can  be  grown  for  pot  culture,  though  I  have  always 
found  it  more  satisfactory  to  lift  them  from  the  beds  about  October 
with  a  good  ball  of  soil  adhering  to  the  roots,  using  pots  just  large 
enough  to  take  them,  afterwards  placing  in  an  ordinary  greenhouse ; 
they  will  flower  freely  about  Christmas  time.  After  the  blooming  period 
is  over  my  practice  is  to  again  plant  out  in  beds  as  heretofore,  allowing 
them  to  rest  the  following  winter.  This  enables  the  plants  to  grow  again 
freely  preparatory  to  forcing  the  following  season. 
Amongst  other  distinct  members  of  the  genus  we  have  H.  orientalis. 
One  of  the  earliest  is  purpurascens,  it  is  also  very  free,  while  for  late 
flowering  in  April  and  May  H.  colchicus  should  find  a  place  in  every 
collection.— George  Hagon,  Fowley. 
