60 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
D<?cember  24, 1&9B. 
in  the  drawing-room  or  entrance  hall — for  an  “At  Home”  or  other 
function,  in  a  show  it  opens  out  the  greatest  possibility  of  variety  and 
interest,  at  the  same  time  calling  forth  latent  taste,  or  farther  developing 
that  already  existent  for  the  truly  beautiful. 
Exhibits  of  this  character,  by  utilising  space  in  certain  positions,  com* 
blued  with  other  features  of  the  show,  add  dnish  to  the  general  effect- 
As  further  developments,  classes  might  be  made  for  the  embellishment  of 
a  drawing-room  fire-grate,  with  a  certain  space  proportionate  with  the 
hearthstone,  and  for  the  decoration  of  a  small  table  suitable  for  the 
entrance  hall,  Many  gardeners  having  these  kinds  of  decoration  to  carry 
out,  yet  unable  to  face  the  formidable  matter  of  exhibiting  a  “  group,” 
might  be  induced  to  give  us  good  examples,  and  at  the  same  time  raise 
the  tone  of  the  show.— A  Yobkshibe  Geowkr. 
Decorative  Chrysanthemums. 
One  of  the  most  useful  collections  of  Chrysanthemums  that  I  have 
seen  for  some  time  was  that  grown  by  Mr.  Abrahams  at  Ugbrook  Park. 
The  varieties  were  those  generally  cultivated  for  the  production  of 
exhibition  blooms.  The  plants  were  rooted  rather  late  and  allowed  to 
break  naturally,  retaining  afterwards  four,  six,  or  more  shoots.  In  soine 
cases  these  were  allowed  to  develop  all  the  buds  that  formed,  while  in 
others — large  varieties — one  bloom  only  on  a  shoot  remained. 
What  struck  me  as  being  remarkable  was  the  intensely  rich  colour  of 
the  blooms  in  all  instances.  For  cutting  and  using  in  tall  vases  for 
house  decoration  such  plants  cannot  fail  to  be  almost  invaluable.  Inter¬ 
national  was  especially  rich  ;  the  florets,  too,  were  broad  and  quite  flat 
—not  that  tortured  mass  of  washy  pink  too  often  seen.  Niveus  cannot 
be  excelled  for  giving  pure  white  blossoms  on  stout  stems  in  clusters. 
Mdlle.  Thdrfese  Key  is  another  white  variety  that  is  extra  good  for  a  late 
supply.  Mr.  H.  Broomhead,  bronze  amber,  is  excellent,  while  a  really 
vood  yellow  is  Cecil  Wray.  The  deep  yellow  incurved  Mrs.  John 
Gardner,  with  as  many  as  ten  shapely  blooms  on  each  branch,  was 
showy,  interesting,  and  useful.  Miss  Maggie  Blenkiron,  almost  red, 
was  very  different  from  the  dull  yellow  usually  seen.  The  crimson 
amaranth  sport  from  Mons.  Bernard  was  especially  bright  looking 
amongst  the  yellow  and  white  flowered  varieties. 
Grown  in  the  manner  indicated,  Eda  Prass  had  decidedly  reflexed 
florets  of  a  silvery  pink  colour,  thus  rendering  it  distinct  and  pleasing. 
Wm.  Tricker  was  remarkably  free  flowering  and  bright  in  colour,  the 
richness  of  the  pink  being  much  intensified. — Grower. 
Judging  at  the  N.C.S. 
I  AM  surprised  that  no  one  has  even  yet  called  attention  to  the 
appointing  of  the  judges  at  the  exhibitions  of  the  N.C.S.  No  less 
than  five  out  of  the  eight  that  officiated  for  the  show  which  opened 
on  the  3rd  November  were  members  of  the  Committee,  and  out  of  the 
four  for  the  second  day’s  show  two  were  from  the  same  Committee. 
I  am  referring  to  the  Ohrysantliemum  classes. 
What  do  we  find?  The  majority,  if  not  all,  the  principal  prizes 
awarded  to  members  of  the  Committee,  and  I  believe  I  am  correct  in 
stating  that  some  of  these  prizewinners  were  also  members  of  the 
Committee  who  framed  the  classes  and  conditions  for  competition. 
Is  there  any  other  society  in  the  British  Isles  which  works  upon  such 
lines  ?  Is  it  to  be  wondered  that  the  awards  in  the  two  principal  classes 
(second  show)  did  not  give  univeral  satisfaction  ?  Is  it  not  a  fact  that 
varieties  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  competitor  for  the  purpose  of 
having  them  grown  as  likely,  through  his  skill,  being  announced  among 
the  prizewinners?  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  at  least  one  of  these  varieties 
was  not  in  commerce,  but  that  the  entire  stock  was  in  the  joint 
hands  of  two  trade  judges  ?  and,  further,  were  cot  the  stands  of  the 
successful  competitor  painted  partly  green  and  partly  brown,  when  the 
rules  particularly  state  that  “  all  stands  must  be  painted  green  ?  ”  And, 
finally,  is  it  not  the  general  opinion  that  the  awards  of  the  first  and 
second  for  incurved  should  have  been  reversed  ? — Fairplay. 
[We  insert  this  letter  because  the  writer  of  it  was  not  personally 
Interested  in  the  class  to  which  he  alludes,  and  because  we  Lave 
refrained  from  publishing  many  complaints  of  the  same  nature, 
conveyed  in  terms  too  strong  for  publication.  Though  “  trade  ”  judges 
may  act  as  honourably  as  it  is  possible  for  men  to  do,  yet  when  they 
are  interested  in  certain  exhibits,  as  they  most  properly  may  be,  it  is 
thought  by  not  a  few  of  their  friends  that  it  would  he  well  if  the  good 
old  rule  were  followed,  of  not  appointing  them  to  act  in  particular 
important  classes  that  may  be  expected  to  contain  such  exhibits. 
As  to  members  of  committee  competing,  when  so  entitled  by  the 
rules,  they  are  surely  also  entitled  to  such  prizes  as  their  productions 
deserve.  We  cannot  imagine  a  member  of  committee  judge  going  out 
of  his  way  to  favour  a  fellow  member,  and  if  such  a  phenomenon  were 
discovered  he  would  be  at  once  regarded  as  obviously  unfit  for  either 
position.  While  we  fully  believe  that  more  capable  and  honourable 
judges  could  not  be  chosen  than  from  the  N.C.S.  Committee,  it  is 
contrary  to  the  custom  of  our  great  and  splendidly  managed  provincial 
societies  to  appoint  adjudicators  who  can  in  the  least  degree  even  be 
supposed  to  be  pecuniarily  interested  in  any  particular  exhibits  winning 
high  honours, 
As  to  the  painting  of  stands,  if  the  rule  says  “  all  stands  imist  be 
painted  green,”  then  any  which  are  painted  other  colours  clearly 
ought  to  be  disqualified.  The  N.C.S.  ought  to  set  a  very  high  example 
in  everything  pertaining  to  the  exhibiting  of  Chrysanthemums,  As  to 
the  judging,  it  is  not  quite  the  rule  for  awards  to  give  “universal 
satiefaction.”! 
Select  New  Chrysanthemums— Japanese  Varieties. 
{Continued  from  page  583.) 
Mrs.  C,  Keijser.—  'VM»  belongs  to  the  incurving  section  of  Japanese. 
The  florets  are  somewhat  narrow,  canary  yellow  on  the  reverie,  golden  on 
the  surface.  The  centre  florets  have  a  peculiar  twist,  showing  at  the 
same  time  a  combination  of  the  two  shades  of  yellow,  rendering  it  an 
attractive  flower. 
Nyanxa. — Of  what  may  he  termed  the  “  Wheeler  ”  type  of  Japanese, 
with  perhaps  rather  shorter  florets,  but  looser.  The  colour  is  attractive, 
blood  red  shaded  purple. 
Mr.  A.  O  Huhbuck. — This  has  innumerable  reflexed  florets,  bright 
chestnut  red  with  golden  reverse.  A  valuable  exhibition  variety, 
possessing  much  solidity. 
Madame  Paul  Lacroix. — The  curly  pointed  florets  of  this  variety  are 
lovely.  The  colour  at  first  is  pale  yellow,  changing  to  a  dull  white. 
Ernest  Fierem. — A  deeply  built  Japanese  bloom,  with  erect  florets 
of  a  creamy  white  colour, 
Amiral  Avellan. — This  has  been  staged  freely  this  season,  and  has 
won  for  itself  a  position  of  prominence  amongst  yellow  varieties.  The 
colour  is  rich,  inclining  to  orange.  The  blooms  are  full  and  massive  ; 
florets  lance-shaped,  at  times  curling  a  little  at  the  tip. 
Maggie  Shea. — The  place  of  the  old  Boule  d’Or,  from  which  it  is  a 
seedling,  is  destined  for  this  variety.  The  florets  are  not  quite  so  long 
as  in  the  parent,  but  the  colour  is  richer  in  its  shade  of  yellow. 
Madame  Adrian  Moullin. — I  noted  this  briefly  last  year.  It  has 
developed  some  wonderfully  fine  blooms  this  season.  The  extra  long 
drooping  florets  give  it  a  character  all  its  own.  The  colour  is  white. 
Growers  ought  to  make  a  special  note  of  this  charming  variety, 
C.  W.  Richardson.  —  When  unfolding  the  florets  of  this  seedling 
incurve  loosely.  Afterwards  they  lengthen  and  curl  at  the  tips  irregu¬ 
larly  ;  colour  deep  yellow. 
A.  H.  Wood. — A  sport  from  Primrose  League,  having  broader  florets 
than  its  parent,  which  incurve  at  the  tips.  While  developing,  the  middle 
of  the  flower  is  green  changing  to  yellow. 
Mrs.  Oporto  Tait. — The  loosely  incurving  florets  of  this  variety  are 
irregularly  twisted.  The  colour  is  a  mixture  of  yellow  and  gold.  It  is 
decidedly  promising. 
Madame  X.  Rey  Jouvin. — A  hirsute  variety  with  broad  incurving 
florets,  silver  reverse,  shaded  and  striped  rose. 
Reaute  GrenoMoise. — Ivory  white  is  the  colour  of  this.  The  semi- 
incurving  florets  are  loose.  It  is  promising  in  appearance. 
Provisenr  Piuxier. — This  incurved  Japanese  is  purple  in  colour. 
Principe  Vitto  Rio  Emanuele. — One  of  a  collection  staged  at  the  late 
Jubilee  Show  from  the  Eoyal  Gardens,  Italy,  and  of  a  most  promising 
nature.  The  colour  of  its  flat  florets,  which  have  a  slight  twist  at  the 
point,  is  exceedingly  rich,  really  a  shade  between  Edwin  Molyneux  and 
Pride  of  Madford. 
Mr-s,  Hume  Long. — The  size  of  this  is  immense.  The  colour  is 
magenta  on  the  surface,  with  a  silver  reverse. 
Milano. — Terra  cotta  suffused  with  brick  red  with  a  gold  reverse  is 
the  colour  here.  The  lance-ihaped  florets  are  flat. 
JDuhe  of  Wellington. — A  closely  incurving  Japanese  with  a  golden 
bronze  reverse. 
Samian  Gem. — A  much  improved  Gloire  du  Rocher,  from  which  it  it 
a  seedling.  At  *n  exhibition  variety  it  should  become  popular, 
Ifrs.  O.  Orchard. — This  is  a  loosely  incurving  Japanese  variety. 
The  outer  petals  creamy  white,  centre  primrose  or  light  yellow.  A  full 
and  desirable  variety. 
Mustapha. — An  Algerian  seedling,  fully  9  inches  in  diameter,  with 
incurving  pure  white  florets. 
Indiana. — Belonging  to  the  incurved  section  of  Japanese,  this  is 
large  and  promising.  The  silvery  pink  florets  are  rather  narrow. 
Wood's  Pet. — Though  of  elegant  build,  I  fear  this  is  a  trifle  too 
small  for  present  day  requirements  on  the  exhibition  table.  The  colour 
of  the  rather  narrow  florets  is  purple  amaranth. 
Relic  de  Gordes. — One  of  the  best  of  the  hirsute  section ;  colour  is 
salmon  pink. 
Lady  Ilanhani. — A  golden  cerise  sport  from  Vivland  Morel.  A 
mixture  of  colour  between  Charles  Davis  and  its  parent.  Being  a  sport 
it  has  the  characteristics  fully  developed  of  form  and  habit  of  growth  of 
its  charming  parent. 
Lord  Justice  Lopes. — This  belongs  to  the  incurved  section.  The 
florets  are  of  medium  width,  regularly  but  loosely  incurving  ;  colour 
soft  rose  or  deep  lilac,  lighter  on  the  reverse.  A  promising  variety, 
Julia  Searamanga. — The  long  somewhat  narrow  flat  florets  are  golden 
chestnut  in  colour  at  the  base,  striped  and  suffused  with  terra  cotta, 
reverse  pale  gold.  An  exceptionally  full  solid  flower. — E.  Molyneux. 
fTo  be  continued.! 
Oranges.  —  According  to  a  contemporary  three  million  cases  of 
Oranges  have  reached  English  markets  this  year,  *nd  during  the 
present  month  many  thousands  more  will  arrive,  chiefly  from  Valencia, 
as  St.  Michael’s,  Seville,  and  Lisbon  are  not  now  the  great  centres  for 
exporting  Oranges  to  Britain  that  they  were  formerly.  About  forty -five 
years  ago  our  annual  importation  of  Oranges  did  not  exceed  40,000  cases, 
and  the  supply  was  very  irregular,  as  the  sailing  vessels,  which  in  fine 
weather  could  bring  home  a  cargo  in  eight  to  ten  days,  were  some¬ 
times  delayed  by  adverse  winds,  and  took  thirty  and  even  forty  days  to 
perform  the  journey. 
