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JOURNAL  OF  HORTTGULTURF  ANT)  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
we  pads  at  internals  the  bush  fruits  aad  the  Strawberries,  eveutually 
leachiag — the  door*  We  have  had  our  “  look  round,”  and  have  enjoyed 
both  it  and  the  chat,  for  which,  and  the  excellent  photos  (the  work  we 
belie^'e  o!  Mis*  Myerg),  we  tender  to  Mr.  Howard  onr  best  thanks  and 
hearty  wishes  for  a  Happy  New  Year.-  H.  J.  Wrtoht, 
yotJR  correspondent  “  Z in  your  issue  of  24th  inst.,  has  taken  the 
figures  he  gives  as  regards  the  Hall  Chrysanthemum  Society  from  the 
report  of  the  1895  show,  which  is  an  unfortunate  one  for  the  purposes  of 
his  comparison,  I  have  gone  through  the  accounts  for  the  last  five 
years,  including  the  present  year,  and  find  the  average  amount  of  the 
members’  subscriptions,  prizes  awarded,  and  receipts  at  doors  to  be  as 
follows  : — Members’  subscriptions,  £100  ;  prizes  awarded,  £204  ;  receipts 
at  doors,  £250.  The  receipts  at  doors  this  year  alone  £283,  In  making 
the  comparison  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  Hull  show  is  mainly  a 
Ohrysanthemum  show.  Owing  to  the  want  of  space  in  the  exhibition 
building  the  Committee  is  unable  to  provide  classes  for  fruit  and 
vegetables,  and  which  in  other  shows  are  a  source  of  great  attraction  to 
a  large  section  of  the  public,  no  doubt  materially  increasing  the  takings 
at  the  doors.— Ebw.  Harland, 
CHHYSANTHE>tUMS  AND  ECZEMA. 
In  a  recent  number  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  I  see  It  is  stated 
that  the  bulbs  of  Hyacinths  and  other  plants  often  cause  eczema  I  have 
suffered  a  good  deal  from  it,  and  fancy  Chrysanthemums,  of  which  we 
have  a  good  many  in  a  conservatory,  which  communicates  by  French 
windows  with  our  dining  and  drawing  rooms.  Cf  coarse,  as  I  sit  in  one 
of  these  rooms  I  am  mnch  exposed  to  the  smell  of  these  and  other  plants, 
and  as  the  last  year  or  two  the  eczema  has  been  worse  at  this  time  of 
the  year,  I  fear  the  Ohrysanthemums  may  cause  or  aggravate  it.  Will 
you  kindly  let  me  know  if  there  are  any  well  authenticated  cases  where 
the  eczema  can  be  distinctly  traced  to  this  cause  ?  for  I  suffer  so  much 
discomfort,  and  no  treatment  appears  to  do  much  good,  that  I  may  have 
to  give  up  having  these  or  any  flowers  that  have  a  similar  effect  in  the 
conservatory,  although  I  shall  be  very  unwilling  to  do  so,  as  there  are 
BO  few  other  flowers  to  take  their  place  at  this  time  of  the  year. 
— J.  F.  W. 
[We  do  not  know  of  any  authenticated  cases  of  the  kind  mentioned, 
and  publish  this  letter  In  case  any  of  our  readers  can  supply  information 
on  the  subject.] 
Notes  on  Chrysanthemums, 
I,  IN  common  with  a  large  number  of  your  readers,  have  anticipated 
Mr.  Molyneux’s  annual  selection  with  unabated  interest,  and  by 
December  17th  had  begun  to  get  anxious  for  bis  first  instalment.  Note 
books  and  the  catalogues  of  specialists  will  now  be  freely  consulted,  the 
latter  particularly,  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  the  cost  of  the  favoured 
ones,  and  a  calculation  made  as  to  the  number  a  limited  expenditure 
will  allow. 
Naturally  it  is  to  the  small  grower  that  Mr.  Molyneux’s  contributions 
appeal  more  particularly,  and  these  are  no  doubt  in  evidence  among  the 
Journal  readers ;  the  larger  professional  growers,  who  can  invest  freely 
in  novelties,  have  to  a  large  extent  decided  on  the  selection  for  another 
season’s  ordeal,  and  probably  in  many  cases  already  the  orders  have  been 
dispatched.  Among  the  almost  endless  numbers  of  new  sorts  offered 
each  year  it  is  by  no  means  an  easy  task  to  make  a  small  selection,  and 
some  such  qualified  aid  as  that  given  by  your  able  authority  ig  of 
inestimable  value  to  the  enthusiastic  grower  with  limited  means  at  his 
disposal.  Competition  probably  was  never  so  keen  as  it  Is  now,  and 
among  the  number  who  help  to  make  up  such  magnificent  exhibitions 
may  be  found  many  who  are  limited  to  a  very  small  expenditure 
annually  in  new  varieties.  I  know  of  several  cases  myself  where  a 
sovereign  is  the  outside  limit  allowed  by  the  employer,  any  beyond  that 
sum  the  gardener  must  pay  for  out  of  his  own  slender  means  ;  and  yet 
men  so  handicapped  often  score  well  at  good  shows.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
that  the  present  season  has  been  a  record  one  for  fir:t  class  novelties, 
the  tropical  nature  of  the  season  in  the  case  of  those  having  an  abundant 
water  supply  evidently  suiting  them,  the  Japanese  varieties  more 
particularly. 
The  incurved  section  is  receiving  a  substantial  stimulus  in  the  new 
seedling  varieties  raised,  and  evidently  when  experts  can  agree  on  their 
classification  there  will  be  still  greater  interest  centered  in  them.  There 
is  a  great  uncertainty  attached  to  the  position  of  some  of  the  new 
incurved  sorts ;  quite  recently  two  of  the  greatest  of  national  societies 
being  in  conflict  over  one  particular  variety. 
The  article  by  which  “  S.,  Yorks  f  (page  581)  would  command  an  interest 
to  the  section  of  your  readers  who  are  expected  to  provide  an  abundant 
supply  of  material  for  decorative  purposes  in  a  cut  state  or  as  pot  plants 
at  Christmas  and  later.  There  is  not  generally  the  same  keenness  ritcr 
new  ones  for  these  purposes  as  for  exhibition  blooms,  and  in  some  cases 
the  craze  for  a  large  display  of  exhibition  blooms  has  created  a  dislike 
Deoemoer  31,  iSiJS.  .  , 
to  them  when  this  is  ca)Tied  out  at  the  expense  of  flowers  at  a  season  9 
when  the  shows  are  past.  I  can  bear  out  all  that  “  S.,  Yorks f  says  in  .  -./r 
praise  of  Nivens  for  late  cutting.  It  will  undoubtedly  take  a  foremost 
place  in  the  near  future  as  a  market  variety.  I  had  hoped  that  from  so,  ! 
large  a  grower  of  bush  plants  some  Information  would  have  been  given  . 
with  reference  to  the  newer  kinds  for  that  work  ;  but  Niveus  is  the  only 
one  among  the  select  which  is  deemed  worthy  of  notice  from  his  pen.  ') 
Surely  with  such  a  wealth  of  new  varieties  there  must  be  some  equal  to  i 
the  requirements  of  the  market  grower.  Is  there  no  good  dark  sort 
“  S.,  Yorks f  can  recommend  for  Christmas  beside  the  old  but  useful  ,, 
Julio  Lagravere?  I  consider  Leon  Praiche  as  a  pink  for  Christmas  i 
decoration  a  sterling  variety.  It  has  good  stiff  stems  which  carr^  the 
flowers  erect,  is  a  free  grower,  and  the  colour  very  pleasing.  For  this  ■ 
I  am  indebted  to  our  friend  Mr.  Molyuenx,  who  sent  me  a  few  cuttings  .  ' 
to  try  it  last  year.  This  is  not  new,  nor  popular  as  an  exhibition 
variety.  ( 
L.  Canning  is  still  a  good  late,  yet  one  large  grower  of  my  i 
acquaintance  has  decided  to  abandon  it  in  favour  of  Niveus.  From  my  .  I 
limited  experience  of  it  I  cannot  say  it  can  supplant  L,  Canning  | 
altogether,  because  the  latter  can  be  had  so  easily  throughout  January  ^ 
as  well  as  Christmas,  Yearling  plants  do  n.ot  grow  freely  with  every¬ 
one  nor  give  a  large  number  of  bloomr.  for  cutting,  but  grown  the 
second  year  the  plants  assume  with  me  quite  an  altered  character,  and  are 
vary  satisfactory  in  every  respect.  They  flower  earlier  than  the  younger 
ones.  Madame  Carnot  I  think  will  make  a  good  market  variety,  also  , 
Golden  Gate.  Thomas  Wilkins,  too,  is  a  very  free  bronzy  sort  of  strong  ' 
constitution.  Golden  Wedding  had  but  a  short  life  as  a  show  flower, 
but  at  Christmas  its  richly  coloured  flowers  are  very  telling,  and  it 
has  stiff  stalks.  Golden  Gem  is  still  indispensable  among  the  bronzy 
and  yellow  shades.  What  is  wanted  is  its  counterpart  in  a  red  or 
similar  colour.  This  variety  I  have  never  heard  of  as  having  sported  at 
all.  The  great  value  of  this  and.  L.  Canning  is  that  they  can  be  grown 
without  stakes,  and  do  not  require  a  great  depth  of  space  to  sDjre  them 
indoors,  Madame  Chas,  Moiin  is  a  beautiful  waxy  white,  but  the  stalks 
are  too  slender.  Has  Lady  Biron,  Mrs.  H.  Weeks,  Western  K  ,ng,.Emi'.j 
Silsbury,  or  Mrs.  C.  BHck  been  proved  as  market  kinds  hy  ary  of  your 
readers  this  season  ?  Lady  Lswrence  is  a  beautiful  variety,  but  as  your 
correspondent  remarks,  it  is  very  unreliable. — W.  S.,  Wilts. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Advice  to  Probationebs. 
When  space  was  allocated  to  probationers  in  gardening  it  was  done 
with  the  object  of  affording  those  of  them  who  might  avail  themselves 
of  it  an  opportunity  for  imparting  useful  information,  or  discussing 
matters  of  interest,  in  appropriate  terms  and  an  agreeable  manuer.  .We 
are  pleased  to  say  that  on  the  whole  the  youthful  workers  and  writers 
have  so  far  equalled  our  anticipations.  In  tone  we  have  been  glad-  to 
note  that  their  communications,  with  very  few  and  small  exceptions, 
have  been  excellent.  In  differing  from  others  they  have  done  so 
courteously,  neither  imputing  nnwbrthy  motives  nor  indulging  in 
personal  reflections,  that  often  cause  needless  pain.  It  is  well  that  all 
should  know  that  the  strongest  of  language  employed  in  a  case  is  ofttv.) 
the  weakest  and  most  ineffectual  of  all. 
The  majority  of  communications  have  been  well  and  some  admirably 
written,  but  a  few  have  revealed  shortcomings  in  spelling  and  grammar ; 
iu  spelling  the  employment  of  “as”  for  “has”  and  vice-vers^,  also 
“  there  ”  for  “  their ;  ”  in  grammar  the  misuse  of  “  was  ”  for  “  were  ”  in 
such  phrases  as  “they  was”  and  “he  were’’  are  cited  as  errors  to  be 
avoided. 
This  is  mentioned  in  the  interests  of  those  “  gardeners  of  the  future  ” 
who  evidently  possess  knowledge  as  cultivators,  and  whb  are,  no  doubt, 
good  and  diligent  workers.  They  are  not  to  be  blamed  for  the  iack  of 
early  educational  facilities  over  which  they  had  no  control;  but  they 
should  by  close  observation,  frequent  reference  to  educational  works,  and 
persistent  endeavour  strive  to  overcome  their  defects.  In  this  they  may 
succeed,  if  they  persevere,  as  many  have  done  before  them,  and  become 
accomplished  writers. 
Skill  in  penmanship  is  a  valuable  acquisition,  for  which  every  yonng 
man  should  strive,  but  accuracy  in  expression  is  still  more  i)?  ^ortant ; 
a  combination  of  both  by  able,  industrious,  and  worthy  young  gardeners 
will  strengthen  their  chances  of  advancement  in  life. 
In  writing,  ae  in  other  work,  snccesa  is  the  result  of  taking  pains. 
In  the  production  of  .an  article  as  much  care  should  be  taken  in  the 
arrangement  of  ideas  and  the  constrnetion  of  sentences  as  in  furnishing 
a  vase,  making  a  bouquet,  decorating  a  table,  training  n  plant  or  tree, 
or  thinning  a  bunch  of  Grapes  for  a  prize. 
A  young  man  who  is  in  earnest  in  his  desire  for  efficiency  as  a  con¬ 
tributor  to  the  press  will  first  wiite  his  articles  with  painstaking  caze, 
then  with  equal  care  copy  them,  improving  where  he  can  as  he  proceeds. 
Next,  when  his  article  appears  (if  that  is  its  fortnne)  compare  it  line 
by  line  with  the  copy,  taking  note  of  editorial  corrections,  and  profiting 
by  them.  It  is  to  this  practice  that  not  a  few  gardeners  attribute  their 
success  as  “ press-men”  of  acknowledged  competency,  and  whose  literary 
productions  are  worthy  of  the  highest  praise.  Some  of  the  greatest 
authors  write  their  works  twice,  and  some  parts  of  them  thrice  over 
before  sending  them  to  the  press, 
