JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  14,  ISb?* 
3(;,s 
Frederick  Pele  is  a  crimson  red  variety,  good,  but  not  such  a  free 
grower  and  bloomer  as  many  others.  Lyon  is  an  excellent  variety  with 
rosy  purple  blooms  ot  fine  shape.  The  plant  is  a  free  bloomer,  and  has  a 
desirable  habit  of  growth. 
.Madame  Piccol  is  another  rosy  purple  variety,  fine,  but  not  so 
good  as  the  ])receding.  IMr.  W.  I’iercy  is  a  sport  from  Madame  Piccol. 
Its  colour  is  distinct  red,  changing  to  a  bronze  brown.  Good  early  reds 
are  valuable,  inasmuch  as  varieties  of  that  colour  are  limited.  Alice 
Butcher  is  a  sport  from  Lyon.  Colour  red,  shaded  orange.  It  is 
a  useful  and  attractive  variety. 
The  above  selection  com) irises  many  of  the  best  varieties,  both  new  and 
old,  but  there  are  many  others  worthy  of  cultivation.  The  hest  course  to 
follow  is  to  try  all  the  varieties  possible,  and  weed  out  those  which  are  the 
least  satisfactory. 
The  same  selection  will  not  succeed  eiiually  well  in  all  places.  Soil 
and  positions  available  for  their  cultivation  differ,  though  if  the  plants 
can  have  an  o))en  situation,  they  usually  succeed  in  any  soil,  so  long  as 
rational  treatment  is  afforded  them. — E.  1).  S. 
KOVAL  AtiUARIlLM.- October  12th,  13th,  .\nti  14th. 
The  early  autumn  exhibition  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society 
was  in  every  way  satisfactory,  and  if  the  present  show  is  a  criterion 
of  the  material  in  hand  for  the  November  exhibition,  we  may  expect 
something  out  of  the  ordinary  at  the  ne.xt  show.  The  trade  exhibits 
were  exceptionally  fne  and  numerous. 
.Mr.  N.  Davis,  Framfield,  Sussex,  was  placed  first  for  a  group  of 
Chrysanthemums  and  foliage  plants,  with  a  very  tasteful  exhibit.  Mr.  W. 
Howe,  gardener  to  11.  Tate,  Fsq.,  Park  Ilill,  Streatham  Common,  secured 
second  with  a  more  formal  display  ;  while  third  place  was  assigned  to 
Mr.  ,1.  H.  IVitty,  Nunhead  Cemetery.  A  keen  competition  was  displayed 
in  the  class  for  twenty-four  .lapanese  varieties,  the  first  place  falling  to 
Mr.  C.  Penfold,  gardener  to  Sir  F.  F'itzwygram,  Bart.,  Leigh  Park, 
Havant,  with  a  very  even  exhibit.  The  varieties  were  Beauty  of  Teign- 
mouth,  ^Irs.  AV.  11.  Lees,  Phoebus,  JMrs.  C.  H.  Payne,  Emily  Silsburj', 
International,  A.  H.  AVoods,  Madame  Gustav  Henry,  Modesto,  IMadame 
Ad.  Chalin,  Eda  Brass,  Edith  Tabor.  Surprise,  W.  G.  Newitt,  Reine 
d’ Angleterre,  Alice  M.  Love,  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche,  Mutual  FAiend, 
and  Phaibus.  'Fhe  second  prize  was  taken  by  Mr.  Jas.  Agate,  Havant ; 
his  best  flowers  were  Milano,  .Airs.  ,1.  Lewis,  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche, 
Modesto,  Afadaine  Gustav  Henry,  and  Dorothy  Seward.  Mr.  N.  Davis 
was  third. 
In  theclass  for  twelve  blooms,  distinct,  Mr.  F.  G.  Foster,  Brockham]iton 
Nurseries,  Havant,  proved  the  winner  with  good  blooms  of  Edith  Tabor, 
Mutual  Friend,  Fhnily  Silsbnry,  Zealandia,  and  Louise.  Mr.  K.  .Tones, 
gardener  to  C-  A.  Smith-Bylands,  FIsi).,  Barford  Hill,  AA'^arwick,  was 
placed  second  with  good  blooms  of  Madame  Ed.  Rey,  Mutual  Friend, 
and  Mrs.  H.  AA^eeks.  Mr.  .1.  Agate  third.  Mr.  FI.  Such,  Maidenhead, 
was  the  only  exhibitor  of  twelve  bunches  of  Pompons,  being  awarded 
first,  and  the  same  c.xhibitor  was  again  first  for  si.x  varieties.  The 
amateur  classes  were  very  well  filled  and  also  showed  a  marked  improve¬ 
ment  in  the  ()uality  of  the  flowers. 
The  tables  of  floral  decorations  are  always  an  attractive  feature  here. 
In  the  chief  class.  Miss  Nellie  F'.rlebach,  Chards,  Stoke  Newington,  fully 
sustained  the  credit  of  the  firm.  The  devices,  bouquets,  and  baskets,  being 
fully  up-to-date,  securing  first  [irize.  Air.  E.  Such  was  placed  second  with 
a  smaller  display.  A  .strong  team  of  comjietitors  contested  the  class  for 
three  epergnes,  but  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane,  Ilighgate,  was  decidedly  first, 
with  very  handsome  arrangements  of  yellow,  bronze,  and  crimson 
Chrysanthemums,  with  a|ipropriate  foliage  ;  Miss  C.  B.  Cole,  Feltham, 
second  with  a  siuiilar  e.xhibit ;  Mr.  AA"”. , Green,  junr.,  Harold  AA^’ood,  third 
with  almost  the  same  materials.  In  the  class  for  two  vases  of 
Chrysanthemums,  twelve  large  blooms,  Mr.  Jas.  Brooks,  gardener  to 
AAL  J.  Newman,  Esq.,  Totteridge  Park,  Herts,  was  ]daced  first  with  very 
effective  vases  ;  Mr.  Norman  Davis  second;  Mr.  .1.  Tullet,  gardener  to 
G.  Alexander,  Esq.,  AA'arley  Lodge,  Brentwood,  third.  FMr  a  single  vase 
i)f  Chrysanthemums  Afr.  j.  Tullet  was  placed  first ;  Air.  D.  B.  Crane 
following  with  a  fine  vase  ;  Air.  D.  M.  Hayler,  gardener  to  Airs.  Lang¬ 
worthy,  Greys  House,  Alaidenhead,  third. 
Air.  H.  Berwick,  Nurseries,  Sidmouth,  exhibited  a  very  fine  display 
of  Ap]iles  and  Pears,  in  baskets  and  dishes.  The  fruit  was  remarkably 
well  coloured  and  clean.  An  attractive  exhibit  of  Ajiples  and  Pears  was 
staged  by  Alessrs.  S.  Spooner  &  Sons,  Hounslow  Nurseries.  An  artistic 
group  of  Chrysanthemums,  beautifully  arranged,  came  from  Air.  AA^.  Wells, 
Flarlswood  Nurseries,  Bedhill,  comprising  large  flowers,  decorative  plants, 
bouquets,  and  arches,  with  Palms  and  trails  of  A^irginian  Creeper  ; 
Australie,  AI.  Hoste  Madame  Gustav  Henry,  Emily  Silsbnry,  Baronne 
jAd.  de  Rothschild,  Thos.  Wilkins,  Iserette,  and  Edith  Tabor  represented 
the  best  of  the  large  blooms,  while  the  decorative  class  contained  some 
very  fine  |dants,  Nellie  Brown,  a  sport  from  Ryecroft  Glory,  being  a 
distinct  break  and  an  attractive  colour.  Ambrose  Thomas  was  also  well 
shown  ;  Louis  Lemaire,  a  bronze  sport  from  the  well-known  Gustav 
Gruuerwald,  was  attractive  ;  while  the  jilants  exhibited  with  large  blooms 
were  above  the  average.  Air.  Eric  Such,  Alaidenhead,  exhibited  a  good 
collection  of  varieties  grown  naturally,  forming  a  very  bright  exhibit. 
o  collection  of  Caniias  came  from  the  Swanley  firm  of  Alessrs. 
H.  Canned  &  Sons  ;  the  chief  varieties  were  Paul  Lorenz,  Amie  J. 
Chretien,  Alphonse  Bouvier,  ti olden  Star,  and  Aurore,  while  a  superb 
CO  ectiou  of  vegetables,  Chrysanthemums,  and  Violets  completed  the 
eftoi  ts  ot  the  firm  at  this  exhibition  in  a  satisfactory  manner. 
An  enoimous  exhibit  ot  Chry’santhemums  and  Zonal  Pelargoniums 
was  staged  by  Afr.  H.  ,1.  .Tones,  Lewisham,  comprising  vases  of  large 
blooms,  and  bunches  of  the  decorative  section,  the  I’elargoniums,  forming 
a  very  attractive  feature.  Air.  AA^.  J.  Godfrey,  Exmouth,  had  a  large 
collection  of  .1  apanese  varieties,  all  grown  to  show  standard.  The  most 
notable  were  Golden  Glow,  golden  yellow;  AT.  Hoste,  Airs.  .1.  P.  Brice, 
chestnut  red  ;  .John  Seward,  Alons.  Rayonnant,  a  decided  improvement  on 
Tjilian  B.  Bird  ;  Airs.  Tucker  Pain,  Aladame  Phillipe  Revoire,  white  ; 
Soleil  d  Octobre,  and  A^te.  Roger  de  Chezelles. 
Alessrs.  Hawkins  &  Bennett,  Twickenham,  exhibited  baskets  of  their 
new  Zonal  Duke  of  Ffife,  a  good  semi-double  red,  likely  to  become 
popular.  A  miscellaneous  exhibit  from  Alessrs.  .1.  Iiaingfe  Sons,  Forest 
Hill,  couqirised  a  collection  of  autumn  flowering  plants  and  a  grand 
exhibit  of  Pears  and  Apples,  in  which  most  of  the  popular  varieties  were 
to  be  found,  also  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine.  Alessrs.  Osman  &  Co., 
London,  exhibited  their  flower  vase.s,  which  have  become  so  popular 
during  recent  years,  also  a  fine  display  of  dyed  grasses  and  flowers. 
Alessrs.  .1.  Peed  k  Sons,  Streatham,  exhibited  a  variety  of  Apples,  well 
coloured,  forming  a  capital  exhibit.  Air.  T.  S.  AA'’are,  Tottenham,  sent 
an  interesting  exhibit  of  hardy  flowers. 
BULBS. 
When  notions  become  firmly  established  it  is  very  difficult  to  remove 
them,  or  convince  cultivators  that  they  are  wrong,  even  by  facts  that 
are  the  outcome  of  practical  experience.  Perhaps  no  erroneous  idea  is 
more  jirevalent  than  the  one  that  Dutch  Hyacinths  and  othei  bulbous 
plants  used  for  flowering  in  pots  during  the  spring  are  not  worth  the 
labour  and  trouble  of  planting  after  they  have  done  duty  indoors.  It 
w'ould  be  difficult  to  trace  the  origin  of  such  an  idea,  or  the  reason  that 
has  led  to  such  a  general  opinion,  but  it  is  easy  to  prove  that  it  has  no 
foundation  in  fact,  and  is  more  than  likely  due  to  inexperience  in  the 
culture  of  bulbs.  In  a  few  soils  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Narcissi,  and  others 
may  degenerate  year  by  year,  but  in  the  ma  ority  they  increase  in 
numbers,  size,  and  strength  until  they  will  yield  flow-ers  that  cannot  be 
surpassed  by  the  second-class  roots  imported  annually,  or  what  may  be 
known  as  first-class  bedding  roots.  To  attempt  to  plant  out  Roman 
Hyacinths,  Due  Van  Thol  Tulips,  Paper  White,  and  Double  Roman 
Narcissus  that  can  be  purchased  at  such  a  cheap  rate  would  be  a  waste  of 
time  and  labour.  If  they  could  be  jilantcd  out  direct  from  the  forcing 
house  such  a  step  might  be  taken,  but  the  necessary  preservation  needed 
to  develop  their  growth  and  harden  it  to  withstand  the  trying  weather 
of  early  spring  would  |)rove  a  severe  tax  upon  those  with  limited  house 
or  frame  room  at  disjiosal  for  plant  cultivation.  AVith  very  early  forced 
bulbs  our  experience  has  led  us  to  the  conclusion  that  the  best  course  to 
pursue  with  them  is  to  convey  them  to  the  rubbish  heap  directly  they 
have  flowered. 
There  are,  however,  tens  of  thousands  of  bulbs  that  are  not  forced,  as 
they  are  allowed  to  come  forward  gradually  and  naturally  in  windows, 
greenhouses,  cold  frames,  and  similar  positions.  The  majority  of  growers 
have  bulbs  of  one  sort  or  another  in  this  condition,  and  if  they  are 
preserved  after  flowering  as  will  be  detailed  they  will  with  certainty 
increase  in  numbers  and  yield  very  fine  spikes.  The  greenhouse  is 
frequently  robbed  to  ornament  the  dinner  table  and  dwelling-room  when 
the  flowers  could  be  gathered  from  outside  beds  and  borders  if  care  and 
a  little  forethought  were  exercised. 
AVhen  the  bulbs  have  been  brought  into  flower  under  moderately  cool 
conditions,  a  few  days,  or  a  week  at  most,  in  a  cold  frame  is  ample  to 
harden  them  sufficiently  to  stand  in  a  sheltered  corner  outside.  From 
this  point  two  courses  are  open— that  is.  either  to  retain  them  in  pots 
until  the  foliage  dies,  or  to  plant  them  out  in  the  position  they  are 
intended  to  occupy.  AA'^herever  they  are  planted  they  should  be  left 
undisturbed  for  some  years,  when  they  will  pay  abundantly  for  the 
trouble  bestowed  upon  them.  If  the  first  plan  is  adopted  they  entail  con¬ 
siderable  labour  in  keeping  them  liberally  supplied  with  water,  or  instead 
of  thorough  development  their  growth  is  prematurely  brought  to  a  stand¬ 
still.  This  method  is  very  frequently  followed,  so  as  to  enable  the 
cultivator,  after  the  growth  has  ripened  off  naturally,  to  shake  away 
the  soil  from  the  bulbs,  and  spread  them  out  in  the  sun  to  dr}’  and 
harden.  It  is  contended  that  such  measures  are  necessary,  but  the  least 
labour  and  trouble  is  occasioned  by  the  last  method,  and  we  have  found 
that  the  bulbs  do  as  well,  if  not  better,  the  following  season  than  when 
subjected  to  the  artificial  drying  process.  The  better  plan  decidedly  is 
to  plant  them  out  directly  they  have  been  well  hardened,  and  then  they 
complete  their  growth,  and  the  foliage  is  ripened  under  natural  conditions. 
Failure  may  in  many  instances  be  traced  to  planting  the  bulbs  in 
shrubbery  and  other  borders  in  soil  that  has  become  exliausted  by  the 
roots  of  other  trees.  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Narcissi,  and  other  bulbs  can 
no  more  be  expected  to  thrive  in  unfertile  soil  than  any  other  plant  or 
tree,  and  yet  such  positions  are  frequently  accorded  them.  AVell 
develoiied  growth  and  fine  spikes  of  bloom  cannot  be  produced  from 
such  jiositions,  and  under  such  circumstances  we  should  not  be  surprised 
at  them  degenerating  rapidly.  They  will  do,  however,  on  borders 
overshaded  by  forest  trees,  provided  the  ground  is  liberally  supplied 
with  food.  AVe  have  a  border  planted  three  or  four  years  ago,  and 
although  the  spikes  are  large  enough  for  cutting  purjioses — in  fact,  they 
are  more  useful  than  the  larger  ones  -  they  will  not  compare  with  those 
grown  in  open  positions  and  in  good  soil  away  from  the  roots  of  large 
trees. 
The  ground  should  be  well  dug  and  liberally  manin-ed  as  the  work  of 
planting  proceeds  ;  if  this  is  done  they  will  need  no  further  care  for  two 
or  three  years,  without  Alignonette  or  other  plants  are  grown  on  the 
