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JOURNAL  Ot  hOnllUlLTURE  AND  GOTTAOR  GARDENER. 
November  11,  1B97 
In  a  somewhat  varied  and  lengthened  experience  in  gardens,  extend¬ 
ing  to  fields  and  woods,  I  have  always  found  cleanliness  the  best 
precursor  of  health,  but  I  repudiate  the  commonly  regarded  proclivities 
of  plants  to  disease  as  predisposed  by  grave  cultural  defects.  The  enemy 
we  have  to  face  is  a  living  thing  reproduced  by  spores,  and  must  be 
annihilated  if  possible.  I  may,  perhaps,  refer  to  “  damping”  as  an  alleged 
cause  of  the  attacks  another  day.  In  the  meantime  I  am  much  obliged  to 
correspondents  for  specimens  and  observations. — G.  Abbey. 
An  Amateur’s  Chrysanthemums. 
I  HAVE  recently  seen  a  good  instance  of  what  a  persevering  man  can 
do  in  the  culture  of  Chrysanthemums  who  has  no  special  knowledge, 
appliances,  or  even  a  structure  for  flowering  the  plants  in.  Mr.  .James 
Dickson,  a  plumber  of  Dover  Koad,  Northfleet,  Kent,  attempted  the 
culture  of  a  few  Chrysanthemums  last  year.  He  was  so  far  successful 
that  he  produced  a  large  bloom  of  Viviand  Morel  which  was  very 
creditable.  He  also  succeeded  well  with  Mdlle.  Lacroix,  Lord  Alcester, 
and  IMons.  Bernard,  Mrs.  Dixon,  and  others. 
He  sheltered  his  plants  under  some  temporary  lights  in  his  back  yard. 
The  plants  were  saved  in  their  flowering  pots  through  the  winter,  and 
new  stock  secured  in  spring  by  dividing  the  suckers,  potting  and  growing 
them  in  good  material,  eventually  placing  them  in  8  and  9-inch  pots. 
"Viviand  Morel  again  took  the  lead,  a  disbudded  plant  of  this  variety  fur¬ 
nishing  three  splendid  deeply  coloured  blooms  from  terminal  buds.  Another 
plant  was  not  so  freely  disbudded,  smaller  blooms,  but  useful,  being  the 
result.  The  three  large  blooms  were  7  inches  across,  and  considering  the 
experience  and  means  of  the  grower,  extremely  satisfactory  to  him.  He 
also  produced  good  blooms  of  the  old,  tall,  8  feet  variety,  Madame  C. 
Audiguier,  Lord  Alcester,  incurved  ;  Mons.  K.  Bahuant,  Mrs.  Dixon, 
Mons.  Bernard,  'W.  G.  Newitt,  AV.  H.  Lincoln,  Gloriosum,  and  several 
others.  The  warm  days  of  October  assisted  the  plants  materially,  which 
practically  developed  their  blooms  in  an  outdoor  temperature  and  with 
abundance  of  air.  -E.  D.  S. 
Chrysanthemums  at  Earls-wood. 
The  seeker  after  novelties  will  find  at  Mr.  W.  Wells’  establishment 
at  Earlswood  one  of  the  finest  and  most  extensive  collections  of  new 
Chrysanthemums  in  the  trade.  Both  in  number  of  varieties  and  in  high 
average  quality  there  is  little  to  be  desired,  and  the  cream  of  the  collection 
is  housed  in  a  large  span-roofed  greenhouse,  160  feet  in  length  by  22  feet 
in  width. 
Of  fairly  recent  introduction  there  are  several  varieties  that  maintain 
the  first  impressions  that  were  formed  of  them.  But  those  of  1897  from 
Mons.  Calvat  are  equally  so,  if  not  better.  In  the  narrow  limits  of  a 
short  notice  like  this  it  is  impossible  to  do  justice  to  raiser  and  grower 
alike,  and  so  only  a  few  brief  notes  can  be  spared,  as  there  are  others 
from  different  sources  that  will  also  claim  a  few  words.  Directeur  Li^bert 
is  a  very  fine  globular  .Japanese,  with  medium  grooved  florets,  large  in 
size,  and  of  a  deep  lilac  mauve.  Then  N.C.S.  Jubilee  is  a  noble  incurving 
flower  ;  colour,  pale  lavender  pink,  with  broad  florets,  having  a  silvery 
pink  reverse.  For  solid  compactness  of  build,  largeness  of  size,  we 
specially  recommend  Madame  Ferlat,  a  grand  white  incurved  .Tap,  and 
Mdlle.  Lawrence  Zdd6,  of  similar  type,  but  violet  amaranth  in  colour, 
and  reverse  of  silvery  pink.  Mons.  Massange  de  Louvrex  is  a  new 
yellow.  Souvenir  de  M.  F.  Bosette,  deep  plum  coloured  amaranth,  big 
and  solid.  Werther  is  a  fine  rosy  purple  incurved  Japanese,  with  silvery 
turnover.  Surpasse  Amiral,  deep  rich  yellow.  Princesse  de  Galles,  a 
long  petalled  white  Japanese.  Congres  de  Bourges,  deep  purple:  and 
others  of  the  present  season  are  Souvenir  de  Malines,  Madame  X.  Key 
Jouvin,  Madame  A.  Rousseau,  Madame  G.  Bruant,  which  we  think  have 
already  been  described  in  these  columns.  The  green  incurved  .Japanese 
Madame  Ed.  Roger  is  effective  and  well  coloured,  and  promises  well  as  a 
curiosity,  and  close  at  hand  is  a  truly  grand  novelty,  by  name  Mdlle. 
Lucie  Faure,  of  incurving  Japanese  build,  solid,  closely  built,  and  massive  ; 
colour,  pure  white.  Vicomte  Roger  de  Ch^zelles  is  golden  bronze,  and 
Mons.  W.  H  Fowler,  a  pearly  silvery  pink,  shaded  rose,  must  be  the 
last. 
From  other  sources  there  are  plenty  of  beautiful  large  white  show 
flowers  in  the  .Japanese  section  whose  purity  of  tint  make  them  welcome 
to  those  who  require  first-class  varieties  of  that  colour.  Mrs.  C.  Blick, 
Pride  of  Maidenhead,  Mutual  Friend,  Mrs.  H.  ATeeks,  Madame  Ph. 
Rivoire,  Snowdon,  and  the  charming  Simplicity,  of  American  origin,  with 
its  lengthy  florets  and  great  size.  AVestern  King,  Princesse  He'l^ne,  C.  B. 
Haywood,  Emily  Silsbury,  and  Madame  Louis  Remy,  a  white  sport  from 
Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne,  must  not  be  forgotten  in  this  shade.  Yellows 
are  also  plentiful,  and  comprise  all  that  is  newest  and  best.  Mdlle.  Lucie 
Matthieu  de  la  Drome  is  a  closely  built  incurved,  florets  narrow,  colour 
pale  golden  yellow.  G.  J.  AVarren  is  immense,  a  fine  pale  yellow  counter¬ 
part  of  Madame  Carnot,  from  which  it  is  a  sport.  There  are  many 
splendid  blooms  of  this  novelty.  Sunstone,  rather  tall  in  growth,  is  a 
beautiful  shade  of  apricot  yellow.  C.  A.  Owen,  a  deep  rich  golden  hue. 
Modesto  needs  no  description,  neither  does  Royal  Sovereign.  Mons. 
Frederick  Daupias,  C  H.  Curtis  (incurved),  Ella  Curtis,  a  golden  yellow 
•Japanese,  dusted  carmine  ;  and  a  very  line  one  called  Georgiana  Pitcher, 
a  large  globular  .Japanese,  rather  broad,  grooved  florets,  colour  pale 
canary  yellow  with  silvery  yellow  reverse,  are  all  conspicuous  ;  and  in 
t  e  sarne  ^dour  Edith  Tabor,  Oceana,  and  a  few  more  will  show  how 
the  golden  flower  is  sustained  in  its  primitive  hue, 
htill  continuing  our  observations  on  the  Japanese— and  the  collection 
IS  a  most  wholly  devoted  to  that  section —Parachute,  a  very  pretty  flower 
o  o  d  rose  shaded  carmine  and  almond,  and  having  long  drooping  florets, 
occupies  a  high  place  in  our  estimation.  Lady  Hanham,  a  beautiful 
salmon  and  rosy  sport  from  Viviand  Morel,  does  likewise.  Madame  E. 
Testout  and  Mrs.  G.  AV.  Palmer  both  appear  to  be  the  same  rosy  bronze 
sport  from  Mrs.  C.  Harman  l^ayne,  the  former  having  originated  in 
France  last  year,  and  the  latter  here  in  England.  Royal  Standard  is  a 
very  fine  velvety  crimson,  with  a  gold  reverse.  J^ride  of  Aladford  is  large, 
and  Australie,  a  companion  flower,  keep  up  the  reputation  of  our  Colonial 
enthusiasts.  J.  B.  Yvon  is  a  pale  yellow  shaded  old  rose,  another  sport 
from  Viviand  Alorel ;  and  somewhat  deep  in  tone,  but  of  similar  form,  is 
Julia  Scaramanga,  of  the  same  parentage. 
Incurved  in  good  form  were  Mrs.  R.  C.  Jvingston,  D.  B.  Crane, 
AVm.  Tunnington,  Jerle  Dauphinoise,  golden  ochre  yellow  ;  and  one  in 
particular.  Lady  Isabel,  a  really  fine  variety,  deep  in  build,  and  very 
compact,  having  rather  broad  florets,  colour  silvery  blush,  will  be  a 
welcome  addition  to  this  somewhat  ancient  type. 
Here  and  there,  interspersed  throughout  the  collection,  were  numerous 
unnamed  seedlings  of  promise,  many  of  which  are  from  Australian  seed, 
but  at  present  only  on  trial.  Hairy  novelties  are  represented,  but  not 
largely,  nor  can  we  record  any  very  striking  additions  to  the  Anemone 
classes.  In  one  of  the  houses  there  are  some  pretty  bushes  of  single 
varieties,  such  as  Purity,  Miss  M.  Anderson,  Aliss  Annie  Holder,  Rev. 
AV.  E.  Hemfrey,  Virgin  Queen,  Rose  Pink,  Gus  Harris,  Miss  Chrissy,  and 
Miss  Rose. — P. 
Chrysanthemums  for  the  AIasses. 
If  anything  were  ever  provided  for  the  masses  which  they  thoroughly 
appreciated,  it  is  the  display  of  Chrysanthemums  in  several  of  the  London 
parks.  Go  east  or  west,  you  will  find  in  several  of  these  rendezvous  crowds 
of  people  making  their  way  to  the  Chrysanthemum  house.  Year  by  year 
the  same  goes  on — the  interest  never  seems  to  flag,  but  rather  to  be 
increased  with  each  succeeding  autumn.  It  was  said  by  many  when  the 
scheme  was  first  instituted  that  the  ardour  of  seeing  the  Alums  would 
live  but  a  season,  whereas  it  has  lived  beyond  several,  and  continues  to 
grow. 
The  County  Council  of  London  is  a  much  maligned  and  criticised 
body,  but  for  these  annual  displays  of  this  popular  flower,  as  well  as  for 
the  generous  policy  that  has  been  adopted  with  regard  to  our  parks  and 
open  spaces,  it  can  receive  nothing  but  commendation.  See  how  these 
public  resorts  have  improved  in  the  past  five  years !  How  much  more 
pleasant  it  is  now  in  our  parks  and  on  our  commons  than  formerly  1 
Everything  about  them  has  improved,  and  on  every  side  there  appear 
indications  of  advance. 
For  years  they  were  charming  enough  in  the  spring  with  their  bulbs, 
and  in  the  summer  with  their  flower  beds,  but  it  was  not  until  the  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  came  that  people  were  attracted  to  them  in  thousands  during 
the  autumn.  One  occasionally  hears  some  hypercritical  person  mutter 
about  the  expense.  But  no  one  should  consider  the  comparatively  small 
cost  when  it  is  remembered  how  much  pleasure  they  give  to  thousands  of 
Londoners  whose  homes  preclude  the  possibility  of  Chrysanthemum 
culture.  No  ;  rather  than  condemn,  one  should  thank  the  Council  for  the 
excellent  work  it  is  doing  in  placing  before  all  who  like  to  go  the  lovely 
displays  of  autumn  flowers. 
If  they  could  not  see  them  at  the  parks  it  is  practically  certain  that 
they  would  not  see  them  at  all,  for  despite  the  number  of  shows  that  are 
annually  held  all  could  not  go.  In  Battersea  Park  alone  7000  or  8000 
people  have  passed  through  the  house  in  one  day.  Then  Victoria  and 
Southwark,  with  their  thousands  of  neighbours,  have  their  annual  show, 
and  the  people  flock  in  multitudes.  I  feel  quite  sure  that  if  the  Council 
were  to  stop  the  shows  London  would  rise  in  open  revolt. 
I  am  a  dweller  within  hail  of  Battersea,  and  never  allow  a  season  to 
pass  without  at  least  one  glance  through  the  house,  and  often  I  have 
been  several  times.  Going  year  after  year  one  may  see  the  same  people 
hurrying  along  to  fall  into  the  line  within  the  Frame  Ground  gates. 
Once  this  stage  is  reached  the  progress  is  slow— painfully  sh  w — while 
outside  of  the  house,  but  quite  fast  enough  while  inside  and  the  flowers 
are  before.  Then  there  is  no  rushing  but  a  steady  flow  towards  the  out¬ 
let,  and  one  may  see  the  faces  of  the  visitors  brighten  under  the 
humanising  influence  of  the  beautiful  flowers.  The  eyes  sparkle  with 
pleasure  as  a  particular  variety  takes  more  than  ordinary  attention. 
May  the  County  Council  continue  the  excellent  work  of  educating  the 
masses  if  it  cost  a  little  more  than  it  does  at  present,  for  few  will  he 
grumblers  while  many  will  receive  benefit. 
This  year’s  exhibition  as  Battersea  is  a  very  beautiful  one,  and  just 
about  the  average  of  former  years.  Upwards  of  2000  plants  have  been 
grown  by  the  Superintendent,  Mr.  F.  J.  Coppin,  but  all  are,  of  course,  not 
brought  into  the  house  at  once.  Instead  of  this,  as  plants  pass  their  best 
they  are  removed  and  fresh  ones  substituted,  thus  prolonging  the  display 
over  several  weeks.  The  major  portion  of  the  plants  are  in  one  broad 
bed,  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  path  on  a  rather  high  stage,  small 
flowering  varieties  have  been  stood,  and  by  their  freshness  and  grace  add 
decidedly  to  the  general  effect. 
The  shape  of  the  house  is  hardly  such  as  to  permit  of  the  best  effect 
being  secured,  as  it  only  allows  one  straight  path,  but  the  system  of 
arranging  the  plants  is  a  good  one.  Of  course  the  tallest  are  at  the  back, 
and  the  dwarfest  in  front,  and  by  careful  selection  an  undulating  surface 
has  been  given.  The  colours,  too,  have  been  judiciously  selected  with  a 
view  to  creating  a  fine  general  impression.  Some  day,  perhaps,  the 
Council  will  erect  a  new  house  at  Battersea  to  be  utilised  for  Chrysan¬ 
themums  in  the  autumn,  and  later  as  a  winter  garden.  It  would  most 
certainly  be  appreciated  by  everyone. 
As  I  cannot  see  that  it  would  serve  any  particularly  useful  purpose  to 
give  lists  of  names,  I  shall  omit  them.  Everyone  knows  the  Morels,  the 
