504 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  25,  1897. 
Sometimes  this  loose  staging  is  perhaps  caused  by  the  narrow  margin 
of  time  the  exhibitor  allows  himself  for  staging,  but  even  this  can  be 
remedied,  as  it  is  far  better  to  reach  the  scene  of  conflict  the  night  previous 
to  the  show,  and  have  an  early  start  next  morning,  than  to  leave  home  by 
the  first  morning  train  on  the  show  day,  and  have  a  “  rush  ”  to  be  ready 
for  the  judges.— Old  Exhibitoe. 
Cheysanthemums  foe  Gexeeal  Tueposes, 
The  adaptation  of  the  Chrysanthemum  for  all  classes  of  growers 
renders  their  cultivation  extremely  popular  and  interesting.  Varieties 
are  now  so  numerous  that  it  is  not  difficult  to  find  what  are  best  adapted 
to  cultivate  under  the  conditions  and  convenience  obtaining.  The 
Japanese  section  supplies  the  bulk  of  the  best  varieties.  There  may  be 
had  medium  sized  and  large  blooms  in  plenty  of  every  shade  of  colour 
common  to  Chrysanthemums  in  general.  Many  good  varieties  are  found 
in  the  reflexed  section,  which  only,  as  a  rule,  produce  medium  sized 
flowers.  Among  the  Japanese  there  are  varieties  with  gracefully  droop¬ 
ing  flowers,  others  with  florets  short  and  stiff,  and  some  with  incurving 
petals,  which  do  so  in  such  a  regular  manner  that  we  are  almost  inclined 
to  class  them  at  first  sight  as  abnormally  large  examples  of  the  true 
incurved  section. 
However,  this  illusion  is  soon  dispelled  ;  for  on  examination  it  may  be 
noticed  that  the  florets  are  longer,  broader,  and  less  closely  arranged. 
The  size  of  the  flower,  too,  attains  beyond  the  dimensions  of  the  majority 
of  the  true  incurved  forms.  For  perfection  in  the  latter,  large  size  as 
well  as  quality  may  not  be  absolutely  essential  in  every  case.  When 
quality,  regularity  in  form,  freshness,  and  good  colour  are  present  in 
blooms  of  fair  size,  the  lack  of  extraordinary  size  is  not  so  consi)icuons, 
nor  is  it  essential,  except  for  the  exhibition  board.  Depth  is  regarded  as 
of  more  importance  than  diameter.  For  general  purposes  Mrs.  G.  Rundle, 
G.  Glenny,  and  Mrs.  Dixon  occupy  high  positions  as  perfect  flowers,  but 
being  usually  small  in  size  they  are  not  frequently  included  with  varieties 
of  the  same  class  for  exhibition.  In  some  instances  special  classes  are 
arranged  for  these  varieties  forming  interesting  exhibits.  I  have  seen  in 
former  years  houses  of  these  varieties  alone  proving  attractive  and 
profitable  to  their  owners. 
Some  incurved  varieties  may  be  had  in  flower  very  early  :  for  instance, 
Mons.  R.  Bahuant  and  Baron  Hirsch,  A  few  more  useful  varieties  in 
this  class  are  .Jardin  des  Flantes,  a  rich  golden  3'ellow  ;  Empress  of 
India,  white  ;  jMadame  Darier,  nankeen  yellow,  striped  purple  ;  D.  B. 
Crane,  bronzy  buff  and  red  ;  Golden  Queen,  canary  yellow  ;  ,T.  Agate, 
white  ;  Lord  Alcester,  pale  primrose  ;  Nil  Desperandura,  orange  red  ; 
Pink  Venus ;  Princess  of  Wales,  pearly  white  j  Refulgens,  purple 
maroon  ;  Sir  Titus,  silvery  rose  ;  Violet  Tomlin,  purple  violet. 
Coining  now  to  the  Japanese  section,  I  can  recommend  a  selection 
which  includes  a  number  of  the  older  varieties,  as  well  as  those  of  more 
recent  introduction.  Nearly  everyone,  exhibitors  and  ordinary  growers, 
including  beginners  in  Chrysanthemum  cultivation,  grows  Viviand  Morel. 
As  a  rule  it  is  a  clean,  healthy,  free-growing  variety,  with  smooth  foliage 
and  a  dwarf  habit  of  growth,  producing  the  best  coloured  flowers  on 
second  crown  or  terminal  buds.  The  colour  is  a  blush  mauve,  the  petals 
long  and  drooping.  If  buds  are  taken  on  early  crowns  the  flowers  are 
much  lighter  in  colour  and  not  so  effective.  Similar  in  growth  and  habit, 
time  of  blooming,  but  different  in  colour,  is  Chas.  Davis.  It  is  a  sport 
from  V.  Morel,  and  is  of  a  rosy  bronze.  Like  its  parent,  the  colour  is 
better  on  the  second  crown  or  terminal  buds.  The  habit  of  plant,  colour 
and  shape  of  foliage  is  similar  to  V.  Morel.  There  has  recently  appeared 
another  sport  from  V.  Morel  named  Lady  Hanham,  of  a  golden  rosy 
cerise  colour,  originating  in  Yorkshire.  It  is  an  attractive  variety. 
Mr.  H.  Broomhead  is  a  medium  grower,  producing  flowers  of  a  cle  r 
nankeen  yellow.  Source  d’Gr  does  not  rank  as  a  show  flower,  but  is  one 
of  the  leading  decorative  and  market  varieties  in  its  jiarticular  colour 
orange  shaded  gold.  When  well  grown  and  not  disbudded  some  excellent 
sprays  of  bloom  may  be  secured  on  long  stems.  Mdlle.  Lacroix,  a  pure 
,  white  variety  with  drooping  petals,  is  still  most  useful,  though  it  has  long 
been  in  cultivation,  but  as  a  show  flower  is  now  superseded  by  larger.  It 
is  wonderfully  free-blooming  and  dwarf  in  habit  of  growth.  The  blooms 
last  well.  Mrs.  Cox  is  of  a  dark  amaranth  colour.  Good  blooms  of  this 
variety  are  verv  effective  in  a  group  or  mixed  collection  of  flowers,  whether 
the  blooms  are  of  medium  or  large  size. 
Miss  Watson,  a  Japanese  reflexed  of  a  pale  or  canary  yellow,  is  very 
free.  It  does  well  as  a  cut-back  plant,  and  the  blooms  last  so  well  that 
tinges^  of  pink  colour  appear  on  the  petals.  Pelican  is  a  late  December 
blooming  variety  of  a  creamy  white.  Its  colour  and  late  development 
render  it  extremely  useful.  Wm.  Seward,  a  rich  and  attractive  crimson, 
is  one  of  the  best  of  the  dark  varieties,  and  a  few  plants,  having  three  or 
four  flowers  each,  effectively  brighten  up  a  group.  H.  Shoesmirh  may  be 
had  very  dvyarf  by  cutting  low  down  in  May,  and  the  flowers  produced 
will  be  medium  in  size,  light,  and  graceful,  the  colour  being  a  light  buff. 
Good  white  varieties  are  always  welcome,  so  even  a  small  collection  may 
well  include  Princess  May.  It  is  of  robust  habit. 
Niveus  IS  a  remarkably  good  pure  white  variety,  either  for  exhibition 
or  cutting.  Plants  may  be  grown  dwarf  or  allowed  to  grow  naturally,  as 
It  IS  not  a  tall  variety.  Margot  is  an  excellent  decorative  variety,  either 
grown  as  single  blooms  or  when  only  slightly  disbudded.  The  colour  is 
rosy  chamois.  W.  H.  Lincoln  holds  tenaciously  its  prominent  position 
as  a  late  yellow.  This  variety  gives  good  blooms  from  almost  any 
bud,  but  to  obtain  them  of  large  size  the  number  must  be  limited. 
Ryecroft  Glory  is  a  mid-Octolier  variety,  doing  well  without  disbudding. 
The  plant  is  of  dwarf  bushy  growth  and  the  flowers  a  bright  yellow.  It 
is  indispensable  for  an  early  display.  John  Shrimpton  occupies  a 
foremost  place  among  the  dark  varieties.  The  colour  is  a  rich  crimson 
scarlet,  and  blooms  which  do  not  attain  to  a  large  size  are  attractive  and 
useful. 
Madame  Octavie  jMirbeau  produces  fine,  large,  and  shapely  flowers 
on  dwarf  stems,  the  colour  being  white  and  rose  with  a  faint  edge  of 
amaranth.  In  a  well-grown  flower  the  petals  are  gracefully  drooping. 
Mdlle.  Therfese  Rey  is  an  excellent  white  with  a  cream  centre,  fairly 
dwarf  and  easy  to  grow.  .Julian  Hilpert  is  one  of  the  newer  .Japanese 
varieties.  The  colour  is  deep  primrose  and  blooms  are  rather  late,  but  of 
an  immense  size.  It  is  one  of  the  strongest  growers,  and  will  attain  to 
the  height  of  6  feet  even  when  cut  down  in  May.  The  petals  are  long 
and  spreading,  and  as  the  flower  opens  there  is  quite  a  distinct  green  hue 
visible  among  the  young  florets.  The  first  bud  which  appears  after  cutting 
down  should  be  taken. 
Golden  Gate  is  dwarf  in  habit,  and  produces  large  spreading  yellow 
flowers  the  latter  part  of  November,  and  is  a  decided  acquisition  both  for 
decoration  and  cutting.  Silver  King  produces  the  best  flowers  allowed  to 
grow  naturally  and  taking  second  crown  buds.  The  colour  of  the  blooms  is 
rosy  mauve.  They  are  slow  in  developing,  but  remain  in  a  fresh  condition 
a  considerable  time.  Beauty  of  J<lxmouth  ranks  as  a  very  useful  white 
variety  of  dwarf  habit,  which  we  can  hardly  afford  to  exclude.  IMadame 
Chas.  Molin  is  another  pure  white;  good  blooms  are  obtainable  on  second 
crowns  and  terminals.  Etoile  de  Jjyon  may  be  grown  naturally,  and 
allowed  to  form  terminal  buds,  which  give  the  latest  but  best  coloured 
flowers.  On  crown  buds  the  blooms  are  lighter  in  colour,  and  usually 
larger.  Cut-down  plants  also  give  good  flowers  on  the  crowns.  The 
plants  are  vigorous  growers,  producing  clean,  healthy  dark  coloured 
foliage.  One  of  the  oldest  twisted-petalled  varieties  is  Gloriosum,  colour 
pale  yellow. 
Col.  Chase,  a  pale  blush  and  yellow  variety,  has  exceptionally  neat 
and  gracefully  drooping  flowers,  the  colours  of  which  are  very  pleasing  and 
chaste.  It  is  a  variety  admirably  adapted  for  formal  training,  good 
specimens  being  this  year  exhibited  at  the  Aquarium  and  other  shows. 
Though  good  yellows  among  the  .Japanese  are  now  plentiful.  Sir  E.  T. 
Smith  is  worthy  of  mention,  the  shade  of  yellow  being  a  rich  golden,  the 
petals  broad  and  flat,  tips  incurved  ;  a  tall  and  rather  slender  grow'er, 
coming  in  useful  as  a  late  bloomer.  Rose  Wynne,  a  delicate  blush 
approaching  to  a  pure  white.  This  is  excellent  as  a  large  flowering 
variety  for  a  mixed  collection,  good  flowers  being  produced  from  any  bud. 
The  petals  are  regularly  arranged,  long,  and  incurving  to  the  centre, 
which  gives  the  flower  a  most  compact  appearance.  It  is  a  fine  repre¬ 
sentative  of  the  .1  apanese  incurved  section.  Lord  Brooke  also  belongs  to 
the  last  named  class,  and  has  good  incurved  characteristics;  the  petals 
are  broad  and  stiff,  the  colour  a  bright  bronze  yellow,  shaded  red. 
Mdlle.  Marie  Hoste,  a  dwarf  grower,  gives  attractive  flow'ers  of  a 
creamy  white,  very  faintly  flushed  with  claret.  Cecil  Wray^  is  a  gem 
among  yellows  ;  the  colour  is  so  deep  and  bright.  The  habit  of  the  plant 
is  dwarf,  but  the  growths  are  rather  slender  compared  with  many  other 
varieties.  Souvenir  de  Petite  Amie  represents  one  of  the  best  dwarf 
bushy  varieties.  Flowmrs  are  pure  white,  and  may  be  grown  to  a  large 
size  with  special  culture  to  that  end,  but  the  prettiest  and  best  formed 
flowers  are  to  be  had  on  those  of  medium  size.  High  culture  builds  up 
high  deep  flowers  without  adding  much  to  the  length  of  the  petals.  Thos. 
Wilkins  is  an  excellent  bronze,  or  deep  chrome  yellow  ;  succeeds  well 
without  extraordinary  culture,  rendering  it  well  adapted  for  a  mixed 
collection.  Chas.  Blick  comes  rather  late,  but  it  has  attractive  rich 
yellow  blooms,  the  petals  curling  and  incurving. 
Dwarf  primrose  coloured  varieties  are  rather  scarce,  but  Lady  E. 
Saunders  fills  up  a  gap  in  that  respect,  and  produces  excellent  blooms. 
Madame  Ad.  Chatin  is  a  superb  white,  the  flowers  produced  being  lovely, 
large,  and  excellently  formed.  This  variety  may  be  grown  dwarf  by 
rooting  cuttings  secured  from  the  tops  of  plants  after  they  have  made  the 
first  break  in  May  or  June.  Pot  into  6-inch  pots  and  secure  one  flower 
to  each  plant. 
Elsie,  a  sulphur  white  reflexed  variety,  formerly  was  much  grown  for 
decoration.  Though  the  flowers  were  smail,  they  nevertheless  were  useful 
and  attractive.  A  sport  from  this  variety  has  now  been  obtained  similar 
in  size,  but  of  a  yellow  colour.  Sprays  of  this  are  exceedingly  useful  for 
various  purposes,  and  I  would  recommend  its  inclusion  as  a  decided 
acquisition  to  the  decorative  class. 
Chrysanthemums  which  bloom  in  December  are  specially  welcome. 
Tuxedo  is  a  beautiful  addition.  The  flowers,  though  not  large,  are  of  a 
nice  form  and  rich  colour,  a  deep  orange.  Plants  grow  tall,  and  the  best 
flowers  appear  on  terminal  buds.  E.  G.  Hill  may  be  had,  too,  at  this  time. 
The  flowers  are  orange  yellow,  shaded  red,  not  large  but  rich  and  pleasing. 
— E.  D.  S. 
