532 
JOURh\Ah  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  2,  1897. 
by  indicating  any  of  which  he  has  a  knowledge  ?  If  he  has  no  alternative 
site  to  suggest,  why  is  he  so  unpractical  as  only  to  growl  ?  But  happily 
nobod}'  ndnds  him. 
The  member.s  of  the  executive  are  fully  aware  of  certain  disadvantages 
attaching  to  holding  the  shows  at  the  Aquarium  ;  but  the  corresponding 
advantages  are  much  greater.  Are  they  not  wise,  then,  in  bearing  with 
the  disadvantages,  and  refraining  from  any  change  of  place  (if  such  can 
be  found)  with  the  certainty  of  added  .difficulties  heavy  expenses,  risk, 
labour,  anxiety,  and  probable  failure?  -  OxE  OF  THE  Executive. 
readily  affording  space  for  our  able  correspondent  to  state  his 
view  of  the  case,  we  think  he  will  find  that  some  more  notice  will  be 
taken  of  the  letter  which  he  already  notices.  We  have  reason  to  believe 
that  all  the  members  of  the  executive  are  not  satisfied  with  the  Aquarium 
for  the  purpose  of  the  show.  We  are  also  inclined  to  think  that  ‘‘growls” 
have  usually  been  the  precursors  of  many  great  reforms,  which  at  the 
time  most  persons  regarded  as  impossible  of  accomplishment.  The  last 
word  has  not  yet  been  said  on  the  X.C.S.  and  its  policy,  but  we  have  no 
more  space  at  disposal  this  week.] 
Chkysaxthemum  Shows  in  1898. 
We  are  officially  informed  that  the  Ilighgate  and  District  Show  will 
be  held  next  year  on  November  8th  and  9th,  and  the  Winchester  Show 
on  the  ESth  and  I6th  of  the  month. 
Yellow  Sport  from  Charles  Davis. 
I  NOTE  your  correspondent  “  E.  D.  S.,”  in  his  remarks  upon  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  (page  504),  observes  that  “  Dwarf  primrose  coloured 
varieties  are  rather  scarce.”  It  may  interest  “E.  D.  S.  ”  and  other 
fanciers  to  know  that  I  have  a  sport  from  Charles  Davis  this  year  of  a 
lieautiful  soft  yellow  colour,  the  reverse  of  florets  a  primrose  shade.  It  is 
a  good  deep  flower,  well  formed,  and  in  every  respect  equal  to  its  parent. 
The  branch  on  which  the  flower  apjieared  w-as  not  more  than  3  feet  in 
height ;  it  was  the  first  crown  bud.  Two  or  three  growers  who  saw  the 
sport  were  delighted  with  it.  I  hope  to  have  it  on  its  own  roots  next 
year,  and  if  it  comes  as  good  as  it  did  this  time  the  public  will  have  the 
opportunity  of  seeing  it.  I  should  be  interested  to  know  if  anvone  has 
seen  anything  similar  to  it. — K.  INI. 
HEPORTiyu  Chrysanthemum  Shows. 
I  OBSERVE  you  have  given  reports  of  most  of  the  Chrysanthemum 
shows  in  other  counties,  but  fail  to  see  that  you  have  reported  on  what 
lias  taken  place  in  Devonshire.  Subscribers  to  the  Journal  of  Horticulture 
in  Devon  like  to  see  their  shows  reported.  I  venture  to  say  there  were 
as  many  cut  blooms  shown  at  Plymouth  as  at  the  N.C.S.,  except 
those  shown  by  trade  growers,  and  Idooms  quite  equal,  if  not  superior,  to 
those  show'n  at  the  N.C.S.  in  the  class  for  forty-eight  blooms.  There 
were  nine  competitors  from  Cornwall,  Devon,  Somerset,  and  Dorset,  and 
the  same  can  be  said  of  Exeter.  —  A  Devon  Twelve  Years’ 
Subscriber. 
[IVe  are  pleased  to  hear  of  this  Western  success.  It  has  only  been 
by  the  kind  co-operation  of  friends  in  different  localities  favouring 
with  notes  of  the  shows  in  which  they  are  interested  that  w'e  have  been 
enabled  to  pulilish  so  many  reports,  and  we  tender  to  all  who  have  so 
aided  our  best  thanks.  We  do  not  remember  rejecting  any  reports  from 
Devonshire,  nor  receiving  tickets  reminding  us  of  the  dates  of  shows.] 
The  Derby  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
This  Society  held  its  annual  show  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  Friday  and 
Saturday,  November  13th  and  14th.  The  di.splay  was  really  a  fine  one, 
doing  credit  to  Mr.  Bell,  the  energetic  Secretary.  Although  the  weather 
was  anything  but  good,  the  shoiv  was  well  patronised  on  both  days,  when, 
besides  the  floral  attractions,  w’ere  promenade  concerts,  and  on  Saturday 
a  performance  •  Avas  given  by  Neapolitan  concert  party.  The  open 
classes  w.ire  well  contested  for,  especially  in  the  cut  bloom  section.  For 
twenty-four  Japanese  Mr.  Burrows,  Berwick  House,  Shrewsbury,  Avon 
first  honours,  Air.  Week,  Thrumpton  Hall,  being  second.  For  tAventy- 
four  incurved  Mr.  Evans,  gardener  to  Sir  Henry  Wilmot,  first ;  and  Mr. 
Holder,  gardener  to  Earl  Ferrers,  second.  For  a  group  of  Chrysan¬ 
themums  Mr.  Gough,  gEirdener  to  Mr.  Malin,  Overdale,  was  first,  Mr. 
J.  B.  Chapman  second.  Mr.  Holder  also  won  for  table  decorations,  and 
Mr.  J.  Wood  for  hand  bouquet.  The  prize  for  specimen  plants  was  won 
by  Mr.  J.  B.  Chapman. 
Carnarvon  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  fourth  show  was  held  on  November  11th,  and  in  every  respect  it 
was  much  superior  to  its  predecessors.  There  were  forty  more  entries 
than  last  year,  and  the  Judges  remarked  that  the  exhibits  Avere  well  up 
to  the  standard.  Fruits  and  vegetables  were  included,  and  AA'cre  admirably 
shoAvn.  The  principal  prizes  were  taken  by  S.  Taylor  Chadwick,  Esq], 
Beaumaris.  He  was  successful  in  annexing  the  challenge  cup  for 
the  best  twenty-four  blooms.  IMr.  Howard,  gardener  to  l\Ir.  ChadAvick, 
secured  the  tAvo  silver  medals,  one  for  the  best  incurved  bloom  in  the 
show,  and  for  the  best  Japanese  bloom  in  the  show.  There  was  a  strong 
competition  in  all  classes.  Mr.  Davis,  Carnarvon,  was  successful  in 
winning  the  Society’s  silver  medal  for  the  best  single  stove  plant  in  the 
^ow  ;  and  Mr.  G.  Tyler,  gardener  to  Charles  , Jones,  Esq.,  Bron  Hendre 
Cilinarvon,  took  tliG  ^old  Dinuiond  Jubiloe  nitdal  witli  his  group  of 
Chrysanthemums,  Avhich  Avas  very  much  admired  by  all.  The  shoAV  was 
Avell  attended,  but  is  Avorthy  of  more  support. 
Chrysanthemums  from  'Liverpool. 
T  hereavith  send  you  a  feAV  Chrysanthemum  blooms  as  illustrative 
of  the  mildness  of  the  season.  They  Avere  all  grown  outside  in  a 
garden,  fully  exposed,  close  to  town  of  Liverpool,  and  also  the  Mersey. 
The  varieties  are  Mons.  R.  Bahuant,  Baron  Hirsch,  Florence  Percy,  ISIrs. 
Forsyth,  W.  Holmes,  Yiviand  Morel,  and  Soeur  Melaine.  We  have  many 
more  varieties,  besides  various  other  plants  in  full  floAver.  -  An  Old 
Subscriber. 
[The  flowers  forwarded  Avere  of  excellent  quality,  and  forcibly 
illustrate  what  a  remarkable  season  Ave  have  had.] 
Leaf  Rust  in  Chrysanthemums. 
I  AM  much  obliged  to  you  and  to  Mr.  Abbey  for  the  examination  of 
the  diseased  leaf  of  Nivens  forwarded  by  me.  It  seems  somewhat  of  a 
coincidence  that  the  rust  should  have  appeared  in  England  and  Italy  at 
about  the  same  time,  and  I  think  it  Avould  be  interesting  and  perhaps 
useful  if  you  would  alloAv  a  brief  statement  of  the  circumstances  attending 
the  appearance  of  the  disease  with  me  for  comparison. 
The  first  signs  I  observed  early  in  September  after  several  days’  rain, 
the  plants  being  very  saturated.  There  Avere  some  300  in  pots,  and  every 
leaf  right  up  to  the  floAver  has  been  affected.  The  disease  has  been 
always  on  the  “ascent.”  By  this  I  mean  that  it  has  appeared  on  the 
lower  leaves  first,  and  gradually  ascended  the  stem  ;  thus  the  lower 
leaves  were  covered  with  the  “  rust,”  while  the  upper  leaves  were  only 
slightly  speckled,  I  suppose  from  this  fact  it  may  be  inferred  that  the 
disease  emanates  from  the  roots.  I  may  here  observe  that  there  was 
practically  little  or  no  feeding,  such  as  is  understood  in  England. 
During  the  whole  of  the  season  I  have  had  under  glass  some  dozens  of 
seedlings  and  a  few  plants  of  Philadelphia  (I  f  nd  this  variety  succeeds  in 
this  way  cultivated  like  summer  Tomatoes  in  England  under  glass),  and 
not  a  sign  of  the  rust  has  appeared  on  these.  Of  two  or  three  hundred 
plants  grown  in  the  open  everyone  was  more  or  less  affected,  but  not  so 
badly  as  those  in  pots,  the  loAver  leaves,  hoAvever,  blackened  and  fell  off. 
I  may  state  that  vegetation  here  is  very  rapid  and  sappy,  and  when 
disease  affecting  the  growth  appears  it  spreads  very  quickly — e.g.,  a 
week  or  so  ago  after  the  rain  some  seventy-five  Tomato  plants  grown  in 
the  open  Avere  all  black  from  top  to  bottom,  and  this  happened  during 
very  hot  weather. 
I  enclose  a  Raspberry  leaf  similarly  affected  with  a  “rust.’  I  think, 
therefore,  it  is  only  fair  to  attribute  the  appearance  of  the  rust  amongst 
my  plants  to  excessive  moisture  at  the  roots. — H.  Briscoe-Ironside, 
Pallanza,  Lago  Maggiore,  Italg. 
Staging  Chrysanthemums  at  Exhibitions. 
I  FEAR  an  “  Old  Exhibitor,”  page  503,  has  little  experience  of 
present  day  shows  or  the  methods  adopted  by  modern  exhibitors  to 
convey  their  blooms  to  autumn  exhibitions  several  hundred  miles  aAvay. 
His  remarks  on  this  phase  of  the  subject  are  somevihat  in  opposition  to 
facts.  He  states,  “  Should  any  society  offer  all  its  prizes  in  the  cut  bloom 
classes  for  flowers  on  long  stems  it  vvould  have  to  depend  upon  local 
growers  for  exhibits,”  If  he  had  seen,  or  even  read  the  report  of  the 
Edinburgh  show,  page  510,  he  would  there  find  that  the  largest  prizes 
ever  offered  for  Chrysanthemum  blooms  in  any  form  were  on  long  stems. 
He  would  also  find  that  the  whole  of  the  six  prizes  were  taken  by 
exhibitors  residing  several  hundred  miles  from  the  shoAv.  Had  an  “  Old 
Exhibitor  ”  seen  the  exhibits  alluded  to  he  Avould  have  hesitated  before 
penning  his  article. 
The  remarkable  freshness  of  the  blooms  staged,  and  the  almost  total 
absence  of  any  signs  of  injury  during  transit,  was  a  distinct  refutation  of 
the  notion  advanced.  The  nine  competitors  Avho  made  the  magnificent 
display  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  their  achievement.  Even  the  three 
who  failed  to  win  a  prize  deserve  credit  for  the  manner  in  which  they  not 
only  presented  their  blooms,  but  for  the  individual  quality  of  each. 
My  experience  of  present  day  exhibitors  differs  considerably  fiom 
that  of  an  “  Old  Exhibitor”  in  the  matter  of  how  they  stage  their  blooms. 
During  a  somewhat  lengthened  tour  of  the  principal  shows  now  nearly  at 
a  close  I  was  particularly  struck  with  the  great  improvement  in  the 
methods  of  staging.  In  few  instances  did  I  find  flagrant  errors,  and  many 
times  I  remarked  upon  the  advance  made  in  staging.  It  was  apparent 
that  even  the  bulk  of  old  time  offenders  had  profited  by  the  object  lessons 
that  are  so  numerous  now  at  the  leading  shows. 
Probably  the  worst  instance  of  bad  staging  that  came  under  my  notice 
was  at  Devizes.  There  I  found  a  badly  set  up  stand  of  blooms  belongt  d 
to  an  exhibitor  who  was  making  his  maiden  attempt.  Certainly  the 
Towers  had  been  well  groAvn,  or  he  would  never  have  secured  a  prize  at 
all.  A  kindly  admonition,  accompanied  Avith  an  illustration  of  how  to 
stage  the  VJooms  Avell,  as  compared  with  the  reverse,  Avas  accepted  in  the 
proper  sjiirit,  and  I  expect  so  apt  a  pupil  to  profit  by  such  experience. 
To  illustrate  the  advance  made  in  staging  the  blooms,  an  exhibitor  I 
knew  twenty  years  since  as  then  very  much  lacking  in  taste  of  arrange¬ 
ment,  appears  to  be  no  longer  in  the  background,  but  is  now  quite  up  to 
the  forefront  in  this  most  important  detail.  An  “  Old  Exhibitor  ’  would 
be  adding  to  the  already  numerous  duties  of  judges  if  committees  were  to 
stipulate  that  the  blooms  should  be  a  certain  number  of  inches  above  the 
stand.  Strong  complaints  are  common  enough  now  about  the  very  thing  an 
“  Old  Exhibitor”  would  have  us  continue — viz.,  uniformity  in  the  arrange¬ 
ment  of  the  exhibits.  Nowadays  the  great  cry  is  for  variety,  not  a  lack 
of  it.  I  quite  agree  that  good  staging  is  important,  Aly  opinion  is  that 
rougher  examples  of  incurved  blooms  are  seen  now  than  formerly.  The 
reason  is  not  far  to  seek — viz.,  .the  inclusion  of  varieties  that  are  not 
