December  16,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
583 
on  the  6th  inst.  single-flowered  varieties  were  (juite  prominent,  although  I 
cannot  say  they  possessed  very  much  merit.  The  excuse  for  this  latter 
was  no  doubt  the  lateness  of  the  season.  At  many  provincial  shows  I 
have  seen  really  interesting  exhibits  of  this  section,  and  found  them 
most  favourably  spoken  of  by  the  general  body  of  visitors. — 
E.  Molyneux. 
Chrysanthemum  Notes  from  Wales. 
Welsh  Chrysanthemum  growers  must  surely  be  a  very  modest  class, 
at  least  judging  by  the  small  space  they  occupy  in  your  weekly  columns. 
It  may  be  safely  said,  however,  that  if  they  do  not  scribble  much  them¬ 
selves  they  benefit  by  the  scribbling  of  others,  for  I  find  the  Journal 
frequently  within  reach  of  the  potting  bench,  where  Mr.  Expert’s  tip  may 
be  foirnd  as  to  the  taking  of  a  certain  fickle  variety’s  bud,  or  which 
of  the  up-to-date  varieties  are  really  promising  and  should  be  added  to 
stock. 
The  Welsh  grower  is  too  far  removed  to  watch  and  select  for  himself 
such  new  varieties  as  can  only  be  exhibited  at  a  very  limited  number  of 
shows.  Not  that  he  is  far  behind  either  as  an  exhibitor,  as  many  of  our 
best  judges  will  testify  from  their  experiences  at  such  annual  exhibitions 
as  Cardiff,  Carnarvon,  Wrexham,  and  others,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
occasional  friendly  excursions  made  into  English  territory,  notably 
Bristol,  by  such  doughty  champions  as  Mr.  .J.  Durable  of  Picton  Castle, 
Mr.  Mabbott  of  Dowlais,  and  Mr.  Drake  of  CardifiF.  Mr.  Durable  is,  by 
the  way,  a  master  hand  at  incurved,  and  his  beautiful  stands  of  these 
have  on  several  occasions  pulled  him  through  with  flying  colours,  where 
probably  his  .Taps  would  have  failed  him.  Mr.  Dumble  took  the  premier 
prize  at  Cardi<T,  winning  for  the  second  year,  and  thus  finally,  the 
challenge  cup  offered  by  the  Society.  This  also  is  the  second  cup  won  in 
the  same  way  by  him  at  Cardiff. 
Mr.  Mabbott,  whose  name  is  already  mentioned,  works  under  great 
climatic  difficulties  at  Dowlais,  but  has  nevertheless  done  remarkably 
well.  Such  foliage  as  his  plants  carried  I  have  seldom  seen.  I  think  the 
Editor  saw  these,  for  if  my  memory  serve  me  rightly  a  note  appeared  in 
the  Journal  about  them.  Unfortunately  iMr.  Mabbott,  like  many  more, 
has  suffered  from  the  terrible  fogs  and  damp,  but  not  before  his 
plants  had  demonstrated  fully  that  good  foliage  meant  in  his  case  good 
blooms  too. 
Mr.  .T.  Howe  is  another  enthusiastic  Welsh  grower  who  has  done 
wonderfully  well  at  Cardiff  for  a  few  years  jiast,  but  was,  unfortunately, 
unable  to  show  this  season,  to  his  very  great  regret,  his  blooms  being 
exceedingly  good,  and  his  mind  being  bent  on  some  of  the  plums  of  the 
show.  Doubtless  had  he  been  allowed  to  stage,  several  decisions  of  the 
Cardiff  judges  would  have  been  different.  He  has  of  late  been  at  Lanelay, 
and  we  have  now  to  congratulate  him  on  his  a]))iointment  to  Dulwich  House, 
where  he  will  no  doubt  have  every  encouragement  to  cultivate  his  favourite 
flower. 
From  Cardiff  to  Beaumaris  is  a  far  cry,  but  in  this  lovely  corner  of 
the  Isle  of  Anglesey  is  Mr.  Howard,  who  took  all  the  leading  prizes  at 
Carnarvon  Show,  and  might,  with  great  advantage  to  himself,  have 
ventured  much  further  afield.  His  blooms,  both  incurved  and  .Japanese, 
were  of  the  highest  order— large,  but  not  coarse,  his  stands  embracing  all 
the  leading  sorts.  Near  at  hand  is  another  young  but  good  grower,  Mr. 
Wright,  gardener  to  the  Marquis  of  Anglesey,  whose  collection  has  been 
greatly  admired  this  season. 
Growers  on  the  borders,  such  as  Mr.  West  of  Bettisfield  Par’K,  who 
has  done  so  well  at  Manchester  ;  Mr,  Robinson  of  Brampton  Bryan,  who 
is  a  familiar  figure  at  Hereford,  Leominster,  Cardiff  and  Wolverhampton  ; 
Mr.  Spencer  of  Goodrich  Court,  Mr.  Townsend  of  Aston  Hall,  Mr. 
Roberts  of  Halston,  and  a  host  of  others,  practically  Welsh  growers,  are 
well  enough  known  to  your  readers.  Suffice  to  say  then  that  their  fame 
has  not  diminished,  though  in  the  case  of  the  last  named  a  bereavement 
in  the  family  which  he  serves  has  unfortunately  interfered  with  his 
exhibiting  arrangements. 
Among  shows  which  have  not  been  chronicled  in  the  .Journal,  a 
promising  one  held  in  the  Gymnasium  at  Newport,  Mon.,  deserves  notice. 
It  is  the  offspring  of  an  old  and  less  pretentious  parent  at  Maindee,  and 
the  evolution  is  a  natural  and  desirable  one,  such  an  outlet  being  necessary 
among  so  large  a  gardening  community  as  a  good  local  show.  Cut  blooms, 
trained  plants,  and  groups  were  really  good,  and  among  the  successful 
exhibitors  were  Air.  J.  Lockyer,  Pontyjmol  Park,  who  was  also  conspi¬ 
cuous  at  Monmouth,  Hereford,  and  Cardiff  ;  Mr.  J.  Grisdale,  The  Gaer, 
a  young  grower,  who  has  had  large  experience  as  foreman  among  a  noted 
collection  of  Chrysanthemums  ;  and  iMr.  Allen,  a  successful  amateur 
grower  from  Penarth.  Effective  groups  were  shown  by  Mr.  Sharratt, 
Stow  Park  ;  Mr.  Powell,  Chesterholm  ;  Air.  Steadman,  ^Maindee,  and 
others. 
Another  show  capable  of  being,  and  likely  to  be,  extended  much  in 
the  future  is  Swansea,  where  most  excellent  examples  were  crowded  into 
a  building  much  too  small.  Here  we  notice  the  veteran  grower  Mr. 
Hawkins  of  Hendrefoilan  and  his  young  rival  in  the  Chrysanthemum 
arena,  Mr.  Gilbert  of  Baglan  Hall,  late  foreman  to  Mr.  Lees  at  Barnet. 
Mr.  Gilbert  is  fast  making  himself  a  name  in  South  Wales  as  a  first-rate 
grower  and  a  genial  neighbour.  Air.  R.  C.  Williams  of  Crosswood,  too, 
was  conspicuous  as  usual.  We  have  not  had  the  good  fortune  to  see  Air. 
J,  Lambert  s  collection  at  Powis  Castle  this  season.  No  doubt  they  were 
worth  seeing,  for  Air.  Lambert  has  not  cast  aside  his  old  love,  nor  has 
he  lost  his  cunning. 
The  season  has  been  exceptionably  favourable  to  the  outdoor  plants, 
and  both  in  quantity  and  quality  (and  colour  especially)  they  have  been 
a  grand  success,  particularly  so  in  cottagers’  gardens  in  the  more  rural 
districts. — Bradwen. 
Chry'santhemums — Natural-Grown  for  Exhibition. 
AIany  will  no  doubt  agree  with  me,  that  it  is  chiefly  owing  to  the 
gigantic  prizes  given  for  large  blooms  at  the  various  shows  throughout 
the  kingdom  that  such  grand  results  have  been  attained. 
Now  this  has  been  achieved,  I  think  committees  of  Chrysanthemum 
shows  would  do  much  good  if  similar  prizes  were  offered  tor  naturally 
grown  Chrysanthemums.  I  for  one  do  not  appreciate  the  ungainly 
looking  specimens,  trained  as  flat  as  a  pancake,  with  about  100  sticks 
stuck  in,  for  at  the  liest  such  plants  have  a  very  unnatural  appearance. 
Now,  as  we  all  know,  at  the  present  time  there  are  grand  dwarf  varieties 
in  the  field,  therefore  I  would  like  to  suggest  that  societies  give  thoroughly 
good  prizes  for  the  best  twelve  plants  in  six  varieties  grown  in  8-inch 
pots,  such  plants  not  to  exceed  2  feet  6  inches  from  the  bottom  of  the 
pot,  and  each  to  be  carrying  twelve  blooms.  I  would  leave  it  an  open 
question  whether  such  plants  should  be  grown  on  the  one-stem  system 
or  not. 
It  will  require  some  taste  and  skill  to  grow  twelve  such  plants  with 
good  foliage  down  to  rim  of  pots,  and  growers  of  large  flowers  would  have 
to  leave  the  beaten  track,  and  adopt  another  one.  I  feel  certain  such 
specimens  would  find  many  admirers,  both  at  shows  as  well  as  at  home. 
— A.  J.  Long,  Wyford  Gardens^  Reading. 
Pompon  Chrysanthemums. 
The  value  and  attractiveness  of  these  lovely  free  flowering  “  gems  ” 
are  each  year  becoming  more  apparent.  To  cut  flower  arrangements 
they  give  the  necessary  lightness  and  variety  of  form,  when  associated 
with  blossoms  of  bolder  type  ;  and  when  really  well  grown  plants  are 
produced  in  pots  they  find  a  .ready  sale.  It  is  useless  to  grow  “  leggy  ’' 
plants  with  the  object  of  selling  them  as  pot  plants,  but  the  man  who 
turns  out  bushy  specimens  in  small  pots,  furnished  with  deep  green  leaves 
throughout  the  entire  length  of  stem,  can  afford  to  laugh  at  the  fore¬ 
bodings  of  pessimists. 
I  do  not  intend,  however,  to  champion  the  good  qualities  of  this 
section  of  Chrysanthemums  in  opposition  to  those  which  produce  larger 
flowers  when  grown  in  the  same  way,  or  even  to  write  disparagingly 
about  the  huge,  grand  flowers  modern  gardeners  and  exhibitions  provide 
for  both  public  and  private  enjoyment.  Chrysanthemums  of  every  form 
are  to  me  “  things  of  beauty,”  which  spread  brightness  throughout  the 
land  at  a  season  when  above  all  others  it  is  needed.  The  flowering 
season  of  Pompons  is  somewhat  earlier  than  that  of  other  types  of 
Chrysanthemums — excepting,  of  course,  those  similar  in  style  to  Aldme. 
Desgranges— and  during  September  and  October  gardens  as  a  rule  are 
none  too  well  supplied  with  flowering  plants  in  pots.  AA’^hen  those 
two  months  come  round,  how  often  may  gardeners  bo  heard  remarking 
(after  seeing  a  collection  of  well  grown  Pompons),  “Ah  I  I  must 
grow  a  good  batch  next  year.”  Yet,  through  some  cause  or  other, 
the  following  season  finds  them  in  aJiout  the  same  position  in  regard  to  a 
supply  of  these  dainty  “  midgets  ”  of  the  Chrysanthemum  world.  The 
insertion  of  Chrysanthemum  cuttings  is  now  in  progress  throughout  the 
country,  and  these  notes  are  intended  as  a  reminder  to  those  who  have 
made  a  mental  note  to  grow  Pompon,  as  well  as  to  draw  the  attention  of 
others  to  their  great  value. 
As  they  are  the  most  useful  when  grown  in  5  or  6-inch  pots,  I  find 
January  is  quite  early  enough  to  insert  the  cuttings.  If  large  numbers 
are  required  they  can  be  rooted  quite  easily  in  boxes,  but  I  usually 
employ  5-inch  pots  for  the  purpose,  placing  the  cuttings  an  inch  apart 
round  the  edges  of  the  pot,  and  from  three  to  five  in  the  centre.  If  room 
can  be  spared  in  a  house  in  which  a  greenhouse  temperature  is  maintained 
the  cuttings  will  root  quickly  when  placed  under  a  hand-light  and  kept 
close.  I  have,  however,  for  some  3'ears  rooted  the  whole  of  my  Chrj’s- 
anthemum  cuttings  in  cold  pits,  and  I  find  by  following  that  plan  the 
plants  are  invariably  very  sturdy,  and  thick  in  the  stem  at  the  collar.  I 
prepare  the  pits  by  placing  in  them  leaves  to  a  depth  of  3  feet.  These 
are  trodden  very  firmly,  and  covered  with  a  few  inches  of  sawdust  or 
cocoa-nut  fibre  for  plunging  the  pots  in. 
After  giving  one  good  watering  it  is  a  long  time  before  more  is 
required,  provided  the  pit  is  kept  close,  and  shaded  if  a  few  bright  days 
occur.  In  the  event  of  a  succession  of  foggy  or  wet  ones  it  is  sometimes 
necessary  to  tilt  the  light  slightly  to  dry  up  moisture.  The  only  covering 
I  give  in  severe  weather  is  a  double  thickness  of  mats,  and  although  the 
soil  in  the  pots  is  sometimes  frozen  hard,  I  scarcely  lose  a  cutting,  though 
of  course  in  the  event  of  a  continuance  of  severe  weather  they  are  rather 
late  inr  starting  their  growth  ;  but  I  think  it  is  better  to  have  them  in  that 
condition  than  to  force  them  on  in  houses  and  then  coddle  them  in  pits 
till  they  become  “  leggy,”  because  the  weather  in  April  is  too  severe  to 
place  them  in  the  open  air. 
When  the  cuttings  are  well  rooted  I  place  them  in  pots  3j  inches  in 
diameter,  and  as  soon  as  they  are  ready  for  potting,  I  like  to  put 
them  into  their  flowering  pots  at  once,  pressing  the  soil  firmly  during 
the  process.  About  the  first  week  in  June  the  pots  are  plunged  in  coal 
ashes,  a  sufficient  distance  apart  to  allow  a  clear  space  between  the  shoots 
when  they  are  fully  grown.  If  treated  in  this  way  and  well  attended  to 
in  the  matter  of  watering,  as  well  as  feeding  with  artificial  and  liquid 
manures,  well  flowered,  sturdy,  and  healthy  little  specimens  will  be  the 
result.  After  the  blooming  period  is  over  many  of  the  old  stools  are 
planted  in  a  warm  position  in  the  open  air,  where  they  supply  quantities 
of  flowers  for  cutting,  as  well  as  young  plants  for  increasing  the  stock. 
In  regard  to  varieties,  the  following  selection  will  he  found  to  include 
some  of  the  verj'  best. 
Early  Flowering. — Alice  Butcher,  red,  shaded  orange  ;  Anastasio,  light 
purple  ;  Blushing  Bride,  rose  lilac  ;  California,  bright  yellow  ;  Flora, 
