JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
December  23,  1897. 
GOG 
and  also  the  Committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  Thousands 
of  pounds  were  promised,  and  I  sincerely  hope  those  promises  still  stand 
good.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  one  gentleman  offered  to  give  £5000  if  a 
similar  sum  was  subscribed  by  a  certain  time,  but  unfortunately  just  then 
matters  in  the  financial  world  were  unfavourable,  and  great  depression  in 
business  existed.  It  seems  to  me  that  a  most  opportune  moment  has 
arrived  for  the  revival  and  carrying  out  of  that  or  a  similar  scheme. 
If  a  powerful  and  influential  committee  were  selected  from  the 
National  Chrj'santhemum  Society,  and  if  our  highly  esteemed  President, 
Sir  E.  Saunders,  could  be  induced  to  act  as  spokesman,  offering  our 
cordial  support  to  the  President  and  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  the  whole  matter  could  be  discussed,  and  the  feeling  of  kindred 
societies  and  the  ])ublic  generally  be  ascertained.  The  Rose,  Carnation 
and  Picotee,  Auricula,  Narcissus,  and  Cacti  Societies  continue  to  hold 
their  shows  at  the  Drill  Hall,  and  I  feel  sure  the  National  <  hrj’santhemum 
Society  would  be  received  with  open  arms  by  the  R.H.S.  if  the  building 
were  large  enough,  as  of  course  it  is  not,  without  that  chartered  body 
wishing  to  exercise  any  control  whatever  over  internal  arrangements  of 
the  N.C.S. 
I  am  both  willing  and  anxious  to  co-operate  in  assisting  to  bring 
something  of  the  kind  prominently  before  the  public.  Unity  is  strength, 
and  it  seems  to  me  if  the  united  strength  of  all  the  kindred  societies  now 
existing  in  London  could  be  secured,  and  pay  proportionate  sums,  on  an 
equitable  basis,  towards  the  interest  on  borrowed  capital  (if  such  a  course 
were  deemed  necessary),  there  is  no  reason  why  we  should  not  have  a 
home  of  our  own,  and  not  remain  in  lodgings  for  ever.  I  think  we  might 
reasonably  count  on  something  like  the  following  income,  each  society,  of 
course,  taking  its  own  gate  money  : — 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  . 
National  Chr5'fanthemum  Society . 
National  Rose  Society  . 
National  Dahlia  Society  . 
Carnation  and  Picotee  Society  . 
Auricula  Society  . 
Cacti  Society . 
Letting  the  hall  for  horticultural  business 
committee  meetings  . 
Letting  for  other  approved  purposes 
£400  per  annum. 
200 
100 
100 
50 
u 
?> 
55 
25 
10 
)> 
100 
1000 
)> 
Total 
£1985 
This,  at  4  per  cent.,  gives  a  borrowing  power  of  nearly  £50,000, 
If  the  Council  of  the  R.H.S.  would  favourably  reconsider  the  sugges¬ 
tion,  and  all  kindred  societies  cordially  support  such,  or  a  similar  scheme, 
it  seems  to  me  we  can  well  jticture  phoenix  rising  boldly  out  of  its  own 
ashes,  and  British  horticulture  going  on  in  rapid  and  harmonious  strides. 
It  certainly  is  an  undisputed  reproach  that  horticulturists  do  not  possess 
in  the  City  of  London  a  building  large  enoujh  to  hold  even  an  ordinary 
flower  show  ;  and,  in  my  opinion,  it  is  now  quite  time  we  did.  I  ask  one 
and  all  if  the  time  has  not  arrived  when  this  hall  should  be  begun. — 
H.  Cannell. 
After  the  perusal  of  several  contributions  on  the  affairs  of  the 
N.'^''.S.  and  the  R.A.  Co.,  I  cannot  come  to  any  other  conclusion  than 
that  the  Secretary’s  remarks  are  laboured  and  put  out  of  court  by  the 
temperate  statement  of  facts  and  figures  from  Mr.  ,T.  W.  IHoorman. 
I  observe  that  a  section  of  the  N.C.S.  have  dared  to  threaten  a  split 
with  the  view  to  have  shows  under  the  management  of  the  R.A.  Co.  if 
the  shows  of  the  N.^.S.  were  transferred  elsewhere.  The  futility  of  this 
threat  becomes  ludicrously  apparent  through  the  total  of  the  expenses 
incurred  in  1896  by  the  N.C.S.,  which  the  R.A.  Co.  would  have  to  be 
responsible  for  should  the  said  section  of  the  N.C.S.  subordinate  its 
independence  to  the  dictates  of  the  latter  as  the  result  of  a  schism.  If 
this  is  not  slavery  with  a  vengeance  as  correctly  designated  by  “  A.  D.  ’ 
and  others,  I  should  like  to  know  what  is. 
The  threat  alluded  to  does  not  seem  to  be  dictated  by  consideration 
for  the  N.C.S.,  but  from  motives  of  separate  interests  unconnected  with 
the  continuation  of  a  victorious  career  of  this  Society,  for  which  all  its 
members  are  supposed  to  strive.  If  prosperity  of  the  N.C.S.,  to  which 
the  Secretary  refers,  be  a  potential  power,  certainly  the  examples  of 
the  successes  of  provincial  societies  would  positively  prove  that  separa¬ 
tion  from  the  R.A.  Co.  and  its  “attractions”  would  induce  the  general 
public  of  our  huge  metropolis  to  assemble  in  their  thousands  for  the 
main  and  only  true  enjoyment  intended,  represented  by  the  fostering  of 
the  spirit  of  horticulture,  and  as  a  superior  aim  to  the  distractions  that 
disturb  this  result. 
The  evils  of  darkness  attaching  to  the  locality  chosen  for  these  shows 
I  will  not  further  discuss,  and  I  must  add  my  belief  that  those  members 
of  the  Society  who  know  of  no  better  reason  than  that  the  show  has  been 
held  there  for  twenty-one  years  in  order  to  continue  so  are  not  its  true 
friends. 
However,  to  consider  the  other  side  of  the  question  -  practical  sug¬ 
gestions  for  amelioration.  The  idea  of  “A.  D.”  of  transferring  the  shows 
to  the  Royal  Agricultural  Hall  deserves  all  the  prai-e  of  something 
better,  if  the  best,  a  central  site,  be  unobtainable.  It  would  be  consider- 
ably  better  than  a  lesser  evil,  and  ample  attendance  would  soon  dispel 
the  notions  of  any  adversaries  of  this  scheme. 
But  why  stop  here  ?  Let  us  admit  the  unimportance  as  to  the 
locality  of  the  shows  for  a  year  or  two  while  a  “  Temple  of  Horticulture  ” 
be  created,  befitting  the  richest  city  in  the  world,  in  a  central  site,  and 
be  enthusiastically  supported  by  the  N.^.S.,  occupying  the  most 
influential  place  among  special  floricultural  societies.  The  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  will  be  certain  in  its  strong  aid  and  power  growing 
annually  in  an  accelerated  ratio  as  the  general  love  of  horticulture  expands, 
and  trust  should  be  placed  in  such  evidences.  If  practically  and  properly 
attempted  many  purses  will  lend  their  aid,  and  more  readily  now  in 
consequence  of  the  outspoken  condemnations  of  the  accommodations 
actually  existing. 
What  will  posterity  say  of  the  niggardl}'  spirit  of  this  city  towards  a 
truly  elevating  object  on  the  threshold  of  the  twentieth  century,  to  have 
wasted  its  opportunity  and  missed  to  secure  a  central  and  worthy  site  for 
the  'I’emple  of  Horticulture  before  the  rapidly  decreasing  areas  for  such  a 
purpose  be  otherwise  appropriated?  Is  it  even  too  late  to  begin  resuscita¬ 
tion  ot  the  project,  twice  before  attempted  and  dropped  ?  The  very 
vastness  of  our  metropolis  renders  a  central  site  alone  acceptable,  and 
certainly  the  fitness  and  felicity  of  choosing  this  moment,  one — the  few 
remaining  ones  — of  this  the  Queen’s  Jubilee,  should  accelerate  action. 
It  can  be  only  a  matter  of  time  as  to  the  creation  of  a  true  temple,  and 
the  opportunity  seems  good  with  the  scrupulous  care  by  the  rules  of  all 
nations  to  leave  the  peace  of  the  world  undisturbed,  and  commerce 
adding  vast  riches  to  our  nation’s  pockets  quite  on  a  par  with  the  colossal 
edifice  of  the  Empire.  Are  the  pockets  of  those  blessed  with  riches  only 
capable  of  appreciation  of  the  handicraft  of  mere  man  in  their  creation  of 
temples  for  picture  gatherings  and  their  contents,  leaving  the  handicraft 
of  the  Almighty,  His  sublime  creation  of  flowers  that  no  human  art  can 
attain,  to  shift  for  themselves  ? 
Flowers  appeal  to  sympathy  and  sentiment,  and  their  “practical” 
aspect  is  only  half  the  battle.  Let  the  true  and  existing  sympathy  be 
appealed  to  in  such  forms  as  ex]ierience  may  suggest,  and  let  us  see 
whether  we  cannot  create  a  “  Temple  of  Horticulture,”  where  also  could 
be  shown  to,  and  seen  by  all,  our  transmarine  cousins  when  arriving  in 
their  shoals  to  have  a  look  at  the  old  country,  the  gathering  from  the 
horticultural  world  of  the  empire,  emblematic  of  its  extent,  as  is  done 
through  collections  in  other  branches  made  independently. 
In  view  of  such  a  development,  I  should  like  in  reference  to  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  to  see  the  tendency  arrested  towards  ever  larger  and  larger 
blooms,  running  the  risk  of  bordering  on  the  coarse.  The  public  taste  is 
thus  diverted  from  real  beauty  into  a  mischievous  direction,  and  the 
craving  for  sensational  sizes  must  soon  ])ass  the  limits  beyond  which  all 
claim  to  beauty  is  forfeited. 
Two  attempts  at  creating  a  central  hall  have  failed,  let  us  have  faith 
in  the  mystic  symbol  “three”  as  of  good  omen.— H.  H.  R,,  Forest  Hitl. 
P.S.— A  portion  of  this  letter  was  sent  five  weeks  ago  to  another 
paper,  and  now  I  see  printed  at  this  belated  hour  with  one  from  Mr. 
Cannell. 
[Mr.  Cannell’s  letter  appears  above.  It  arrived  too  late  for  insertion 
last  week.] 
Late-flowering  Japanese  Chrysanthemums. 
At  the  recent  winter  exhibition  of  the  N.C.S.,  which  was  most 
interesting,  I  made  note  of  the  following  varieties  which  were  represented 
by  good  blooms ;  as  a  guide  to  those  who  require  large  blooms  at  so  late  a 
period  of  the  year  the  selection  may  prove  useful : — Golden  Gate,  bronze 
yellow,  belongs  to  the  section  known  as  reflexed  Japanese  ;  General 
Roberts  has  petals  of  the  type  of  Mrs.  F.  Jameson,  red,  shaded  carmine  ; 
Duchess  of  York,  rich  yellow  in  colour  ;  George  Seward,  buflf  and  bronze 
with  a  suffusion  of  red  ;  Mutual  Friend,  ordinarily  white,  but  so  late 
exhibiting  a  tinge  of  pink  at  the  base,  a  I’emark  applicable  to  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Lees,  which  has  more  curly  florets,  and  shorter  than  when  earlier 
developed  ;  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche  appears  to  have  been  a  great 
success  this  season,  whether  early  or  late;  Louise,  fresh  and  neat; 
Bellem,  ordinarily  is  a  bright  pink  in  colour,  is  now  nearly  white,  the 
narrow  florets  building  up  a  large  bloom  of  much  substance  ;  Elmer  D. 
Smith,  rich  cardinal  red  ;  Madame  Carnot,  apparently  as  good  for 
winter  use  as  for  early  November  ;  Julia  Scaramanga  (depicted  on 
page  555),  bidding  fair  to  become  a  leading  variety  ;  Rose  Wynne, 
faintly  flushed  pink  ;  Edith  Tabor,  rich  yellow  ;  Mrs.  C.  Blick,  pure 
white ;  and  Beauty  of  Castlewood. 
Chrysanthemum  the  Queen. 
Cultivators  of  Chrysanthemums  are  generally  glad  of  information 
respecting  any  good  variety  suitable  for  early  or  late  flowering.  "When 
one  especially  valuable  for  providing  blooms  in  quantity  during  the 
latter  half  of  December  is  found  the  joy  is  the  greater.  After  a  two 
years’  trial  with  the  variety  here  named  I  am  pleased  to  say  it  is  one  of 
the  best  for  the  latter  purpose.  Cultivated  in  the  ordinary  way  to 
produce  exhibition  blooms,  three  on  a  plant,  it  would  be  classed  as  a 
.Tapanese  incurved,  white,  wdth  just  a  tinge  of  colour  suffusing  the  lower 
florets.  Grown  to  produce  blooms  in  quantity  the  colour  is  pure  white, 
the  petals  erect,  or  nearly  so,  with  perhaps  a  leaning  to  the  reflexed  type 
of  bloom.  Where  so  many  varieties  fail  as  decorative  sorts  is  in  the 
weakness  of  their  peduncles.  If  blooms  do  not  stand  erect  without 
artificial  support  they  lose  much  in  value.  Especially  strong  in  this 
respect  is  the  Queen,  and  therefore  the  more  valuable. 
Cuttings  inserted  early  in  .Tanuary,  the  plants  allowed  to  grow 
uninterruptedly  wdthout  interference  xvith  the  shoots,  will  produce 
numerous  clusters  of  bloom  of  from  four  to  six  each.  How  I  purpose  to 
manage  this  variety  next  season  is  to  plant  out  the  old  stools  in  April  in 
some  open  position  in  the  garden,  top  the  shoots  once,  afterwards  allow 
them  to  grow  at  will,  repot  at  the  end  of  Sejitember,  and  bring  the 
))lants  on  in  a  cool  house  as  desired.  —  E.  MolyneUX. 
