March  6,  1902 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
207 
Chrysanthemum  Rust;  Is  it  Dying  Out? 
Tliat  tlie  dreaded  Chrysanthemum  imst  has  done,  and  will 
yet  disturb  the  minds  of  many  growers  may  be  regarded  as  cer¬ 
tain  ;  but  what  is  the  answer  to  the  query,  “  Is  it  dying  out  ?  ” 
to  be  ?  In  a  contemporary  some  correspondence  has  been 
peru  ed  with  keen  interest,  and  one  very  sanguine  contributor 
satisfied  hanself  that  because  the  correspondence  columns  of 
his  weekly  paper  did  not  enlarge  on  the  prevalence  of  the 
scourge,  he  ventured  boldly  to  assume  that  the  disease  must 
be  rapidly  dying  out.  It  would,  indeed,  be  a  matter  of  much 
consolation  if  such  an  opinion  could  be  accepted  as  correct; 
but,  unfortunately,  as  with  another  infectious  disease  of  another 
kind  which  has  been  heard  so  much  of  this  winter,  statistics 
do  not  -show  that  such  a  happy  state  is  existent. 
Certainly  it  is  not  a  little  curious  that  while  in  one  garden 
there  is  an  entire  absence  of  the  scourge,  in  another  there  is 
alw-ays  present  an  element  of  worry  on  the  part  of  those  in 
charge  of  the  plants  because  of  its  presence,  and  that  despite 
steps  taken  with  remedial  measures  for  combating  it.  I  can 
name  two  gardens  where  several  hundreds  are  grown  in  each, 
both  for  large  sp^'clmen  blooms  and  decorative  jolants,  and  where 
in  each  during  the  past  season  not  a  spot  of  the  rust  was  seen  ; 
yet  the  plants  were  treated  in  the  ordinary  manner  as  regards 
feeding  with  stimulating  manures,  both  ai’tificial  and  natural 
liquids. 
I  think  the  percentage  of  those  who  can  claim  to  be  entirely 
free  must  be  a  small  one,  for  so  many  complain,  if  not  of  serious 
consequences,  at  a’l  events  they  have  diseased  plants;  and  that 
be'ng  so,  there  is  contagion  likely  to  develop,  slightly  or 
seriously,  in  its  season  should  the  weather  and  other  circum¬ 
stances  be  favourable.  The  opinion  of  some  growers  is  that  it 
comes,  or  at  least  is  fostered,  by  feeding  with  rich  manures; 
others,  again,  assert  that  well-fed  and  vigorous  plants  are  not 
.so  liable  to  attack.  The  evidence  therefore,  remains  in  a  state 
bordering  on  confliction,  and  it  would  appear  to  be  difficult  for 
the  one  or  the  other  to  carry  conviction  beyond  their  own  sphere. 
Some  very  interesting  experiments  have  been  carried  out  by 
some  growers,  and  duly  recorded;  and  while  in  these  there  Avould 
seem  absolute  and  satisfying  proof  from  that  particular  point 
of  view,  another  rvould  step  in  and  shoAv  opinions  deriAmd  from 
cause  and  effect  wdiich  shake  their  opponents’  theories  violently. 
In  the  matter  of  fungoid  diseases  theory  does  not  seem  to  rise 
to  the  useful  occa.sion.  Many  antidotes  ha,ve  been  tried  with 
varying  success,  but  science  has  yet  to  find  the  remedy  that  can 
claim  to  deal  effectually  Avith  the  ru.st  anyAvhere  and  everyAvhere. 
Some  kinds  are  much  more  prone  to  attack  than  others,  which 
would  sAiggcst  as  a  partial  remedy  a  banishment  of  those  the 
wo’se  diseased.  Instances  can  be  cited  where  growers  having 
a  clean  stock  have  refrained  from  introducing  fresh  cuttings  or 
plants  for  fear  of  infection,  and  yet,  though  a  season  or  two 
may  pass  without  a  trace,  a  time  comes  Avhen  immunity  fail 
them.  The  growTh  of  Chi-ysanthemums  under  such  restraint 
must  be  most  uninteresting.  The  passion  for  novelty  nowadays 
is  such  that,  despite  the  danger  of  infection,  enthusiasm  brushes 
aside  such  illusionary  ideas,  and  embarks  on  the  road  of  chance, 
either  to  win  or  to  lose. 
It  is  not  uncommon  for  an  exchange  of  cuttings  from  an 
infected  stock  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  another  and  yet  go  free 
from  rust.  Should  it  develop  in  the  cutting  stage  it  is  possible, 
at  any  ii^to  for  the  time  being,  to  stamp  it  out  by  overhauling 
the  entire  rtock,  packing  off  the  worst  of  the  leaves,  or,  if  there 
be  only  slight  traces,  remoA^e  eveiy  leaf  showing  a  spot  and  burn 
them.  If  this  is  repeated  in  the  earlier  stages  the  rust  plague 
may  not  be  seen  again  during  the  season,  or  it  may  appear  in 
the  autumn — September  and  October.  Veltha,  Condy’s  fluid, 
soluble  petroleum,  and  other  solutions,  all  servo  to  keep  some 
collections  .safe  and  free,  and  hav'e  their  adherents  according  to 
the  success  foPowing  their  use;  but  Avhile  they  are  each  claimed 
to  be  all  that  is  good  in  individual  instances,  the  same  succe.s.s 
does  not  follow  the  universal  adoption  of  either. 
Scientific  minds  have  still  plenty  of  scope  in  finding  the  pre¬ 
scription  that  can  allay  at  one  stroke  the  Chiwsanthemnm  and 
other  kindred  fungoid  diseases,  and  the  attendant  Avorries  their 
presence  creates  in  the  minds  of  tho.se  Avho  are  so  unfortunate  as 
to  possess  a  fertile  stock.  Much  may  he  done  by  discarding 
those  varieties  that  are  predisposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  rust; 
and  if  on  some  future  occasion  a  list  of  those  sorts  were  com¬ 
piled  by  growers  that  are  so  extremely  liable,  it  Avould  be  the 
means  to  many  of  avoiding  those  that  are  ru.st-inviting.  During 
the  coming  season  gi’owers  would  do  well  to  make  note  of  those 
kinds  that  afford  “  cover  ”  for  the  scourge,  and  impart,  the  infor¬ 
mation  for  the  benefit  of  others,  so  that  in  purchasing  or  exchange 
each  may  act  as  “censor”  on  their  oAvn  and  fresh  introductions 
from  any  source.  Change  of  stock  must  not  be  held  as  a  means 
by  which  alone  infe.station  comes;  it  is  .just  as  likely  to  appear 
by  rig  d  exclusion,  consequent  on  debility. — W.  S.,  Wilts. 
Chrysanthemum  Australie. 
In  Chrysantheinuin  notes  for  F ebruar>^  20,  page  164,  this  variety 
AAas  incorrectly  de.sci’ibed  as  yellow.  It  is  rosy  amaranth,  Avith 
silvery  reverse. — Yours  faithfully,  W.  Wells. 
Aberdeen  Chrysanthemum  Show. 
The  secretary  of  the  aboA'e,  Mr.  M.  H.  Sinclair,  18,  Market 
Street,  Aberdeen,  in  a  letter  tc  us  points  out  that  the  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Nellie  Pockett  figured  on  page  143,  February  13, 
obtained  first  prize  in  the  specimen  plant  class  at  the  Aberdeen 
Chry.santhemum  ShoAv  la.st  NoA'ember.  In  referrmg  to  the  forth¬ 
coming  schedule  of  the  same  society,  he  mentions  that  £150  odd 
Avill  be  aAA’arded  in  pi'izes.  We  tnrst  Mr.  Sinclair  may  send 
further  notes  from  time  to  time. 
Australian  Var.eties. 
In  my  recent  notes  on  the  above  I  referred  to  some  fine 
crimson-coloured  Japanese  sorts  which  were  knoAvn  by  numbers 
only.  Having  been  furnished  wdth  the  names,  I  can  noAv  giA^e 
descriptions  of  them.  Perhaps  the  grandest  form  is  T.  Humphreys, 
a  really  fine  exhibition  flower.  The  colour  is  rich  crimson  scarlet. 
It  is  a  large,  deep,  full  reflexing  shape.  The  petals  have  fine 
substance.  It  is  rather  tall  in  growth,  but  stout,  and  altogether 
a  valuable  acquisition.  Mrs.  C.  J.  Salter  is  crimson,  with  old 
gold  reverse.  It  is  full  and  deep,  and  most  striking.  Matchless 
is  a  bloom  of  wide,  recurving  shape.  The  upper  surface  colour — 
a  rich  deep  maroon — is  the  shade  seen  in  the  Avhole  flower.  The 
old  Wm.  Seward,  much  larger,  and  of  greater  substance,  would 
describe  it  perfectly.  Lord  Alverstone  is  another  fine  crimson 
maroon,  very  rich  and  vivid.  This  is  a  full,  deep  bloom,  com¬ 
posed  of  wide,  thick  florets,  and  the  habit  of  the  plant  is  excep¬ 
tionally  dwarf. 
Kitty  Duncan  is  a  full,  reflexed  crimson  flower,  not  over-large, 
but  valuable  for  general  culture,  because  of  its  free-flowering 
qualities.  Claremont :  The  most  remarkable  thing  about  this 
variety  is  the  broad  florets,  which  measure  nearly  an  inch;  colour, 
Indian  red,  distinct  and  striking.  It  is  a  full  bloom  of  exhibition 
size.  Ben  Wells :  In  this  kind  we  har^e  a  white  which  Anil  surely 
be  big  enough  to  please.  Blooms  of  it  measure  lOin  across  as 
they  stand  on  the  plant.  The  florets  are  thin,  and  yet  build  up 
a  massive  flower.  Mrs.  Alexander  McKinley  has  blooms  of  a  rich 
terra-cotta  or  deep  bronze  shade.  They  are  full,  handsome,  and 
quite  up  to  the  standard  required  for  exhibition.  The  habit  of 
the  plant  is  excellent. — H.  S. 
- •  ^1^  • 
Wild  Flowers:  February, 
The  ground  being  under  the  grip  of  King  Frost,*  and  covered 
with  snow,  not  much  can  be  said  about  plants  in  flower  for  this 
month.  We  will,  however,  mention  a  fcAv  of  the  earliest  to  come 
into  bloom,  and  will  start  with  the  Winter  Aconite,  Eranthis 
hyemalis,  which  will  be  familiar  to  most  readers.  It  is  not 
strictly  a  native  plant,  although  it  is  included  in  some  British 
floras.  It  is  extensively  grown  for  naturalising  amongst  shrubs 
or  in  woody  situations,  and  increases  rapidly  in  some  places. 
4’he  floAvers  are  yellow,  someAvhat  resembling  a  Buttercup,  with 
leaves  just  below,  having  the  appearance  of  a  green  collar. 
There  are  other  leaves  springing  from  the  base,  generally  called 
ladical  leaves.  Closely  allied  to  Eranthis  are  the  Hellebores ; 
the'  e  are  two  native  species.  _  Helleborus  footidus,  the  Bear’s 
Foot  (also  called  SetterAA’ort),  is  the  first  to  bloom.  It  is  a 
larger  growing  plant  than  H.  viridis,  having  pale  green  flowm-s 
sometimes  tinged  with  purple.  It  grows  wild  in  Hampshire  and 
Sussex.  Helleborus  viridis  is  a  less  attractiA^e-looking  plant  than 
feetidus,  having  green  floAA'ers.  This  is  generally  found  in  pas¬ 
tures,  hedge  bottoms,  and  round  about  ruins.  We  have  several 
varieties  of  Helleborus  under  cultivation  in  our  gai  den.s ,  pei - 
haps  none  is  better  known  than  the  Christmas  Hose,  Helleborus 
niger.  All  the  plants  mentioned  belong  to  the  same  natural 
order’  Ranuneulacese,  or  the  Buttercup  family.  It  is  an  impor¬ 
tant  order,  and  is  represented  in  our  gardens  by  niany  beautiful 
plants,  such  as  the  Delphiniums,  Aquilegias,  Pwonias.  and  others. 
4'he  SAveet  Violet,  Viola  odorata,  is  one  of  the  earliest  plants 
to  come  into  floAver,  and  is  found  in  great  quantities  in  some 
districts.  Perhaps  no  other  flower  is  cherished  so  much  as  this, 
unless  it  is  the  Primrose.  Viola  canina,  the  Dog  Violet,  blooms 
a  little  later,  and  is  always  scentless;  the  floAvers  are  thinner, 
and  of  a  paler  blue  than  odorata.  A  very  pretty  little  plant  is 
the  Marsh  Violet  (Viola  palustrisY  As  its  name  implies,  it  is 
*  The  frosi,  of  cour.se,  h.as  given  way  .since  the  above  was  wri'ter.  Ku. 
