344 
jnr^nXAL  OF  HORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  17,  1902. 
Godfrey’s  Chrysanthemums. 
^  Tliat  Mr.  W.  J.  Godfrey,  the  Chrysanthemum  specialist  of 
Exmouth,  is  a  man  of  energy  no  one  who  knows  him  will  deny, 
and  that  he  is  second  to  no  trade  grower  of  the  popular  Autunni 
Queen  is  also  apparent.  We  received  on  Saturday  last  one  of 
the  best  executed  coloured  illustrations  of  Mr.  Godfrey’s 
Chrysanthemums  that  have  reached  Mitre  Court,  and  we  feel 
gratified  to  learn  that  this  beautiful  and  well-finished  present¬ 
ment  came  from  the  hands  of  British  Avorkmen — that  is,  Blake 
and  Mackenzie,  Liverpool.  The  varieties  shown  are  :  (1)  Godfrey’s 
Masterpiece;  (2)  Exmouth  Crimson;  (3)  Sensation;  and  (4) 
Godfrey’s  Pride ;  and  the  size  of  the  sheet  on  which  they  are 
printed  measures  19|in  across  bj^  30in  deep,- — truly  a  large 
picture.  It  is  a  splendid  record  for  the  Coronation  Year,  and  Avill 
serve  as  a  guide  to  compare  from  in  years  to  come.  At  first  sight 
the  blooms  Avould  appear  to  be  enlarged  beyond  the  size  of  the 
natural  flowers ;  but  this  is  not  so,  for  on  measuring  the  largest 
flower  AA'e  find  it  spans  9Jin  one  Avay  and  9in  in  the  opposite  direc¬ 
tion.  Those  AA'ho  have  seen  the  floAvers  at  London  and  other 
exhibitions  Avill  agree  also  that  the  colours  are  a  remarkably  close 
imitation  of  the  natural  shades.  It  is  a  most  creditable  pro¬ 
duction. 
Notes  on  Chrysanthemums. 
The  various  sections  of  Chrysanthemums  established  in  pots 
of  various  sizes  require  unremitting  attention  at  the  present 
time  and  onwards  through  the  season.  The  amount  of  air 
alloAved  the  plants  and  the  supplies  of  moisture  to  the  roots  are 
of  great  importance.  In  a  confined  atmosphere  after  the  plants 
liaA’e  commenced  to  make  fresh  roots  the  growth  Avill  extend 
unduly,  and  not  be  so  substantial  as  it  ought  to  be  if  alloAved 
plenty  of  fresh  air,  of  course  a^miding  cold,  draughty  currents, 
Avhich  are  liable  to  produce  mildew.  The  A\atering,  too,  must 
be  on  careful  lines,  maintaining  the  soil  sufficiently,  but  not 
too  moist.  Expose  the  plants  fully  on  fine  sunny  days,  and 
those  that  are  strong  and  have  received  sufficient  hardening  may 
stand  entirely  outdoors  in  a  Avarm,  sheltered  corner.  Recently 
rooted  cuttings  will  need  to  be  potted  singly,  giving  them  cold 
frame  treatment.  Afford  a  little  shade  during  the  Avarmest  sun¬ 
shine  until  root  action  is  free.  If  the  soil  is  moist  at  potting 
time  it  is  not  necessary  to  give  heaA'y  Avaterings,  but  the  plants 
may  be  sprinkled,  or  lightly  syringed,  daily  for  a  week  or  so. 
The  weather  and  the  state  of  the  soil  Avill,  hoAvever,  afford  some 
guide. 
Where  a  large  stock  of  plants  is  groAAm,  or  even  in  a  small 
and  limited  collection  it  AA'ill  be  found  that  some  plants  require 
potting  on,  while  others  are  not  ready,  so  a  constant  look-out 
must  be  kept  to  catch  the  various  individual  plants  before  root- 
bound,  for  immediately  small  plants  in  small  pots  become  root- 
bound  the  groAvth  is  of  a  spindly  character.  Many  of  the  plants, 
now  nicely  established  in  3in  pots,  may,  Avith  advantage,  be 
transferred  to  oin  or  6in  iDots,  making  them  moderately  firm.  The 
compost  most  suitable  is  three  parts  loam,  one  part  leaf  soil,  half  a 
part  decayed  manure,  AA’ith  sand,  charcoal,  and  a  little  bonemeal. 
Mix  the  Avhole  thoroughly  together,  and  bring  to  a  moist  state  for 
potting.  Plants  that  are  tall  should  liave  a  stick  placed  to  them 
and  be  loosely  tied.  At  this  stage  it  must  be  decided  the  par¬ 
ticular  manner  in  Avhich  the  plants  are  to  be  groAvn,  for  in  about 
ten  days  after  the  potting  the  stopping  of  the  shoots  is  in  many 
cases  necessary.  Stopping  Avith  a  vieAv  to  timing  the  blooms, 
consists  of  just  taking  out  the  points  of  shoots  in  order  to  induce 
an  earlier  break  of  groAvths  than  would  be  the  case  if  left 
naturally.  Stopping  is  also  adopted  to  induce  a  larger  number 
of  branches.  In  this  case  an  inch  or  more  of  growth  may  be  cut 
off,  while  later  on  plants  may  be  cut  down  to  any  height,  and 
ncAv  groAvths  will  push  freely.  Potting  and  stopping  ought  never 
to  be  done  together,  as  neAv  growth  does  not  readily  push  Avhen 
root  action  is  not  free.  Bushy  free  groAving  plants  are  produced 
by  frequent  stopping  of  young  tender  groAvths,  each  stopping 
being  done  when  4in  of  groAvth  has  been  made.  Tliis  may 
be  carried  on  until  June  but  not  later,  or  stems  that  Aviii 
floAver  cannot  be  depended  on. 
A  batch  of  early-floAvering  varieties,  groAA’ing  in  the  open 
garden,  is  indispensable  for  affording  a  quantity  of  cut  blooms 
during  the  autumn,  and  making  a  shoAv.  Quite  small  plants 
placed  out  noAv  in  good  ground  in  an  open  position  soon  advance 
into  good  plants.  Arrange  them  in  roAvs  3ft  apart  and  2ft  from 
plant  to  plant. — ^E.  D.  S. 
m— Botany  in  the  Garden, 
{Continued  from  patje  2J:S.) 
The  Root. — In  treating  of  the  members  of  the  plant  I  begin 
with  the  I’oot,  as  this  is  the  base,  and  is  the  fii’st  ijart  to  emerge 
from  the  seed.  The  root  is  the  descending  axis,  and  its  functions 
are  to  fix  the  plant  in  the  soil  or  other  medium  in  Avhich  it 
groAAs,  to  absoi'b  nutriment,  and  to  act  as  a  store  for  nutriment. 
The  apex  of  the  root  is  protected  by  a  root-cap,  or  peliorhiza. 
Growtli  does  not  occur  at  the  actual  tip  of  the  root,  but  behind 
this  root-cap,  which  consists  of  dead  cells.  Roots  are  Avithout 
stomatas,  but  are  generally  furnished  Avith  numerous  unicellular 
root-hairs.  These  act  as  the  mouths  of  the  root,  or,  more 
correctly,  of  the  plant,  liquid  food  being  absorbed  by  them.  This 
process  of  absorbing  dilute  mineral  salts  is  called  endosmoses. 
Through  the  root-hairs  a  small  quantity  of  cell  sap  passes  fi’om 
the  plant  by  exosmose.  This  cell-sap  is  generally  acid,  and  it 
is  thought  that  certain  constituents  of  the  soil  Avhich  are  insoluble 
in  Avater  may  be  acted  on  and  rendered  soluble,  and  thus  available 
as  plant  food. 
Roots  appear  to  have  the  poAver  of  searching  for  food,  as  is 
illustrated  by  the  fact  that  they  develop  most  in  the  direction 
of  moisture.  Thej’  also  haA^e  a  certain  amount  of  selective  poAver, 
as  different  species  take  up  chemical  elements  in  different  pro¬ 
portions.  It  is  this  fact  that  supplies  us  Avith  our  reasons  for 
rotation  in  cropping  and  the  use  of  special  manures. 
Roots  are  distinguishable  from  underground  stems  by  (1)  their 
doAviiAvard  groAvth,  (2)  their  not  producing  leaves,  (3)  their  growth 
behind  the  apex,  (4)  their  internal  structure.  Roots  get  their 
nouri,shment  (1)  from  moisture  in  the  soil ;  (2)  from  water,  as  do 
the  aquatics ;  (3  from  moist  air,  as  the  epiphytes ;  and  (4)  from 
other  plants,  whence  they  are  called  parasitical. 
Roots  are  of  three  principal  kinds  :  (1)  Normal  or  tap  roots ; 
(2)  lateral  or  secondary  roots;  and  (3)  adventitious  roots.  Tap 
roots  are  so  called  from  their  usually  tapering  form.  In  some 
plants  the  tap  root  is  Avell  developed,  in  others  it  is  not  distinguish¬ 
able.  Lateral  roots  spring  from  the  tap  root,  often  at  regular 
intervals.  Adventitious  roots  are  usually  unbranched,  and  groAv 
from  primary  or  secondary  roots,  underground  stems,  the  base  of 
cuttings,  and  trailing  and  climbing  stems  as  the  StraAvberry  and 
I-vy.  Roots  are  sometimes  enlarged  to  form  stores  for  food  sub¬ 
stances.  These  enlargements  are  named  according  to  their 
shape.  In  the  Carrot  and  Parsnip  Ave  have  the  conical  tap  root, 
the  Radish  is  fusiform  or  spindle--shaped,  the  Turnip  napiform, 
the  Dahlia  fasciculate,  terrestrial  Orchids  tuberculate. — 
Wm.  R.  R. 
(To  be  continued.) 
GaddiDg  and  Gatheriag. 
‘^Hebe  aava’.  There  awa’.” 
Crocuses  in  the  Parks. 
I  say  parks,  but  the  only  tAvo  London  parks  knoAV'n  to  me  to 
possess  any  shoAv  of  Crocuses  in  the  grass  in  a  naturalised  fashion 
are  Regent’s  Park  and  the  pretty  little  Ravenscroft  Park.  Mr. 
Jordan,  of  the  former,  was  the  pioneer  of  bulb  naturalising  in 
the  London  district.  I  had  thought  that  the  authorities  of  the 
Royal  Gardens  at  Kew  Avere  the  leaders  of  this  phase  of  English 
spring  gardening,  but  on  noi  less  authority  than  that  of  Mr. 
Willie  Barr,  of  Long  Ditton,  I  recently  heard  that  the  honour 
belongs  to  our  old  friend  Mr.  Jordan.  In  that  most  delightful 
park,  AAdth  its  handsome  Elm  and  Chestnut  trees,  its  lawns  and 
its  pools,  there  is  the  additional  glory  in  March  and  April  of 
thousands  of  Avhite,  yellow,  and  purple  Crocuses  strevAm,  or 
seemingly  streAATi,  everyAvhere  in  winding  sheets  beneath  the 
shade  and  shelter  of’  the  trees  and  the  shrubs.  The  yellow 
Crocuses  literally  glitter  like  fields  of  Buttercups  in  summer,  and 
the  purple-blue  of  C.  banaticus  ( ?)  furnishes  a  pleasant  contrast. 
Hoav  magnificent  it  is  to  see  these  Avonderful  masses  of  brilliance 
and  beauty  covering  and  ensAvathing,  as  they  do,  the  darkest 
and  most  dismal  comers  where  the  grass  cannot  even  find  light 
and  moisture  enough  to  groAv  Avell.  There  has  been  a  tendency 
to  mix  the  three  colours  during  late  years,  and  most  assuredly 
the  practice  is  harmful  to  the  development  of  the  best  effect. 
If  anyone  should  have  a  grip  of,  and  sense  for,  the  finest  colour 
harmonies  it  is  the  park  superintendent  and  the  gardener. 
Purple  and  yellow'  go  Avell  together,  or  a  preponderance  of  purple 
wnth  Avhite.  The  latter  and  yellow  also  contrast  satisfactorily, 
biTt  the  colour  sense  feels  a  violation  when  white,  yellow,  and 
purple  are  mixed  in  nearly  equal  proportions.  In  massing  of 
floral  colours  there  should  either  be  a  good  contrast  of  two  colours 
in  juxtaiKAsition  or  a  pleasant  harmony  of  colours  that  closely 
match.  As  a  general  rule  I  prefer  harmonies  rather  than  con¬ 
trasts,  though  an  overdose  of  “harmony’^  is  apt  to  pall  upon 
