18S 
liVI‘PLE^^:^’T  TO 
March  9,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
COGITATIVE  NOTES. 
The  month  of  March  is  a  busy  time  v.'ith  the  cultivator  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums,  no  matter  whether  it  be  in  the  production  of  exhibition 
blooms  or  a  supply  of  flowers  from  the  open  border  for  the  enthusiastic 
amateur.  It  is  surprising  what  really  good  blooms  many  amateur 
cultivators  produce.  Enthusiasm  coupled  with  a  keen  desire  to  pick  up 
any  useful  hint  is  what  goes  a  long  way  to  achieve  desired  results. 
Any  hint,  then,  that  we  can  give  for  their  benefit  is  time  well  spent. 
I  do  not  mean,  though,  that  the  few  remarks  I  shall  make  are  intended 
only  for  amateurs.  They  are  a])plicable  to  all  interested  in  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums,  whether  as  cultivators  or  on-lookers. 
Cultivators  make  it  a  rule  to  insert  many  more  cuttings  than  are 
required  for  final  growth,  and  a  wise  plan  too,  especially  now  that  so 
many  collections  are  affected  by  the  new  disease — rust.  I  assume  1 
am  right  in  placing  the  word  “  new  ”  to  this  disease  which  is  agitating 
so  many  growers  at  the  present  time.  The  Chrysanthemum  has  been 
one  of  our  most  popular  tlowers  for  fifty  years.  It  does  seem  strange 
that  it  is  only  during  the  past  season  that  this  enemy  lias  taken  so  deep 
a  hold  of  the  mind  of  many  persons.  Neglect  during  the  infantile 
stage  of  the  disease  brings  disaster.  If  cultivators  would  keep  a 
bottle  of  methylated  spirit  and  a  small  camel-hair  brush  handy,  and 
touch  the  rust  spot  with  the  spirit  the  moment  it  is  visible,  we  should 
not  hear  nearly  so  much  about  tlie  trouble. 
Now  is  the  time  to  decide  on  the  selection  of  varieties  and  the 
number  of  plants  of  each  to  be  grown.  None  but  the  best  must  be 
included.  When  I  say  the  “  best”  I  include  those  varieties  that  are  difficult 
of  production,  as  such  weijih  heavily  with  the  judges  in  close  com¬ 
petition.  The  inexperienced  are  liable  to  give  way  to  personal  senti¬ 
ment  in  the  selection  of  varieties.  To  illustrate  my  meaning,  compare 
two  varieties  like  Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne  and  the  new  Mrs.  Barkley, 
both  somewhat  similar  in  colour,  yet  so  distinct  in  point  of  quality. 
Again,  take  Madame  Carnot  and  Souvenir  de  Petite  Amie.  The  latter 
1  have  frequently  heard  praised  by  amateurs,  and  certainly  it  is  a 
deserving  variety  for  decorative  use  owing  to  its  freedom  in  flowering 
and  dwarf  habit.  Individually,  too,  the  blooms  aie  perfect,  but  not 
large  enough  for  present  day  requirements  in  the  exhibition  arena. 
Madame  Carnot  I  still  regard  as  au  ideal  type  of  a  Japanese 
Chrysanthemum.  _ 
Some  cultivators  I  find  adhere  closely  to  such  yellow  varieties  as 
W.  II.  Lincoln,  simply  because  it  is  dwarf  and  easy  to  grow.  The 
newer  11.  Hooper  Pearson,  for  example,  is  infinitely  superior  for  the 
show  hoard.  Where  the  former  would  perhaps  gain  three  points  the 
latter  would  probably  secure  five  points.  Such  comparisons  might 
be  continued  indefinitely,  but  sufficient  has  been  said  to  afford  the 
inexperienced  ample  food  for  cogitation  on  one  of  the  most  important 
details  in  connection  with  exhibiting.  No  two  varieties  that  hear  a 
close  restmblance  should  be  toL  rated.  All  possible  precaution  ought 
to  be  taken  to  prevent  disqualification.  Another  point  in  selection, 
and  one  that  is  worthy  of  the  utmost  consideration,  is  that  of  over¬ 
crowding  the  plants.  Ear  better  grow  one  hundred  well  than  spoil 
double  that  number. 
In  many  instances  the  bulk  of  the  early-rooted  plants  are  now 
ready  for  their  first  transfer  to  larger  pots.  It  is  a  mistake  to  allow 
the  roots  to  twine  around  the  inside  of  the  cutting  pots.  A  stout 
foundation  is  essential  to  success.  I  know  cultivators  wTio  have  in 
the  past  striven  hard  to  prevent  a  robust  growth  of  stem,  but  who 
have  never  reached  a  high  position  in  the  prize  list,  and  who  are  now 
seeking  to  grow  the  plants  as  strong  as  they  can.  I  do  not  think  it 
is  possible  to  grow  the  plants  too  stout  at  the  base,  provided,  of  course, 
the  growth  afterwards  is  regularly  and  gradually  matured,  and  not 
hardened  by  withholding  water  when  it  is  perceived  that  the  growth  is 
gross  and  sappy.  _ _ 
A  compost  of  two  jjarts  of  fibrous  loam  to  one  of  leaf  mould  and 
half-decayed  horse  manure,  with  a  plentiful  addition  of  sand  if  the 
loam  be  at  all  retentive  in  character,  should  be  the  means  of  laying  a 
good  basis  for  early  growth.  Should  there  be  any  doubt  about  the 
loam  not  being  of  a  sufficiently  rich  character,  add  to  every  bushel  of 
the  compost  1  lb.  of  Thomson’s  Vine  manure. 
Much  has  been  written  in  catalogues,  and  elsewhere,  of  the  desira¬ 
bility  of  topping  the  plants  in  the  incurved  section.  My  opinion  is 
if  there  were  less  interference  with  the  natural  growth  we  should  see 
better  examples  than  is  now  the  case.  No  one  who  visits  the  exhibi¬ 
tions  of  to-day  can  fail  to  see  the  decrease  in  the  quality  of  the 
exhibits  as  compared  with  five  years  since,  or  even  less.  What  with 
the  adopt’on  of  wrong  methods  of  culture  and  the  inclusion  of  varie¬ 
ties  not  belonging  to  the  section,  the  Chinese  incurved  Chrysanthemum 
has  fallen  below  its  reputed  standard  of  quality,  and,  I  may  say,  of 
popularity  also.  _ 
'I’he  preparation  of  the  soil  for  future  use  must  have  attention.  In 
many  instances  the  necessity  for  the  employment  of  chemical  manures 
as  a  means  of  enriching  the  soil  is  absolute  owing  to  various  circum¬ 
stances.  For  the  final  pritting  of  the  plants  in  May  and  June,  no 
matter  for  what  purpose  they  are  grown,  the  present  is  not  too  early 
to  prepare  the  compost.  It  is  useless  to  mix  this  on  the  day  required 
and  then  expect  to  get  full  benefit  from  the  manures  employed.  For 
example,  phosphatic  manures  (like  bone,  horn,  and  hoofs)  require  long 
periods  for  assimilation  of  their  virtues  by  the  soil  before  the  plants 
can  derive  benefit.  Basic  slag  is  now  largely  utilised  by  cultivators, 
and  this  certainly  should  be  mixed  with  the  soil  at  the  rate  of  2  lbs.  to 
one  bushel  of  compost  at  least  a  couple  of  months  prior  to  potting. 
Tresuming,  then,  that  freshly  cut  turf  is  to  be  employed  the  present  is 
a  good  time  to  stack  it  in  layers,  sprinkling  the  basic  slag  between. 
Freshly  gathered  horse  or  cow  manure  may  be  substituted  for  the  latter 
if  the  turf  is  from  a  sandy  soil.  When  potting  time  comes  the  whole 
would  be  thoroughly  incorporated.— F.  Molynedx.  . 
HARDY  FLOWERS. 
Gardening  is  an  eclectic  art,  and  has  within  its  domain  scope  for 
workers  of  many  tastes  and  many  methods.  Like  all  other  arts  it  has 
its  waves  of  fashion,  when  one  class  of  flowers  or  one  style  of 
gavdeninglis  followed  by  the  many  who  are  less  influenced  by  true  love 
for  gardens  and  flowers,  while  comparatively  few  cling  to  their  old 
favourites.  Now  that  the  tide  of  popular  favour  is  strongly  in  support 
of  hardy  flowers  we  may  say  that  they  are  happy  who,  through  good 
report  and  ill,  cherished  their  herhaceous  borders  with  the  plants  they 
contained.  They  have  their  reward  now  when  these  flowers  are  more 
appreciated  than  ever  before.  The  old  borders  are  coveted  now  with 
their  treasures  of  old-established  plants,  which  look  so  well  compared 
with  the  small  plants  found  in  newer  gardens. 
One  can  hardly  overrate  the  merits  of  the  hardy  flowers.  They  can 
be  had  in  bloom,  without  the  expense  of  glass  houses  and  hot-water 
pipes,  nearly  all  the  year,  save  when  bitterest  frost  or  thick  snow 
prevails.  With  the  coming  of  the  new  year  Ave  may  have  the 
Snowdrop,  the  Crocus,  the  Christmas  Rose,  the  Winter  Aconite,  the 
dwarf  Iris,  the  golden  Jasmine  on  the  wall.  The  earliest  are  followed 
hy  the  later  Snowdrops  and  Crocuses,  the  Snowflakes,  the  early 
Saxifrages,  and  many  more,  among  which  appear  the  earliest  Daffodils. 
These  Narcissi,  with  those  which  follow,  provide  in  themselves  a  long 
and  precious  proc  ssion  of  beauty  which  passes  slowly — yet  too 
quickly — before  our  delighted  eyes,  until  May  dissolves  into  June  and 
summer  has  come  with  its  luxuriant,  lavish  display.  We  cannot  stay 
to  tell  of  the  gems  which  accompany  the  Daffodils.  We  think  of  the 
clustered  bells  of  the  Squills  in  their  many  forms,  blue  and  white  and 
jiink,  but  we  cannot  read  in  their  flowers  the  sad  refrain  of  “Ai  Ai 
with  which  legend  has  marked  them.  Our  thoughts  of  their  loveli¬ 
ness  are  too  happy  for  that.  We  think  of  the  frail  Windflower,  with 
its  sister,  with  scarlet  or  with  purple  cup,  which  we  call  the  Crown 
Anemone.  We  think  of  sheets  of  snowy  Arabis  ;  of  purple  Aubrietia  ; 
of  golden  Madwort,  with  many  others  whose  names  are  imprinted 
deep  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  love  the  flowers  of  spring.  The 
Daffodil  has  a  retinue  worthy  of  her  beauty. 
As  these  fade  the  w'ealth  of  summer  is  with  us.  The  Tulip  cuds 
are  its  hgralds  blowing  loudly  the  trumpet  call,  the  fanfare  which 
tells  of  the  approach  of  the  Lily  and  the  Rose  ;  the  Iris,  the  Larkspur,, 
the  Pyrethrum,  the  Sunflower,  the  (Fnothera,  the  feathered  Spirsea, 
the  Pansy,  the  Viola,  the  Marigold,  the  Aster,  the  Stock.  One  may 
well  pause,  nay,  had  better  cease,  in  the  attempt  to  tell  of  the  hardy 
flowers  of  summer  time.  If  irot  innumerable  there  are  too  many  to 
name,  without  even  venturing  to  faintly  limn  their  beauty  and 
their  ways. 
With  golden  autumn  and  the  dying  days  of  the  year  the  hardy 
flowers  come  Avith  richer  and  then  with  a  sadder  loveliness.  There 
are  golden  Sunflowers,  great  Dahlias,  exquisite  Gladioli,  flaming 
Kniphofias,  with  many  other  perennial  flowers  and  the  lovely  annuals, 
some  of  which,  because  of  their  self-sowing  habit,  may  as  truly  be 
called  perennials  as  those  which  yearly  from  the  mother  root  send  up 
their  leaves  and  flowers.  Then  come  the  Starworts,  with  their  sober. 
