26 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTieULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDE XER. 
January  8,  1903. 
Free  Flowering:  Varieties. 
During  the  month  of  November  the  popularity  of  the 
large  blooms  no  doubt  holds  sway  with  the  general  public, 
but  for  a  month  previous  and  two  months  after  what  are 
known  as  free  flowering  varieties  have  their  run  of  popu¬ 
larity.  With  what  are  known  as  “small  people”  those 
varieties  that  produce  flowers  in  abundance  are  highly 
appreciated,  because  in  a  small  greenhouse  a  quantity  of 
choice  flowers  can  be  had  udth  but  a  minimum  of  trouble 
and  expense.  In  large  gardens,  too,  what  are  known  as 
“  bush  ”  Chrysanthemums  are  increasing  at  a  rapid  rate,  as 
it  is  found  that  this  type  of  Chrysanthemum  is  so  much 
more  useful  in  supplying  flowers  over  a  Avider  range  than 
the  “big  bloom”  method  of  culture.  For  “bush”  culture 
Ave  have  such  an  immense  range  of  variety  to  select  from 
that  this  phrase  is  almost  unlimited  in  extent.  For 
instance,  aa^  haA'e  an  improved  type  of  early  floAvering 
varieties  that  give  an  extraordinarily  fine  display  in  the 
open  border  during  September  and  October.  During  this 
latter  month  Ave  have  a  type  of  early  fioAvering  Japanese 
opening  their  blossoms  in  varied  character  and  colour  under 
glass.  These  are  folloAved  by  the  ordinary  November  sorts. 
These  in  turn  are  succeeded  by  later  floAvering  varieties 
AA’hich  extend  I’ight  through  January  and  at  times  Avell  into 
February. 
Under  this  method — bush — of  culture,  Ave  have  not  only 
the  Japanese  A’arieties,  Avith  their  great  range  of  colour  and 
form  and  peculiarity  of  petal,  but  Ave  can  utilise  the  in¬ 
curved,  Anemone,  Japanese  Anemone,  reflexed,  pompon, 
and  pompon  Anemone  A^arieties  as  Avell  as  the  single 
floAvered  forms,  Avhich  of  all  the  Avide  range  of  floAver  none 
are  more  useful  in  a  decorative  Avay  than  the  last-named 
section.  Single  floAvered  Aarieties  are  not  cultiA’ated  nearly 
as  much  as  their  merits  deserve.  Even  for  associating  with 
other  floAvers  this  type  can  be  successfully  employed.  I  do 
not  think  the  same  can  be  said  of  all  races  of  the  Chrys¬ 
anthemums. 
For  years  I  have  advocated  the  culture  of  “bush” 
Chrysanthemums  for  not  only  small  groAvers,  but  universally, 
and  I  am  sure  if  gardeners  generally  would  cultivate  even 
a  feAv  plants  under  this  method  instead  of  confining  them¬ 
selves  Avholly  to  the  larger  forms  they  Avould  be  doing  much 
to  popularise  the  Chrysanthemum  even  more  than  at 
present.  I  am  also  certain  that  amongst  ladies  generally 
there  is  a  groAving  tendency  for  more  floAvers  of  the  smaller 
types,  as  they  find  them  so  much  more  amenable  to  utilisa¬ 
tion  for  vase  decoration  large  or  small. 
The  culture,  too,  of  plants  for  this  style  of  groAvth  is 
quite  simple  ;  there  is  none  of  the  delicate  art  of  “  timing  ” 
the  buds  AAdiich  is  so  important  a  factor  in  “  big  bloom  ” 
cultivation.  The  amateur,  with  his  personally  derived 
knoAvledge,  can  Avith  an  immunity  from  technical  phrases 
produce  Chrysanthemums  in  quantity. 
W'^hether  the  cuttings  are  inserted  the  early  part  of 
December  or  the  same  time  in  February,  it  matters  not; 
the  only  point  of  difference  in  this  is  the  late  struck  plants 
do  not  groAv  so  large  as  those  raised  earlier.  Even  in  this 
detail  cultivators  have  a  remedy  if  larger  bushes  are 
required  :  tAvo  or  three  plants  can  be  groAvn  in  the  same 
pot,  making  up  a  bush  as  large  as  fancy  decrees.  When 
this  latter  method  of  culture  is  adopted  it  is  well  to  insert 
the  number  of  cuttings  in  one  pot  at  the  start,  allowing  them 
to  grow  aAvay  together.  The  point  is  to  insert  them  around 
the  side  of  the  cutting  pots — 3in — instead  of  in  the  middle, 
thus  giving  rather  more  space  to  each  from  the  start. 
One  of  the  salient  points  of  culture  is  that  of  alloAving 
each  plant  ample  space  for  groAvth  right  aAvay  from  the 
start,  so  that  the  groAvth  is  sturdy,  Avell  matured,  and  as 
vigorous  as  possible.  In  this  Avay  ample  leafage  is  obtained 
and  retained.  Plants  groAA'n  as  “  bushes  ”  are  equally 
useful  AA’hen  employed  as  a  whole,  not  only  for  the  conserva¬ 
tory,  but  for  room  decoration.  Good  foliage  then  has 
much  to  do  Avith  quality  of  growth.  No  matter  hoAA'  freely 
a  plant  is  floAAered,  if  it  is  not  accompanied  AA’ith  ample 
foliage  it  loses  in  effect.  Want  of  space  during  any  stage 
of  groAvth  has  much  to  do  Avith  injury  to  foliage  ;  weakness 
in  the  first  place  and  insect  attacks  aftei'AA'ards  all  aid  in 
destroying  the  puny  leaves  more  quickly  than  Avhen  groAvth 
has  been  more  robust. 
Due  regard  to  space  is  often  the  result  of  attempting  to 
cultivate  too  many  plants  ;  it  is  much  better  to  groAv  fifty 
well  than  spoil  double  that  number.  Another  mistake 
made  in  the  groAvth  of  “  bush  ”  plants  is  that  of  an  insuf¬ 
ficiency  of  stimulative  food  at  a  time  Avhen  active  groAvth  is 
in  progress,  generally  Avhen  the  pots  in  Avhich  the  plants  are 
to  floAver  are  full  of  roots,  the  plants  then  deriving  nO' 
further  nourishment  from  the  soil,  having  exhausted  all  the 
manurial  properties  contained.  It  is  at  that  stage  the  pro¬ 
gress  of  the  plants  is  too  often  interrupted.  Copious  sup¬ 
plies  of  Aveak  liquid  manure  should  be  given  daily,  alter¬ 
nating  it  Avith  a  change  after  supplying  one  kind  for  a  Aveek. 
Artificial  manures  can  be  employed  with  advantage ;  too 
often  these  are  applied  injudiciously,  doing"  injury  ;  the 
manure  is  then  Avrongly  blamed,  whereas  if  the  instructions 
given  Avere  followed  no  cause  for  complaint  would  be  heard. 
Early  supporting  the  branches  is  too  often  neglected,  the 
consequence  is  crooked  shoots  Avhich  neither  look  well  AA’hen 
groAving,  nor  can  they  be  employed  so  satisfactorily  in  a  cut 
state.  Staking  bush-groAvn  plants  is  too  often  carried  to 
excess  ;  it  is  not  an  uncommon  sight  to  see  more  stakes  used 
than  the  pots  Avill  contain.  Apart  from  the  unsightly 
appearance  of  such  plants,  the  roots  are  injured  by  thrusting 
so  many  stakes  amongst  them. 
The  most  simple  of  all  methods  of  supporting  the 
branches  is  that  of  placing  three  or  four  stakes  around  the 
outside  of  the  plants,  connecting  them  AAuth  raffia  or  fine 
string,  adding  more  as  the  shoots  groAv  taller ;  the  branches 
then  cannot  fall  about  or  become  broken  by  Avind,  heavy 
rains,  or  other  causes. 
One  other  point  to  observe  in  culture  is  that  of  striking 
the  cuttings  in  heat ;  this  w’eakens  them  considerably,  and 
should  be  avoided.  It  is  better  to  insert  them  early  than 
attempt  to  force  them  too  quickly.  Under  handlights  in  a 
cool  house  is  the  most  satisfactory  site  for  propagation.  By 
keeping  the  lights  closed  AA’ith  the  exception  of  opening  them 
a  trifle  once  a  day  to  dissipate  condensed  moisture,  applying 
shade  Avhen  necessary,  roots  are  quickly  formed,  and  the 
plants  groAV  sturdy  from  the  start.  In  this  manner  a 
proper  foundation  is  laid  for  the  future  groAvth. 
The  latest  batch  of  plants  should  be  left  out  as  long  as 
safety  from  frost  permits.  In  fact,  provision  should  be 
made  to  afford  them  temporary  protection  nightly.  In  this 
manner  the  opening  of  the  last  batch  of  blooms  can  be 
delayed  several  AA’eeks.  In  the  next  issue  I  shall  furnish  a 
selection  of  A’arieties. — Edaa’IN  Molyneux. 
Miss  E.  Fulton  Y.  Princess  A.  de  Monaco. 
On  page  16  Mr.  R.  Tuiwey  asks  for  the  difference  betAveen 
Miss  Elsie  Fulton  and  Princess  Alice  de  Monaco.  My  ex¬ 
perience  of  the  tAvo  varieties  is  that  they  are  identical  in 
bloom,  foliage,  and  habit  of  groAvth.  I  have  groAvn  Prin¬ 
cess  Alice  de  Monaco  since  it  was  sent  out,  and  if  the 
variety  I  have  for  Miss  E.  Fulton,  and  Avhat  I  have  seen 
this  last  autumn  are  true,  I  must  give  the  verdict  in  favour 
of  Princess  Alice  de  Monaco. 
True,  Miss  Elsie  Fulton  receives  tAventy-one  votes  against 
six  for  Princess  Alice  de  Monaco  in  the  late  Chrysanthemum 
audit,  but  the  question  is.  Had  those  tAventy-one  voters 
groAA’n  the  tw’o  A^arieties  together?  If  so,  I  should  like  to 
hear  their  opinion  as  to  their  distinctness. — G.  Foster, 
Glendaragh,  Teignmouth,  Devon. 
Chrysanthemum,  Madame  Marie  Liger. 
Will  any  of  your  readers  kindly  inform  ine  whether  Madame 
Marie  Liger  has  been  classed  as  an  incurved  A’ariety  ?  It  is  noticed 
that  the  name  appears  in  the  Japanese  list  by  some  nurserymen, 
while  others  include  it  in  the  list  of  incuiwed. — F.  M. 
