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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  29,  1903. 
A  Vase  of  C.  Mdlle.  Marie  liiger. 
We  niay  be  tired  of  hearing  that  America  (meaning  the  United 
States)  i.s  the  land  of  big  things.  “  .storiesi  ”  included,  but  it  is 
true  in  a  great  many  cases.  Here,  for  instance,  on  page  101  we 
figure  a  vase  of  that  lovely  pink  incurved  Chrysanthemum, 
Mademoiselle  (Miss)  Marie  Liger,  containing  100  blooms,  anti 
such  vases  seem  to  be  common  at  many  exhibitions  in  the  States. 
This  vase  was  exhibited  at  Kansa.s  City  by  Messrs.  E.  G.  Hill 
and  Co.,  Richmond,  Indiana,  and  wa.s  figured  in  various 
American  trade  journals.  Our  representation  is  from  “  The 
American  Florist.”  Two  weeks  ago  there  was  a  query  in  our 
pages  about  this  very  salne  variety,  which  some  of  the  English 
growers  have  a  stock  of.  Messrs.  Wells  and  Co.’s  catalogue 
describes  it  thus:  “A  vei^'  pleasing  pink,  very  large,  and  must 
become  a  general  favourite  as  an  incurved.  Second  crown  buds ; 
4ft.”  Some  nurseryinen  seem  to  have  wrongly  listed  it  among 
the  ‘‘Japanese”  varieties.  On  first  crowns  it  becomes  a  fair 
reflexed  Japanese,  but  the  second  crowns  are  the  buds  to  take. 
A  Good  Late  White  Chrysanthemum. 
While  walking  through  the  establishment  of  Mr.  Walter 
Gibson,  Sandown,  I.W.,  on  January  20,  I  was  wonderfully 
struck  with  a  fine  batch  of  Godfrey’.s"  Winter  Queen  in  bloom, 
and  in  v^arious  stages  of  development.  This  is  a  pure  ivory  white 
variety,  with  somewhat  spreading  outer  florets,  the  centre  ones 
slightly  incurving,  the  florets  being  of  good  substance.  The 
flowers  are  bonie  on  long  stout  footstalks,  rendering  it  invalu¬ 
able  for  vases  where  length  of  stem  is  essential,  and  being  a 
good  keeper,  is  also  appropriate  for  wreath  making.  This  is 
the  last  of  the  many  varieties  grown  by  Mr.  Gibson  for  his 
winter  decorative  trade,  having  succeeded  Mrs.  Thomson  and 
other  varieties  at  Christmas.  So  impressed  is  Mr.  Gibson  with 
the  value  of  the  variety,  that  no  less  than  .500  plants  will 
satisf^y  him  for  next  season.  The  variety  is  thoroughly  entitled 
to  its  name  of  W'inter  Queen. — C.  Orchaud,  Bembridge,  I.W. 
Reflexing  the  Petals  of  Japanese  Varieties. 
Candidly,  I  am  surprised  that  any  true  “  fancier  ”  and  grower 
encourages  this  practice.  At  the  present  time  there  is  with  the 
public  an  idea  that  the  long  twisted  florets  of  the  Japanese-  blooms 
are  “  curled  by  the  tweezers.”  This  arises,  of  course,  from  the 
system  in  vogue  of  u'ingthese  instruments  on  the  incurveds.  In  the 
latter  casei  a  better  defence  can  be  offered,  although  I  am  one  who 
believes,  with  the  R.H.S.,  that  only  ‘‘  undressed  ”  flowers  should 
be  considered  by  the  Floral  Committee.  To-  dress  an  incurved 
bloom  is  perhaps  equivalent  to  the  grooming  of  a.  horse.  Exhi- 
liitions  are  intended  to  encourage  the  growth  of  flowers,  but  not 
to  deform  them  or  give  the  public  a  false  idea.  Is  it  to  be  thought 
that  in  a  garden  where  the  flowers  are-  gi’own  for  home  decoration 
and  not  exhibition,  the  gardener  is  to  be  expected  to  spend  so 
many  hours  a  day  in  turning  the  florets  or  petals  of  Chiys- 
anthemums  inside  out,  because  this-  is  the  form  they  are  ex¬ 
hibited  in?  Of  course-  the  colours  are  better;  so  ai’e  those  of 
the  Rose  and  other  flowers!  Would  the-  National  Rose  Society 
permit  of  such  being  done-  to-  the  bloo-ms?  And  even  if  they  did, 
it  would  not  prove  the  practice-  should  be  encouraged.  [The 
rosarians  do  openly  dress  their  exhibition  blooms.—  Ed.]  Some 
years  ago  a  novelty  in  the  West  End  florists’  shops  was  the  green 
Carnation.  The  artificial  colour  was  produced  by  fe-e-dnig  the 
bloom  with  colouring  matter  placed  in  the  water.  These  blooms 
appeared  very  striking  in  the  window,  and  so,  perhaps,  they 
would^  have  been  on  the  boards,  but  who-  would  dare  to  show 
them?  To  turn  the  petals  of  a  Chrysanthemum  inside  out  is  a 
deceit  which  should  be  discouraged  by  all  up-to-date  societies. — 
A.  B.  C. 
Preparation  for  Plant  Crowing. 
The  recent  severe  weather  experienced  so  generally  all 
over  the  country  has  undoubtedly  benefited  in  many  ways 
both  gardens  and  gardeners.  While  such  w’eather  prevails 
Ave  are  often  too  much  inclined  to  think  of  its  disadvantages 
rather  than  advantages,  although  a  little  thought  Avould 
often  show  that  the  latter  outweigh  the  former.  I  do  not 
intend,  hoAvever,  in  this  article  to  go  deeply  into  the  pros 
and  cons  which  could  be  advanced  on  either  side,  but 
rather  to  point  out  that  the  plant  foreman  in  a  large 
establishment  often  welcomes  a  Aveek’s  frost  in  -January, 
because  a  little  extra  help  is  then  generally  forthcoming 
when  the  Avork  of  overhauling  the  houses  is  in  progress. 
In  all  Avell  -  regulated  establishments  every  effort  is 
made  to  cleanse  the  AvoodAvork  and  glass  of  plant  houses 
early  in  the  neAv  year,  as  Avell  as  to  clean  the  plants  (Avhile 
there  is  little  groAvth  going  on),  because  such  practices 
simplify  the  task  of  keeping  them  healthy  and  vigorous 
during  the  remainder  of  the  year.  So  long  as  the  weather 
remains  cold  and  settled,  such  Avork  goes  on  uninter¬ 
ruptedly,  and  thoroughness  is  the  order  of  the  day  ;  but 
Avhen  a  change  comes  to  bright  and  Avarmer  Aveather,  so 
many  other  matters  require  constant  attention  that  the 
cherished  plan  of  operations  is  not  ahvays  carried  out  in 
its  entirety,  and  AA^hen  once  curtailed  an  opportunity  does 
not  often  occur  for  filling  in  the  missing  links.  Make  the 
most  of  present  opportunity  is,  therefore,  a  golden  motto 
for  the  plant  groAver. 
By  the  time  Avork  of  the  above  description  has  been 
finished  the  great  business  of  potting  and  repotting  Avill 
need  a  large  share  of  attention.  In  some  gardens  the  lack 
of  sufficient  space  in  sheds  and  outhouses  prevents  the 
preparation  of  potting  composts  on  a  large  scale  ;  but  Avhere 
there  is  space  enough  at  command  there  is  nothing  like 
mixing  large  heaps  suitable  for  general  purposes  ;  it  is  then 
an  easy  matter  to  make  a  portion  of  a  heap  suitable  for 
the  requirements  of  special  plants  by  adding  other  necessary 
ingredients. 
When  preparing  a  heap  suitable  for  the  majority  of 
stove  plants,  good  peat  should  be  obtained  and  pulled  to 
pieces  Avith  the  hand,  so  as  to  leave  it  in  fairly  large, 
flaky  lumps,  turfy  loam  being  treated  in  a  similar  Avay. 
If  tAvo  parts  of  the  latter  are  then  mixed  Avith  one  of  the 
former,  Avith  sharp  sand  and  lumps  of  charcoal  added,  the 
mixture  Avill  be  suitable  for  hosts  of  plants  Avith  but  feAv 
other  additions.  Assuming  that  Crotons  and  Dracaenas  are 
to  be  potted,  a  heap  of  such  prepared  compost  could  be 
placed  on  the  bench  of  the  stove  or  Avarm  potting  shed  over¬ 
night  ready  for  Avork  the  folloAving  day.  For  strong  groAving 
species  and  varieties  the  mixture  Avould  ansAver  admirably  ; 
for  Aveaker  ones  a  little  extra  peat  should  be  added,  and  for 
large  specimens  a  feAV  extra  large  lumps  of  soil  Avould  be  an 
advantage. 
On  another  occasion  various  batches  of  plants  requiring 
a  greater  proportion  of  peat  could  be  dealt  Avith,  and  the 
necessary  peat  added  before  the  soil  Avas  taken  into  the 
house,  and  in  some  instances  a  little  sAveet  leaf  soil  might 
Avith  advantage  be  added,  though  it  is  questionable  if  leaf 
soil  is  ever  really  necessary  Avhen  there  is  plenty  of  good 
peat  at  command.  Coav  manure,  thoroughly  dried  and 
passed  through  a  fine  sieve,  still  forms— AAuth  some  culti- 
A'ators —  a  favourite  ingredient  for  mixing  in  small  quantities 
Avith  the  compost  for  many  stove  and  greenhouse  plants. 
With  the  excellent  artificial  manures  noAv  at  command,  quite 
as  good  results  may  be  obtained  by  substituting  the 
artificial  for  the  natural  stimulant,  and  a  good  deal  of 
trouble  in  preparation  is  thus  saved. 
The  compost  above  described  AA’ill  also  be  suitable  for 
hosts  of  stove  and  greenhouse  Ferns  if  extra  peat  is  added, 
and  in  some  cases  a  little  sandstone,  in  others  sphagnum. 
The  finer  portions  of  peat  and  loam  knocked  out  in  prepar¬ 
ing  the  lumps  Avill,  Avith  a  liberal  addition  of  sand,  come  in 
splendidly  as  a  compost  for  cuttings.  Some  of  the  best 
and  most  fibrous  peat  should  be  reserved  for  hard  Avooded 
plants,  a  compost  of  peat  alone  being  generally  the  best. 
Pelargoniums  and  Fuchsias  are  usually  largely  groAvn  in 
the  majority  of  gardens,  and  a  large  heap  of  material  should 
therefore  be  prepared  in  readiness  for  potting.  In  this  case 
it  is  really  necessary  to  have  tAvo  heaps,  one  for  plants  in  a 
young  stage,  the  other  for  larger  ones.  Loam  and  leaf  soil 
in  equal  parts  passed  through-  a  half-inch  sieve,  Avith 
sharp  sand  added,  Avill  ansAA^er  admirably  for  the  young 
plants  ;  and  for  the  larger  ones,  loam  three  parts,  leaf  soil 
half  a  part,  and  a  similar  quantity  of  fresh  horse  manure, 
Avill  form  an  excellent  compost,  AA'ith  the  addition  of  sharp 
sandi  and  a  little  soot,  the  loam  in  this  being  used  in 
a  rough  state,  the  other  ingredients  being  passed  through  a 
sieve.  For  some  of  the  Aveaker  groAA'ing  kinds  of  Fuchsias 
a  little  extra  leaf  soil  or  peat  should  be  added. 
I  trusb  that  the  above  ideas  have  been  advanced  in  the 
“nick”  of  time  to  influence  many  in  preparing  as  far  as 
possible  plenty  of  materials  for  potting  purposes  before  the 
actual  work  of  potting  begins,  as  there  are  feAv  things  Avhich 
help  so  much  toAvard  making  the  Avork  progress  rapidly  and 
smoothly  as  plans  Avell  thought  out  in  advance. — Plantsman. 
