November  29,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
497 
This,  “W.  E.  Brown,”  is  a  fine  but  somewhat  rare  Aster.  That 
it  is  BO  seldom  seen  in  gardens  is  no  doubt  to  be  accounted  for  by 
the  difficulty  experienced  in  its  cultivation  in  some  parts  of  the 
country.  Described  in  1836  by  De  Candolle  in  his  “  Prodromus  ’’ 
under  the  name  of  Heterochasta  diplostephioides  and  figured  in  the 
‘‘  Bot.  Mag,,”  t.  6718,  it  would  have  been  frequently  met  with  could 
it  be  regarded  as  a  true  perennial  in  most  gardens.  This  is  not  so, 
however,  as  in  many  places  it  proves  to  be  only  a  biennial.  In 
several  instances  which  have  come  within  notice  it  has  not,  however, 
proved  so  satisfactory,  and  has 
consequently  been  discarded.  This 
appears  to  be  a  common  occur¬ 
rence  with  many  plants  from  the 
Himalayas,  of  which  A.  diplo¬ 
stephioides  is  a  native.  Many  of 
them  are  very  fastidious  in  their 
ways,  and  while  flourishing  in 
some  gardens  are  failures  in 
others.  A.  diplostephioides  (fig. 
128),  grows  from  16  to  24  inches 
in  height  and  produces  beautiful 
flowers  of  large  size,  in  some  cases 
nearly  4  inches  in  diameter.  The 
ray  florets  are  bright  blue  purple 
with  a  bronzy  coloured  zone  and 
a  blackish  purple  disc.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  its  successful  culture 
in  some  gardens  may  lead  to  it 
being  more  frequently  seen. 
- - 
Clirysantheniniii  Shows 
Birkeijhead, 
November  21st  and  22nd. 
The  newly  appointed  secretary, 
Mr.  Yeo,  is  to  be  congratulated  on 
the  success  he  and  his  committee 
attained  in  their  endeavours  to 
satisfy  their  subscribers  and  the 
public.  The  weather  for  the  past 
few  weeks  has  been  of  the  worst 
description,  the  blooms  damping 
wholesale,  and  the  wonder  was 
that  so  lovely  a  display  should 
have  graced  the  fine  hall  of  the 
Young  Men’s  Association,  where 
the  show  was  held. 
In  the  cup  class,  given  by  E.  C. 
Thin,  Esq.,  Noctorum,  Mr.  P. 
Jakeman,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Heap, 
Blackmore,  West  Derby,  staged 
twenty-four  Japanese,  distinct,  in 
faultless  style,  every  flower  being 
fresh,  richly  coloured.  The  varie¬ 
ties  were  Madame  Gustave  Henry, 
Secretaire  Pierens,  Mens.  Hoste, 
Madame  Carnot,  Viviand  Morel,  M. 
Louis  Remy,  Mr.  C.  A.  Compton, 
Australie,  President  Sevan,  Mons. 
Gruyer,  Mrs.  Mease,  Mrs.  Barkley,  Mutual  Friend,  Mons.  Chenon  de 
Leche,  Edith  Tabor,  Madame  Debrie,  Nellie  Pockett,  Le  Grand  Dragon, 
N.C.S.  Jubilee,  Phoebus,  Master  H.  Tucker,  Miss  A.  Byron,  Chatsworth, 
and  Simplicity.  E.  Ellis,  Esq.,  Heswall,  came  second;  Mr.  J.  Williams, 
gardener  to  C.  J.  Procter,  Esq.,  Boscobel,  Noctorum,  third. 
Mr.  Ellis  secured  the  class  for  twelve  incurved.  Particularly  good 
were  Ma  Perfection,  Topaze  Orientals,  Hanwell  Glory,  Duchess  of 
Fife,  Perle  Dauphinoise,  and  Mdlle.  Lucie  Faure.  Mr.  G.  Sedgeley, 
gardener  to  T.  Case  Morris,  Esq.,  came  in  a  fairly  good  second. 
There  were  charming  blooms  in  the  local  class  for  twelve  distinct, 
Mr.  C.  W.  Findlow,  gardener  to  G.  E.  Moses,  Esq.,  taking  the  lead. 
For  twelve  incurved  and  six,  the  same  grower  took  the  premier 
honours  ;  Mr.  J.  Williams  taking  the  second  with  well  formed  blooms. 
Mr.  A.  Brown,  gardener  to  George  Webster,  Esq.,  won  with  six  distinct 
Japanese. 
Three  trade  exhibits  stood  out  prominently — viz.,  the  splendid 
Leamington  arid  Warwick, 
November  22nd  and  23rd. 
Favoured  by  the  first  really  bright  days  of  sunshine  during  the 
month  this  popular  show  proved  in  every  way  one  of  the  most  successful 
yet  held,  and  was  attended  by  a  large  number  of  visitors.  The  event 
was  held  in  the  capacious  Public  Hall.  The  arrangements  of  the  exhibits, 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  chairman,  Mr.  R.  Jones,  and  the 
secretary,  Mr.  Arthur  J.  Nichols,  were  efficiently  carried  out.  There 
were  only  two  groups  of  Chrysan¬ 
themum  plants  arranged  for  effect 
in  the  open  class.  Mr.  Draper 
gardener  to  R.  0.  Milne,  Esq.,  led 
the  way  with  a  meritorious  and 
elegant  arrangement,  the  second 
prize  falling  to  the  Leamington 
Nurserymen  and  Florist  Co.,  Ltd., 
with  a  somewhat  similar  exhibit. 
Cut  blooms  of  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums  were  excellently  shown. 
For  twenty-four  blooms  of  Japa¬ 
nese  Chrysanthemums  the  coveted 
prize  of  a  silver  cup  value  5 
guineas,  given  by  C.  A.  Smith 
Eyland,  Esq.,  was  annexed  by  Mr. 
A.  Chandler,  with  grand  examples 
of  G.  J.  Warren,  Madame  Cad¬ 
bury,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Mons. 
Chenon  de  Leche,  Miss  A.  Byron 
Silver  King,  Mrs.  Mease,  Mr! 
J.  W.  Barkley,  Mr.  F.  A.  Compton, 
Oceana,  Miss  Nellie  Pockett, 
Master  H.  Tucker,  Mons.  Gruyer 
Graphic,  Mons.  Hoste,  Wattle- 
blossom,  Australie,  Mrs.  G.  W. 
Palmer,  Madame  Carnot,  Madame 
G.  Delvine,  Mrs.  Barkley,  Mons. 
Louis  Remy,  Mr.  J.  Lewis,  and 
Mrs.  Payne.  The  second  prize 
went  to  Mr.  H.  Blakeway  with  fine 
examples,  and  the  third  to  Mr.  H. 
Liney,  gardener  to  W.  M.  Low, 
Esq.,  Wellesborne,  with  good 
blooms.  In  the  class  for  twelve 
Japanese  and  twelve  incurved, 
distinct,  the  silver  cup,  value  3 
guineas,  presented  by  J.  M.  Moles- 
worth.  Esq ,  was  secured  by  Mr. 
A.  Chandler  with  the  following 
varieties  :  —  Japanese  varieties  : 
G.  J.  Warren,  Mr.  J.  Lewie, 
Graphic,  Silver  King,  Mons.  Hoste, 
Oceana,  Madame  Cadbury,  Master 
H.  Tucker,  Madame  Gustave 
Henry,  Australie,  Mods.  Louis 
Remy,  and  Mons.  Gruyer.  In¬ 
curved  :  Duchess  of  Fife,  Hanwell 
Glory,  Louisa  Giles,  Miss  Dorothy 
Foster,  C.  H.  Curtis,  Mrs.  H.  J. 
Jones,  Mdlle.  Lucie  Faure,  W, 
Tunnington,  Mr.  W.  C.  Egan, 
Topaze  Orientale,  Ma  Perfection, 
and  Bonnie  Dundee.  The  second 
prize  was  awarded  to  Mr.  R.  Jones, 
his  incurved  being  remarkably 
fine  and  fresh. 
For  twelve  incurved  blooms, 
not  less  than  nine  varieties,  Mr.  A, 
Chandler  was  again  to  the  fore  with  Duchess  of  Fife,  Dorothy  Foster, 
C.  H.  Curtis,  Hanwell  Glory,  Bonnie  Dundee,  Ma  Perfection,  Louisa 
Giles,  and  Topaze  Orientale.  Second  honours  fell  to  Mr.  R.  Jones. 
For  twelve  Japanese,  distinct,  Mr.  A.  Chandler  was  invincible  with 
Australie,  Mr.  W.  H.  Lees,  Oceana,  Madame  Gustave  Henry,  Master  H. 
Tucker,  Madame  Cadbury,  G.  J.  Warren,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  G.  C.  Schwabe, 
Silver  King,  Louis  Remy,  and  Mrs.  Barkley.  The  second  prize  went  to 
Mr.  H.  Blakeway. 
Table  decorations  by  lady  amateurs  were  artistically  arranged, 
respectively  by  Mrs.  G.  Hopkins  and  Mrs.  Garlick.  For  the  best  twelve 
blooms  of  Chrysanthemums  on  long  stalks  in  vases,  Mr.  W.  Goodman, 
gardener  to  P.  A.  Leaf,  Esq.,  was  placed  first,  and  the  Leamington 
Nurserymen’s  Co.  second,  both  with  good  examples.  For  a  bouquet  of 
Chrysanthemums  Messrs.  W.  Vause,  E.  Perkins,  and  Finch  &  Co.  were 
placed  in  the  order  named.  For  a  cross  of  Chrysanthemum  flowers 
Messrs.  Finch,  Vause,  and  Perkins  were  successful. 
Fig.  128. — Aster  diplostephioides. 
Aster  diplostephioides. 
Apples  from  Messrs.  Dicksons,  Ltd.,  Chester,  the  fine  group  of  Cyclamen 
and  Begonia  de  Lorraine  from  Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  &  Sons,  and  the 
extensive  display  of  various  plants  from  Mr.  W.  Henderson. 
