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JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
December  6,  1900. 
Westminster,  December  4tl|,  5th,  and  6tl|. 
The  early  winter  exhibition  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society 
was  held  at  the  Royal  Aquarium,  and  was  undoubtedly  a  great  success. 
The  chief  features  were  the  large  groups  and  the  incurved  section.  These 
were  exceptionally  good  for  the  season,  and  the  show  as  a  whole  was 
perhaps  the  best  December  show  held  by  the  society.  The  trade  groups 
were  also  very  much  in  evidence,  and  made  a  good  exhibition  in 
themselves. 
There  were  three  competitors  in  the  class  for  twenty- four  Japanese, 
not  less  than  eighteen  varieties.  Here  Mr.  E.  Kenyon,  gardener  to 
A.  P.  Hills,  Esq.,  Monkhams,  Woodford  Green,  was  first  with,  a  splendid 
board.  The  varieties  were  Robert  Laird,  Mrs.  Barkley,  Madame 
R.  Cadbury,  J.  E.  Upton,  Mrs.  E.  Barker,  G.  J.  Warren,  Mons.  Chenon 
de  Leche,  Madame  G.  Debrie,  Mons.  L.  Remy,  Mrs.  J.  Bryant,  Mutual 
Friend,  Florence  Molyneux,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Madame  von  Andre,  R.  H. 
Langton,  George  Towers,  Joseph  Chamberlain,  Khama,  and  Oceana. 
Mr.  W.  C.  Modrae,  gardener  to  Major  P.  Shuttleworth,  Old  Warden 
Park,  Biggleswade,  was  second  with  smaller  though  fresh  flowers.  The 
best  were  Silver  King,  Mary  Molyneux,  Hairy  Wonder,  N.C.S.  Jubilee, 
Madame  Ad.  Chatin,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Mons.  L.  Remy,  and  Chatsworth ; 
the  third  place  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Sandford,  gardener  to  G.  W. 
Wright  Ingle,  Esq.,  Wood  House,  North  Finchley,  who  staged  some 
good  blooms,  but  the  board  as  a  whole  was  irregular. 
For  twenty-four  bunches  of  Chrysanthemums,  any  varieties,  there 
were  four  competitors.  Mr.  R.  Kenyon  was  again  in  the  premier 
position  with  a  strong  set  of  Japanese  varieties.  The  flowers  were 
large  and  fresh,  but  as  the  varieties  were  mixed  in  many  of  the  vases 
they  could  not  be  named.  Mr.  W.  Howe,  gardener  to  Lady  Tate,  Park 
Hill,  Streatham  Common,  came  second  with  a  similar  display,  the 
blooms  being  visibly  weaker,  but  more  freely  arranged,  while  Mr.  John 
Aplin,  gardener  to  W.  M.  Baker,  Esq.,  Hasfield  Court,  Glos.,  made  a 
poor  display  for  third  place. 
For  twelve  Japanese  blooms,  distinct,  there  were  three  entries,  Mr. 
R.  Kenyon  once  more  coming  to  the  front  with  a  good  fresh  exhibit. 
The  varieties  were  Mrs.  Barkley,  J.  R.  Upton,  Graphic,  Madame  R. 
Cadbury,  Mutual  Friend,  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche,  Madame  G.  Debrie, 
Mons.  L.  Remy,  Oceana,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Khama,  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Lees. 
Mr.  C.  Payne,  gardener  to  C.  J.  Whittington,  Esq  ,  Elmshurst,  Bickley 
Park,  was  a  good  second  with  typical  blooms  of  Australie,  G.  J.  Warren, 
Surpasse  Amiral,  Madame  Carnot,  and  Mons.  Chenon  de  Leche ;  while 
Mr.  J.  Sandford  made  a  capital  third. 
Strange  to  say,  there  were  only  two  entries  in  the  class  for  six 
Japanese,  distinct,  the  first  prize  being  awarded  to  Mr.  John  Aplin,  who 
staged  G.  J.  Warren,  Silver  King,  Master  H.  Tucker,  Chatsworth, 
Madame  Carnot,  and  Etoile  de  Lyon.  The  flowers  in  this  stand  had 
evidently  been  moved,  so  that  the  names  were  considerably  mixed.  Mr. 
S.  Foster,  gardener  to  R.  Nivison,  Esq.,  Tenderden  Hall,  Hendon,  was 
second  with  good  flowers  of  Graphic  and  Surpasse  Amiral. 
The  class  for  twelve  incurved  blooms,  not  less  than  six  varieties, 
made  a  good  display,  no  less  than  seven  exhibitors  staging,  a  most 
unusual  number  for  December.  Mr.  W.  Higgs,  gardener  to  J.  B. 
Hankey,  Esq.,  Fetcham  Park,  Fetcham,  added  to  his  previous  successes 
by  winning  the  first  prize  handsomely.  The  blooms  were  large,  fresh, 
and  well  finished,  the  varieties  being  Mdlle.  Lucie  Faure,  a  grand 
bloom;  lalene,  Chas.  H.  Curtis,  Ma  Perfection,  Miss  Dorothy  Poster, 
Bonnie  Dundee,  Miss  L.  de  Black,  and  Mrs.  J.  Eadie.  Mr.  C.  Payne 
was  allotted  second  place  for  a  much  weaker  stand.  The  best  were 
Mdlle.  L.  Faure,  Hanwell  Glory,  Duchess  of  Fife,  and  Bonnie  Dundee  ; 
and  the  third  position  fell  to  Mr.  G.  W.  Forbes,  gardener  to  Madame 
Niools,  Regent  House,  Surbiton,  who  had  neat  blooms  of  Mrs.  R.  C. 
Kingston,  Chas.  H.  Curtis,  and  Bonnie  Dundee. 
There  was  only  one  competitor  in  the  class  for  twelve  bunches 
of  Japanese,  not  less  than  six  varieties,  and  Mr.  R.  C.  Notoutt, 
Broughton  Road  Nursery,  Ipswich,  was  awarded  first  prize,  the  varieties 
being  Helen  Shrimpton,  Mons.  J.  Fatzer,  G.  J.  Warren,  Silver  King, 
Master  H.  Tucker,  Florence  Molyneux,  Mary  Molyneux,  Mrs.  Maling 
Grant,  Le  Grand  Dragon,  Madame  Carnot,  W.  Adams,  and  M.  L.  Remy. 
In  a  class  for  six  bunches  of  Japanese,  distinct,  there  were  two 
competitors.  The  first  prize  was  well  won  by  Mr.  W.  Tipler,  gardener 
to  Miss  Smith  Dorrien,  Hartwell  Cottage,  Aylesbury,  who  staged  some 
beautifully  fresh  blooms.  The  varieties  were  Madame  Carnot,  Lady 
Hanham,  Niveus,  G.  J.  Warren,  Madame  P.  Rivoire,  and  Amiral 
Avellan  ;  Mr.  S.  Poster  was  awarded  third  prize  for  an  inferior  exhibit. 
The  single  varieties  were  very  pretty  and  remarkably  fresh.  In 
the  class  for  six  bunches  of  large  flowering  kinds  there  were  three 
exhibits,  the  first  prize  falling  to  Mr.  G.  W.  Forbes,  who  staged  a 
beautifully  clean  exhibit.  The  varieties  were  Kate  Williams, 
Rudbeckia,  Regent  Gem,  Miss  Brown,  and  Yellow  Giant.  Mr.  W.  C. 
Pagram,  gardener  to  J.  Courtenay,  Esq  ,  Weybridge,  was  second  with 
good  bunches  of  Mrs.  Roberts,  Elizabeth  and  Kate  Williams ;  and  Mr. 
F.  Bush,  gardener  to  W.  T.  Lister,  Esq.,  Rose  Hill,  Totteridge,  was  third. 
For  six  bunches  of  the  small  flowering  varieties  we  had  five  good 
entries,  Mr.  G.  W.  Forbes  securing  premier  honours  for  a  pretty  exhibit 
of  the  following  varieties : — Miss  Annie  Holden,  Mrs.  D.  B.  Crane, 
Nellie  Robinson,  Miss  Crissy,  Mary  Anderson,  and  Little  Pet.  Mr. 
R.  C.  Notcutt  was  a  good  second  with  capital  examples  of  the  King  of 
Siam,  Mr.  A.  Double,  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Duke ;  and  Mr.  C.  W.  Baynes,  The 
Gardens,  Ryedale,  Weybridge,  was  third  with  some  good  clean  bunches. 
The  exhibits  of  six  bunches  of  decorative  spidery,  thread  petalled, 
or  plumed  varieties  brought  out  some  very  interesting  exhibits,  there 
being  five  contestants.  Mr.  J.  French,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Barclay, 
Ambleside,  Wimbledon  Park,  was  first  with  good  bunches  of  Mrs.  Pilkins, 
white  Jitsujetui,  Bouquetiere,  Mrs.  Jas.  Carter,  Jitsnjetui  and  White 
Thread.  Mr.  A.  Page,  gardener  to  A.  L.  Reynolds,  E.-q  ,  Ravenscroft, 
North  Finchley,  was  second  with  King  of  Plumes,  Cheveaux  d’Or,  and 
Alice  Carter,  while  Mr.  W.  C.  Pagram  made  a  good  third. 
The  class  for  six  bunches  of  small  flowering  Pompons  did  not  shine 
very  well.  Mr.  W.  C.  Pagram  was  first  with  a  collection  that  might 
have  been  fresher  ;  the  varieties  were  Primrose  League,  Perfection, 
Snowdrop,  Miss  G.  Waterer,  and  Lilac  Gem.  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane  was 
second,  though  be  staged  two  vases  of  large  flowering  varieties. 
The  amateurs  turned  up  well  in  the  class  for  twelve  Japanese  blooms, 
distinct,  Mr.  W.  Tipler  being  placed  first  with  Madame  P.  Rivoire, 
Mrs.  E.  W.  Clarke,  G.  J.  Warren,  Nellie  Pockett,  Amiral  Avellan,  and 
Niveus  in  good  form.  Mr.  J.  Childs,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Fors,  Totteridge, 
was  second,  staging  Mary  Molyneux,  Mrs.  Maling  Grant,  and  Madame 
L.  Lede  in  good  form,  while  Mr.  A.  Page  brought  up  the  rear  in  creditable 
style. 
For  a  table  of  berried,  flowering,  and  foliage  plants  there  were  two 
competitors.  Mr.  A.  Newell,  gardener  to  Sir  E.  Saunders,  Fairlawn, 
Wimbledon  Common,  and  Mr.  W.  Howe  were  placed  equal  first.  Mr. 
Newell  had  a  v^ery  pretty  table  of  Bouvardias,  Cyclamens,  Liliums, 
Roman  Hyacinths,  with  a  good  variety  of  foliage  plants;  while  Mr. 
W.  Howe  had  a  similar  arrangement,  but  it  was  more  striking. 
Miscellaneous  Exhibits. 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Ryecroft  Nursery,  Lewisham,  arranged  a  grand 
exhibit  of  Chrysanthemums  both  in  pots  and  as  cut  flowers.  Huge 
vases  were  used  for  the  latter  purpose,  and  the  effect  was  charming. 
The  cut  blooms  were  fresh  and  bright,  while  the  foliage  plants  and 
flowering  Begonias  were  used  with  excellent  effect ;  from  an  artistic 
point  of  view  the  group  left  little  to  be  desired. 
Mr.  Norman  Davis,  Framfield,  Sussex,  had  a  beautiful  disolay  of 
cut  blooms,  embracing  all  sections,  artistically  arranged  with  Palms, 
Ferns,  and  foliage  plants,  while  autumnal  foliage  also  was  used  with 
excellent  effect.  The  chief  feature  was,  however,  some  monstrous 
blooms  of  Madame  Carnot  and  G.  J.  Warren.  Mr.  Davis  has  already 
demonstrated  his  ability  to  produce  the  Carnot  family,  but  on  this 
occasion  he  surpassed  all  previous  efforts,  and  the  blooms  of  G.  J. 
Warren  will  long  be  remembered  as  the  best  ever  staged.  Other  good 
varieties  were  Mrs.  Barkley,  Florence  Molyneux,  and  Ralph  Hutton. 
Messrs.  W.  Clibran  &  Son,  Altrincham,  exhibited  a  large  collection 
of  single  varieties  beautifully  fresh  and  well  staged.  Messrs.  H.  Cannell 
and  Sons,  Swanley,  exhibited  a  largo  table  of  cut  Chrysanthemums, 
Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  and  Cannas.  The 
best  Chrysanthemums  were  Kalph  Hutton,  Janet  Lady  Clarke,  Mrs. 
Pilkins,  Mons.  J.  Patzer,  Sir  Redvers  Buller,  and  M.  O.  de  Meulenaere. 
Needless  to  add  the  Zonals  were  grand,  Madame  Tilmant,  Mrs.  Chas. 
Pearson,  Mark  Twain,  The  Mikado,  Winston  Churchill,  Mr.  Kendall 
Barnes,  The  Sirdar,  and  Mrs.  Tudway. 
Mr.  J.  Flemming,  gardener  to  Lady  Pigott,  Wrexham  Park,  Slough, 
arranged  a  large  group  on  the  floor  of  the  building,  which  formed  a 
veritable  winter  garden.  The  arrangement  was  greatly  admired  by 
everybody.  It  consisted  of  a  series  of  mounds,  comprised  of  Crotons 
built  up  with  Poinsettias,  Begonias,  Spiiacas,  Daffodils,  Lilium  longi- 
florum,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Lilacs,  Ericas  embedded  in  Palms,  Ferns, 
Solanums,  Grasses,  and  Bamboos,  while  a  few  decorative  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  were  also  judiciously  used,  the  whole  forming  a  unique 
display. 
Mr.  R.  C.  Pulling,  Monkhams  Nursery,  Woodford  Green,  occupied  a 
large  space  with  three  large  bays  of  Chrysanthemums,  prettily  arranged 
with  foliage  plants,  the  specimen  blooms  being  of  the  best  quality ; 
certainly  a  very  fine  exhibit.  Messrs.  A.  W.  Young  &  Co.,  Stevenage, 
exhibited  a  good  collection  of  Cacti. 
Floral  Committee. 
Special  honours  included  May  Bell  (H.  Weeks),  a  large  silvery  pink 
incurved  variety,  striking  only  on  account  of  its  large  size  (first-class 
certificate)  ;  Robert  Morgan  (no  name),  a  dull  red  single  of  good  form 
(award  of  merit)  ;  Lady  Windsor  (W.  Clibran  &  Son),  a  pretty  single 
of  the  small  flowering  type,  whit  e  with  a  deep  rose  edging,  a  charming 
variety  (award  of  merit)  ;  Miss  Jessie  Pinnington  (W.  Clibran  &  Son), 
a  pale  blush  pink,  a  single  of  good  form  (award  of  merit). 
Electric  Shock  Plant. — The  Phytolacca  electrica  is  the  botanical 
name  of  a  plant  which  is  capable  of  giving  electric  shocks.  When  its 
stem  is  broken  the  hand  receives  a  severe  shock  like  that  given  by  an 
induction  coil.  The  true  electric  nature  of  this  plant  is  provided  by 
the  influence  it  has  upon  the  magnetic  needle,  which  is  sensibly 
affected  by  it  at  a  distance  of  6  yards.  Birds  and  insects  alike  avoid 
settling  on  it.  The  energy  of  its  action  is,  says  “Indian  Gardening,” 
greater  during  the  day  than  at  night,  and  it  increases  to  a  marked 
degree  in  storms.  It  appears  from  the  investigations  of  Wartmann 
that  most  plants  show  traces  of  electricity ;  the  currents  are  feeble  in 
flowers,  but  in  some  fruits  and  grain  they  are  very  marked. 
