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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  December  13,  1900. 
Decorative  Chrysanthemums — Bush  Grown  v.  Exhibition  Plants. 
Youb  correspondent  “  H.  R.,”  while  not  exactly  disparaging  the 
usefulness  of  big  blooms  for  decorative  work,  seems  to  think  that  many 
gardeners  give  too  much  valuable  space  to  these,  to  the  exclusion  of 
bush-grown  plants.  I  venture  to  differ  from  “  H.  R.,”  for  personally 
I  find  large  exhibition  blooms  equal  in  value  for  house  decoration  to 
those  from  bush-grown  plants,  with  one  exception  perhaps — viz., 
table  decorations.  Most  gardeners  house  their  plants  by  the  first 
week  in  October,  but  there  is  no  need  whatever  to  house  all  the  bush- 
grown  plants  at  the  same  time,  but  only  sufficient  should  go  inside  to 
carry  on  a  supply  of  small  blooms  after  the  outdoor  or  border  varieties 
are  over.  The  majority  will  retain  their  foliage  much  better  if  left 
outside.  I  have  to-day,  November  24th,  housed  the  major  portion  of 
my  bush-grown  plants,  not  having  had  space  available  for  them  before^ 
simply  because  my  houses  (vineries)  were  entirely  devoted  to  plants 
grown  for  the  supply  of  large  blooms.  I  admit  the  almost  entire 
absence  of  frost  during  this  November  is  exceptional,  but  if  severe 
frosts  had  been  imminent  the  precaution  of  laying  the  plants  down 
and  covering  with  mats  would  have  prevented  injury;  or  batter  still, 
I  could  have  stood  the  plants  thickly  in  the  pathways  of  the  houses 
every  night,  and  replaced  them  outside  every  morning.  By  adopting 
this  method  the  plants  are  practically  outside  eight  weeks  longer  than 
the  large  flowering  varieties,  and  beyond  just  looking  to  their  require¬ 
ments  for  water  are  very  little  trouble.  The  plants  housed  the  first 
week  in  October  have  been  getting  smaller  and  smaller  through  being 
used  in  the  conservatory  or  the  mansion.  In  the  latter  case  some  are 
used  as  single  specimens  in  suitable  positions ;  some  are  massed  in 
fireplaces  for  any  particular  event,  while  the  flowers  of  others  are  cut 
with  long  stems  for  filling  trumpet  and  other  shaped  vases.  These 
help  to  give  the  rooms  that  noble  appearance  which  cannot  be  obtained 
by  the  aid  of  bush  plants  alone.  1  therefore  maintain  that  exhibition 
sized  blooms  are  indispensable  for  decorative  work  during  October, 
November,  and  December. — A.  Jefferies,  Moor  Hall. 
December  Chrysanthemums. 
Chrysanthemums  which  bloom  and  last  well  into  the  month  of 
December  are  of  the  utmost  value,  and  growers  who  have  to  cater  for 
decoration,  especially  cut  blooms,  should  endeavour  to  cultivate,  in 
addition  to  November  varieties  those  which  can  be  relied  upon  to 
give  the  necessary  blooms  during  December,  and  the  later  they  can 
be  secured  in  good  condition  the  better. 
The  Japanese  class  contains  varieties  which  are  suitable  for  all 
seasons — early,  midseason,  and  late.  Varieties  for  the  latter  season 
are  necessarily  limited  in  number — very  much  limited  towards  the  emt 
of  the  month.  Among  the  best  varieties  which  can  be  had  in  bloom 
are  Niveus,  white  ;  Pride  of  Ryecroft,  yellow;  Sunstone,  light  yellow; 
Edith  Tabor,  pale  yellow ;  Julian  Hilpert,  creamy  primrose ;  C.  W. 
Richardson,  yellow ;  Madame  Ad.  Chatin,  white  ;  W.  H.  Lincoln, 
yellow;  Etoile  de  Lyon,  lilac  rose;  Golden  Gate,  yellow;  Clinton 
Chalfont,  rich  golden  yellow,  small  useful  blooms;  Winter  White, 
white;  Christmas  Favourite,  white;  Stresa,  bright  yellow ;  Princess 
Victoria,  white  ;  Red  Canning,  bright  red  ;  L.  Canning,  pure  white  ; 
Golden  Gem,  bronze  crimson  ;  Golden  Dart,  buttercup  yellow  ; 
Yellow  Ethel,  yellow  ;  Silver  Cloud,  w’hite,  shaded  salmon  ;  Princess 
Blanche,  white  ;  Rose  Wynne,  delicate  blush  ;  Mrs.  E.  W.  Clarke, 
deep  claret  purple  ;  Tuxedo,  beautiful  orange  ;  and  roseum  superbum, 
purple. 
The  thread-petalled  or  spidery  varieties  are  useful  and  attractive 
during  December,  as,  being  small  blooming  varieties,  generally  the 
flowers  do  not  damp  so  quickly.  Among  the  best  of  these  may  be 
noted  Miss  Harvey,  a  beautiful  white,  forked,  short  thread  petals, 
slightly  green  centre;  Cancell’s  Favourite,  white,  yellow  centre,  small 
petals,  flat,  slightly  pointed  and  forked  at  the  tips,  a  pretty  variety  ; 
Sam  Caswell,  pink  and  blush,  thread  petals,  like  shavings  ;  Mrs. 
Filkins,  golden  yellow,  pretty,  small,  flat  petals  with  forked  or  notched 
points  ;  Arachnoideum,  light  cream,  the  petals  are  wiry,  twisted,  and 
contorted  in  various  directions,  like  spider’s  cobwebs  ;  Red  Thread, 
small,  very  short,  slender  petals,  bronze  and  yellow,  lower  parts 
yellow ;  Lovely,  white,  very  short,  curly  twisted  flat  petals ; 
Centaurea,  deep  orange  yellow,  short  curled  and  twisted  petals ; 
White  Jitsujetsui,  white,  flat,  short  pointed  petals  ;  Jitsujetsui,  silver 
pink,  flat  pointed  petals,  some  striped  white  and  pink  ;  Mrs.  W. 
Butters,  pure  white,  large,  beautiful  fluffy  variety,  with  foiked 
petals ;  Alice  Carter,  reddish  brown,  tipped  with  gold,  distinct 
thread-like  petals.  These  are  excellent  varieties  for  decoration  in 
sprays  of  several  flowers. 
Among  the  incurved  varieties  rather  late  in  blooming  are  Bonnie 
Dundee,  orange  bronze;  Bronze  Jardin  des  Plantes;  Jardin  des 
Plantes,  bright  orange;  C.  B.  Whitnall,  maroon;  C.  H.  Curtis,  deep 
yellow;  Guernsey  Nugget,  primrose  yellow;  King  of  Orange,  orange 
yellow;  L’Amethiste,  violet;  Miss  Marechaux,  white  ;  Mrs.  F.  Hepper, 
white;  Mrs.  Norman  Davis,  yellow;  Mrs.  J.  Gardiner,  yellow,  shaded 
bronz  ' ;  Princess  Teck,  white,  shaded  pink ;  Robert  Petfield,  silvery 
mauve;  Rose  Owen,  rose  pink;  Sir  Titus,  silvery  rose;  Sir  Trevor 
Lawrence,  milk  white  ;  and  White  Globe,  white. 
In  the  reflexed  class  Boule  de  Niege,  white,  is  an  excellent  late 
variety.  Among  the  Anemone  Pompons  Virginale,  white  ;  Calliope, 
ruby  red  ;  and  Late  Duchess,  white,  are  good.  Of  Pompons  Golden 
Gem,  yellow  ;  Snowdrop,  white  ;  and  Yellow  Snowdrop  are  the  latest. 
Late  Chrysanthemums  should  be  kept  in  a  cool  dry  temperature  with 
slight  heat,  so  as  to  steadily  develop  the  blooms  and  preserve  them 
when  open.  The  smallest  blooms,  if  of  good  form  and  fresh  appear¬ 
ance,  are  acceptable  at  this  season. — B.  H. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  Classification  Committee  held  a  meeting  on  the  10th  inst., 
Mr.  J.  W.  Moorman  presiding,  and  dealt  with  a  large  number  of  the 
newer  incurved  varieties.  They  increase  with  considerable  rapidity, 
and  it  is  necessary  they  be  followed  closely  in  order  that  exhibitors  who 
show  under  N.C.S.  regulations  may  know  which  are  accepted  as  true 
incurved. 
The  new  introductions  of  late  years  have  done  much  to  stimulate 
interest  in  this  type,  and  during  the  past  two  months  by  reason  of 
the  int  reduction  of  so  many  new  varieties  of  much  larger  dimensions 
than  were  seen  only  a  few  years  ago,  large  and  highly  developed 
blooms  can  now  be  seen  on  stands.  That  large  blooms  can  be 
shown  exhibiting  the  fine  quality  seen  years  ago  in  those  of  smaller 
size  is  clearly  apparent.  It  may  be  necessary  to  have  not  a  few  from 
a  particular  bud  in  order  to  have  them  of  the  most  refined  character, 
but  it  is  a  certain  fact  that  the  exhibitor  has  row  a  much  wider 
range  of  selection,  and  the  task  of  setting  up  a  stand  of  twenty-four 
varieties  is  not  nearly  so  difficult  as  it  was  a  few  years  ago. 
On  this  occasion  the  following  varieties  were  classifit'd  as  incurved, 
and  may  be  shown  under  'N.C.S.  rules; — Annie  C.  Love,  Comtesse 
d'Estoile,  Creole,  Emile  Nonin,  Frank  Hammond,  Fred.  Palmer, 
Fouka,  Golden  Madame  Ferlat,  Henry  Ellis,  J.  Pearce,  J.  W. 
Wilkinson,  John  Carvil,  L.  M.  de  la  Drome,  Lydia,  Madame  J. 
Steele,  Madame  Mante,  Madame  Vermeul,  May  Bell,  Mervyn  Pinford, 
Miss  Annie  Hills,  Miss  F.  Siutham,  Miss  N.  Southam,  Mrs.  Henry  J. 
Jones,  Mr.  A.  E.  Stubbs,  Mr.  E,  Bennett,  Mr.  F.  King,  Stephen 
Gomm,  and  Watteau.  Several  flowers  of  doubtful  character  were 
passed  over  as  needing  further  trial. 
Certain  varieties  of  incurved,  hitherto  brack^’ted  as  too  much 
alike,  were,  owing  to  the  experience  gained  in  trials,  added  to  the 
testimony  of  exj  erts,  declared  to  be  distinct — viz.,  C.  H.  Curtis  and 
Major  Bonaffon,  Duchess  of  Fife  and  Mrs.  Airdie;  so  also  in  the  case 
of  Japanese  Australie  and  Mr.  T.  Carrington,  also  classed  as  too  much 
alike.  These  are  now  classed  as  distinct.  Lewisham  Belle  (H.  J. 
Jones)  is  classified  as  a  true  reflexed  variety. 
Notes  on  the  Past  Season. 
Now  that  the  exhibition  season  is  past  those  responsible  for  the 
management  of  the  various  shows  have  time  to  reflect  upon  the 
results  of  their  efforts  to  carry  out  the  programme  arranged, 
strengthen  weak  places,  and  in  other  ways  make  what  improvements 
suggest  themselves  for  next  season.  When  w'e  take  into  consideration 
the  general  quality  of  the  blooms  displayed  throughout  the  whole 
season  there  is  abundant  reason  for  congratulation.  The  quality  has 
been  quite  up  to  the  average,  and  in  some  instances  even  a  higher 
standard  has  been  attained.  In  the  incurved  section  much  improvement 
was  manifest,  not  only  in  the  quality  of  individual  exhibits,  but  in 
a  general  increase  in  competition  and  interest  taken  in  this  section.  It 
was  nothing  unusual  to  find  half  a  drzen  competitors  in  many  of  the 
classes  devoted  to  incurved  varieties.  This  is  to  a  large  extent 
accounted  for  by  the  great  increase  of  commendable  varieties  which 
go  to  make  exhibiting  much  easier. 
