172 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
February  28,  1901. 
Manipulating  Chrysanthemum  Florets. 
Visitors  to  the  late  Chrysanthemum  shows  were  heard  to  remark 
upon  the  great  difference  in  colour  and  form  of  floret  of  the  same 
variety  in  several  stands  of  cut  blooms.  For  instance,  on  some  stands 
Pride  of  Madford  was  represented  as  being  an  incurved  bloom  belonging 
to  the  Japanese  section,  and  showing  a  dull  red  or  claret  colour  with  a 
silver  shading.  Other  blooms  exhibited  the  rich  plum  colour  so 
pleasing  to  all.  It  was  the  two  opposite  types  of  bloom  that  bewildered 
the  innocent  onlooker.  To  those  conversant  with  Chrysanthemums  in 
their  various  phases  of  development  the  difference  was  recognised  as 
the  result  of  manipulating  the  florets  in  such  a  manner  that  they  were 
reversed.  What  was  naturally  an  incurving  floret  became  a  reflexed 
one,  and  thus  exhibited  the  charming  lustrous  colour.  Such  a  system 
was  strongly  condemned  by  not  a  few  good  judges  of  the  flower.  In 
several  instances  blooms  lost  points  in  judging  on  the  strength  of  their 
being  unnatural.  Mrs.  Barkley  was  another  instance  of  such 
manipulation  of  the  florets. 
Whether  this  is  a  practice  that  should  continue  is  entirely  a  matter 
for  the  executive  committees  of  the  various  shows  in  directing  the 
judges  whom  they  employ.  Whether  the  latter  are  firm  enough  in 
carrying  out  their  duties  to  put  a  stop  to  what  some  persons  term  a 
most  reprehensible  practice  is  not  for  me  here  to  say.  The  point  in 
dealing  with  such  a  practice  would  first  be  to  define  whether  certain 
varieties  belong  to  the  incurving  Japanese  class  or  to  the  reflexed. 
Who  will  venture  to  set  the  Chrysanthemum  world  right  in  this  ?  I 
would  ask.  No  body  of  experts  that  I  know  can  agree  as  to  this. 
Some  varieties  unquestionably  belong  to  the  incurved  section  while 
developing  their  florets;  afterwards  they  are  neither  one  thing  nor  the 
other.  In  which  section  should  these  be  staged  ?  is  the  first  query  I 
would  put. — Sadoc. 
Specimen  Chrysanthemums. 
Although  practised  cultivators  of  specimen  Chrysanthemums  have 
a  selection  of  varieties  that  answer  their  purpose  very  well,  they  do  not 
object  to  know  of  other  varieties  that  are  amenable  to  this  form  of 
culture.  As  a  close  observer  of  other  people’s  practice  I  sometimes 
unexpectedly  meet  with  varieties  that  cannot  as  yet  be  regarded  as 
being  commonly  known  as  suitable  for  growing  as  specimens.  With 
a  view  to  assisting  others  I  have  jotted  down  the  names  of  really 
deserving  vaiieties  seen  in  excellent  condition  during  the  past 
autumn. 
ft  is  generally  admitted  that  incurved  varieties  are  more  difficult 
to  cultivate  than  the  Japanese,  therefore  a  gain  of  even  a  single 
variety  is  appreciated.  Madame  Ferlat  was  grandly  staged  at 
Birmingham.  One  plant  carried  thirty-five  handsome  blooms,  many 
of  them  measuring  5  inches  in  diameter,  solid  and  furnished  with  grand 
florets ;  the  foliage,  too,  was  simply  magnificent.  Lady  Isabel 
was  also  staged  in  good  condition,  the  blooms  being  free  from  that 
coarseness  which  is  present  too  often  in  specimens  where  the  number 
has  been  seveiely  restricted.  With  more  blooms  the  colour  is 
intensified,  which  is  a  distinct  improvement  in  this  variety.  Ma 
Perfection  was  many  times  seen  in  very  fine  condition.  No  variety 
of  which  1  know  appears  to  perfect  its  blooms  better  in  quantity 
than  this. 
In  the  Japanese  section  we  have  a  greater  number  to  choose  from. 
Madame  (J.  Bruant  was  productive  of  the  finest  specimen  that  came 
under  my  notice  last  season ;  one  plant  not  too  widely  spread  out,  as  is 
frequently  the  case,  was  perfectly  clothed  with  deep  green  leaves  and 
carried  forty  blooms  perfect  in  form  and  of  full  size.  The  semi- 
drooping  florets  render  it  especially  suitable  for  specimen  culture. 
Modesto,  with  its  closely  incurving  florets  of  the  richest  orange 
yellow,  forms  a  capital  contrast  to  other  colours.  Plants  of  this 
variety  furnished  with  three  dozen  blooms  must  be  admired.  Pride 
of  Madford,  as  might  be  expected,  was  staged  in  capital  condition  ;  the 
rich  plum  colour  is  more  conspicuous  in  smaller  blooms  than  in  those 
grown  to  exhibition  standard.  Lady  Hanham,  like  the  remainder  of 
the  Viviand  Morel  family,  is  well  adapted  to  this  form  of  culture. 
Madame  Gustave  Henry,  as  a  white,  is  well  deserving  of  cultivation. 
When  an  extra  strain  in  developing  the  blooms  by  increased  numbers 
is  put  upon  the  plants  fewer  of  the  rougher  ba>al  florets  are  to  be 
found.  Miss  Watson,  bright  yellow  ;  Mrs.  Coombes,  mauve  lilac, 
with  its  narrow  semi-drooping  florets  and  full  solid  blooms,  are  all  that 
could  be  desired.  Madame  Carnot  has  been  staged  so  often  that  it 
can  hardly  be  classed  as  a  novelty  ;  still  its  merits  for  this  method  of 
culture  are  of  such  a  high  order  that  prominence  should  be  given  to  it 
wherever  possible. — E.  M. 
- «<«»> - 
Our  Ancient  Art. 
Since  the  remote  days  when  the  delights  of  gardening  were  enjoyed 
by  the  solitary  man  Adam,  how  great  has  been  the  sum  total  of 
human  happiness  obtained  from  the  pursuit  of  the  graud  old  art ! 
The  natural  life  of  the  country,  which  at  one  time  was  the  lot  of  all, 
has  gradually  been  relinquished  by  the  large  section  of  the  com¬ 
munity  in  favour  of  an  artificial  existence  amid  the  glare  and  glamour, 
or  the  smoky  slums  of  great  cities.  Throughout  the  latter  half  of 
the  nineteenth  century  the  population  of  Britain  has  been  drawn  in  a 
gradual  and  ever-increasing  stream  from  the  country  to  the  towns, 
with  the  inevitable  result  that  in  the  course  of  a  generation  or  two 
the  physical  stamina  of  the  nation  must  become  less  satisfactory, 
unless  some  interchange  of  population  between  country  and  town 
takes  place.  One  has  only  to  watch  the  physical  condition  of  the 
average  boy  or  girl  in  our  large  manufacturing  towns  to  note  the 
significance  of  the  above  remarks. 
Among  the  problems  to  be  solved  during  the  present  century 
surely  that  of  increasing  the  rural  population  of  Britain  demands 
serious  attention.  In  dealing  with  problems  of  this  description  the 
conflicting  instincts  of  human  nature,  as  well  as  the  interests  involved, 
render  remedial  measures  extremely  difficult.  The  natural  love  of 
country  life  seems  on  the  one  hand  to  be  inherent  in  almost  every 
human  breast;  on  the  other  hand  there  is  also  present  a  desire  for 
change,  a  love  of  excitement,  and  an  eagerness  to  join  in  the  “  race  for 
wealth  ”  which  are  associated  with  city  life.  S  >  keen  has  the  competi¬ 
tion  become  that  it  is  rare  indeed  that  any  but  the  sturdy  and  strong 
succeed,  while  thousands  find  an  early  grave  through  disappointment 
and  debilitating  surroundings. 
By  what  means  such  matters  will  be  put  right  it  needs  a  bold  man 
to  predict,  but  who  will  say  that  it  may  not  be  brought  about  by 
natural  rather  than  economic  laws  ?  Hope  for  the  future  lies  to  a 
great  extent  in  the  fact  that  while  competition  in  the  towns  has 
become  keener,  there  is  in  many  respects  an  absence  of  competition  in 
rural  districts,  and  some  clear  heads  can  already  foresee  that  country 
pursuits  will  in  the  future  offer  good  opportunities  to  shrewd  and 
industrious  men. 
The  gardening  instinct  is  as  strong,  if  not  stronger,  to-day  than  at 
any  period  during  the  history  of  the  world,  but  it  assumes  different 
forms  according  to  circumstances.  The  suburban  dweller,  who  has 
only  a  little  garden  to  cultivate,  boasts  of  a  greenhouse  which  proves  a 
continuous  source  of  delight.  In  the  smoky  slums  of  large  towns  a 
few  pot  plants  struggling  for  existence  are  tended  with  loving  care, 
and  help  to  keep  alive  the  taste  for  gardening  among  thousands  who 
know  naught  of  country  life ;  and  who  will  say  that,  in  spite  of  many 
drawbacks,  the  interest  displayed  in  allotment  culture  does  not  show 
how  strong  is  the  gardening  instinct  still  ? 
The  demand  for  gardening  periodicals,  for  pamphlets,  and  standard 
works  is  also  greater  than  at  any  other  period,  and  many  who  have  hut 
a  few  square  yards  of  garden  to  tend  must  have  their  gardening  paper. 
All  these  things,  however,  only  show  that  the  desire  to  “garden  ”  is 
still  a  healthy  and  vigorous  force,  notwithstanding  which  the  broad 
fact  remains  that  when  it  ceases  to  be  remunerative  in  comparison 
with  other  callings  it  is  looked  upon  rather  in  the  light  of  a  pleasant 
pastime  'than  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  Will  it  always  be  thus,  or 
will  the  time  come  when  the  acquirement  of  wealth  will  play  a 
secondary  part  in  the  nation’s,  or  individual’s,  estimate  of  happiness? 
Should  such  a  time  come,  those  indeed  will  be  the  palmy  days  in 
some  respects  for  the  progress  of  the  “grand  old  art.” 
Look  at  the  matter  again  from  another  point  of  view.  Should  the 
time  come  when  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  English  people  to  produce 
at  home  a  larger  proportion  of  their  food  supplies,  then  indeed  will  the 
gardener,  the  farmer,  and  the  workman  be  able  to  command  a  full 
share  of  prosperity.  At  present  the  value  of  their  labour  is  under¬ 
estimated,  principally  because  the  cost  of  transporting  food  across  the 
seas  is  ridiculously  low  when  compared  with  inland  rates  of  carriage. 
Whenever  such  matters  are  satisfactorily  settled  commercial  gardening 
and  farming  will  again  flourish,  and  private  gardening —  which  is  to  a 
great  extent  dependent  upon  such  wealth-producing  enterprises — will 
be  restored  to  its  ancient  splendour.  Our  motto  at  present  must, 
however,  he  to  blend  science,  practite,  and  energy  in  the  conduct  of 
our  work,  and  thus  strive  to  obtain  the  best  possible  results  from  the 
land  now  cultivated.  The  grand  old  art  is  not  played  out,  ’tis  only 
undergoing  a  change. — H,  D. 
