156 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
August  14,  1C02. 
Chrysanthemum  Christmas  Giory. 
This  is  the  name  of  a  new  variety  raised  by  Mr.  Dyer, 
Frimley,  and  is  likely  to  be  useful  as  a  late  one  for  the- supply 
of  cut  flowers.  The  colour  is  crimson,  and  it  keeps  the  tint  well. 
It  has  a.  good  stem  and  a  dwarf  habit-  of  growth.  The  blooms  are 
of  medium  size,  and  the  form  elegant.  It  is  difficult  at  this  time 
of  the  year  to  obtain  Chrysanthemums  of  bright  colour ;  any 
novelty  to  supply  that  want  is  therefore  welcome. 
Chrysanthemum  Mons  Freeman. 
This  variety  is  another  instance  of  a  good  thing  being  dis¬ 
carded  before  its  real  qualities  are  known.  At  least,  it  is  now 
useless  as  a  show  kind,  because  small  for  present  day  require¬ 
ments.  Ten  years  ago  blooms  of  it  looked  well  on  the  stands, 
but  as  a  late  flowering  variety  with  pink  blossoms  it  is  first- 
rate.  The  formation  of  the  flower  is  excellent,  and  the  colour 
very  bright  and  pleasing.  Add  to  this  a  dwarf,  free-branching 
habit  of  growth,  with  a  stem  stout  enough  to-  hold  the  bloom 
in  position,  whether  a  central  blossom  or  a  side  one.  We  are 
apt  to  rush  after  novelties  in  flowers  when  oftentimes  the 
material  is  already  at  hand  to  grow  for  a  special  purpose,  and 
this  kind  can  be  recommended  as  a  late  pink. 
Chrysanthemum  Matthew  Hodgson 
Is  becoming  a  popular  variety  for  late  flowering.  It  is  ex¬ 
cellent  for  the  purpose.  The  blooms  have  the  necessary  qualities 
as  form,  which  is  the  Japanese;  and  they  always  come  double, 
however  many  are  allowed  to  develop'.  The  stiff  stem  is  not 
the  least  of  its  merits.  In  colour  the  shade  is  terra-cotta  of  a 
crimson  hue,  and  this  keeps  bright  to  the  last.  The  habit  of 
the  plant  is  first-rate,  dwarf,  sturdy,  and  with  abundant  foliage. 
Those  who  grow  for  market,  as  well  as  gardeners  in  private 
establishments,  should  make  this  one  of  the  principal  varieties 
for  the  growth  of  late  cut  flowers.  The  plant  lifts  well,  which 
to  the  former  class  of  cultivators  is  an  item  of  importance ;  and 
the  thick,  leathery  leaves  are  more  free  than  most  kinds  from 
the  attacks  of  “rust.”  This  variety  did  not  last  many  seasons 
as  a  sort  for  exhibitions,  because  wanting  in  size  for  that  pur¬ 
pose;  hence  many  have  discarded  a  really  good  thing.— H.  S. 
* 
Japanese  Varieties. 
During  the  course  of  the  last  winter  session  at  a  crowded 
meeting  of  the  Dulwich  Chrysanthemum  Society,  Mr.  Taylor, 
gardener  at  Teweskesbury  Lodge,  completed  the  paper  on 
Chrysanthemum  growing,  which  lie  had  previously  brought  up 
to  the  stage  of  placing  the  plants  in  their  summer  quarters. 
Time  pressing,  he  confined  his  remarks  to  the  Japanese  section. 
His  regulations  were  to  keep  the  plants  syringed  overhead 
until  the  end  of  August,  after  which,  the  night  dews  will  pro¬ 
bably  be  sufficient;  tie  out  shoots  carefully,  but  not  too  tightly  ; 
remove  all  weeds,  and  give  careful  attention,  to  watering,  never 
giving  any  water  unless  the  pot  rings  when  tapped  with  the 
knuckles,  always  erring  on  the  dry  side.  About  the  first  week  in 
August  a  dressing  should  be  given,  which  should  include  one  part 
bonemeal  in  five  of  soil.  Watering  with  a  rose  should  be  done 
for  a  time  after  top-dressing.  Before  the  leaves  assume  a 
yellowish  appearance,  follow  with  liquid  manure  from  horse  drop¬ 
pings  and  soot  of  about  the  colour  of  pale  ale,  carefully  avoid¬ 
ing  any  deposit  on  the  soil.  This  should  be  followed  after  a 
fortnight  by  a  chemical  manure,  or  Peruvian  guano,  whenever 
watering  is  required.  The  guano  is  specially  useful  in  wet 
weather,  when  it  may  be  sprinkled  on  the  soil  instead  of  being 
used  in  the  liquid  state.  Slightly  increase  the  strength  of 
manures  as  the  buds  unfold,  until  they  are  three  parts  out, 
after  which,  give  clear  water  only.  Keep  a  sharp  look  out  for 
insects,  keeping  down  aphides  by  tobacco  powder  or  solution. 
Catch  and  kill  earwigs  by  the  use  of  pots  on  stakes  is 
not  advisable,  as  they  are  liable  to  slip  and  break  shoots. 
Early  morning  is  the  best  time  to  examine  the  plants  for  their 
various  enemies.  Mildew  is  sure  to  appear,  and  should  be 
checked  by  dusting  with  sulphur  or  by  using  Molyneux’s  lime 
and  sulphur  solution.  Rust  is  not  troubling  growers  much  yet 
this  season. 
Taking  the  Buds. 
Taking  the  bud  is  the  next  consideration,  and  amateur 
beginners  are  recommended  to  “take”  their  buds  earlier  than 
they  usually  do.  zYll  buds,  with  the  exception  of  those  of  the 
Viviand  Morel  family  should  be  taken  by  the  third  or  last  week 
in  August,  and  even  these  should  be  secured  by  September  1. 
To  obtain  buds  in  some  varieties,  it  is  necessary  to  pinch  in 
April,  thus  causing  an  earlier  break,  while  others,  Phoebus  for 
instance,  should  develop  naturally  at  the  right  date  if  struck 
in  January.  Mrs.  Weekes,  Florence  Molyneux,  and  Edith 
Tabor  do  well  if  struck  late  in  March,  and  the  first-  bud 
secured.  In  a  large  collection  recently  seen  at  Brighton,  and 
grown  for  an  exhibition  to  be  held  about  November  12,  bud 
selection  was  well  in  hand  at  a  much  earlier  date  than  is  usually 
recommended.  Some  growers  find  that  the  blooms  on  buds 
taken  late  develop  too  early,  but  an  earlier  bud  takes  so  much 
longer  to.  unfold  its  many  petals,  that  the  remedy  is  rather  in 
taking  early  than  late. 
The  next  consideration  is  housing  the  plants,  which  should 
take  place  about  October  1,  although  consideration  of  the 
weather  must  be  shown.  The  house  should  be  made  sweet  and 
clean,  and  the  plants  carefully  gone  over  for  mildew.  For  the 
first  week  air  should  be  given  whenever  possible,  and  the 
syringe  used  lightly  early  in  the  day  if  the  weather  is  bright. 
Fumigate  on  alternate  nights ;  after  this,  fumigating  once  a 
week  will  keep  down  aphides.  Other  pests  should  be  caught 
and  killed.  Slight  shading  is  beneficial  when  the  blooms  are 
unfolding.  If  it  is  found  that  a  plant  will  be  too  early  for  the 
show,  remove  to  a  dry  dark  room  and  water  as  little  as 
possible  ;  or  the  blooms  may  be  cut,  the  stems  stripped  of  leaves 
and  placed  in  bottles.  Should  a  plant  be  backward,  keep  it  in 
the  warmest  part  of  the  house. 
Cutting  Blooms  for  Exhibition. 
When  cutting  blooms  for  the  show  leave  about  18in  stem, 
and  even  when  placed  in  their  cups  leave  an  inch  of  stem  to 
enable  any  necessary  dressing  to  be  done  at  the  show.  Take 
care  no  duplicates  appear  where  distinct  varieties  ai'e  required. 
Arrange  the  blooms  in  a  pleasing  contrast  of  colour,  say 
Phoebus  against  Win.  Steward,  and  Mrs.  G.  W.  Palmer  by  the 
side  of  Edith  Tabor,  never  putting  two  of  one  colour  together. 
When  on  the  exhibition  table  raise  the  back  row  of  blooms  as 
high  as  the  cups  and  tubes  will  allow.  Place  the  second  row 
just  above  the  bottom  florets  of  the  back  row,  and  the  same 
with  the  front.  Adjust  the  name  cards  and  the  class  card  in 
their  proper  places. 
Beginners  are  strongly  recommended  not  to  enter  too  many 
classes;  to  send  in  their  entry  in  good  time;  carefully  follow 
the  directions  and  regulations  in  the  schedule ;  set  up  in  good 
time  their  exhibits,  and  to  accept  in  good  grace  the  verdicts  of 
the  judges.  A  good  discussion  followed,  many  little  difficulties 
being  carefully  elucidated  by  Mr.  Taylor. 
The  Cape  Town  Exhibition. 
The  scheme  for  holding  a  British  and  Colonial  Exhibition  at 
Cape  Town  for  a  period  of  four  months  from  November,  1903,  to 
February,  1904,  is  making  definite  progress.  The  patronage  of 
Lord  Milner  has  been  secured,  while  the  support  of  other  distin¬ 
guished  men  and  public  bodies  has  been  enlisted.  The  reception 
accorded  to  the  project  is  evidenced  by  the  support  of  the  Cape 
Town  Chamber,  while  similar  support,  or  promises  of  support, 
have  been  received  from  other  Chambers  and  merchants  in  the 
main  cities  of  the  several  South  African  colonies.  A  like  cordial 
reception  has,  we  understand,  been  met  with  in  this  country, 
and  even  in  our  most  distant  colonies.  The  Chamber  of  Com¬ 
merce  and  the  Town  Council  of  Cape  Town,  representing  the 
leading  merchants  and  business  men  at  the  Cape,  are  to  appoint 
an  Advisory  Board,  in  order  to  forward  the  arrangements  and 
interests  of  manufacturers  participating  in  the  exhibition.  The 
site  upon  which  the  exhibition  is  to  be  held  has  already  been 
chosen.  It-  adjoins  the  Botanical  Gardens,  and  is  within  five 
minutes’  walk  of  the  Town  Hall.  The  contract  for  the  con- 
structiqn  of  the  necessary  buildings  has  also  already  been  signed. 
The  number  of  applications  for  space  from  British  and  colonial 
exhibitors  is  already  large,  and  probably  before  long  the  whole  of 
the  available  space  will  have  been  applied  for.  The  time  fixed 
for  holding  the  exhibition  is  certainly  very  opportune.  The 
various  paralysed  industries,  and  especially  those  of  farming, 
dairying,  wine  growing,  will  then  be  busy  in  schemes  for  a  fresh 
stark,  and  the  tangible  and  visible  exhibition  of  the  latest  and 
most  up-to-date  appliances,  tools,  mechanism,  and  machinery, 
cannot  but  lead  to  very  extensive  and  profitable  dealings,  and 
the  opening  of  new  trade  outlets.  Following  the  good  example 
of  the  Canadian  Government  in  the-  process  of  buttressing  the 
Empire  with  solid  colonies,  this  effort  to  stimulate  development 
to  the  South  as  well  as  the  North  may,  we  hope,  be  eminently 
successful. 
