November  6,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
423 
English  Flowers  for  the  United  States. 
On  Saturday,  October  25,  Mr.  W.  Wells,  of  the  Earlswood 
Nurseries,  Redhill,  Surrey,  despatched  from  a  dozen  to  twenty 
of  his  finest  flowers  to  an  agent  of  his  in  New  York  City,  N.Y., 
per  the  s.s.  Campania.  These  were  sent  on  trial,  first,  to  see 
how  the  blooms  travelled,  and,  second,  in  order  that  they  might 
be  compared  with  other  flowers  at  an  exhibition  where  they  were 
subsequently  to  be  staged.  It  will  be  interesting  to  learn  what 
was  the  opinion  of  the  Americans  who  saw  these  flowers. — H. 
Chrysanthemums  in  Oxfordshire.  1 
On  Friday  last,  being  in  the  vicinity  of  Burcote,  and  having 
a  short  time  at  my  disposal,  I  decided  to  visit  the  gardens  at 
The  Croft  (the  residence  of  J.  Randall-Higgins,  Esq.),  with  a 
special  object  of  seeing  the  Chrysanthemums,  which  are  always 
grown  well  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Morris,  who  is  a  most  capable 
and  energetic  gardener:  with  another  essential  quality,  to  win 
the  respect  of  lovers  of  gardening,  and  that  is  desirability  to 
make  your  visit  pleasant  and  instructive.  A  great  deal  could 
be  written  about  these  large  and  well-kept  gardens  which  would 
stimulate  many  a  gardener  to  renewed  energies,  and  to  go  and 
do  likewise ;  but  on  this  occasion  I  was  going  “  a  Mumming,” 
and  of  the  ’Mums  I  will  write. 
On  entering  the  first  compartment  of  a  newly-erected  range 
of  lean-to  houses  I  found  a  grand  batch  of  bush  plants,  to  supply 
cut  bloom  for  decorative  purposes.  Passing  through  another 
house  I  found  in  the  third  compartment  a  grand  display  of 
blooms  in  variety  on  healthy  and  vigorous  plants,  which  were 
effectively  arranged.  Miss  Elsie  Fulton,  with  blooms  9in  deep  ; 
Graphic,  with  blooms  12in  in  diameter ;  and  so  on  in  like  manner 
were  many  of  the  blooms  of  the  following  varieties  :  Mens.  L. 
Remy,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Palmer,  Mr.  T.  Carrington,  Lord  Ludlow, 
Calvat’s  Sun,  Mrs.  Coombes,  Mrs.  White-Popham,  Kimberley, 
Emily  Towers,  Duke  of  Wellington,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Phoebus, 
Dora  Herxheimer,  Mrs.  W.  Cursham,  Miss  A.  Byron,  Mutual 
Friend,  and  Mrs.  G.  Mileham.  The  best  of  the  incurved 
varieties  were  Mrs.  H.  J.  Jones,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Kingston,  C.  H. 
Curtis,  Louisa  Giles,  Mine.  Ferlat,  Baron  Hirsch,  Matthew 
Russell,  Globe  d’Or,  Yvonne  Desblanc,  and  King  of  the  Yellows. 
Three  large  houses  are  required  for  housing  the  hundreds  of 
plants  grown  by  Mr.  Morris. — S.  Heaton. 
■ - <•#.. - 
Choice  Michaelmas  Daisies. 
Perennial  Asters  increase  so  much  in  variety  that  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  reorganise  the  lists  annually  if  the 
newer  kinds  are  to  be  added  and  the  collection  kept  within 
a  reasonable  limit.  During  the  last  four  years  many  very 
fine  kinds  have  been  added  ;  indeed,  almost  a  revolution  has 
taken  place  in  the  habit  of  growth,  formation,  and  colour  of 
the  flower.  Thanks  to  enthusiastic  workers  in  raising  new 
varieties,  notably  Mr.  E.  Beckett,  Alclenham  House 
Gardens,  who  has  received  within  the  short  space  of  three 
years  eleven  Awards  of  Merit  from  the  Floral  Committee  of 
the  R.H.S.  for  varieties  of  his  raising. 
The  manifest  improvement  so  apparent  in  the  present- 
day  varieties  is  in  the  habit  of  growth  ;  instead  of  the  stiff, 
erect  style,  we  have  now  varieties  which  grow  tall,  yet  grace¬ 
ful  in  appearance,  as  they  send  out  side  branches  from  the 
main  stem  from  close  to  the  ground,  these  in  turn  being 
pendulous  and  not  too.  thickly  placed,  giving  the  plants  free¬ 
dom  and  blossom  in  abundance.  Given  ample  space,  a 
magnificent  effect  can  be  produced  at  this  season  of  the  year 
with  these  plants.  To  see  the  beauty  and  compare  varieties, 
Michaelmas  Daisies  should  be  grown  in  a  batch  by  them¬ 
selves.  Where  so  many  persons  make  a  mistake  in  culture  is 
by  allowing  the  stools  to  remain  too  long  on  one  site,  or  at 
least  not  replanting  often  enough.  For  the  largest  speci¬ 
mens  three  shoots  at  the  base  will  suffice.  If  more  are 
allowed  to  remain,  the  growth  is  weakly  and  crowded  ;  indeed, 
I  like  to  replant  every  year,  and  if  one  stout  sucker  is 
selected,  the  plant  liberally  treated  to  manure,  handsome 
specimens  are  easily  obtained.  As  the  present  is  the  most 
suitable  time  to  make  new  or  replant  borders,  I  thought  a 
descriptive  list  of  varieties  would  be  a  help  to  beginners. 
For  the  guidance  of  planters  I  give  the  approximate 
height  of  growth.  Hon.  Edith  Gibbs  is  a  seedling  from 
Ericoides  elegans  crossed  with  R.  Parker  ;  colour,  pale  blue, 
densely  flowered,  drooping  habit ;  October,  6ft.  Triumph 
was  raised  from  Coombe  Fishacre,  growing  5ft  high,  and 
flowering  abundantly.  The  blooms  are  large, '  pale  lilac  in 
the  centre,  deepening  to  rose  at  the  edge,  very  free  and 
graceful ;  October.  Esther  is  a  cross  from  Pleiad,  of  up- 
right  growth,  3ft  high,  densely  flowered,  lilac  or  deep  pink, 
distinct  and  showy ;  October.  Enchantress,  5ft,  drooping 
habit,  free  and  graceful,  almost  white  in  colour. 
Gloriosa  is  striking  in  colour,  when  unfolding  it  is  white, 
changing  to  lilac  and  then  to  deep  purple  with  age  ;  the 
growth  is  erect,  from  2  to  3ft  high,  very  free.  Edwin  Beckett 
is  a  seedling  from  Cordifolius,  having  all  the  free-flowering, 
graceful  habit  of  growth  of  its  parent,  in  colour  it  is  bright 
blue  ;  4ft. 
Ideal  is  from  the  same  source,  with  quite  small  blossoms, 
pale  blue  ;  this  is  quite  one  of  the  most  elegant  growing 
varieties  we  have.  Captivation,  3ft,  lilac  blue,  free. 
Fascination,  3ft,  blue  ;  the  leaves  are  small,  the  cup-shaped 
flowers  have  widely  set  apart  florets. 
Minnie  is  one  of  the  most  charming  varieties  yet  raised. 
The  colour  is  lilac,  changing  with  age  to  a  deep  rosy  shade  of 
the  same  tint  ;  2  to  3ft.  Grace  Daiding  is  an  offspring  from 
Coombe  Fishacre,  having  larger  flowers  than  its  parent, 
equally  free  in  production.  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs,  bright  pink, 
upright  growth,  flowering  abundantly  from  the  ground. 
Admiration  has  medium  sized  flowers,  of  a  purple  lilac  tint 
colour,  excellent ;  3ft. 
Novi  Belgii  supplies  many  desirable  varieties  of  which 
the  following  are  some  of  the  best.  Densus,  lilac  blue,  3ft ; 
Ella,  6ft,  delicate  mauve,  a  charming  free  flowered  variety, 
with  large  blooms  ;  Mrs.  John  Wood,  5ft,  free,  erect  growth, 
pure  white  with  a  yellow  disc ;  Top  Sawyei",  6ft,  is  an 
improved  form  of  Robert  Parker  ;  Esme,  2ft,  large  blooms, 
pure  white  ;  Mildred,  4ft,  soft  blue,  large  blooms,  free,  a 
vigorous  spreading  habit  of  growth  ;  Margaret  Matthews, 
erect  growth,  5ft,  very  free,  flowers  simultaneously,  pure 
white,  changing  with  age  to  purple  lilac  ;  Pluto,  4ft,  erect, 
free,  round  shapely  blooms,  metallic  blue  ;  Nancy,  large  pale 
blue  flowers  5ft,  free  ;  T.  S.  Ware,  4ft,  rosy  lilac  blue,  a 
distinct  colour ;  W.  Marshall,  5ft,  pale  blue,  large  and  free. 
The  Cordifolius  type  are  the  general  favourites,  being  free 
flowering,  especially  showy  in  a  cut  state,  the  colour,  soft 
mauve,  predominates  in  all  the  varieties.  Major  has  the 
larger  blooms  than  the  tvpe,  Albulus  smaller,  all  4ft  high. 
Ericoides  has  Heath-like  foliage  and  long  graceful  sprays 
of  pure  white  flowers,  which  for  cutting  are  much  appreci¬ 
ated  ;  all  varieties  of  this  type  grow  into  charming  specimens 
if  given  space  to  develop  fully.  Elegans  is,  perhaps,  less 
stiff  in  growth  than  the  type  ;  Clio  has  blush  white  flowers  ; 
Acris  is  a  variety  quite  by  itself  in  habit  of  growth  and 
colour,  growing  3ft  high,  forming  a  full  rounded  head  of 
bloom,  lilac  purple  ;  Shorti,  4ft,  has  long  graceful  sprays 
smothered  with  small  bright  lilac  flowers  ;  Paniculatus, 
W.  J.  Grant,  4ft,  blush  white  florets,  rosy  lilac  centre,  very 
showy  ;  Chapmani,  4ft,  an  erect  stem  with  horizontal  side 
shoots,  very  distinct  and  free,  pale  blue. 
Puniceus  pulcherrimus,  5ft,  silvery  grey  large  flowers, 
with  deep  yellow  centre ;  Diffusus  is  an  excellent  late- 
flowered  variety,  with  pure  white  small  blossoms,  October 
and  November,  5ft  ;  D.  horizontalis,  syn.  Datchi,  3ft,  is  one 
of  the  most  striking  of  Michaelmas  Daisies,  the  small  blooms 
have  pure  white  florets  with  a  deep  red  disc. 
Tradescanti,  4ft,  does  not  open  its  blossoms  until  the  end 
of  October  or  November,  the  foliage  is  small,  and  the  flowers 
white  ;  it  is  excellent  for  pot  culture  late  in  autumn.  Turbi- 
nelTiis  has  large  violet-coloured  flowers  tipped  with  rose, 
remaining  long  in  beauty,  3ft. 
The  Novse-Angliae  section  supply  a  nice  variety  of  colour 
late  in  autumn.  Mrs.  J.  F.  Raynor  is  distinctly  showy, 
rosy  crimson,  5ft ;  Rubra  runs  it  close  in  colour  and  is  later 
in  opening  its  flowers ;  W.  Bowman,  purple  blue,  with  an 
orange  disc,  is  an  improvement  on  pulchellus,  5ft. 
Amellus  supplies  useful  variety,  all  being  of  dwarf  habit  1ft 
to  3ft,  carrying  large  flowers  with  a  prominent  yellow  centre  ; 
Framfieldi  is,  perhaps,  the  best  of  all,  it  is  stiff  yet  spreading 
in  habit  with  deep  blue  flowers  which  last  long  in  condition 
either  when  cut  or  as  growing ;  Riverslea  is  perhaps  deeper 
in  colour — rich  violet  blue — than  any  ;  Bessarabicus,  lilac- 
blue,  is  the  more  robust  and  free  flowering  of  any  of  the 
section  ;  Roseus,  as  its  name  implies,  is  rose  tinted. 
R.  Parker  nanus  I  had  almost  forgotten  ;  it  is  worthy  a 
place  in  any  collection.  It  is  simply  a  dwarf — 2£ft— form  of 
the  type,  in  this  way  useful  for  the  front  of  taller  kinds  or  in 
the  herbaceous  border  itself. — E.  Molyneux. 
