452 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
November  12,  1903 
For  thirty-six  Japanese  Chrysanthemums,  twelve  sorts,  three 
of  each,  Mr.  F.  S.  Vallis,  Chippenham  (a  grand  lot),  led;  2,  G. 
Foster,  Teignmouth;  3,  H.  M.  Harrison,  Barnstaple;  4,  B.  H. 
Hill.  .  c, 
Honorary  exhibits  came  from  Messrs.  Robert  Veitch  and  Son, 
Royal  Nurseries,  Exeter,  who  staged  many  good  plants,  and  the 
Northern  Star  Potato.  The  sample  was  grown  by  Mr.  Abpms  at 
“  Peasmore  ”  this  season  ;  lib  of  seed  produced  2091b.  Dishes  of 
Evergood,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  Devonian,  General  Buller,  Sir 
John  Llewelyn,  and  Up-to-Date  Potatoes  were  also  shown  by  this 
firm.  Among  new  Chrysanthemums  were  F.  S.  Vallis,  Ethel 
Fitzroy,  C.I.V.,  Sensation,  Marquise  V.  Venosta,  Miss  E. 
Douglas,  Madame  W.  Rousseau.  Choice  shrubs  included  Cedrus 
atlantica,  Pernettyas,  Golden  Irish  Yew,  an  ochre-coloured  shrub 
named  Glyptostrobus  heterophyllus,  &c. 
Mr.  W.  J.  Godfrey  was  forward  with  his  novelties. 
Royal  Horticultural  of  Ireland. 
The  winter  show  of  this  venerable  society,  held  on  Novem¬ 
ber  4  and  5  in  the  Royal  University,  Dublin,  created  (a,  dis¬ 
appointment  in  its  meagre  display  of  Olirj’santhemums. 
However,  visitors  were  agreeably  surprised  in  finding  such 
fine,  magnificent  fruit  in  evidence.  In  the  competing 
plant  class  for  Chrysanthemums  no  entries  were  received,  hence 
no  plants  were  in  evidence,  and  that  probably  was  an  unique 
position  for  Dublin,  if  not  elsewhere.  Mr.  McKellar,  a  veritable 
Sandow  for  cut  blooms,  again  showed  his  strength  in  carrying  off 
the  cup  for  twelve  vases  of  blooms  in  twelve  varieties,  and  for 
twenty-four  Japs  in  eighteen  varieties  a  most  creditable  collec¬ 
tion  staged  by  Mr.  O’Connor,  gardener  to  A.  Pirn,  Esq.,  Bellevue, 
Black  Rock, 'who  was  second  in  the  previous  cla.ss,  would  have 
been  hard  to  beat,  although  for  him  it  was  simply  a  walk-over. 
A  few  entries  in  the  smaller  classes,  with  tho.se  previously  noted, 
saved  the  society  from  being  flowerless  so  far  as  competing  classes 
were  concerned,  and  beyond  a  nice  table  of  early  flowering  kinds 
.staged  by  Watsons,  of  the  Clontarf  Nurseries,  the  distressful  tale 
of  the  Chrysanthemum  in  Dublin  for  this  miserable  year  is  told. 
Fortunately  trade  exhibits  saved  the  situation  so  far  as  the 
show  was  concerned,  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson.s,  the  Irish  giants  of 
Rosedom,  having  quite  an  exhibition  to  themselves  in  a  long 
table,  on  which  were  arranged,  amid  small  Palms  and  high- 
coloured  little  Crotons,  a  representative  collection  of  seasonable 
fruit,  amongst  which  Apples  were  pre-eminent.  Near  them,  on 
a  side  table,  the  veteran  Dublin  firm  of  Sir  James  W.  Mackey 
had  a  combined  exhibit  of  fruits,  vegetables,  and  foliage,  and 
it  was,  and  has  been  for  years,  a  revelation  of  what  this  firm 
can  do  with  vegetables  from  a  decorative  point  of  view.  The 
courteous  manager  pre.siding  over  the  Mackey  exhibit  called 
attention  to  a  dish  of  rather  wretched  Potatoes,  saying,  “  That’s 
Northern  Star.”  Humph!  That’s  all.  From  Jameson’s 
Nurseries,  Sandymount,  were  some  glorious  wreaths  and  floral 
designs  displayed  at  the  back  of  a  tastefully  arranged  miscel¬ 
laneous  group,  and  Mr.  Caulfield’s  skilful  work  on  the  large  stand 
put  up  by  Chas.  Ram-say  and  Sons,  of  the  Royal  Nurseries, 
Dublin,  was  much  admired  under  the  difficulty  of  a  trying  light 
from  windows  in  the  rear.  The  above  trio  of  exhibits  were  re¬ 
commended  for  gold  medals  by  the  judges,  who  likewise  appre¬ 
ciated  in  the  same  manner  a  beautiful  group  put  up  by  Mr. 
Campbell  from  the  gardens  of  Lord  Ardilaun.  The  filling  of  the 
Classes  10  to  38,  comprising  fruits  and  vegetables,  was  in  the 
aggregate  excellent,  and  without  absorbing  space  in  details  all 
honour  is  due  to  those  exhibitors  in  producing  such  results  as  were 
shown  under  the  season’s  adverse  conditions.  Here  and  there  fine 
splashes  of  colour  were  noticeable  amongst  the  dishes  of  Apples, 
but  again,  great  diversity  of  character  was  frequently  seen  in 
individual  varieties.  Warner’s  King  was  most  prominent  in  the 
cooking  classes,  and  King  Pippin  the  more  frequently  shown  in 
dessert  dishes.  This  should  mean  something  for  the  merits  of 
both  in  a  bad  season.  The  brisk  and  urbane  young  secretary, 
Walter  Keating,  Esq.,  certainly  deserved  a  gold  medal  as  well 
as  the  exhibits  and  exhibitors  recommended  for  such  by  the 
judges,  for  the  manner  in  which  his  two  day.s’  work  was  carried 
out,  the  executive,  with  one  exception,  having  apparently  left 
him  to  his  fate,  and  the  fate  of  flower  show  secretaries  is  not 
always  a  particularly  happy  one,  not  excepting  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  of  Ireland- — so  it  has,  at  least,  appeared  to — 
K.,  Dublin. 
Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural. 
The  monthly  meeting  was  held  at  Warburton’s  Hotel,  New¬ 
port,  on  Saturday,  November  7.  There  was  a  good  attendance 
of  members  to  hear  a  paner  “  On  the  Cultivation  of  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums  ”  for  the  production  of  exhibition  blooms,  by  Mr.  J.  H. 
Silsbury,  of  Shanklin.  The  subject  was  dealt  with  in  a  most 
masterly  manner.  Mr.  Silsbury  staged  .some  grandly  developed 
and  finished  blooms,  prominent  amongst  which  was  a  new  Jap 
named  after  himself.  It  has  long  drooping  florets  and  pleasing 
tints,  which  doubtless  will  become  popular.  Mr.  Snook, West  Hill, 
Shanklin,  also  staged  magnificent  blooms,  the  interest  centre¬ 
ing  around  a  fine  specimen  Mrs.  Barkley,  the  petals  of  which  had 
been  reversed  to  obtain  the  brighter  colouring,  anent  which 
operation  comment  was  made.  Mr.  Snook  also  staged  a  bunch 
of  the  pretty  Salvia  Betheli.  "Mr.  T.  Colister,  Steyne,  Bembridge, 
staged  a  lovely  display  of  Roses  cut  from  open  quarters,  fine  for 
so  late  in  the  season,  and  some  well  grown  varieties  of  Apples. 
Mr.  Brett,  Mount  Gardens,  Yarmouth,  had  the  pretty  little  Aster 
Watsi  and  Schizostylis  coccinea.  Mr.  W.  Tribbick  had  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  blooms,  including  a  superb  Madame  Gastavc  Henri, 
Salvia  splendens,  and  named  varieties  of  Bouvardias.  Two  new 
'  members  were  elected.  Next  meeting  will  be  held  on  Decem¬ 
ber  5,  when  Mr.  E.  C.  Goble,  F.R.H.S.,  of  Walcot  Nurseries, 
Ryde,  will  lecture  on  Tomato  culture. 
- - 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain. 
Chrysanthemum  Culture. 
November  with  us  again,  and  what  have  we  to  make  the  con¬ 
servatory  and  other  houses  gay  but  the  Chrysanthemum.^  The 
Clirj'santhemum  is  very  useful,  both  in  bush  form  and  for  large 
blooms,  and  though  it  will  live  under  almost  any  treatment,  it 
is  one  of  the  hardest  to  bring  to  perfection.  The  cuttings  should 
be  taken  solely  from  the  bases  of  the  old  stools,  taking  care  not 
to  get  any  from  the  stem  of  the  old  plant,  or  trouble  will  come 
by  the  plants  continually  forming  buds  when  they  should  be 
growing.  All  cuttings  should  be  taken  the  first  week  in  Decem¬ 
ber,  putting  five  or  six  in  4in  pots  round  the  edge  of  the  pot. 
Propagation  should  be  performed  in  a  pit  or  frame  where  heat 
could  be  turned  on  when  necessary,  keeping  the  temperature 
from  SOdeg  to  GOdeg.  One  watering  should  be  given,  and  this 
will  suffice  till  the  cuttings  are  rooted.  It  will  also  be  found 
necessary  to  sponge  all  moisture  from  the  glass  every  morning. 
When  rooted,  which  should  be  early  in  the  New  Year,  air 
and  water  must  be  given  with  caution.  Early  in  February  the 
cuttings  should  be  potted  into  3in  and  4in  pots  in  a  compost 
of  fibrous  loam  (one-half)  leaf  soil,  spent  Mushroom  dung,  and 
sand.  Little  details  must  be  looked  into,  such  as  having  the  pots 
well  cleaned  and  drained.  After  potting,  the  plantlets  should 
be  placed  again  in  frames,  on  ashes,  and  kept  close  for  a  few 
days  till  a  move  is  noticed,  then  more  air  may  be  given.  Early 
in  April  the  plants  should  be  sorted,  and  the  varieties  which  are 
in  the  grower’s  opinion  best  for  large  blooms  should  be  potted 
in  Sin  and  Gin  pots,  in  a  compost  of  two-thirds  good  fibrous  loam, 
broken  about  the  size  of  a  hen’s  egg,  the  remaining  third  to 
consist  of  leaf  soil.  Mushroom  dung,  ^in  bones,  and  grit — these 
in  equal  parts.  The  plants  should  have  less  air  for  a  week, 
and  then  be  given  as  much  as  possible,  avoiding  draughts. 
All  plants  intended  for  bush  should,  at  the  sorting  time, 
be  pinched  and  then  kept  close  and  shaded  till  they  are  breaking 
away  nicely.  They  are  then  treated  as  the  plants  for  large 
blooms;  but  thet  objeot'must  be  to  form  bushy  plants,  therefore 
if  necessary  stop  them  again.  The  final  potting  should  be  given 
the  first  week  in  June.  The  pots  used  may  be  Sin  and  9in 
diameter,  and  the  compost  may  consist  of  one-half  of  rich  fibrous 
loam,  the  other  half  to  consist  in  equal  parts  of  the  following : 
Dried  blood,  leaf  .soil,  wood  ashes,  lime  rubble,  crushed  bones, 
and  .soot.  The  potting  must  be  firmly  done,  and  pots  well  drained 
and  cleaned. 
A  nice  sminy  space  must  now  be  found  where  the  plants  can 
stand  on  ashes,  and  be  made  secure  from  high  winds.  A  piece 
of  slate  must  be  placed  under  each  pot  to  stop  the  roots  from 
going  into  the  ashes.  When  well  rooted,  they  should  have  weak 
manure  water  twice  a  week,  taking  care  always  that  each  plant 
is  dry  before  being  watered.  Most  varieties  will  come  into  bud 
much  better  if  stopped  about  the  middle  of  June,  or  when  they 
show  a  sign  of  making  their  natural  break.  The  buds  should  then 
come  towards  the  end  of  August,  and  will  be  showing  colour 
in  October,  when  they  should  be  placed  near  the  glass  in  a  vinery 
or  greenhou.se.  Feeding  should  be  continued  till  the  flower  is 
half-expanded,  then  may  be  stopped.  At  this  period  a  little 
heat  turned  on  at  night  will  keep  the  blooms  from  damping ; 
also  at  this  time  the  flowers  will  be  infe.sted  Avith  green  fly  and 
thrips,  which  pests  must  be  destroyed  with  nicotine  or  XL  All. 
It  will  be  found  that  the  bloom  will  not  in  any  way  be  injured 
if  it  had  a  little  .stronger  dose  than  usual.  After  fumigating, 
they  are  then  fit  for  conservatory,  or  Avhen  fully  out  for  cutting. 
— F.  H.  W. 
Tree-Ferns  at  the  Missouri  Botanical  Gardens  were  re¬ 
ceived  from  the  Hawaiian  Islands  recently.  The  plants  are  thir¬ 
teen  to  sixteen  feet  in  height,  and  were  sent  in  fine  condition. 
They  are  quite  an  addition  to  the  Fern  dome. 
Canadian  Florist. — This  is  the  name  of  a  new  trade  paper, 
the  twelfth  number  of  ivliich  we  have  just  received.  It  is  a  very 
small  publication,  and  is  not  at  present  illustrated.  It  chronicles 
the  doings  of  our  Canadian  kinsmen  who  are  florists,  and  as  there 
are  12,000  of  them  it  ought  to  have  a  fair  clientele.  The  sub¬ 
scription  is  a  dollar  a  year,  and  the  publishing  office  is  at  12, 
Richmond  Street  East,  Toronto. 
