512 
JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  3,  1903. 
For  tire  dates  of  some  of  next  year’s  fixtures,  see  back  pages 
of  tliis  issue. 
Executive  Committee  of  the  N.C.5. 
'I'iio  usual  montlily  meeting  of  the  executive  committee  ovas 
held  at  Carr’s  Restaurant  on  the  23rd  inst.  The  minutes  of  the 
last  meeting  having  been  read,  the  secretary  announced  the  death 
of  Mr.  A.  Neovell,  an  old  member  of  the  society,  and  the  com¬ 
mittee;  and  also'  of  Mr.  E.  J.  Bentley,  of  Ramsgate,  a  fellow 
of  the  societ.v,  and  an  annual  subscriber  to  the  reserve  fund.  It 
was  reported  that  Miss  Anstey,  of  Norwood,  who  was  awarded 
one  of  the  Waterer  Challenge  Cups  in  the  amateurs’  division  on 
November  10,  had  voluntarily  resigned  the  cup  on  the  ground 
that  she  found  on  the  publication  of  the  report  of  the  show  that 
she  was  not  qualified  to  exhibit  as  an  amateur.  The  secretary 
bore  testimoTiy  to  the  candid  and  honourable  manner  in  which 
Miss  Anstey  had  acted  in  at  once  taking  a  .journey  to' Ealing  to 
announce  her  disqualification,  and  expressing  her  regret  for  the 
error  she  had  unwittingly  committed. 
A  report  was  brought  up  from  the  finance  sub-committee 
recommending  that  the  cup  be  awarded  to  Mrs.  Crane,  who  was 
placed  .second,  and  in  consideration  of  Miss  Ajistey’s  ingenuous 
action  in  the  matter,  a  small  silver  medal  be  awarded  to  her 
exhibit.  The  secretary  stated  that  the  amount  of  prize  money 
awarded  at  the  November  show  was  £188  os.  Gel.  Medals 
£29  17s.  6d.,  making  a  total  of  £218  3s.  He  also  made  what  was 
considered  to  be  a  very  satisfactory  report  as  to  the  society’s 
financial  ijosition. 
Mr.  C.  H.  Payne  and  Messrs.  Bevan  and  Witty  made  interest¬ 
ing  statements  as  to  their  visit  to  the  recent  exhibition  of  the 
French  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  a  dictated  report  of 
jvhich  will  appear  in  the  next  annual  report.  It  was  resolved 
that  the  date  of  the  great  show  in  November.  1904,  should  be 
November  2,  3,  and  4,  probably  at  the  Crj’stal  Palace.  It  was 
further  resolved  that  meetings  of  the  floral  committee  should  be 
held  at  the  Essex  Hall  on  September  19,  October  24,  and 
November  21,  the  arrangements  there  being  highly  satisfactory. 
OTie  floral  committee  will  also  meet  on  each  of  the  show  days, 
v  hich  may  be  arranged. 
The  schedule  of  prizes  for  November,  1904,  was  referred  to  the 
schedule  revision  sub-committee,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the 
floral  committee  be  invited  to  dine  as  usual.  I'nder  the  head  of 
miscellaneous  business,  some  criticism  was  delivered  on  the  new 
catalogue,  and  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  classification  com¬ 
mittee  for  the  consideration  of  revised  lists  to  appear  in  the  next 
report.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  tlie  chairman  for 
presiding. — R.  D. 
Propagatins:. 
Excellent  cuttings  may  usually  be  obtained  from  a  large 
number  of  varieties  about  the  present  time,  so  they  should  be 
inserted  now,  rather  than  deferring  the  operation  until  later,  if 
the  cuttings  are  at  all  likely  to  become  drawn  and  spoiled.  Late 
flowering  varieties,  as  a  rule,  may  be  propagated  first.  Those 
that  flower  at  the  ordinary  time  or  midseason  should  follow, 
while  it  is  quite  early  enough  for  October  and  early-flowering 
varieties  if  they  are  propagated  from  January  to  March,  if  done 
in  pots  under  glass.  Most  of  the  latter  may,  however,  be  .suc¬ 
cessfully  rooted  in  cold  frames,  where  they  will  grow  dwarf  and 
sturdily,  making  excellent  plants  to  transfer  directly  to  their 
flowering  positions  in  March  or  April. 
In  selecting  cuttings,  it  is  best  to  secure  those  of  sucker 
origin  well  away  from  the  stems.  Some  varieties  are  very  back¬ 
ward  in  producing  these  desirable  cuttings,  while  others  produce 
them  too  freel.y,  necessitating  thinning  out  the  growths.  The 
proper  length  for  cuttings  is  three  or  four  inches  long,  with  a 
clean,  firm,  green  stem.  There  is  no  advantage  in  selecting 
suckers  with  roots  attached.  They  have  a  hard,  woody  stem 
from  the  beginning,  and  do  not  grow  so  freely  as  might  be 
imagined.  Shorten  them  to  a  joint,  cutting  the  stem  square 
across  below'  it,  and  remove  the  bottom  leaves. 
Pots  for  the  cuttings  should  be  washed  clean  and  dried. 
Single  cuttings  will  require  a  21  in  size,  and  if  several  are  to  be 
jilaced  round  the  edges  of  a  pot  3in  pots  are  .suitable.  Drainage 
should  consist  of  a  large  piece  to  cover  the  hole,  with  some 
smaller  over,  covering  v  ith  a  little  moss  or  fibre.  Prepare  the 
compost  with  two  parts  loam  broken  up  finely,  adding  one  part 
of  sweet  leaf  soil  rubbed  through  a  jin  riddle.  Add  plenty  of 
sand  in  the  compost,  and  also  place  a  layer  on  the  surface,  pre¬ 
ferably  dry,  so  that  some  of  it  may  run  dorvn  the  hole  wdien 
making  it  with  the  blunt  stick  to  receive  the  cutting.  When 
inserting  the  cutting  see  that  the  base  of  it  rests  firmly  at  the 
bottom  of  the  hole.  Press  the  cutting  firmly  in  its  whole  length 
by  gentle  pressure  with  the  stick.  Stand  the  pots  level,  and 
give  a  good  waterino',  also  carefully  labelling  the  varietjx 
The  next  point  should  bo  the  position  of  the  cuttings.  A 
frame  having  a  moveable  light  is  the  best.  Stand  it  on  a. stage 
not  far  from  the  glass  in  a  greenhous;e.  The  bottom  of  tlie 
interior  may  be  fine  ashes,  which  are  .sweet,  clean,  and  retain 
moisture,  and  allow  superfluous  moisture  to  readily  drain  away. 
The  light,  or,  failing  that,  panes  of  glass,  must  be  laid  over,  and 
as  every  morning  much  water  will  be  condensed  on  the  inside, 
this  must  be  wiped  off,  or  the  cuttings  will  soon  damp. 
A  heat  greater  than  oO  deg  .should  not  be  allowed  by  artificial 
means,  as  it  will  weaken  the  cuttings.  The  aim  must  be  to 
keep  the  cuttings  fresh,  then  they  will  .soon  root.  With  careful 
management  Avater  should  not  be  needed  until  the  cuttings 
begin  to  root.  If  any  pots  shoAv  signs  of  becoming  dry,  bring 
them  out  of  the  frame  to  water,  and  place  back  again  when 
drained.  Any  cuttings  which  may  damp  off  remove  immediately. 
On  the  fir.st  indications  that  rooting  is  commencing  more  air 
must  be  allowed,  daily  increasing  it  until  tlie  plants  can  bear 
full  expossure. — E.  D.  S. 
The  New  Chrysanthemum,  Brightness. 
The  variety  Briglitue.ss  (syn.  J.  H.  Silsbury)  mentioned  hy 
Mr.  Molyneux  on  page  484,  Ai  liich  was  shoAvn  at  Plymouth  under 
the  name  Brightness,  will,  no  doubt,  prove  a  great  acquisition. 
I  should  like  to  draw  the  attention  of  your  readers  to  the  fact 
that  this  same  A'ariety  was  certificated  by  the  Floral  Committee 
of  the  N.C.S.  at  the  November  meeting  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
this  year,  under  the  name  of  the  raiser’s  brother,  J.  H.  Silsbury. 
It  is  one  of  the  select  varieties  raised  by  Mr.  Martin  Silsbury, 
Shanklin,  I.W.,  and  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  it  came  from  tlie 
same  head  of  seed  as  produced  Mrs.  F.  W.  Vallis,  another  sterling 
variety  that  has  been  avcH  shoivn  this  year;  at  Edinburgh  and 
South  Shields  amongst  other  places. — C.  Orchard,  Bembridge, 
Isle  of  Wight. 
At  Billingbear  Park,  Wokingham,  Berks. 
Recently  I  paid  a  rdsit  to  Mr.  F.  Ashman,  the  rvell-knoAvn 
gardener  at  Billingbear  Park,  when  liis  collection  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  Avere  at  their  best.  They  AA'ere  arranged  in  banks  in 
the  large  span-roofed  fruit  houses,  and  Avere  a  sight  Avorth  seeing. 
Sturdy,  Avell-grown  plants  Avith  ripened  Avood  and  heavy  foliage, 
all  Avere  of  the  highest  quality  possible.  Tavo  varieties  in  par¬ 
ticular  Avere  very  excellent,  viz.,  W.  R.  Church  and  F.  S.  Vallis. 
Mr.  Ashman,  has  taken  first  for  eighteen  Japs  at  Ascot,  fir.st  for 
tAventy-four  at  Reading,  and  also  at  Wokingham  this  year,  and  he 
has  been  equally  succes.sful  Avith  fruit.  One  special  feature  to  be 
seen  at  present  is  a  large  house  filled  Avith  the  popular  Begonia 
Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Avhich  are  some  of  the  finest  .specimens  in 
small  pots  that  I  have  seen. — J.  B.,  Berks. 
The  School  of  Handicraft’s  Garden,  Chertsey. 
The  “Surrey  Herald”  says; — “A  magnificent  collection  of 
these  charming  and  popular  flowers  has  been  on  view  at  the 
School  of  Handicrafts.  The  plants  are  massed  in  one  of  the 
houses  and  the  effect  is  most  striking,  a  Avide  range  of  A'arieties, 
all  brought  to  a  high  pitch  of  perfection, -being  exhibited.  Great 
credit  is  due  to  Mr.  A.  J.  BroAyn,  the  director  of  the  school’s 
farm  and  garden,  not  forgetting  the  intelligent  help  of  James, 
one  of  the  boys.  Most  noticeable  among  the  varieties  is  Madame 
Rogers,  a  curious  green  incurved  bloom  ;  CharAvood,  a  fine  lemon 
Japanese  ;  Phoebus,  a  deep  sun-yelloAV  Japanese  ;  Mi.ss  Cissie,  a 
charming  .single  bronze-red  floAver ;  African  Hero,  a  .stately 
bronze-red  incurved;  Millicent  Richardson,  deep  mauve;  Source 
d’Or,  a  beautiful  golden  Japanese,  and  many  others.  In  an 
adjoining  house  there  is  a  fine  crop  of  ripe  Tomatoes,  the  quality 
and  condition  of  Avhich  it  Avould  be  diflicult  to  match.” 
The  Collection  at  Royal  Kew. 
Froin  a  botanist’s  point  of  vieAv,  the  Golden  FloAver  may  not 
be  attractive,  but  anyojie  visiting  Kcav  on  a  fine  Sunday  after¬ 
noon  and  seeing  the  croAA’ds  flocking  to  No.  4  (the  greenhouse) 
and  also  to  the  Temperate  House,  can  soon  tell  Avhat  is  the  most 
popular  floAver  at  present  Avith  the  general  public.  The  aim  in 
No.  4  is  not  to  groAA'  gigantic  blooms  alone,  but  to  .sIioav  the 
Amiue  of  the  C'hrysauthemum  as  a  decorative  plant.  Naturally 
groAvn  plants,  not  disbudded,  and  others  (and  these  are  in  the 
majority)  partially  di.sbudded,  are  excellent  from  a  decorativi- 
point  of  A'ieAV.  Large  blooms,  hoAvever,  are  not  neglected.  All 
sections  are  represented,  and  the  feAV  Ave  noted  Avere,  of  singles: 
Victoria,  Emily  Wells  (lovely  shade  of  pink),  Ladysmith,  and 
Earlswood  Beauty.  Among  pompons:  SnoAvdrop  (the  plants 
coA’ered  Avith  Avhite  button-like  floAver.s).  Anemone  and  Japanese 
Anemones :  W.  G.  Drover  and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  Incurved : 
Madame  Ferlat,  William  Higgs,  C.  H.  C’urtis.  MadauAc  E.  Roger 
(a  great  favourite  Avith  visitor.s),  and  Mdlle.  Marie  Ligor. 
The  Japane.se  and  Japanese  incurved  give  a  spleudicl  account  of 
