At the end of last November I received a note from Mr J. James, gardener to W. F. Watson, Esq., Isle worth, near London, asking me to inspect a conservatory full of Chrysanthemums, the which, though rather past their best, were yet in fine bloom, notwithstanding that some of the largest flowers had begun to fade. I am bound to say they were the very finest lot I ever looked upon, cultivated in pots. A foretaste of what I might expect to see at Isleworth had been presented at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the 17th of November, on which occasion prizes were offered for Chrysanthemums grown in pots, as well as cut blooms, and in both instances Mr James entered the lists to do battle against the champion growers of these flowers. In the class for six plants in pots, three collections competed; two of them were trained to wire skeletons in the usual mode adopted, and were well grown, and pretty well covered with flowers. Of the type, they were very creditable specimens of pot-culture, but, as is usually the case, the flowers were small and thin, though somewhat numerous.

The six plants staged by Mr James were of quite another style; they were grown in the natural form taken by the Chrysanthemum - an upright stem, branching out from 1 to 2 feet from the ground, each having from eight to twelve branches, at the point of which was a magnificent bloom, of great size, finely coloured, of full substance, and splendidly incurved. Taking the quantity of floral matter (if such an expression is admissible) entering into the composition of one of these flowers, they were equal to six or eight of the flowers of the plants trained on the wire-skeletons, with the added value of the finest development. The Floral Committee, who sat in judgment on the claims of these rival styles of growth, gave their decision in favour of Mr James - a thoroughly just and right judgment. It may be stated that the mode of growth - i.e., the habit and appearance of the plants - was exactly similar to that adopted by Messrs Salter & Son of Hammersmith, whose doings with the Chrysanthemum are chronicled in another page.

I saw readily enough the advantage of the style of growth adopted by Mr James in relation to the use of the Chrysanthemum as a decorative plant for the conservatory. A huge, formally-trained plant, from 3 to 5 feet in diameter, is of but little value as a decorative agent in a conservatory, destitute alike of natural grace or elegance. As both are sacrificed by the mode of training adopted, they require to be put out of sight, when brought home from the exhibition stage, as offensive to a correct taste. On the other hand, when I went to Isle-worth, and saw, in the handsome conservatory attached to Mr Watson's residence, the magnificent floral display made by Mr James, why, the conclusion was inevitable, that there, on the stage of that conservatory, could be seen something very much better than the display made by the huge plants at the Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Liverpool in November last. On this lean-to stage were some 260 plants of large-flowering Chrysanthemums, with a few of the best of the older Japanese varieties dotted about among them for the sake of novelty, and having a front edging of the dwarfer-growing Pompone varieties. In addition, there was a row of plants standing along on the opposite side of the conservatory, so a perfect floral avenue was obtained.

A large portion of the plants were in pots, 10 inches in diameter; some of the smaller plants, and all the Pompone varieties, were in 24-sized pots, the plants averaging from 3 1/2 to 5 feet in height. Believing as I do that a successful cultivator can always say something, when detailing his method of culture, that must prove of use to other cultivators who can only reach a lower level of success, I got Mr James to give me an outline of his cultivable process, that others may perchance be enabled to go and do likewise.

The cuttings from which were gradually developed these fine plants were struck in January of last year. For the future Mr James will strike his cuttings in February, so as to have his plants of rather dwarfer growth. Every one, almost, knows how readily cuttings of the Chrysanthemum will strike in a little warmth at this season of the year; and as soon as they are sufficiently rooted, Mr James pots them off into 60-sized pots, and for a second shift into 32-sized pots, always being very careful that the plants have plenty of root-room. The large-flowering varieties are never stopped; and Mr James was particularly emphatic on this point. I know that some cultivators demur to this, but there is no mistake as to Mr James's view on the subject. When established in the 32 - sized pots, they are shifted into the blooming-pots, and put out of doors in the full sun, for they are said to do best when so exposed. An abundance of water is given them, no check is received, and a fine and vigorous development of foliage is the result. As soon as they begin to throw up their flower-buds, the disbudding process is commenced, and one shoot is allowed to carry but from one to two flowers.

Now also manure-water is applied; it is a time for generous feeding, and Mr James feeds them with liberal diet, as if they were city aldermen. The manure-water is manufactured by placing cow-dung and some pigeons'-dung in a tank, and then diluting it, when administered, according to its strength. Mr James uses it in that state, that if a pan 2 inches deep were filled, the bottom could be seen. Just as the buds are beginning to expand, the plants are arranged in the conservatory, the varieties being alternated according to the colour of the flowers and the respective height of the plants. For the space of three months there is a grand supply of flowers; and when the plants have done blooming, they are cut down and put away in a cold frame, to make stock for the succeeding season.

Now for the sorts Mr James cultivated. Looking over his collection, I noted down the following as very fine, which I have endeavoured to group according to their colours. Shades of crimson, Albion, finely incurved; Julia Lagravere, Progne, Captivation, Sam Slick, finely incurved; Sanguinea and Dr Sharpe - this last, like Julia Lagravere, is a reflexed flower, and both are thoroughly good for pot-culture. Of bronze and cinnamon-coloured flowers, Josiah Wedgwood, John Salter, extra fine; Abbe Passaglia, General Slade, Anton-elli, Golden Eagle, Lord Ranelagh, Garibaldi, General Bainbrigge, Sir Stafford Carey, Prometheus, Robert James, and Cherub. Of lilac and rose - coloured flowers, which shades include a large number of the best varieties in cultivation, there were Alma, which, though a little rough, comes very fine; Fingal, extra fine ; Lady Talfourd, Venus, Ossian, Prince of Wales, Lady Slade, Lady Hardinge, Leon Lequay, Princess of Wales, very fine indeed; Princess Teck, very delicately tinted, one of the best; and Little Pet, also delicate, small in size, but remarkably good.

Of yellow flowers, Gloria Mundi, extra fine;

Yellow Perfection, Golden Nugget, Jardin des Plantes, the best yellow; Cloth-of-Gold, very fine indeed; and Golden Queen of England, of great size, and one of the earliest to bloom. Of white flowers, Empress of India, extra fine; Beverley, very early to bloom, and lasts a long time; Mrs George Rundle, a most exquisite flower; Mrs Heale, a very fine flower, but does not close well in the centre; Mrs Haliburton, Queen of England, and Virgin Queen. Of the anemone-flowered varieties, the two following were very fine - Fleur de Marie, pure white; and Prince of Anemones, lilac-blush, the first one of the very best in this section.

The Japanese varieties were Dragon, bronzy salmon; Red Dragon, reddish chesnut tipped with yellow, very showy; The Daimio, lilac, becoming tinted with rose as the flowers age; and Nagasaki Violet, rosy violet, with golden disc. Of Pompone varieties the following were good: Mrs Dix, blush, bordered with rose; Helene, rosy violet; Rose Trevenna, rosy blush; Alexander Pele, salmon bronze; Aigle d'Or, canary yellow; and Madame Montels, a pretty anemone - flowered variety, white, with yellow centre.

Scarcely does any flower so well repay the cultivator as the Chrysanthemum. Just when the summer has passed away, and the trees and hedgerows are shedding their pleasant leafy garb, and the flowers of the garden are laid low, then the Chrysanthemum opens its flowers, and through the autumn months does a cheerful service, the more valuable because it renders it almost alone, having so few floral contemporaries. That it should be a popular flower is only natural, for in many cottage gardens it can be seen - the last remaining scene of the floral panorama it is the function of spring and summer to present to the admiring eyes of the children of men. Observer.