No apology is necessary for a reference to the Chrysanthemum at this season of the year. It is par excellence the popular flower of the autumn and winter months out of doors, if happily unmolested by frosts, most cheerful and acceptable in our gardens; while indoors, who could do justice to such a magnificent display as that made by that master of Chrysanthemum culture, Mr John Salter of the Versailles Nursery, Hammersmith, London 1 In his winter-garden is to be seen in the month of November, at their greatest perfection of beauty, a grand exhibition of varieties of this valuable winter plant. By the appropriate use of a few simple elements - some pieces of rock, mosses, variegated and ornamental, and other plants, etc, and a large quantity of these Chrysanthemums - are thus displayed forms which enchant the eye and gladden the heart; pleasant aspects of beauty in nature mingling together that have a peculiar gratification when nipping winds and biting frosts are about their appointed tasks, in their own fashion and appointed way working destruction and death, but which are destined to be, ere long, the precursor of the birth of new and beautiful forms in the pleasant spring-time.

My object is to give notes on some of the best forms of the Chrysanthemum as seen here, both large-flowering and pompone, as they are termed, and to attempt as far as possible some general arrangement of colours, though in regard to some flowers this were almost impossible, so imperceptibly does one shade of colour seem to glide into and blend with another. One thing is, however, quite certain, that within the past few years a wonderful advance has been made towards the attainment of brightness and distinctness of colour in the flowers, and with tins a corresponding advance in fulness, and towards perfect development.

Of the deeper-coloured flowers that may well be termed crimson, there were Cardinal Wiseman, bright reddish crimson, a fine hue of colour; Crimson Velvet, a very richly-coloured flower, of a bright dark-crimson hue; Dr Sharpe, crimson-magenta, a fine reflexed flower; Julia Lagravere, a small but showy flower, which should be in every collection for its bright hue of crimson; Lord Clyde, bright glowing crimson, a small but attractive flower; Prince Alfred, rosy crimson, a splendid flower, which richly deserves to be grown; and Progne, a brilliant hue of amaranth, striking, and very showy. Of purple and violet shades the following are well worthy notice: Lord Derby, dark purple, very fine; Fingal, rosy violet, also fine; Hereward, purple, but when fully incurved presenting a silvery appearance; Mr Murray, violet rose, a fine reflexed flower; and Ossian, rosy purple, very large and full. Chestnut and bronzy orange shades may be said to prevail in the Chrysanthemum; of these some of the most striking were - Bronze Jardin des Plantes, bronzy orange, with yellow centre, a sport from the golden yellow flower of this name; General Harding, Indian-red tinted with gold, very fine; General Slade, a very showy flower in the same way, but distinct; Golden Eagle, reddish chestnut tipped with orange, very fine; John Salter, reddish cinnamon, with orange centre, a striking hue of colour; Pio Nono, Indian-red, tipped with gold, fine and showy ; Rev. J. Dix, orange red, with pale centre, large and full; Sir Stafford Carey, dark-brownish chestnut, a distinct and striking flower; and Triomphe du Nord, pale reddish chestnut, very fine.

Lilac flowers are found in Princess Beatrice, a very fine and striking variety, of a bright deep silver-lilac hue; Empress Eugenie, delicate rosy-lilac; and Yenus, lilac-peach, a very fine incurved flower. Shades of rose and blush can be found in Enamel, delicate blush-white; Mrs Huffington, a very beautiful delicate-tipped flower; Her Majesty, silvery - blush, very fine indeed; Compactum, silvery-peach, distinct, and very pretty; Lady Talfourd, delicate rosy-lilac, very fine; Novelty, blush, a very fine and full flower, requiring good cultivation to bring out its full beauty; and Princess Marie, a pretty rose-coloured early-blooming variety. Flowers of shades of yellow comprise some splendid kinds - such as Guernsey Nuggett, clear primrose-yellow, very fine; Cloth-of-Gold, an old but very showy flower; Gloria Mundi, bright golden-yellow, very showy; Golden Beverley, deep canary, very fine indeed; and Jardin des Plantes, rich golden-yellow, very fine and showy. "White flowers comprise some beautiful things - such as Miss Mare-chaux, pure white, very fine indeed; Princess of Teck, pure white, large, and very fine; Dido, sulphur-white, free-blooming, and showy; Ion, pure white, fine; Mrs George Bundle, pure white, a medium-sized flower, symmetrical, and extra fine; Princess of Wales, pearly-white, extra fine, large, and full; and White Christine, a very fine flower, tinged with lavender when opening, but changing to pure white.

The pompon-flowering kinds comprise some very pretty and striking kinds, distinct in colour, and highly attractive. Of yellow and orange shades there are - Autumna, buff, large, and good; La Vogue, bright-gold, fine; Aigle d'Or, yellow, an excellent variety; and Golden Aurore, golden-yellow. Of dark flowers Bob is one of the best, bright crimson-brown, but somewhat late in blooming; Brilliant, fiery crimson, very bright; Louiset Tessier, crimson amaranth; and Salamon, dark rosy-carmine. Of bronze and chestnut-coloured flowers there are - Satanella, orange-amber, fine; Aurore Boreale, dark orange, very fine; and brown Cedo Nulli. Lilac and rose-coloured flowers are generally represented by Graziella, blush-lilac; Madame Bachaux, lilac; Madame Pauline Deschamps, white and carmine, very pretty; Mrs Dix, blush, bordered with rose, large and fine; Rose d'Amour, clear rose; and Rose Trevenna, rosy-blush, extra fine. Of white flowers there are - Madame Fould, cream-white, small, but very pretty and of fine form; Mademoiselle Marthe, white, dwarf-growing; and white Trevenna, a fine sport from the rose-coloured variety.

The foregoing are worthy attention, as furnishing some of the very finest kinds both for exhibition and conservatory decoration. There are yet the Anemone-flowered and the new Japanese varieties, but any notice of them must be deferred for a future paper. Quo.