WINTER MEETING. 167 



Congratulatory speeches were indulged in for a time, gentlemen 

 from Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Michigan participating. These 

 ceremonies over, the convention settled down to business with a vigor 

 and relish such as boys and girls exhibit when they resume their studies 

 after a refreshing recess. 



Chrysanthemum. 



AMERICAN HISTORY OF ITS PROPAGATION. 



A. K. Kirkland, Thayer, Mo. 



It must have been long after the landing of the Pilgrim fathers 

 that the Chrysanthemum reached our shores after a checkered voyage 

 from the far east — probably about the year 1810 — perhaps earlier 

 Its early history upon our continent is lost, and it is not possible to 

 say who first cultivated it in the new world. 



PROPAGATION. 



The propagation of the Chrysanthemum by cuttings is the system 

 adopted in every country where it is grown. New varieties and the 

 single sorts are produced from seed, but propagation by cuttings is by 

 far the most satisfactory. Chrysanthemum cuttings root so freely, few 

 growers give the subject the attention it deserves. In most cases the 

 cuttings are taken with little regard to quality, and planted where they 

 will root the quickest and with the least amount of trouble. But in 

 order to obtain the best results, strict attention must be paid to every 

 detail of their culture. It is of the first importance that we commence 

 operations with good material. It is possible to produce flowers of 

 the finest quality upon plants that are propagated at any time from 

 December to May, but as a rule the cuttings started in Feburary and 

 March give the finest results. When plants are started in November 

 and December, there is a long dormant season through which the 

 young plants are compelled to pass, during which the wood becomes 

 hardened to a dangerous degree, and also requires two months of labor 

 that might be easily avoided by starting their cuttings in February, and 

 the work performed with greater satisfaction. 



In the propagation of the Chrysanthemum, no bottom heat is re- 

 quired. Plants raised in bottom heat rarely produce fine flowers. 

 While it hastens the rooting process, the plants are always weak and 

 liable to receive injury, where those raised without heat would be un- 

 harmed. A place where a temperature of 75° can be maintained, and 

 kept rather close, with the cuttings near the glass, is most suitable. 

 If but a limited quantity of cuttings is required, they may be inserted 



