WINTER MEETING. 169 



two growers adopt the same plan, althoagh there are a number of 

 growers in every country where the Chrysanthemum is grown who 

 practice the art with varying success. In China and Japan, where the 

 ■Chrysanthemum sheds its seeds freely, new varieties spring up as they 

 do with self-sown plants. In this country we are not so favored, as 

 far as I can learn, althoagh on the sunny slopes of California the con- 

 dition may exist. 



Chrysanthemum seeds germinate freely in from 7 to 9 days when sown 

 in pots or boxes, and kept in a temperature of about 60°, and if sown in 

 early spring plants will bloom in the fall. They do not come true from 

 seed; my experience has been that for everyone worthy of further cul- 

 tivation you will throw away 1000 that are no good. This may appear 

 discouraging to the|grower, but the truth must be told ; yet sometimes 

 a good variety will appear in a few dozen seedlings, that may make the 

 grower's name famous. The foliage of seedlings is always clean and 

 thrifty, and no two blossoms will be exactly alike grown on different 

 plants. The growth of seedling plants is only necessary when improve- 

 ment in size or color is sought after. The principal object of the hy- 

 bridizer should be to improve upon the vigor and color. Size should 

 not be sought after at the expense of these qualities. A first-class 

 •Chrysanthemum should be of free growth with stift" stems ; the foliage 

 clean and covering the branches up to the floWer, while the flower 

 should be of good substance and of pleasing color. The colors which 

 are yet to be obtained are a clear orange, a clear bright red and the 

 long sought-for blue. When a new Chrysanthemum has survived its 

 flfth year, it may be regarded as established, and not before, and I am 

 sorry that so few stand the test. Jardin des Plantes is still unsurpassed, 

 and has been for more than 30 years. The plants may be placed out 

 of doors in this section about April 15th ; set the plants out about 2^ 

 •or 3 feet apart, taking care that the roots are moist; about the first 

 week in June every plant should have its top pinched out, an opera- 

 tion known as stopping, only the center bud being removed ; a stick 

 should be placed beside every plant, to which it should be loosely tied. 

 If it is desired to grow the plants to a single stem, all side 

 branches upon the lower part of the stem should be removed as fast 

 as they appear; if on the other hand the bush form is desired, all the 

 shoots may be allowed to grow. In a short time there will appear from 

 four to six shoots below the first one pinched out. These must be 

 stopped when from four to six inches long, and the operation continued 

 until the first of August, after which every shoot may be allowed to 

 grow without further pinching. In stopping the different shoots, 

 always bear in mind the future shape of the plant. Loop the different 



