260 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y 



with nature, rather than to set himself against her. Man's power 

 lies more in improving or augmenting tendencies which already 

 exist than in creating new tendencies. There is a tradition, to 

 be sure, that a blue chrysanthemum was once produced, under 

 political pressure, in the orient, but there is no exact knowledge 

 of the matter; and if the King of Japan really did receive such 

 a tribute, I am willing to believe that some one connected with 

 the transaction forestalled the modern flower " artist " and dyed 

 the flower. It is possible, of course, that a blue chrysanthemum 

 may appear, but the probabilities are all against it; and if it 



does come, it will probably originate as a sport 

 or bud-variety rather than as a definite attempt 

 thereat on the part of the operator. 



One must remember, too, in this connection, 

 that the heavy colors of chrysanthemums are 

 nearly always associated with heaviness and 

 gracelessness of habit. We have no pure deep 

 red with the cut of Mrs. Rand, for example. But 

 even the same form, particularly if it inclines 

 strongly to regularity, has a heavier appearance 

 in dark colors than in light ones. There is no 

 more fertile field for the development of new 

 types than in the combining of light and grace- 

 ful forms with dark colors. 



A word about the culture of chrysanthemums. — 

 Our own tests of chrysanthemums have been 

 made for the purpose of obtaining specimen or exhibition blooms. 

 The plants are, therefore, trained to a single stem and a single 

 flower. Fig. 86 shows our house as it looked last November. 

 When so many varieties are grown, the house is not at its best 

 at any one time, but there is a progressing exhibition. The house 

 therefore, lacks the full appearance of an ordinary commercial 

 house. These plants were made from cuttings taken the pre- 

 vious spring, the plants having been grown in pots until late 

 July, when they were taken from the pots and set in the bed. 



This growing of the plants to a single bloom does not produce 

 the most decorative or satisfactory results. It simply gives large 

 specimen blooms. I much prefer to grow from three to six 



87.— 'Mum cutting 

 Half size. 



