• Chrysanthemums. ^6^ 



V. THE CORNELL VARIETIES OF 1897. 



The variety test was conducted in 1897 as in the two previous years, 

 but with better results. There were 166 varieties grown as cool as 

 possible in the same house under t^ie same conditions, and with only 

 one plant of each variety. Four flowers were grown on each plant 

 and they averaged nearly six inches in diameter. Inasmuch as a 

 variety test has no absolute scientific value, but is more nearly related 

 to personal experience, judgments of varieties are here offered, and 

 the descriptive matter reduced to a minimum. Of the 166 sorts grown 

 for comparison, only 86 are now reported upon, as 59 were mentioned 

 in Bulletin 136, and the remaining 21 were chiefly numbered seedhngs 

 that were kindly sent by various dealers in advance of their distribution 

 under names. Of the 86 kinds now reported, only 54 are novelties of 

 American origin offered for the first time to the trade in the catalogues 

 of 1897.* 



It is unfair to finally judge any novelty of any plant on one season's 

 acquaintance, but opinion is called for, nevertheless, and must be 

 given. The 86 kinds now considered are divided into only two groups, 

 34 in one and 52 in the other. In the first group the 10 "very good" 

 sorts are distinguished from the other good varieties by small capi- 

 tals. The asterisk (*) is prefixed to varieties of foreign origin, most 

 of them being English and Australian sorts of 1896, kindly sent by 

 H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, and Robert Owen, Castle Hill, 

 Maidenhead. The dagger (t) means that the varieties are of American 

 origin, and named, but not yet published in trade catalogues. 

 These estimates are our own judgment for our own conditions and 

 may not hold for other conditions and other ideals. The plants were 

 skillfully grown by Mr. Hunn, and his judgments enter largely into 

 the estimates. 



The chrysanthemum specialists who have sent their novelties to the 

 Station are : 



■■•■ Fifteen others of American origin were not tried, as follows : Allegro, 

 Miss Lottie D. Berry, Robert Edgerton, Gold Bug, Clara Goodman, Mrs. 

 Col. Goodman, Kentucky, Mrs. A. P. Meredith, Henry Nanz, Pendennis, 

 The Times, Vineta, We.st Newton, Miss May Williamson, Yellow Monarch. 

 The CaHfornian varieties are excluded from this list, because of their 

 importations from the Orient, and the different cultural conditions. 



