Chrysanthemums of 1896. 303 



a variety may soon be broken up into a number of strains, some 

 of which may be good and others bad. The careful grower, 

 therefore, will either propagate his own stock of the varieties 

 which he likes or else exercise the greatest care to see that the 

 stock he buys comes from plants which are true to the type. 



In respect to the varieties of chrysanthemums, I am convinced 

 that there is too great a tendency to grow novelties. Some of 

 the old varieties are still the best of their class and should be 

 retained, and very many of the novelties — in fact, most of them — 

 seem to represent no distinct advance. It appears to us as if 

 these novelties are not always thoroughly tested and understood 

 before introduction. If we could have a few extra-choice things 

 introduced each year and all the rest left in oblivion, the interests 

 of all parties would be more permanently enhanced. 



We need, also, to give greater attention to the hardy or border 

 varieties of chrysanthemums. We have given such exclusive 

 attention to the glass-house flower that the very name chrysan- 

 themum has come to mean, to people at large, the great, noble, 

 florists' flower of November. But there are humbler forms of 

 the plant which may be set in the open ground and there allowed 

 to remain year by year, the same as they did in our mothers* 

 gardens. Some of the modern forms of these plants are pretty 

 and interesting. Even the old-time forms are not to be despised, 

 for if they lack size and quality of bloom, they nevertheless 

 give a wealth of color with very little trouble. The title-page 

 illustrates an old-time, out-door type of chrysanthemum familar 

 to a former generation as garden artemisias. Their chief merit is 

 hardiness; The flowers are produced in great profusion, and 

 they extend the season of pompons a month or more after the 

 first frost has killed the dahlias. It is the race from 

 which the large Chinese chrysanthemums of the green- 

 houses are said to be derived. We still see them in the old gar- 

 dens, in various shades of red and yellow, and running into whites 

 of the form of Comet asters. The flowers on the title-page are 

 natural size. 



