Copyright, 1898, bv 

 rbORISTS' PUBLISHING CO., 520-535 Caxton Bulldinft, CI1ICAGO. 



VoL m. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8, 1898. 



No. 54. 



CHRYSANTHEMUM PHILADEL- 

 PHIA AND OTHER NOTES. 



This variety was a disappointment, 

 and is now seldom mentioned. Prob- 

 ably tile unhealthy condition of the 

 stock was to blame for this. We got it 



some deformity. They opened soon 

 after Mrs. Robinson was done, have 

 attracted more attention than any 

 other kind we grow, and the few flow- 

 ers left are still in good condition; the 

 variety being one of the best shippers 

 and keepers that we have. Those who 



Chrysanthemum Philadelphia. 



when it was distributed, and have 

 grown some of it ever since, and under 

 our treatment it has greatly increased 

 in vigor. Last year the few plants we 

 had flowered so well that this season 

 we planted about fifty plants on the 

 bench with our other kinds, and every 

 plant has produced a fine, large, per- 

 fect flower, without any of the trouble- 



are not acquainted with it will get a 

 good idea of its form from the illus- 

 tration. ■ One of the flowers in the 

 group was 5 inches in diameter, and 

 iVz inches deep, and this, too, without 

 any feeding. 



Nearly all the new chrysanthemums 

 we buy cause us much trouble be- 

 cause of the unhealthy, weak condi- 



tion of the stock when received. Some 

 kinds jiever recover and are thrown 

 out; perha'ps after communicating dis- 

 ease to our. own better stock. Some 

 other kinds, after being grown care- 

 fully for a -year or two, recover from 

 their rust, congested foliage, or other 

 ailments, and are then in condition to 

 test properly. 



I have In former communications 

 had something to say on the subject 

 of feeding chrysanthemums, and after 

 another season's experi^ce I wish to 

 allude to it again. The experts tell 

 us that at Fuch a period of their 

 growth we should commence to apply 

 liquid manure to our plants, and give 

 minute directions in regard to the va- 

 rious kinds of stimulants,' their proper 

 rotation, quantity and manner of using 

 and how late to continue the dosing. 

 These operations are not very pleas- 

 ant, and are, I think, largely unneces- 

 sary. For the last two years or more 

 we have given our chrysanthemums 

 absolutely no feeding whatever, Other 

 than that contained in the four inches 

 of fresh good soil, and the ordinary 

 city water, not even mulching the sur- 

 face of the bed with manure. 



The plants make a strong healthy 

 growth, with fine foliage, and flowers 

 quite large enough for our purpose,- 

 with stronger stems than those that 

 have acquired indigestion through too 

 much stall-feeding. I measured some 

 of the kinds today (Nov. 25th), after 

 many of the largest flowers had been 

 cut, with the following results, meas- 

 urements being diameter directly 

 across the flower, not as is usual be- 

 ginning at the bottom of one side 

 thence over the crown to the bottom 

 of the other side: Mrs. Perrin, 5 

 inches; F. Walz, 5% inches; Lincoln, 

 Mutual Friend, Dailledouze, Wana" 

 maker and Mrs. Jerome Jones, 6 inch- 

 es; Maud Dean, 7 inches, and V. Morel, 

 8 inches. We get firm, bright-colored 

 flowers by our method, and will con- 



