THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



BY H. L. HUTT, B.S.A. , ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, GUELPH. 



Fig. 2734. Chrysanthemum — Rose Travena. 



THE chrysanthemum, or " Mum," as 

 she has been rudely nicknamed, has 

 been justly called by* one writer "The Au- 

 tumn Queen," and by another "The Star- 

 eyed Daughter of the Fall." Coming into 

 bloom in the month of November when all 

 nature in our northern clime seems to be in 

 its most sorrowful mood, I sometimes think 

 this grand flower has been given as a com- 

 pensation for the loss of summer friends, 

 and to help us to be bright and cheerful at 

 the Thanksgiving season. 



That increased attention which is being 

 yearly paid to its cultivation shows that its 

 popularity must be based upon real merit. 

 One writer has said that " the transcendent 

 merit of the chrysanthemum lies in its al- 

 most limitless varietv of form, texture and 



color of flowers." To this I think might 

 be added the ease with which it may be cul- 

 tivated. It is not now the flower of the flor- 

 ist only, tjut it is being more generally 

 grown throughout the country in the homes 

 of amateurs. 



Its History. — Very little that is new can 

 be said of its history, yet something along 

 this line may be of interest. The chrysan- 

 themum has had its origin from one, or per- 

 haps two, small, single-flowered species of 

 plants native in Eastern Asia, their nearest 

 relatives in this country being the disreputa- 

 ble ox-eye daisies. For many centuries be- 

 fore it was introduced into Europe or Am- 

 erica it was cultivated, improved, and 

 brought to great perfection by the painstak- 



FlG. 



Chrysatnhemum — TVORY. 



