4 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



as exhibition flowers, though some few of them are ex- 

 ceedingly decorative. When grown for this purpose they 

 have to be freely disbudded, for, failing this, they do not 

 show their character sufficiently, and in many instances 

 come with a fairly large "eye." As in the Japanese 

 varieties, the habit of the Incurved type has changed, in 

 this case probably owing to the Japanese blood that has 

 been introduced into them by cross fertilisation, which 

 has in some instances added colour to the flower as well 

 as stockiness to the plant. 



In no phase of Chrysanthemum culture has there been 

 more improvement than in the outdoor or early flowering 

 section. It does not seem long since we could count the 

 number of good early varieties on the fingers, and Madame 

 C. Desgranges and its sports, G. Wermig, and Mrs. Burrell, 

 were the only varieties in general cultivation, whereas we 

 have now a choice of two or three hundred varieties, in- 

 cluding most shades of colour. Greater use might still 

 be made of this type of Chrysanthemum for outdoor 

 decoration, though I certainly am not in favour of ex- 

 tremely early varieties for cut-flower purposes, as by 

 getting them too early it is likely to tire people of Chrysan- 

 themums before the mid-season varieties come into flower. 

 This is not to be desired, because it is during November, 

 December, and January that Chrysanthemums are essential. 

 Rather should attention be paid to raising varieties that 

 will prolong the season by flowering as late as possible in 

 the New Year. 



