STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 12/ 



United States. While today every large city from Maine to 

 California holds its annual "chrysanthemum show." America, 

 England and France — each a "national society." In the earlier 

 years of the plant only the Chinese varieties, consisting of the 

 reflexed and incurved large flowered, the anemone and pompons 

 were cultivated — later the wonderful Japanese varieties — with 

 their long tubular or flat-twisted petals were introduced and 

 since by crossing the varieties have become so intermingled 

 that the lines of demarcation have almost become obliterated. 



All new varieties of course must be produced by sowing the 

 seed. It has been said that "growing seedlings is the poetry 

 of gardening" and I know of no flower offering greater induce- 

 ments or more quickly realizing results in growing from seed 

 than the chrysanthemum. Many new seedlings often bring 

 from $ioo to $i,ooo each. 



The bright sunny days of our beautiful autumns are very 

 favorable for maturing the seed. The requisites for success are 

 sunlight, air and a dry atmosphere. The principle objects in 

 hybridizing or cross-breeding are improvement in color, form, 

 size or vigor of plant, and success will depend largely upon a. 

 proper selection of the parent stock. 



Having a definite object in view select the nearest approach 

 to what is desired. Sow the seed February ist in boxes of rich, 

 fine soil, give gentle heat and proper degree of moisture. April 

 1st transplant these seedlings in richer soil, six inches apart and 

 by June ist pot rapidly growing plants into seven-inch pots, 

 then plunge these pots into the open garden soil. Give plenty 

 of water during July and August and by September loth lift 

 them out, place these plants in shed to greenhouse to protect 

 from frosts ; give plenty of water, light and air until they are 

 through flowering. 



PROPAGATION. 

 In the propagating of named varieties the cuttings should be 

 struck by the first of February and grow them in a cool house 

 near the glass until April ist. then transferring them into cold 

 frames, giving abundance of air and moisture. May loth these 

 ])lants may be set out in open ground. Place them three feet 

 apart each way. Nip in monthly the rapidly growing shoots, 

 to produce stocky growth and proper shape to plants. If they 



