158 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



May, 



one-halt acres paid him more than the product 

 of IfiO acres of farm land, and equalled the 

 profits on cattle on 400 acres of grass land. 



The Tree Agent Qaeation. In order to avoid 

 as much as possible the practice of agents sell- 

 ing varieties that are inferior or absolutely 

 worthless, Mr. Gurney presented a resolution 

 condemning the practice of nurserymen giving 

 certificates of agency to dealers who are in 

 reality representing themselves, and not the 

 nurserymen. 



ExpeTiment Stations. As Nebraska has such 

 a diversity of climate, and is so materially differ- 

 ent from the states east of the Mississippi river, 

 nine experiment stations have been established 

 in different sections for the purpose of testing 

 the adaptability of new fiuits. These are in- 

 tended to be of great good to the citizens, as 

 many varieties can be tested here that would 

 take too long for the man who wishes to get his 

 orchard established at the earliest possible mo- 

 ment. Besides, not one setter in fifty has the 

 means to go ahead and make these experiments 

 on his own responsibility. Each year the results 

 attained at these stations will be given to the 

 world, in the annual report. 



Honey in the Vineyard. G. J. Carpenter, in 

 a paper on Grapes, showed that his vineyard had 

 almost paid for itself in the first three years, and 

 that in the years following the products were 

 nearly clear gain. He recommends the Brigh- 

 ton, Goethe, Worden, Agawam, Concord and 

 Elvira for a lax*ge vineyard. 



Fertilization, Crossing and Hybridization of 

 Plants. Prof. C. E. Bessey thinks the horticul- 

 turist has a grand field before him in experi- 

 menting in this line to produce finer fruits. 

 Florists are far ahead of the fruitgrowers in the 

 way of crossing and fertilizing plants for certain 

 purposes, and he thought it high time for the 

 fruit men to begin to fertilize and cross plants 

 for specific purposes; to have an object in view 

 each time a cross is effected, and not do all this 

 work at random as is done so much lately. 



In regard to the effect fertilization may have 

 on the fruit of the year in which the cross is 

 made, the Professor said it is against all theories 

 of scientific men, but the more recent experi- 

 ments showed a tendency to prove that scien- 

 tists are in fault in this particular case. 



After appointing Hastings, Nebraska, as the 

 next place of meeting, the Society adjourned — 

 0. Q. DeFrance, Assistant Secretary, 



Chrysanthemum Growing 



{Extract of paper by John Thorpe, read before the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society.) 



If it had been predicted ten years ago that 

 the Chrysanthemum would hold the posi- 

 tion it now holds, it would have been said 

 that such a thing is not possible. But a few 

 years since, Chrysanthemum shows were 

 unknown except in Boston, New York, and 

 Philadelphia. The numerous exhibitions 

 held last season (numbering nearly fifty) 

 are proof of the progress the Chrysanthe- 

 mum is making. 



Cnltivation. One of the few points to which I 

 desire tacall your attention is. never neglect a 

 Chrysanthemum. This ought to be written very 

 plainly on every plant. No plant can be as suc- 

 cessfully cultivated in as many forms. It mat- 

 ters not whether the plants are grown as massive 

 specimens, tall standards, or on benches a tew 

 inches apart. If they receive the proper atten- 

 tion the result is always commensurate. 



The plants are grown continuously under glass 

 and are treated as follows: Good, strong cut- 

 tings are rooted in May. The plants are potted 

 into thumbs, from thumbs into three-inch and 

 from three-inch into five-inch pots. In June or 

 the early part of July they are planted in 

 benches, from sixteen to twenty-five inches 

 apart, according to size, the soil being from four 

 to six inches deep, using soil as for Koses. 



The.v are pinched back so as to give from four 

 to six shoots, carefully trained, and well sup- 

 plied, syringed often and watered carefully. 

 Air is given at all times, provided no draught is 

 created. The buds are selected at the end of 

 August or the beginning of September, one bud 

 to each shoot; the rest of the buds are rubbed 

 off, and all superfluous wood is removed. As 

 the plants grow they are tied, and as soon as the 

 buds are within sight, commence the feeding 

 with liquid manure. It is necessary to state that 

 such plants require at least five feet of head 

 room; otherwise they have to be bent ilnwn. 



Some cultivators do away with benches alto- 

 gether, and plant on the ground. Others do not 

 plant until August, using smaller plants, which 

 they place closer together, often not more than 

 six inches apart. During the Howcring season 

 air is kept on at all times, and fire heat enough 

 to keep the temperature at fifty degrees at night. 



Claesification of Varieties. The grouping and 

 classification of varieties is now in a somewhat 

 ambiguous and unsatisfactor.v state. Perhaps 

 as a temporary relief the best thing to do is to 

 accept the classification (as far as it goes) of the 

 National ( hrysanthemum Society of England, 

 which is as follows: 



.Section I. Incurved, of which George Glenny 

 and Queen of England are the type. 



Section II. Japanese. This is divided into 

 three groups — 



Group 1. Peter the Great, flat petals. 



Group 2. Bronze Dragon, petals quilled. 



Group 3. Cossack, petals fluted. 



Section III. Japanese incurved. Type, Comte 

 de Germany. 



Section IV. Japanese reflexed. Type, Elaine. 



Section V. Reflexed. Type, King of Crimsons. 



Section VI. Large Anemones. Type, George 

 Sand. 



Section VII. Japanese Anemones Type, 

 Fabian de Mediana. 

 - Section VII 1. Pompons. Type, Bob. 



Section IX. Pompon Anemones. T.vpe, An- 

 tonius. 



Section X. Single Flowers. 



But this does not cover all the ground. Mrs. 

 Hardy and her type have no place, neither has 

 Violet Rose, nor Ada Spaulding. 



Seedlings. The raising and distribution of 

 seedlings has assumed proportions beyond con- 

 ception, and we may expect startling results. 

 Of American-raised seedlings to be distributed 

 this spring, the number is over one hundred and 

 twenty. Taking into account the number dis- 

 tributed last year, out of which there are at least 

 fourteen that rank among the very finest, we 

 may expect that at least twenty-four of this 

 year's introduction will be among the best at 

 next flowering time. 



It is hoped that due care will be exercised in 

 the awarding of medals and in the granting of 

 certificates, now that there are so many to select 

 from. A rule should also be made absolute that 

 neither a medal nor certificate be given to an.v 

 seedling unless it is named, and that this name is 

 not to be changed. The giving of medals and 

 certificates to seedlings bearing numbers only is 

 calculated to mislead and confuse. 



It is also hoped that in making awards to seed- 

 lings, neither Anemones, Pompons, nor any 

 other type will be overlooked or discarded, as it 

 is in the varied forms that so much interest lies. 



Early Flowering Kinds. With one or two ex- 

 ceptions, the very early varieties wo now have 

 are not of great merit. They lack either vigor, 

 distinctness or brilliancy, all of which they 

 should possess asdecorative plants. But suppose 

 we have presented to us a group, of robust, com- 

 pact growth, bright and decidedlj' healthy foli- 

 age, flowers of the type of and as large as Presi- 

 dent Hyde, and in desirable colors, flowering 

 from the l.'ith of September, what could be more 

 attractive/ We are promised such a group and 

 they will be heartily welcome. 



New Types. Just as long as there are pro- 

 duced new types and new shades of color, just 

 so long will the interest in the cultivation of 

 the Chrysanthemum be kept up. We have but 

 to recall the interest which that beautiful 

 variety. Mrs. Hardy, and her followers, created. 

 Now we are evolving a type which is certain to 

 create further interest. Its distinctive charac- 

 teristics are the marked extension of the ray 

 florets beyond the body outlines of the flower. 

 Examples are Violet Rose, Ada Spaulding and 

 Flora Macdonald. The ligulate petals are broad, 

 numerous and incurving. 



Perhaps a good name for this type would be 

 "American.'' Yet another type, the original of 

 which is Lacinatum, one of Fortune's importa- 

 tions from Japan, is being developed in all colors 

 and in the largest sizes. Still another form, 

 distinct in every particular, is one where the 

 flowers present two distinct surfaces, the upper 

 surface being composed of broad refle-xed petals, 

 and the lower surface being a mass of narrow 

 segments which extend from either side of the 

 base of each floret. These are only a few of the 

 newer forms waiting to be brought forth. 



Color Developments. That there is a constant 

 additi<m to the already numerous shades and 

 tones is known to clo.se observers. The pink 



shades are each year becoming clearer, the reds 

 and crimsons are getting brighter. The once 

 undeflned shades of purple are decidedly more 

 brilliant and effective. As to yellow and whites 

 we are yearly presented with something differ- 

 ent from what we previously had. 



Coming now to the possibility of a blue Chrys- 

 anthemum, let me say that I am convinced we 

 shall have shades of blue as positively as we now 

 have blue shades in Pansies. It is within the 

 memory of a great many of us when there were 

 neither red nor blue shades as presented in the 

 Pansies of to-day. 



Cross-Fertilization. Grave doubts have been 

 expressed whether actual cross-fertilization has 

 ever been accomplished artificially in Chrysan- 

 themums. I can say without the shadow of a 

 doubt that it has been, but I do not say that 

 every variety can be so crossed. All flowers in- 

 tended to be fertilized must have their petals 

 clipped oft close to the stigma before the flower 

 opens. This admits of the development not only 

 of the stigmas, but of the ovary also. Some 

 varieties will be found entirely sterile; Grandi- 

 florum has never .yet given us a single seed, and 

 so far as I am able to tell the pollen grains are 

 sterile also. Where cross-fertilization is cai-e- 

 fuUy and successfully done, fewer seedlings give 

 better results. 



Commercial Point of View. The annual sale 

 of plants is now over a million; the number of 

 cut flowers that were sold in open market last 

 year is almost incredible, many of the best 

 flowers realizing S50 per hundred at wholesale. 

 Some of the large growers around New York 

 had as many as fifty thousand flowers in sight at 

 one time, averaging a great deal better in quality 

 than many of the winning flowers that were to 

 be seen on the exhibition tables a few years ago. 



It has been said that the Chrysanthemum 

 flowers interfere with the sale of Roses and Car- 

 nations, but I notice that nothing interferes with 

 Chrysanthemums in their season. 



Melons for Market. 



{Extract of paper by Thomas J. Beaji, read before the 

 New Jersey Horticultural Society). 



Melons will grow on all soils, ranging 

 from light sand to heavy land, if properly 

 fertilized, but do best on soils varying from 

 loamy sand to sandy loam. 



We plant after Corn, cutting off during winter 

 remains of stalks close to ground and afterwards 

 cutting into the mass of roots two or three 

 inches below the surface and lifting upper part 

 out of position, that all vegetable matter may 

 remain, but so sub-divided that it will not inter- 

 fere with cultivation. A few weeks before 

 planting, a coat of stable manure, preferabl.v 

 fresh, is spread broadcast and ploughed in as 

 shallow as can be done with a two-horse plough— 

 not more than three or four inches if possible. 



We prefer fresh manure because manure is 

 most valuable when in the act of decomposition; 

 and we desire this act to continue during the 

 whole period of the growth of the crop; to be 

 most potent when the fruit is developing and 

 maturing, as we find highest quality only on 

 vigorous vines. We plow it in shallow; so that 

 while there may be enough of earth above the 

 manure to prevent the escape of that which 

 may be volatile, the mass of manure and debris 

 may be in the midst of the surface soil at the 

 favorite feeding depth of the hoped for crop, 

 with soil beneath to arrest the descent of the 

 soluble. 



Just before planting, the ground is harrowed, 

 then marked with sled, five feet each wa.v, and 

 at intersections some poultry droppings or 

 phosphate is placed, covered with the hoe, and 

 on this the seed is planted. The date with us is 

 from May 1st to May 10th. When in spite of re- 

 planfmg the stand is not complete, we transplant 

 from hills that have more than they need, doing 

 this on wet or moist days, with as much earth 

 about the roots as possible. 



Two plants in a hill will produce a good crop, 

 but we leave three because we have much 

 trouble with mice and moles. We give two or 

 three hoeings, with cultivation frequent and 

 shallow, cai'e being taken to not disturb the 

 manure. It is best to not work among the vines 

 when wet with dew or rain. 



Enemies. One is the Aphis or Plant Louse. 

 Long continued wet or cloudy weather, cold 

 nights, or whatever may check vigorous growth, 

 will invite their attack. The only effective de- 

 fence we have made was to promptly bury the 

 infested plants and so restrain their increase un- 



