SEEDLINGS AND SPORTS . 57 



They flower the first year from seed and there is nothing more inter- 

 esting than to look over a large lot of seedlings and note the diversity of 

 color and form. After the planted seedlings are established we nip out the 

 top and allow two breaks to come up and flower, and as far as possible 

 select a crown or early bud on one of these, and terminal or late bud upon 

 the other; thus we gain some knowledge the first year as to which bud 

 produces the best flower. Those that are considered desirable may be saved 

 and given further trial. 



imports The w r ord "sport" in connection with chrysanthemums refers 

 to varieties which originate by bud variations and are termed "sports." 

 Occasionally a variety will sport the first or second year after its origin 

 from seed, but generally it does not take place until several years have 

 elapsed, and then often simultaneously in remote localities. This has oc- 

 curred in this country, the most marked case being that of Mrs. J. Jones, 

 .sporting to yellow. As a rule most of the whites sport to yellow, and pinks 

 tc white, although Yiviand Morel gave us a sport variety, Chas. Davis, 

 which is bronze, and has also sported to white in the variety Mrs. Kitson. 

 Louis Boehmer, magneta pink, sported to white and named L'Enfant des 

 deaux Mondes. This variety sported under French cultivation to yellow 

 and is known as Leocadie Gentils. Louis Boehmer, the original variety, 

 has given us several other sport varieties, such as Win. Falconer, light 

 pink ; Mrs. C. B. Freeman, bronzy yellow, and Beauty of Truro, bronzy 

 cerise. It is worthy to note that many varieties have changed their color 

 in this way many times, while others that are now very old have never 

 shown any inclination to sport. The yellow varieties seem less inclined 

 to sport than other colors, possibly this is due to the fact that yellow 

 is the original color of chrysanthemums. 



Philadelphia, a light yellow, gave a sport several shades darker, and is 

 known as Pennsylvania. It need not surprise anyone cultivating chrysan- 

 themums to notice a plant having flowers of two distinct colors. Sometimes 

 the sport flowers will be one-half the original color, and again possibly on 

 the same plant another bloom will be the new color entire. 



It has been reported that flowers sometimes sport in form, that is, give 

 a flower of entirely different form from that originally possessed, such 

 as an incurved flower sporting to a reflexed form. Such cases are at least 

 few and far between, in fact we are inclined to disbelieve that such changes 

 have really taken place. Cultural conditions often change the form of 

 flowers materially, also buds selected, and doubtless some of the cases re- 

 ported were simply due to these causes. 



To perpetuate the new color of the plant that has sported the method 

 generally followed is to cut the leaf on the flowering wood with a heel 

 or portion of stem and place these under a bell glass or closed case to 

 induce them to make root after which they send forth new growth. These 

 are planted the next season and if any possess the original color they are 

 discarded and those of the new color saved. Generally in the course of 

 two or three seasons it is safe to consider the new variety established and 

 color fixed, as it is termed. 



