CHRYSANTHEMUM 



Marked forms are Laciniatum, Lillian B. Bird, Mill- 

 brook, Mrs. W. H. Kand, A. H. Wood, Shavings, North- 

 em Lights. 



Relative Importance and Uses of the Types.— In 

 general, the large-fld. forms are more popular than the 

 small-fld. forms, especially at exhibitions, where great 

 size is often the greatest factor in prize-winning. 

 Types 9, 10 and 11 are the most important in America, 

 es'pecially the Japanese section. The fls. of types 9 and 

 10 are likely to be more compact and globular, and hence 

 better for long shipments than the looser and more fan- 

 ciful types. Types 9, 10 and 11 are the ones to which 

 most care is given, especially in disbudding and train- 

 ing. They are the ones most commonly grown by the 

 florists for cut-fls. and whenever one large fl. on a long 

 stem is desired. The anemone-flowered forms are all 

 usually considered as curiosities, especially the Japa- 

 nese Anemones, which are often exhibited as freaks 

 and oddities. The single and anemone-flowered forms 

 are used chiefly for specimens in pots with many small 

 Hs., but all the other types are used for the same pur- 

 pose. For outdoor culture, the hardy Pompons, with 

 their numerous small fls., are usually better than the 

 large-flowering or Japanese kinds. In America, the 

 Chrysanthemum ranks fourth in economic importance, 

 although its season is practically only six weeks, while 

 the season of the florists' roses, carnations and violets 

 is from six to nine months. If one were to put a guess 

 in the form of figures, it might be said that possibly 

 60 per cent of all American Chrysanthemums are raised 

 for cut-fls., 30 per cent for potted plants, while 10 per 

 cent are hardy old-fashioned Pompons cultivated out- 

 doors. W. M. 



SECTION I.- CULTURE OF THE LARGE-FLOWERED 

 CHRYS-OJTHEMUIIS GROWN UNDER GL.\SS ((?. 

 Indicum X morifotium) . 

 lilt, -oi! net ion and General Piuicipl * -The first step 

 towards success is good, healthy 



CHRYSANTHEMUM 



305 



should be moderately soft. If the stock plants are al- 

 lowed to become excessively dry, the cuttings are likely 

 to harden, and thus be very slow in producing roots. 

 Single-eye cuttings may be used of new and scarce va- 

 rieties w"hen necessary. These are fastened to a tooth- 

 pick with fine stemming-wire, allowing half of the tooth- 

 pick to extend below the end of the cutting, and when 

 inserted in the cutting-bed the end of the cutting should 

 rest upon the sand. It requires more time to produce 

 good plants by this system than where fair-sized cut- 

 tings can be taken, but it is often of service where stock 

 is limited. The propagating house should be well 

 aired, and it is advisable to change the sand after the 

 second or third batch of cuttings has been removed, to 

 avoid what is termed cutting-bench fungus. The cuttings 

 should never be allowed to wilt, and this is avoided by 

 giving abundance of air, and when the temperature 

 reaches over 70° from sun heat, by shading with some 

 material, either cloth or paper. 



2. Planting . — Cxittin^Si should not be allowed to re- 

 main in the cutting-bench after the roots are K in. in 

 length, or they will become hardened, which will check 

 the growth. As soon as rooted, they should be potted 

 into 2-in. or 2l4-va. pots, using good, mellow soil with a 

 slight admixture of decomposed manure. Most of the 

 large fls. are produced under glass, and the bench sys- 

 tem is generally employed, which consists of 4 or 5 in. 

 of soil placed upon benches. In these benches the 

 small plants are planted 8-12 in. apart each way, from 

 the latter part of May to the middle of July. Those 

 planted at the first date generallv give the best results. 

 The soil should be pounded rather firm either before 

 planting or .iftrr the plants have become established. 



3. S"il.-'\'h'-r>- an- many ideas as to what soil is best 

 suited f..r tin- i liiv-aiithemum, but good blooms may be 

 grown .111 ,lav (.r li-lit, sandy loam, provided the culti- 

 vator is a closu observer and considers the condition of 

 the soil m which they are growing Clay soil being 

 more retentive of moisture will require less water and 



tings, and as they become establi hed 

 plants thev should receive geneious cul 

 ture throughout their entire growing 

 season. This requires close attention to 

 watering, airing, repotting, and a liberal 

 supply of nutriment. 



Chrysanthemums are propagated m 

 four ways. — by cuttings, division seed 

 and grafting. 'By far the most important 

 is the flrst, because it is the most rapid 

 It is the method of the florists. In locali 

 ties where the plants can remain out 

 doors over winter without injury they 

 may be increased by division. This sys 

 tem is practiced more by amateurs than 

 florists, being the easiest method for the 

 home garden but not rapid enough foi 

 the florist. Propagation by seeds is re 

 sorted to only to produce new varieties 

 and is discussed at length under sul sec 

 tion IV. Grafting is very rare Skilful 

 gardeners sometimes graft a dozen or 

 more varieties on a large plant -xn 

 the sight of many different colored H 

 on the same plant is always interestin 

 at exhibitions. 



Subsection I. -Culture of Clirjiai 



'f.#r? 





This is the method chiefly emplojt 

 by florists, the plants being grown i 

 benches. 



1. Propagation by Cuttings — Plii 

 of the preceding year afford stock fi 

 which to propagate the following sea 

 They produce quantities of stools 

 suckers, which form excellent mater 

 for the cuttings. These are genei I 

 taken from 1-2^ in. in length, the 1 \\ 

 Ivs. removed, also the tips of the hr 1 

 Ivs., then placed in propagating bed 1 e together 

 where they are kept continually wet until rooted To in 

 sure a large percentage, the condition of the cuttmgs 



feeling than soil of a m re p rous nature The Chry 

 santhemum is a gross feeder an 1 therefore the fertility 

 of the soil IS very important m the production of fine 



