76 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



year beeomiDg clearer ; the reds and crimsons are getting lirighter. 

 The once undefined shades of purple are decidedly more brilliant 

 and effective. As to yellows and white we are yearly presented 

 with something different from what we previously had. 



Coming now to the possibility of a Ijlue chrysanthemum, let me 

 say that I am convinced Ave shall have shades of blue as certainly 

 as we now have blue shades in pansies. It is within the memory 

 of a great many of us when there were neitlier red nor blue shades 

 as presented in the pansies of today. 



Grave doubts have been expressed whether actual cross-fertiliza- 

 tion has ever been accomplished artificialh" in chrysanthemums. 

 I can say without the shadow of a doubt that it has been, but I do 

 not saj' that every variety can be so crossed. All flowers intended 

 to be fertilized must have their petals clipped off 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 ; Grandiflorum has never yet given me a single seed, 

 and, so far as I am able to tell, the pollen grains are sterile also. 

 "Where cross-fertilization is carefullj' and successfully done, fewer 

 seedlings give better results. 



The possibilities to be obtained by selection are just as great 

 with the chrysanthemum as with any other class of plants or 

 animals. In fact, wherever seedlings are raised it is by selection 

 that we retain any varieties, whether they be large flowered or small, 

 tall plants or dwarf. It is by selection that after a few generations 

 each raiser creates a standard of his own, bj^ which his productions 

 are known. It is simply this : You have different material and 

 different ideas from mine ; conseipioutly the result must be different. 



From a strictly commercial point of view the chrysanthemum has 

 become of national importance. 



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, man}' of the best flowers realizing fifty dollars 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 exhilntion tables Init a few 

 years ago. 



It has been said that the chrysanthenmm flowers interfere with 

 the sale of roses and carnations, but I notice tlmt imthiug interferes 

 with chrysanthemums in their season. 



