THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



FEW flowers are more valuable to the beginner in garden- 

 ing than the Chrysanthemum, and its culture has increased 

 amazingly, until in every town almost in the British Isles, the 

 Chrysanthemum show is an event of some importance in the 

 autumn months. Of course, in the land of the Japanese and 

 Chinese the flower is held in great esteem, and in Japan the 

 Chrysanthemum fete is one of the high festivals of the year. 

 Varieties that create sensations in the show tents have been 

 raised of late years, and the flowers seem to increase in bulk as 

 the years go by, until in the near future no soup plate will hold 

 the long, frequently picturesque, florets. Even quite a small 

 grower may win prizes at the exhibitions, and "showing" is 

 popular at the present day. Those who care little for mon- 

 ster specimens may enjoy a feast of blossom at little expense 

 of time, labour, and money. Growing plants for exhibition 

 requires considerable skill, a thorough acquaintance with the 

 most recently raised varieties, and ample leisure, but those 

 desired merely for the greenhouse, conservatory, or border, 

 are easily managed. As the following notes show, the Chry- 

 santhemum is divided into many groups : Japanese, Japanese 

 incurved, Japanese reflexed, incurved, pompon, Anemone 

 pompon, Japanese pompon, reflexed, single, and even other 

 divisions. We are pleased to find that raisers are giving much 

 attention to the raising of outdoor varieties of good rich 

 colours, and some with single flowers. In the late days of 

 August, throughout September, and a part of October, Chry- 

 santhemums give colour to the border or flower-bed, and with 

 the assistance of such fine kinds as Cottage Pink, Horace 

 Martin, yellow ; Etoile d'Or, yellow ; Mdme. Marie Masse, 

 lilac mauve ; Le Pactole, bronzy yellow ; Le Cygne, pure 

 white ; Normandie, pale pink ; Champagne, ruby red ; and 

 Goacher's Crimson, their season is continued far into the 

 autumn. 



How to Obtain Good Cuttings. The best cuttings are those which 

 develop at the base or crown after the plants have finished flowering 



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