PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES 135 



upon our results. Dame Nature says the 

 chrysanthemum shall be single, and reproduce 

 itself from seed, so in producing these marvel- 

 lous flowers with almost countless petals we 

 are working in direct opposition to her laws. 

 In some of our improved varieties we are 

 prevented from making further improve- 

 ments owing to the pistils or styles being 

 abortive; and in others the staminate florets 

 provide little or no pollen. 



In cross-fertilization, the operator's desire 

 is to improve the chief characteristics, such 

 as colour, size, form, and fullness. It is 

 beyond all human power to obtain exact 

 results in uniting or mixing the colours of 

 petals. Pollen of a white flower applied to a 

 red may give red, white, or any intermediate 

 shade representing the many varieties of 

 pink. The union of red and yellow gives 

 similar results, producing red, yellow, and all 

 the intermediate shades of brown and tan. 

 We have more assurance when varieties of 

 the same colours are crossed. Improve- 

 ments in colour can only be attained by 

 bearing in mind the laws of nature in making 

 these unions. The chrysanthemum has a 

 great tendency to revert to its antecedents. 



