November 14, 1907. 



The Weekly Florists' Review; 



27 



Spike of Cattleya Bowrinseana with Tweaty-five Flowers. 



today, it inspires us with greater zeal 

 for the further development of these 

 gorgeous flowers, along the lines of su- 

 perior quality, and nothing has done 

 greater service in bringing about the re- 

 sults which we have witnessed today, in 

 developing and encouraging the growth 

 of superior varieties, than the splendid 

 work of the various committees ap- 

 pointed in the different sections of the 

 country for this purpose. 



And here I would add that this society 

 is indebted to these various committees 

 for their untiring, unselfish devotion to 

 the aims and purposes for which they are 

 appointed, and which they so faithfully 

 fill, for when we look through the vari- 

 ous reports of exhibitions, we invariably 

 see the prize winners are those varieties 

 that have passed the censorship of these 

 committees. Their work prevents any- 

 one, private or commercial, from need- 

 lessly occupying valuable space with 

 worthless or doubtful varieties. 



Cultural Matters. 



It is true that some varieties do not 

 turn out as well as one might expect, but 

 this fact is unavoidable and cannot be 

 foreseen, and while we get some marvel- 

 ous flowers from varieties originating in 

 England, France and Australia, I feel 

 sure the United States is capable of pro- 

 ducing something even more phenomenal 

 in size, and with a constitution suited to 

 our climatic conditions, and while the 

 whole world looks to us for the latest de- 

 velopments, let us be equal to the occa- 

 sion, and by careful and systematic hy- 

 bridization produce varieties which will 

 be sought after the world over for their 

 excellence. 



We must work out our own problems in 

 matters of cultivation, for no cultural 

 methods successfully practiced in foreign 

 countries can be adopted and carried out 

 here with any degroc of success, our cli- 



matic conditions being entirely different, 

 this also being true of different sections 

 of our own country. 



^ Chaagiac; Tactics. 



A new era seems to have commenced 

 by the introduction of the large flowered, 

 early varieties. These I feel sure will be 

 very welcome, as in some localities the 

 season for chrysanthemums is <all too 

 short, and as we are fairly well supplied 

 with late varieties, excepting perhaps a 

 red variety that would come in for 

 Christmas, the improvement seems to be 

 in the right direction. The single vari- 

 eties are also becoming more popular 

 year by year and as these are improved 

 in quality and color, the general public 

 will accept them as desirable plants for 

 the home, and also for decorative pur- 

 poses. 



These are being grown more generally 

 than is supposed, almost every house of 

 chrysanthemums containing a few sin- 

 gles, and as we become acquainted with 

 them, our love for this class of blooms 

 increases and we find a little more space 

 devoted to them each year. The improve- 

 ment of these varieties should be the 

 work of our society, every encourage- 

 ment being given to exhibits as opportu- 

 nity offers. 



The importance of the Chrysanthemum 

 Society of America as a factor in the 

 chrysanthemum world can be appreciated 

 when we learn that information is being 

 sought after from northern India by an 

 admirer of our society who is trying, as 

 he says, to enlighten his ignorant coun- 

 trymen and requests his name put upon 

 our mailing list, that our publication may 

 be forwarded. I cite this as only an 

 instance, which goes to show how the 

 world is watching our progress and it be- 

 hooves every interested member of our 

 society to consider the importance of a 

 steady improvement in our work in keep- 



ing with the national character of our 

 society. 



Elaboratiog^the Report. 



A word regarding our annual report. I 

 think it would be of the greatest impor- 

 tance could we arrange to include in its 

 pages the reports of the various exhibi- 

 tions held throughout the country, classi- 

 fying the exhibits, naming the winning 

 varieties in every case, and compiling 

 these into a reference liqt, so that any- 

 one could see at a glance which varieties 

 had been most successful in the exhibi- 

 tions of the year, making valuable 

 memoranda for the future. 



I wish to thank the horticultural press 

 for their courtesy in printing our notices, 

 and also for their interest in the work of 

 the society, and I hope in the future a 

 column can be devoted to items of in- 

 terest to chrysanthemum growers and be 

 contributed to by members oi the society. 



I also wish to thank the various com- 

 mittees, who have so readily performed 

 the duties of their office; to the donors 

 of special premiums we also extend our 

 thanks, and to the American Institute 

 which has so kindly taken care of us dur- 

 ing this convention, and to all those who 

 have contributed in any way to the ad- 

 vancement of the interests of the Chrys- 

 anthemum Society of America. 



"Work of the Committees. 



Philadelphia, Nov. 4. — No. 1, cream 

 white, Japanese incurved, exhibited by 

 Gordon Smirl, Eosemont, Pa., scored 85 

 points commercial and 85 points exhibi- 

 tion scale. 



Philadelphia, Nov. 4. — No. 2, ma- 

 genta, light reverse, Japanese incurved, 

 exhibited by Gordon Smirl, scored 79 

 points commercial and 81 points exhibi- 

 tion scale. 



CiNCiKXATi. Nov. 2. — Seedling, red- 



