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CHRYSANTHEMUM 



CHRYSANTHEMUM 



5. Standards differ from bush plants in having one 

 stout, self-supporting stem, instead of many stems. 

 They require the same culture as bush plants, with the 

 exception that they are not stopped, but allowed to 

 make one continuous growth until 3, 4 or 5 ft. high, and 

 are then treated the same as bush plants. They will 

 require the same attention as to stopping and tying to 

 secure symmetrical heads. 



6. Pyramids are only another form of bush plants, 

 and it is optional with the grower which form he prefers. 



Subsection III. — Culture of Chrysanthemums for the 



production of new varieties . 

 The object of seed-saving is the improvement of exist- 

 ing varieties. It is not conclusive, however, that all seed- 

 lings will be improvements ; in fact, it is far from this, 

 as the greater portion are inferior to their antecedents. 

 Only those who give the most careful consideration to 

 cross-fertilization are certain of marked success. Hand- 

 hybridized seeds possess value over those haphazardly 

 fertilized by wind and insects only according to the de- 

 gree of intelligence employed in the selection of parents. 

 What the result will be when a white flower is fertilized 

 with a yellow one, the operator cannot determine at the 

 outset. It may be either white, yellow, intermediate, or 

 partake of some antecedent, and thus be distinct from 

 either. Improvements in color can be obtained only by 

 the union of colors, bearing in mind the laws of nature 

 in uniting two to make the third. Red upon yellow, or 

 vice-versa, may intensify the red or yellow— give orange 

 or bronze, as nature may see fit. The operator is more 

 certain of improving along other lines, such as sturdi- 

 ness or dwarfness of growth, earliness or lateness of 

 bloom, or doubleness of flowers. The selection of those 

 most perfect in these particulars is very sure to give 

 similar or improved results. Always keep a record of 

 this work showing the parents of a seedling. The satis- 

 faction of knowing how a meritorious variety was pro- 

 duced more than pays for the trouble, and may lead to 

 further improvements in certain lines. The operation 

 begins when the flower is half open, cutting the petals 

 off close to their base with a pair of scissors, until the 

 style is exposed. Should the flower show signs of having 

 disk or staminate florets, remove these with the points of 

 the scissors and thus avoid self -fertilization. When the 

 styles are fully grown and developed, the upper sur- 

 face or stigma is in condition to receive the pollen. By 

 pushing aside (with the thumb) the ray florets of the 

 flower desired for pollen, the disk florets which produce 

 the pollen will become visible. The pollen may be col- 

 lected on a camel's-hair pencil or toothpick and applied 

 to the stigma of the flower previously prepared. If a, 

 toothpick be used, never use it for more than one kind 

 of pollen. By allowing the camel's-hair pencil to stand 

 in an open-mouthed vial of alcohol a few moments after 

 using, it may be again used, when dry, upon another va- 

 riety without fear of the pollen of the former operation 

 affecting the present. Cuttings struck in June and July 

 and grown to single bloom in 4-inch pots are the most 

 convenient for seeding. Such flowers, if not given too 

 much feed, are more natural and furnish abundance of 

 pollen, as well as being easier to trim than the massive 

 blooms produced for the exhibition table. The poUenizing 

 should be done on bright, sunny days, and as early in the 

 day as possible. As soon as the seed plants are trimmed, 

 they should be placed by themselves to avoid fertiliza- 

 tion by insects, and should there remain until the seeds 

 are ripe. Keep the plants rather on the dry side, and 

 give abundance of air. Seeds, which ripen in 5 to 6 

 weeks, should be saved without delay, and carefully la- 

 belled. In sowing seeds, they should be covered very 

 lightly and kept in a temperature of 60°. When the seed- 

 lings are large enough to handle easily, remove to small 

 pots, or transplant further apart in shallow boxes. Chry- 

 santhemums flower the first season from seed. 



Subsection IV.— Varieties. 

 Of the long list of new varieties sent out each year, 

 but few are retained after the second year's trial. This 

 is probably due to the fact that most American growers 

 are more interested in the commercial value of the flower 

 than the curious forms or striking colors they present. 

 Exhibitions have not reached the hearts of the people 

 here as in England and France. There are a few varie- 



ties that have stood the test for several years ; such as 

 Ivory, 1889 ; W. H. Lincoln and Minnie Wanamaker, 

 '90 ; Mrs. J. G. Whilldin, '91; Mrs. Jerome Jones, Col. 

 W. B. Smith, Mrs. A. J. Drexel, Margaret Jeffords, Jos. 

 H. White, Geo. W. Childs, Merry Monarch, '92 ; Niveus, 

 Maud Dean, The Queen, Golden Wedding, H. L. Sunder- 

 bruch, Good Gracious, Pres. W. R. Smith, '93. There 

 are many other varieties that have stood the test for 4 

 or 5 years. 



It is not the purpose of this article to recommend varie- 

 ties of Chrysanthemums, but the following list includes 

 the best varieties now known. The list will be valuable 

 as showing a serviceable classification : 



Selection of varieties based upon the main types.— 



(1) Incurved: Belle Poitevine, Congo, Irma, Lorelei, 

 Mrs. T. D. Hatfield, Mongolian Prince, Mrs. Robt. Craig, 

 Mrs. L. C. Madeira,Major Bonnaffon, Mrs. R. C. Kingston. 



(2) Japanese : Chito, Geo. W. Childs, Golden Gate, Gol- 

 den Wedding, Mayflower, Modesto, Thomden, Mutual 

 Friend, Black Hawk, Niveus, Viviand Morel, Yanoma, 



(3) Japanese Incurved : Nyanza, Mrs. W. C. Bgan, Eu- 

 gene Dailledouze, Georgiana Pitcher, Good Gracious, 

 Jennie Falconer, Mrs. Geo. West, Philadelphia, The 

 Queen, Mrs. Jerome Jones, Western King. (4) Hairy : 

 Golden Hair, Louis Boehmer, Mrs. A. Hardy, R. M. Grey, 

 White Swan, Queen of Plumes. (5) Seflexed: Culling- 

 fordii, Dorothy Toler, Gold Standard, Miss Elma O'Far- 

 rell. Tuxedo, Parthenia. (6) Large Anemone : Ada 

 Strickland, Descartes, Falcon, Junon, Marcia Jones, 

 Thorpe, Jr. (7) Japanese Anemone: Condor, Enterprise, 

 Mrs. F. Gordon Dexter, San Joaquin, Surprise, Satisfac- 

 tion. (8) Pompon: Black Douglass, Golden Mile. Mar- 

 the. Mile. Marthe, Mrs. Bateman, Snowdrop, Wm.. Ken- 

 nedy. (9) Pompon Anemone: Antonius, Emily Rowbot- 

 tom, Marie Stuart, Mme. Chalonge, Mme. Sentir, Queen 

 of Anemones. (10) Marly Hardy Pompons : Bronze 

 Bride, Flora, Frederick Marronet, Mme. Jolivart, Mr. 

 Selley, Miss Davis, Mrs. Cullingford, Mile. Elise Dor- 

 dan, Illustration, St. Mary. (11) Single : Mizpah, Pram- 

 field Beauty. 



Selection of varieties based upon color.— White — 

 Ivory, Mrs. M. A. Ryerson, Mrs. H. Weeks, Mrs. Henry 

 Robinson, Mutual Friend, Niveus. Pmft— Morula, Mme. 

 F. Perrin, Helen Bloodgood, Harry Balsley, lora. Autumn 

 Glory. Amaranth, Purplish Crimson, Magenta, and the 

 like — Casco, Mrs. A. J. Drexel, Mrs. Geo. West, Elma 

 O'Parrell. Crimson — Shilowa, Black Hawk, Geo. W. 

 Childs, John Shrimpton, Fisher's Torch, Defender. Bed 

 and Yellow, Bronee, JBuff—Ghito, Nyanza, Chas. Davis, 

 Edwin A. Kimball, Buff Globe, Rustique, Hicks Arnold. 

 yeHow— Modesto, Eugene Dailledouze,Golden Wedding, 

 Thomden, Major Bonnaffon, Liberty. 



Selection of varieties based upon special uses.— Bush 

 Plants : White — Mutual Friend, Jos. H. White ; Yel- 

 low— W. H. Lincoln, C. Chalfant ; Pink— Viviand Morel, 

 lora ; Bronze— Col. W. B. Smith, Hicks Arnold ; Crim- 

 son — Geo. W. Childs, J. Shrimpton. Single Stem Pot 

 Plants : White — Mrs. H. Robinson, Merza ; Yellow- 

 Major Bonnaffon, H. L. Sunderbruch ; Pink — Mme. F. 

 Perrin, Merula ; Bronze — Boule d'Or, Rinaldo ; Crim- 

 son — Geo. W. Childs, John Shrimpton. Exhibition 

 Blooms : White— Frank Hardy, Fee du Champsaur, Mme. 

 Carnot, Western King ; Pink— Viviand Morel, lora. Good 

 Gracious ; Yellow — Modesto, Golden Wedding, Eugene 

 Dailledouze, G. J.Warren; Bronze— Ohas. Davis, Eus- 

 ' tique, Nyanza; Crimson— Geo.W. Childs, Shilowa, Black 

 Hawk ; Miscellaneous — Chito, yellowish bronze ; Lady 

 Hanham, golden cerise ; Mrs. Geo. West, rosy purple. 

 Commercial Blooms (based upon quality, and ease of cul- 

 ture : White-Ivory, Mrs. Henry Robinson, Mrs. Jerome 

 Jones; Pink-Mrs. S. T. Murdock, Mme. F. Perrin, Glory 

 of Pacific; Yellow-MarionHenderson,Major Bonnaffon, 

 Yellow Mrs. Jerome Jones ; Crimson — Geo. W. Childs, 

 Shilowa, Black Hawk. Odd Varieties : Lillian B. Bird, 

 Mrs.W. H. Rand, Heron's Plume, Pitcher & Manda. Best 

 Early: White— Mme. F. Bergmann, Ivory, Midge, Geo. S. 

 Kalb; Pink -Glory of Pacific, Pink Ivory, Merula, Lady 

 Playfair ; Yellow-Harry Hurrell, H. L. Sunderbruch, 

 Marion Henderson, Golden Trophy. Best Late: White- 

 Mrs. Jerome Jones, Yanoma, Wm. H. Chadwiok, Merry 

 Christmas ; Pink— Francis B. Hayes, Harry Balsley, Mrs. 

 S. T. Murdock, Maud Dean. Yellow-W. H. Lincoln, H. 

 W. Rieman, Liberty, Yellow Mrs. Jerome Jones. 



