THE POMPON CHRYSANTHEMUM I7I 



buds, while very young, have been killed by 

 unexpected early, heavy frosts, against which 

 we did not guard; but once in bloom 

 both flowers and buds seem to be able to 

 stand almost anything. However, I cover 

 ours at night with cotton cloths which are 

 attached to the bottom of the piazza railing, 

 and folded back by day. In winter the only 

 protection is their own tops, cut off and laid 

 over the roots. Thinning, fertilizing, mulch- 

 ing, supporting, covering against frosts, and 

 breaking down the tops in fall are all the care 

 needed for plants that yield us more flowers 

 than any others. 



"There are two classes of hardy chrysan- 

 themums which may be had — the Japanese 

 and the pompons. The latter are usually far 

 more satisfactory, as they are much hardier, 

 yet it is possible to grow out of doors excellent 

 flowers of the Japanese sorts four, five, and 

 even six inches in diameter. There is nothing 

 else in the garden just like these pompon 

 chrysanthemums. Their colours are very 

 vivid, and harmonize with nothing else, and 

 because of their striking appearance it is 

 better to grow them in masses by themselves. 



"The range of colour among the pompons 



