Large Flowered Chrysanthemums for Outdoors— By G. w. Kerr, a 



A NEW GROUP OF EARLY FLOWERING HARDY JAPANESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS THAT MAY BE 

 STARTED NOW TO GIVE A WEALTH OF BLOOM OVER THE FROSTS— PLANTS ANY ONE CAN GROW 



WHEN "hardy chrysanthemums" are mentioned one 

 usually thinks of the small pompon or button varieties 

 which at one time might be found in practically every 

 old-fashioned garden; but Early Flowering Hardy 

 Japanese chrysanthemums referred to now are earlier blooming 

 and have the added beauty of the indoor Japanese varieties, 

 which grace the florists' windows from October to December, 

 and they may be had by any one who will sow seed now, for 

 blooms in the fall. This type, although largely cultivated in the 

 British Isles, has not been much grown in America until within 

 the past two or three years. My earliest recollections of the 

 large fl o w e r e d , early 

 varieties is Mme. 

 Desgranges and 

 its sports, 

 George 



By disbudding you get large flowers like this DoUy 

 Prince actual size, grown outdoors 



W e r m i g 

 and Mrs. 

 Burrell; and 

 although they 

 are still largely 

 grown it is the in- 

 troduction of such fine 

 varieties as Mme. Marie 

 Masse, which with its 

 many sports, has given 



us a large "Masse" family that has popularized the type. The 

 earliest flowering varieties of this important type begin to bloom 

 toward the latter part of August and continue until heavy frosts 

 occur — two or three degrees of frost do not harm the plants, 

 although slightly marking the petals of the fully expanded flowers, 

 and subsequent blooms open quite fresh. 



These Hardy Japanese chrysanthemums grown in masses in the 

 open border make a gorgeous and magnificent display, ranging 



from white through varying shades of lemon, yellow and orange 

 to pink, rose, bronze and crimson, with all intermediate shades. 

 The plants range from two to three and a half feet in height, 

 so varieties may be selected to fit any special position. When 

 the dahlia has been blown to pieces by the rough winds or rains, 

 or perhaps killed outright by the frosts of early October, the 

 hardy chrysanthemum is as bright as ever! 



As cut flowers they are very decorative and last long if plunged 

 into water (almost up to the flowers) for two hours, as soon as cut. 

 When allowed to grow naturally without disbudding one plant 

 may carry from two to four hundred flowers. 



The early flowering chrysanthemum is easily 

 raised from seed, but so far only single 

 flowering varieties are thus offered. 



Sow seeds under glass during February 

 or March, transplanting the seed- 

 lings into small pots, or three inches 

 apart in boxes. Keep as cool as 

 possible until it is safe to put 

 them in a cold frame to har- 

 den off previous to planting 

 out of doors in May, for in 

 too warm a temperature 

 they become thin and 

 spindly. 



Last season on May 

 4th I tried a sowing 

 out of doors and 

 the plants came into 

 flower toward the 

 end of September; 

 but I strongly ad- 

 vise starting the 

 seed earlier indoors. 

 If properly hard- 

 ened-off plants are 

 procured from the 

 nursery, they may 

 safely be planted 

 out of doors from 

 the middle to the 

 end of May. For 

 mass planting, set 

 at least two and a half 

 feet apart and in soil 

 that has been previous- 

 ly well enriched with barn- 

 yard manure; and although 

 they give good results on 

 fairly stiff soils, much better re- 

 sults will be had when grown on 

 ground that is not quite so retentive, 

 say a medium sandy loam. 

 A bed that has done duty during the 

 summer may be made bright again in the fall 

 by refilling with chrysanthemums, if a little care 

 be taken in transplanting. In a sheltered position the 

 plants may not require much staking, but the trouble of 

 . inserting a stout bamboo or other stake to each plant 

 and carefully securing the main growth is very little, and the 

 weight of flowers might otherwise bring the plant to the ground 

 during boisterous weather. During dry weather give the plants 

 regular and thorough soakings with water, keeping the surface of 

 the ground well stirred to conserve the moisture in the soil. 

 When the plants are in bud, occasional doses of liquid manure 

 will greatly improve the subsequent flowers, and the following 

 might be used with advantage: Nitrate of potash one part, 



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