164 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sunnj' forenoon we brush the flowers with a camel's-hair brush to spread 

 the powder. Clipped flowers set far more seeds than do undipped 

 ones — that is in the case of full doubles ; of course, in the case of 

 singles, clipping makes very little difference. Clipped flowers don't 

 damp off as do undipped ones. 



In saving Zinnia seed you may also observe the great value of clip- 

 ping in the petals as a guard against damping off; also to permit air 

 and insects to fertilise the flowers. 



It's no use talking to us folk in America about imported Chrysan- 

 themum seed. We don't believe in it. The American-saved article is 

 in large demand and commands a big price, but imported seed is in 

 bad odour. 



The following list of the best American kinds is compiled 

 by Mr. John Thorpe, who is the father of the Chrysanthemum 

 in America. 



List of the Best Chrysanthemums as reared from Seeds 



(mostly home-saved) in the United States of America. 



Mrs. A. Carnegie i Mrs. Judge Benedict (fine anemone) 



Mrs. W. K. Harris Wm. Dewar 



John Thorpe Colossal 



Mrs. L. Canning 

 Mabel Douglas 

 Mrs. John VVanamaker 



Mrs. E. W. Clark- 

 Thorpe Junior (anemone) 

 Puritan 



Mrs. J. C. Price | Grace Attick (very early Japanese J 



President Hyde i Sam. Henshaw 



Coronet j Shasta 



We-Wa I Robert Walcott 



Note. — Mrs. Alphcus Hardy was introduced direct to New York from Japan, and is 

 not a seedling raised in America, as some have supposed. 



Very often when I have recommended the raising of Chrys- 

 anthemum seed I have been met with the reply, " Oh ! it's no 

 good : our climate is not suitable for that kind of work "; and 

 it has not always mended matters when I have pointed out the 

 fact that we have in England perhaps the finest and most varied 

 area of glass-roofed climate in the world. Of course, I know 

 that men worried by business and routine have not the time to 

 devote to careful hybridising or cross-breeding and seed-saving ; 

 but is it too much to expect that some few amateurs in such a 

 wealthy country as is ours should take to the saving and rearing 

 of Chrysanthemum seeds, not for profit, but as a useful and 

 pleasant hobby, having some of the exciting attractions of racing 

 and of whist and chess combined ? As a matter of fact, seeds 

 have been saved in England over and over again, and I believe 

 far more seeds have been thrown away unconsciously than have 



