THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



457 



although when disbudding the pompons I should be disposed to retain 

 three buds on each shoot. 



As the pompons are smaller blossoms than the large-flowered types 

 they should be grown in freer fashion. 



This freer method of growing the Anemone-flowered varieties was 

 beautifully exemplified some years ago at Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, 

 Dublin. It was my good fortune to be shown round by the popular 

 Curator, Mr. Moore, who had conceived the idea of growing a large 

 number of plants, each to carry some two dozen flowers. The Anemones 

 were never better represented. 



Almost all types of the Chrysanthemum were exhibited on this occa- 

 sion, and the contrast in both colour and form, and the great wealth of 

 blossoms represented in the fine display convinced me of the importance 

 of regarding the cultivation of the Chrysanthemum from a broader and 

 more comprehensive point of view. 



The November-flowering pompons, too, are seldom provided for in 

 the manner they justly deserve. Exhibitions here and there throughout 

 the United Kingdom, occasionally have them represented, but mostly in 

 severely disbudded form. The flowers in any form are interesting, and 

 good cultivation such as is invariably seen in blooms of exhibition 

 standard, causes their true character to be revealed. Freely grown 

 pompons, however, are far more attractive as decorative plants than 

 rigidly disbudded specimens, and flowers gathered from plants grown in 

 this way, provide sprays of blossoms of a most charming description. 

 The Chelmsford Chrysanthemum Society used to include in their show 

 a class for six branches of undisbudded or freely-flowered pompon 

 Chrysanthemums, and the display made by the exhibitors in this com- 

 petition was convincing proof of their worth as decorative material. 



A partial disbudding is better than the rigorous disbudding, practised 

 by most growers of exhibition blooms. There are many of the older 

 varieties that form dense cluster-sprays that must be partially disbudded 

 if they are to be represented in really pleasing form. In so far as their 

 habit is concerned, most of the plants are fairly dwarf and sturdy — tall 

 plants are quite an exception. 



Displays in the public parks not seldom include a few pompons, but 

 these are mostly of certain popular varieties that have some distinguish- 

 ing characteristic to justify their inclusion in the collection of Chrysan- 

 themums. No attempt is made to grow a collection of say a dozen 

 varieties, so that the general public have no opportunity of judging of the 

 real merit of these flowers. 



Plants of the pompon varieties should be treated as recommended for 

 the Anemone-flowered group. Bushy plants should be formed by pinch- 

 ing the growths, from time to time in this way making the foundation of 

 capital specimen plants. A few varieties are rather late in coming into 

 flower, but in most cases their cultivation is of the simplest. 



The miniature-flowered pompons form another group that nas not 

 received the recognition it deserves. The two most popular varieties are 

 Snowdrop (white) and Primrose League (yellow). These two varieties 

 are grown more than the others, but even they are less extensively 

 cultivated than they should be. 



