Chrysanthemums for the Garden 
By Chas. H. Totty, New Jersey 
ARE you foregoing the pleasure of having a showy 
bed of Chrysanthemum flowers in the fall, think- 
ing perhaps that they are too difficult to grow ? In 
these few notes we are not going to speak of varieties 
that will do well under glass, but varieties that can be 
grown by everyone who has a few feet of space at their 
disposal. 
The culture of the Hardy Chrysanthemums is simple ; 
they will grow in any good garden soil and should be set 
out in the spring about eighteen inches apart with twelve 
inches between the rows. Pinch the plants back, once or 
twice during May or June to keep the plants dwarf, as 
some varieties are inclined to grow straggly instead of 
spreading into bush form. If the center shoots are 
pinched out once or twice as suggested, this will cause 
the plants to branch out into bush form. 
Bud selection, which is of such paramount importance 
in growing greenhouse varieties, does not enter the cul- 
tivation of the hardy types at all ; unless one wishes par- 
ticularly large flowers on their varieties. If they do, the 
plants should be disbudded the latter part of July in 
order to concentrate the strength of the plant into the 
blooms. As a rule Hardy 'Mums are wanted for decora- 
tive effect in the garden, and the long graceful sprays 
are much more desirable for this work. 
If a choice of sites is available I would suggest a loca- 
tion that has a protection of buildings or trees, from the 
north and west winds. Of course, this is not imperative, 
but it will help furnish an ideal condition. 
The place of honor for outdoor 'Mums must be given 
the type known as Early Flowering. August Xonin of 
Paris, France, has done more than anyone else to perfect 
this type of plant, and today we have over one hundred 
varieties tested under American conditions that are guar- 
anteed to flower the last week in September and during 
October, and give a wealth of bloom during this period; 
something that was impossible, a few years ago. Among 
the best of this type would be the following : 
White: Dorothy; Debutante; Marie Dufour; Petite Jean and 
Normandie. 
Yellow: Cranfordia: Carrie and Etoile d'Or. 
Pink: Beaurepaire ; Eden; Cranford Pink and Miss Burchfell. 
Red and Bronse: Xellie Blake; Vesuve ; A. Barliam and Billan- 
court. 
These Early Flowering 'Mums are duplicates of the 
large flowering types; otherwise known as greenhouse 
varieties; only they are dwarf er in habit and do not come 
quite as large, save in one or two instances, such as 
Cranfordia. This latter, closely disbudded will make a 
wonderfully large flower. 
Singles which are also of comparatively recent intro- 
duction are wonderfully effective outdoors. It is true a 
great many of these Singles are not early enough to give 
good satisfaction flowering outdoors, but the following 
varieties flower in splendid condition outdoors from ( >c- 
tober 15 onwards : 
White: Mrs. Chas. C. Mickle ; Gladys Dnckham ; Mensa and 
Snownake. 
Pink: Ivor Grant; Stanley Ven ; Mrs. Buckingham and Louise. 
Yellow: Polly Duncan; Golden Mensa and Marion Suther- 
land. 
Crimson and Bronze: Excelsior; Mrs. Hogben ; and Margaret 
Walker. 
Pompons or the Button Type, is perhaps the best 
known of the entire 'Mum family, and the latest and 
hardiest of the types, but they are handicapped by the 
fact that tliev bloom so late that the frost has destroyed 
all their foliage before the flowers develop. These Pom- 
pons are the favorite of a great many people and the fol- 
lowing would be our selection of the very, very best 
varieties. 
Lillian Doty is quite the largest Pompon ever sent out. 
This is a beautiful clear pink in color. There is a white 
sport of this called "White Doty," being introduced this 
year, that is a wonderful acquisition to the Hardy 
Garden. 
White: White Doty; Queen of the Whites; Jas. Boone; Waco 
and Myer's Perfection. 
Pink: Lillian Doty; Donald and Mima. 
Yellow: Jeanette ; Wm. Sabey ; Golden Climax and Zenobia. 
Crimson and Bronze: Julie Lagrevere ; Urith and Tiber. 
After the plants are through flowering they should be 
An Early Flowering Chrysanthemum 
cut down to six or eight inches from the ground and let 
the leaves drift around them. When they are well cov- 
ered with leaves place some dry cedar boughs over the 
leaves to keep them from blowing away. In this way 
thev should come through the winter in perfect condi- 
tion, if they are planted in a dry location. If the plants 
are situated in low ground, where the water will cover 
the crowns or roots stand in water ; it would be better to 
lift the roots in the fall and store them in a cold-frame; 
cellar or back shed ; as the plants will die if left standing 
in water during the winter. 
In the spring when it is time to set out the plants again, 
break up the clumps into individual plants, and plant in 
new soil, or a new location. 
The Rose is truly called the ''Queen of the Garden," 
but the Chrysanthemum still holds its own as "Queen of 
the Autumn," carrying its message of hope and cheer far 
into the fall when all other flowers are faded and dead ! 
— From National Flozver Show Bulletin. 
183 
