InnisfalUn Greenhouses, Springfield, Ohio. 
47 
“THE QUEEN OF AUTUMN.” 
This handsome flower is well named the “ Queen ot Autumn,” coming as it does, 
the last of the gay bloomers of the Summer and Fall, when the chilly winds and 
sharp nights have put all our Summer friends to sleep for another season; when our 
“ Autumn Queen ’* shows forth in all her beauty and glory, graced with all the col¬ 
ors our imagination can picture, from pure white to almost black, through all the 
yellows and orange; endless in shades—all the fascinating shades of Japanese, trim 
little pompones, the smooth Chinese; all the grand hybrids of every land and cli¬ 
mate ; single and double; in size from the little pompone up to the magnificent flow¬ 
ers of the new hybrids, seven to eight inches in diameter. Chrysanthemums have 
become the most prized and fashionable of all Autumn flowers, and were in great 
demand in New York the past Fall, being used by many in preference to Roses. 
Dame Fashion has dictated that it is the thing for all Fall entertainments, that the 
entire decoration-bouquet, table and room, shall be of this flower in its many shades 
and colors. The Chrysanthemum is everybody's flower—the rich and poor, the high 
and low can all grow and have this flower; it grows everywhere and for everyone; 
it seems to flourish equally as well in the smoke and dust of large cities as in open 
country, requiring only a few hours’ sun each day, rich soil and occasional watering. 
Chrysanthemums begin blooming in October and continue until December. During 
this season they bear an almost incredible number of blossoms. An average speci¬ 
men will bear several hundred flowers, and it is not difficult to find plants showing, 
at one time, more than a thousand buds and open blooms. To have the flowers in 
their finest development, however, it is necessary to remove a large proportion of the 
buds as soon as they appear. The entire strength of the plant is then turned into the 
support of those which remain, and they open into large and perfectly formed flow¬ 
ers. Their cultivation is very simple. Small plants can be planted any time after 
the first of April. They require two things—a rich soil and plenty of water, and 
should be copiously watered during dry times. In planting, give them plenty of room; 
two feet apart at least. About the middle of June the shoots should be pinch.ed or 
nipped off, in order to make the plants stalky, and should be again pinched as need¬ 
ed, until the last of July, after which time they should be allowed to grow and form 
their buds. Each plant should be kept tied to a stake to keep it from falling over 
and growing one-sided or broken by the wind. By the first of September the buds 
will have formed, and if large flowers are desired, half the buds should be taken off, 
a few from each stem. A weak application of liquid manure at this time will be well 
repaid in increased size of flowers and brilliant coloring. 
While the Chrysanthemum is perfectly hardy and can be left out over Winter, yet, 
allowed to be frosted. This can be prevented with a little care, by covering them 
with sheets of newspapers when there is danger from frost. For greenhouse decora¬ 
tion, or for house plants during the Fall months, no plant is more desirable. If 
wanted for in-door blooming, they should be lifted about October first and potted; 
give them a thorough watering and set in a shady place for a few days; afterwards 
expose to the full light, but do not keep them warmer than 50 degrees. The cooler 
they can be kept without freezing the better they are. Kept in this way they can be 
had in bloom until the middle of December. For a cool room few plants are as effec¬ 
tive. They can be brought into the house from the cold frame, and afford a fund of 
pleasure and enjoyment. If it is not desirable to bring the plants into the house, 
they still form the material for a continuous diplay of flowers for vases in the house 
for months. 
JAPANESE VARIETIES. 
These are the most variable in form and color, and are, perhaps, the most admired. 
To describe this section is impossible, for the flowers are formed so grotesquely, and 
yet are so varied in their coloring and their fringe-like petals take on so many different 
shapes and positions that few of the varieties are alike. The list I offer has been se¬ 
lected as the most distinct. 
Price, 10 cents each, except where noted; sixteen fine sorts, ot m j selection, 
will he mailed to any address for $1.25. 
Chrysanthemum Aquidneck.—Fine, bold flowers, of rich peach-pink or rose, of the 
most delicate shades. A very pleasing variety. 
Annie Thorpe.—Opening blush at first, rather flat, afterwards forming complete, 
round, snow-white bi»lls, with petals more or less irregular. Rather late. A 
grand variety. 
Admiration.—Soft rose, white center, distinct in character, and a charming variety. 
One of the best. 
Bronze Dragon.—A lovely variety, of a delicate orange-bronze color, very large and 
fine, and of the very best. 
Brise du Matin.—Soft rosy-lilac, shaded silvery-pink. A beautiful variety. 
Belle Paule.—Very large, the center of each petal purest white, distinctly edged 
with rose. 
Blanche TSiege.—One of the largest and purest white flowers. A magnificent flow¬ 
er ; a gem. 
Christmas Ere.—Magnificent, white, each petal curves and twists, the whole form¬ 
ing a ball of peculiar appearance. The flowers are fully six inches in diamete** 
Colibri.—Of the richest crimson, shaded black, fine habit, and very distinct. 
Dnchess.—Rich, deep red, each petal tipped with golden-yellow, the flowers are very 
large, in dense clusters. 
