HOUSE AND GARDEN 
May, 1911 
345 
good white of this form, and through the florist many have be¬ 
come acquainted with the very small flower known as Baby. It 
is not larger than the head of a good-sized hat-pin and quite full 
and round. 
There is a type with quilled petals that is decidedly pretty, the 
principal one being St. llloria, of a deep shade of pink fading to 
a lighter pink after being open for a few days. Mrs. Vincent is a 
rich magenta of the same form, and both are good-sized flowers. 
One single form deserves special mention on account of its dis¬ 
tinctive color. It is called Sunset, the petals being of a burnt- 
orange shade which forms a striking contrast with the yellow 
stamens in the centre. 
With such an array of color to brighten the Indian summer we 
should be sure always to include plenty of hardy chrysanthemums 
in planning perennial or shrub borders. 
Warren J. Chandler. 
The colors obtainable in the hardy chrysanthemum in all types range from white through yellows and reds 
W E appreciate the crocus and the snowdrop because they ap¬ 
pear before the snow has gone and show that spring has 
come again. In much the same way we appreciate the hardy 
chrysanthemums because they are the last of the season’s flowers 
and remain beautiful even when touched by the first snow of the 
new winter. They are more hardy even than the wild asters, and 
are the chief dependence of northern gardens for outdoor blossoms 
in November. They are often called pompon chrysanthemums 
because of the small size of the flowers, 
which show all the colors of the large 
chrysanthemums, the yellows and the 
reds being especially attractive. 
These chrysanthemums were grown 
in profusion in many of the old-fash¬ 
ioned gardens of two or three genera¬ 
tions ago. When they waned in popu¬ 
larity many of them held on, surviving 
neglect with sturdy vigor, so that when 
flower lovers were ready to take them 
up again they were to be found here 
and there in sequestered corners of the 
old gardens. To a considerable extent 
such varieties were gathered in by 
neighboring nurserymen and given new 
names because the old ones were not 
known. 
One of the largest plant dealers in 
America now lists thirty varieties of 
hardy pompon chrysanthemums. An¬ 
other important firm that specializes in 
plants for border gardens lists twenty- 
four of the best sorts. These are both 
Pennsylvania firms, and it is significant 
that the catalogues of firms farther 
north that grow their own plants have 
fewer kinds for sale. This very likely 
is due to the lack of hardiness of the 
missing varieties, and it is a reminder 
of that excellent rule for buying hardy perennials — buy from 
north of your own latitude rather than from south of it. 
While it is often stated that these chrysanthemums are hardy 
in the most northern' States, this is by no means true of all va¬ 
rieties. North of the latitude of New York City a careful selec¬ 
tion either of hardy sorts or of acclimated strains is desirable. A 
few years ago I set a number of varieties in a favorable position 
in Massachusetts. The bed was given good winter protection, but 
very soon all the plants had disappeared 
but two sorts which thrived and spread. 
On inquiry I found that at least one and 
perhaps both of these survivors had 
been obtained from an old-fashioned 
garden nearby, where they had been 
grown for a long time. Of another lot 
of plants shipped from farther south 
and carefully protected in winter, only 
a few survived to the second season 
Consequently it seems well worth while 
for northern gardeners to order their 
plants from nurseries at least as far 
north as they live and to insist that the 
plants delivered shall have been grown 
locally by the dealer. This will make 
the likelihood of survival much greater 
A protected border within easy view 
of the house is an especially desirable 
place for planting these hardy chrysan¬ 
themums, where the flowers will add to 
the cheer of the waning season. If the 
flowers are to be cut, however, they 
should be in a more remote situation, 
but still near a protecting wall or hedge 
to keep them from full exposure to the 
cold autumn winds. They are especial¬ 
ly effective in masses, so it is much bet¬ 
ter to plant them so that there are many 
together rather than singly at some dis- 
There are fewer singles than doubles among the 
hardy varieties, but these few daisy-like forms 
are particularly attractive 
