Mums for Your Window-box 
When the first light frosts of fall have made your window-boxes 
unsightly by killing the tender plants in them, you can enjoy the full 
glory of Mums. These dreary-looking window-boxes can be trans- 
ormed into a fairyland of color for two or three weeks by simply 
transplanting Mums from your garden into them. Select low, com- 
pact plants in full bud and bloom, dig them carefully and plant 
directly in the box. 
WINTER PROTECTION 
The purpose of winter protection is probably more to keep the cold 
in the ground than to keep it out. Here in southern Minnesota where 
the temperature often goes as low as 25 degrees below zero, we seldom 
have many hardy Mum casualties from winter injury. We usually 
have snow covering our gardens from December to March. It is 
probably the alternate thawing and freezing that does the winter 
damage to garden Mums. We have found that any light material 
that will stay more or less dry during the winter, is ideal for covering. 
Excelsior, evergreen boughs, marsh hay, or corn stalks are very good 
if applied after the ground is frozen. Leaves are usually not very 
satisfactory, for they are a soggy mass by spring and tend to rot the 
crowns. Dry leaves, applied m the fall and covered with any water- 
proof material to keep them dry, are ideal. The U. S. Department of 
Agriculture has found that wal wool batts—the same material used 
in insulating houses—is perhaps the closest substitute for snow of 
anything found so far. The original cost would be greater, but since 
this is a mineral material, it would not rot and could be used year 
after year. 
MUM “DONT’S” 
Don’t be Mum-less. 
Don’t plant in the shade. The plants will grow too tall and bloom 
weeks later. 
Don’t plant Mums in the fall in the North. 
Don’t plant extra-early varieties in the South, for they will bloom 
too early when the weather is still hot. 
Don’t plant any but sure-to-bloom Mums for best results. 
Don’t water from overhead. 
Don’t pinch early varieties after July 20, because buds are forming 
by that time. 
Don’t CUT the flowers for bouquets; break them off, and they will 
absorb a greater amount of water. 
Don’t kill them with kindness. 
NEW ENGLISH VARIETIES 
From our tests of the new English varieties we find we are a bit 
too far north to bloom all of them successfully. We have, however, 
had some good reports from central Indiana, Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey, Oklahoma, and the Pacific Northwest, where they have done 
very well. 
The flowers are decidedly larger than those of our other hardy 
kinds, but there are fewer of them. The colors are good. The sub- 
stance of the flowers is decidedly heavier than other outdoor kinds 
and they approach the greenhouse types for lasting qualities. The 
plants are very strong, rampant growers and some are inclined to 
be a bit ungamly. 
The following did very well for us Iast season and were much ad- 
mired by all who saw them: Challenger, Coppelia, Golden Dome, 
Indiana, Leda, Mrs. J. Phillips, Orange Queen, Tiger, and Vulcan. 
We originally tested 50 varieties of these English Chrysanthemums. 
We selected the best 18 of these and discarded all the others as not 
being worth while. Our list comprises the “‘cream of the crop.” Of all 
the new varieties that we tested, the following five were outstand- 
ingly good: 
Bridesmaid. Delicate pmk-cream. 
China Gold. Quilled golden bronze. 
Jean Harlow. Incurved golden yellow. 
Spitfire. Orange-bronze. 
Tolcross Pink. Charming rose-pink. 
One each of the above 5 new kinds for 
(Value $3.70) 
$3-00 
20 
Introducing the 1947 Models 
of the 
(Chicago Strain developed by Dr. E. J. Kraus) 
Temptingly Different and as New as Tomorrow 
We are proud indeed to introduce to American gardens these new 
Hardy Chrysanthemums developed by Dr. E. J. Kraus. Over a 
period of a dozen years, thousands of Chrysanthemum seedlings have 
been grown and the best selections given a very rigid test for winter 
hardiness, color and form of flower, petal substance, early blooming 
qualities, disease resistance, and ornamental foliage. These tests 
have eliminated all weak and inferior kinds. From our own observa- 
tion and experience, and from the hundreds of highly complimentary 
letters we have received from gardeners from coast to coast, we know 
that the Chicago Strain is good and will please you. 
Already five of the 1945 and 1946 introductions—Autumnsong, 
Courageous, Charles Nye, Glowing Coals and Olive Longland—are 
challenging the position of some of the finest varieties in existence. 
Grow and learn to know the Chicago Strain of Mums. 
Chiquita (Little Doll). (Kraus 1107.) Deep Iemon-yellow, fully 
double, compact, dome-shaped pompon. Bush compact, 18 to 24 
inches tall, with deep green foliage. Long deal flower stems. 
Flowers in clusters of 6 to 8. Excellent for cutting. Third week 
in September to end of October. 
Murmurs. (Kraus 1137.) Amaranth-pink, semi-double, 214-inch 
flowers, darkening to clear mallow-purple. Petals broad, grace- 
fully incurved; flowers clustered near ends of Jong Ieafy branches, 
giving a light feathery effect. Foliage dark green; bush 18 to 24 
ae tall. Very early and lasts well. Early September to early | 
ctober. 
Nanook (Polar Bear). (Kraus 1099.) Double white with cream 
center, 11% inches across, broad overlapping petals. Bush 12 to 18 
inches tall; dwarf, compact mound. Excellent foliage. Very free 
flowering. Mid-September to mid-October. 
Pepita (Little Girl). (Kraus 1160.) Densely quilled pompon. Egg- 
shell-white with darker center when young, changing to pure 
white with slight yellow center. Bush 18 to 24 inches high, densely 
branched and wide spreading; Iong individual flower stems. Ex- 
tremely free flowering. Third week in September to end of October. 
Rosita (Little Rose). (Kraus 1095.) Pompon. Light Persian-rose, 
1 to 1\%inches in diameter, tight, full double, quilled or rolled. 
Open sprays of 5 to 10 flowers on Jong individual flower stems. 
Bush large, upright, spreading. Good foliage. Third week of 
September to mid-October. 
Snowfall. (Kraus 1103.) White, slight cream at center, double, 
134 inches. Petals slightly enrolled when young, sharp pointed, 
opening flat. Bush 22 inches, low, much branched. September 28 
to end of October. 
Tangerine. (Kraus 1150.) Spanish-orange to grenadine-red, fully 
double, 3 inches across. Long, overlapping, slightly twisted petals, 
giving a very fluffy appearance. Bush upright, much branched; 
heavy, deeply cut foliage. Very free blooming. Excellent for cut- 
ting. September 27 to mid-October. 
Twilight. (Kraus 1140.) Fuchsia-purple, 3 inches across, full 
rounded with center petals curved inward. Backs of petals some- 
what lighter, giving the flower a silvery sheen. Foliage heavy, 
large, much cut and dark green. Bush upright, much branched, 
26 inches tall. Flowers clustered 3 to 5 at top of sturdy, upright 
stems. Very free flowering. October 5. 
Valiant. (Kraus 1167.) Semi-double, bright rose-scarlet, 3 to 4 
inches in diameter. Petals long, inner rows incurved over bright 
aes center. Bush 18 to 24 inches tall, open branching; large, 
ark green foliage. Very sturdy. Very eS blooming. Late 
September to mid-October. 
