CHOOSING VARIETIES. Most ’mums can be 
easily grown by anyone with an ordinary garden. How- 
ever, greater satisfaction will be obtained from this 
great class of garden material if habit of growth, time 
of flowering, and other characteristics are taken into 
account. Special information on each class is present- 
ed under the various sub-headings. 
Consider the character of your fall weather. 
The natural season for chrysanthemums is during the 
“Indian summer” period between the first frost, which 
damages flowers but not the buds, and the advent of 
killing freezes. Few ’mums are at their best before that 
first frost and few can pass through a hard freeze 
without some damage, unless protected. 
Early chrysanthemums, flowering during Aug- 
ust and early September, are more subject to insect 
damage of the buds, resulting in misshapen flowers. 
_ Also, the colors are not so good if the weather is hot. 
White and light colored ’mums generally are more 
susceptible to frost damage late in the season. 
Extreme cold alone is seldom the sole cause of 
winter killing or injury. More important is drainage. 
No ’mum likes wet feet in the winter and varieties that 
are reliably hardy under proper conditions of drainage 
may be badly damaged or killed outright if water is 
allowed to collect around the crown during winter and 
early spring thaws. 
Finally, soil composition, kind of season, and 
other variable conditions all effect to some _ extent 
hardiness, growth and quality of bloom in ’mums 
grown out of doors. 
CULTURE. In general, plant in ordinary 
sunny, well-drained garden soil where the location is 
open enough to permit free circulation of air. Plants 
facing east or west beside a building are usually satis- 
factory if the location is otherwise open. North sides 
are too shady and south sides are likely to be too hot in 
summertime, especially if the building is painted white. 
Break the soil well at least 10 or 12 inches deep, mix- 
ing in well-rotted animal manures, peat moss, and bone 
meal or superphosphate if you suspect your soil of be- 
ing a little lean. 
When your plants arrive get them into the 
eround where they are to grow as soon as possible, first 
removing the cardboard band, if there is one, fron. 
around the roots. Water well at this time. The ball 
of roots should be 2 inches deep and during subsequent 
cultivation the soil should be worked up toward the 
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