MUM CHATTER 
Here in southern Minnesota we experienced one of our worst 
growing seasons in the history of our weather bureau. The winter 
of 1950-1951 brought us 92 inches of snow—an all-time record. 
Our growing season was one of the coolest and wettest that we have 
ever experienced. We had over 43 inches of rain—another record, 
as our yearly average here is somewhere between 27 and 30 inches. 
This weather did not encourage the production of the brilliant 
display of color we have had in the past. 
However, among the newer things, Rouge Cushion, Patricia 
Lehman, Royal Robe, Cecil Beed, Canary, Dr. L. E. Longley, 
Lee Powell, Lemon Drop, Ming, Shalimar, Ruthann Lehman, 
Pink Opal, and Jayeff were exceptionally outstanding. Peach 
Spoon and Garnet Spoon also proved to be noteworthy among the 
spoons. One of our seedlings, No. 736, which we have named 
Red Torch this year, was one of the best. Of course, the old fa- 
vorites like Betty, Beacon, Avalanche, Yellow Avalanche, 
Charles Nye, Chiquita, Pink Radiance, Huntsman and Carni- 
val were still very good. We came up with our best Chiquita since 
introducing It. 
The past five or six years have seen tremendous improvement in 
the quality and range of colors in garden Mums. With the intro- 
duction of such wonderful recent yellows as Lee Powell, Ming, 
and Ruthann Lehman and with Charles Nye, Golden Hours, 
Early Gold, Golden Mound, Golden Carpet, Yellow Ava- 
lanche, Canary, Chiquita, Defiance and Moonbeams, the 
matter of yellow Mums is pretty well taken care of. 
With such new varieties in the purple and pink class as Royal 
Robe, Cecil Beed, Pink Opal, Jayeff, and Patricia Lehman 
it is hard to see how any improvements would be possible. 
We have liked the performance of Huntsman and Carnival here 
in the Upper Midwest. I wish they were somewhat earlier to bloom. 
We have several new reds coming up that we hope to introduce 
next year. One of these has been named Crown Jewel. It is an 
excellent free-growing plant and a good color in bloom in late 
September. The old standbys Courageous and Red Velvet have 
a new deep crimson competitor in Success. This last-named one 
looked very good to us here this past season. 
When the day arrives that we have as many good white garden 
Mums as we have yellows, I’ think we will have almost reached 
Utopia. The need today is for more and better white garden Mums. 
We have several now that are good, but I think improvement is 
possible. The best whites, I think, are Shalimar, Ermine, Ava- 
lanche, Paper White, and White Tower. 
We hit the jackpot in spoons, and just as soon as we can propa- 
gate the existing selections and introduce them we will have every 
possible color of Mum represented in the spoon class. I think perhaps 
the day of the hardy quilled and spider garden Mums is at hand 
as some interesting new things have shown up In some of our last 
crosses. 
Here are random notes sent in by people around the country who 
have grown our Mums. We pass them on to you for what they are 
worth. 
~Mr. C. E. Q. of Washington, D. C., reports the following: “Lee 
Powell was head and shoulders above everything —new and old. 
Fine rugged 50-inch plant, fine 4-inch, golden yellow blooms, just 
irregular enough to be interesting. It will take a place among the 
‘all-time greats’ in my garden. Holiday was good, a few shades 
darker than Lee Powell and very much like it. Beacon—fine as 
usual. I can count on Beacon. Carmine Queen isa new red shade 
that grows and blooms nicely. Pleased everyone. Charles Nye 
turned in a remarkably fine score—fine plant, fine 4-inch pompon 
blooms. Cydonia, fine and dependable as usual. Defiance— 
[what a piercing color! Always comes through! Ermine and Shali- 
mar are the best whites I saw and as good as any In my garden. 
Inspiration—why, 
with Kathleen Lehman around? Ivory 
Visitors strolling through our test garden in late October 
Glow, very fine. In its season, the best. Magenta Spoon, very 
good. Meditation—until Lee Powell, my all-round favorite Mum. 
Myrtle Walgreen, best purple of all. Patricia Lehman was one 
of the high spots in my garden. A real pink with vigor and _ nice- 
sized bloom. Red Ridinghood and Carmine Queen are the best 
reds in my garden. Remembrance, | like. Rated third m my 
garden. Shalimar, very fine all around. A lovely plant. Sin- 
cerity turned in a good score. Twilight, best of its sort and color. 
White Tower had a fine record. Grew well and strong. Lots of nice 
white pompons. A huskier White Wonder.” 
Mr. J. A. M. of Warren, Ohio, reports: “I liked Magenta Spoon 
last year very much.” 
Mrs. M. C. of Merchantville, New Jersey, says: “I saw Masquer- 
ade last fall in its full splendor and feel that it’s a must in my gar- 
den.” 
Mrs. C. L. H. of Cherokee, Iowa, reports: “Everyone who saw 
Defiance admired it. Magnificent made a fine show. Chris 
Columbus and Betty were also very lovely.” 
From Dalton, Pennsylvania, Mrs. C. J. S. comments: “I especially 
liked Chris Columbus, Red Velvet, Prelude, Avalanche, and 
Defiance this past season.” 
Mr. W. O. C. of South Lincoln, Massachusetts, writes: ‘“Cardi- 
nal Spoon, Tribute, Magenta Spoon, and Dawnrose were liked 
by everyone who saw them. They caused considerable comment.” 
Mrs. B.P. of Chicago, Illinois, says: “My Chris Columbus was 
the talk of the neighborhood. I never saw so many flowers on one 
bush.” 
Mr. and Mrs. J. O. S. of Cedar Rapids, lowa, comment: “We wish 
to report that Defiance, Ermine, Magnificent, Mrs. H. E. 
Kidder, IMuminator, Inspiration, Mary Harrison (very beauti- 
ful) and, of course, the spoons were very lovely.” 
From Kansas City, Missouri, Mrs. C. M. C. reports: “The plants 
I received from you last year bloomed beautifully. Cardinal Spoon 
was my favorite.” 
Sister M. F. of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, comments: ““Three varieties 
gave us exactly what we have been looking for in cut flowers for 
church decoration—Lee Powell, Beacon, and Magnificent. 
These combined in huge baskets on pedestals gave great honor to 
God and much enjoyment to the heart of every Sister here. We so 
wished you could have walked into our chapel and seen them—they 
were all the glowing shades of autumn in perfectly formed flowers 
with wonderful stems.” 
Mrs. H. F. H. of Flint, Michigan, says: ‘‘We certainly have had 
a lot of comments on the Yellow Spoon blooms this past season.” 
From Neosho, Missouri, Mrs. S. S. reports: ‘‘Last fall in an early 
flower show I entered a luncheon table featuring Yellow Avalanche 
and received a blue ribbon. In a late show my floor basket of Betty 
received a white ribbon.” 
Another comment on Yellow Spoon was received from Mrs. A. M. 
of Wesbter Grove, Missouri: “Your loveliest flower of all is Yellow 
Spoon. | got one from you several years ago and it started a Yellow 
Spoon rage here.” E 2 LZ , 
OUR COVER 
Our cover shows a planting of Mums around the Doll House. 
The grandfather of Ruthann, Kathleen, and Patricia built the Doll 
House some fifteen years ago when they were little girls. Now that 
they have outgrown the use for a Doll House, the building is being 
maintained and made an ideal setting for the picture. The varieties 
used in the picture are Orange Buff, Blushwhite, Chiquita, 
Martin’s White, Red Torch, Betty, Canary, Cecelia, Ruthann 
Lehman, Patricia Lehman, Aztec Gold, Carnival, Cecil Beed, 
and Ming. 
