MUM CHATTER 
_ The past Mum blooming season here in Southern Minnesota was 
In many respects a disappointment. We had an excellent growing 
season up through Labor Day, and at that time we had high hopes 
of enjoying one of the finest blooming seasons we have ever ex- 
perienced. However, following Labor Day the weather became 
very hot, with daytime temperatures from 90 to 95 degrees for 
several weeks. It also became extremely dry. The weather bureau 
reports that the fall of 1952 was the driest one in 116 years in South- 
ern Minnesota. We received only 1 inch of rain in ninety days— 
an all-time record low. 
This combination of very high temperatures and dry weather 
just will not bring garden Mums into bloom on schedule. In late 
September we had a sudden switch in weather to nightly frosts. 
This caught many of the late season varieties in full bud, and 
inasmuch as the frost was very severe, many of them never opened 
up at all. The August and September blooming varieties were prac- 
tically the whole show this past season. Our large unprotected 
fields never did come into a mass of color as they usually do. How- 
ever, the thousands and thousands of people who visited our Mum 
show from September 14 to November 2 were not disappointed 
because we maintained an indoor show of over 10,000 plants and 
had over 600 varieties on display in a protected outdoor test garden. 
Some of the old favorites that impressed us very highly again 
this fall were the following: Beacon, Betty, Canary, Carnival, 
Charles Nye, Chiquita, Dainty, Golden Hours, Golden Mound, 
Moonbeams, Patricia Lehman, Remembrance, Shalimar 
and Tribute. Among the newer things we liked Bristol’s Jubilee 
and Alex Cumming very much. Conard-Pyle’s new red Success 
was outstandingly good. It is an extremely large, brilliant red 
that should go places in the future. Dr. Kraus has given us three 
extremely fine new things that are the result of crossing his Hardy 
Mums with the early English varieties. 
Apache, one of the new ones being introduced this year, is a 
bright firecracker-red. In our estimation this is one of the finest 
new things developed since Charles Nye and Olive Longland 
were introduced. We predict a bright future for it and would not 
be surprised to see tt among the eight or ten most popular in some 
of the future popularity polls. Malinda Brown is an extremely 
fine lavender and Goldheart a large light primrose aging white. 
These two will do much to brighten many flower gardens. Biretta 
and Crown Jewel are two new reds that we are introducing this 
year. These have proved themselves superior in our tests here in 
Southern Minnesota. Among the newer spoon Mums we like Pump- 
kin Spoon and Blushwhite best of all. Several other outstanding 
spoons are Garnet Spoon, Gold Spoon and Loveliness Spoon. 
We had reports from all over the country of a generally un- 
favorable season, with hot and dry weather being the cause. But 
as Mrs. H. M. of Clinton, Okla., says, “Here it ts a challenge each 
year to raise Mums, but just one good sniff in the fall when the 
Mums are out, well repays me for all the worry and work.” 
Our letters from all parts of the country will give you an idea 
of just what varieties are favorites around the States: 
Mrs. I. P. of Canon City, Colo., writes: “This year I have very 
much enjoyed those darling buttons, Chiquita and Rosita. They 
bloomed together. Everyone that saw them was thrilled by them. 
Holiday is a favorite, too.” 
A report from Mrs. R. B. of Maysville, Ky., says: “Am especially 
enthused over Olive Longland, Masquerade, Betty ,Courageous, 
Patricia Lehman and Beacon. They were all just lovely. 
From Comfrey, Minn., Mrs. M. R. relates: ‘Lee Powell was 
especially admired by friends and neighbors last year. Others 
outstanding in our garden were Kathleen Lehman, Dawnrose, 
Gladness, Chiquita and Autumn Beauty.’’ 
Mrs. E. B. of Salem, Va., reports: ‘Was very pleased with Lee 
Powell, which I bought from you last year. In spite of a very dry 
and hot summer, it bloomed magnificently and was greatly admired 
by all my friends.” 
Mrs. H. M. of Clinton, Okla., goes on to say, “A few that do 
wonderfully here are: Olive Longland, a beauty, it never fails; 
Courageous is very good, as is Defiance, a riot of color. Chippewa 
does well here but we are trying Myrtle Walgreen at your sugges- 
tion. Tangerine and The Lehmans are all good. Beacon is 
grand. Magnificent is wonderful, and Betty is also nice.” 
From Mr. C. G. of Johnstown, Penna., we recetved these com- 
ments: “I would like to report that Jayeff grew into a large, sturdy 
plant. I recetved honorable mention with it in the Pittsburgh show. 
The blooms were about 3% inches in width. It is one of the best 
varieties in this color I have tried. I like it better than Betty. 
Your Pumpkin Spoon was without a doubt the best spoon I have 
ever raised; a big plant with hundreds of blooms took first m blooms 
and third in sprays in Pittsburgh show. Sulphur Spoon was also 
good. Lee Powell was the best yellow I grew this year as well as 
last year. Red Glow and Alert were also fine. The latter with- 
stood the frost better than any other variety I had this year. Ma- 
linda Brown was also very good. Should be quite a bloom if dis- 
budded.” 
Mrs. C.W.D. of Trenton, Mo., says: ‘‘Chiquita was a great 
favorite—never had one do better or blooms last longer. Rosita 
made more growth and had lots of bloom but I wasn’t too pleased 
with the color. Myrtle Walgreen was very satisfactory. The 
plant was still pretty in the garden when freeze came.” 
Mr. W.O.C., South Lincoln, Mass., writes: ‘Alert, Hazlewood, 
Magnificent and Beacon were the top favorites among my cus- 
tomers. Red Glow and Remembrance were excellent, robust, 
and profuse bloomers.” 
Mrs. K.M.G., Grand Junction, Colo., says: ‘Lee Powell, Betty, 
Golden Hours, Magenta Spoon and Autumn Greetings were 
out of this world. Yellow Blanket was so different, and Orchid 
Helen was a sight for sore eyes. Pink Princess was simply loaded 
with bloom. Yellow Avalanche was beautiful. Joan Helen was 
very pretty and showy.” 
Visitors strolling through our test garden in late October he it PRINTED 
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