MUM CHATTER 
The season of 1953 had its ups and downs as far as the weather 
was concerned in southern Minnesota. The weather was abnormal 
according to averages, but still we had one of the most glorious show- 
ings of outdoor Mums this past season that we have ever had. 
Our growing weather during the summer was cool, and we had 
abundant moisture with a good shower every week or so during June, 
July and August. After the first of September it became abnormally 
hot, and October broke all records for Minnesota with eleven days 
above 90 degrees and ten days with the mercury reaching 80 or 
above. A severe killing frost did not come until about the first of 
November, so we had about eight glorious weeks of Mum bloom this 
fall. The early varietics came into complete bloom, matured and 
began to go dormant when the frost struck. The midseason varieties 
came into glorious full bloom, and most of the [ate varieties that 
are not recommended for Minnesota came into good bloom before 
frost finished them. 
The Mums were about two weeks Iater than normal coming into 
bloom because of the extremely dry weather, high temperatures and 
day after day of clear sunshiny weather from dawn until dusk. 
Among the early varieties that were outstandingly good here 
this year and were in good bloom in early September were Autumn 
Beauty, Paper White, Cecil Beed, Dainty, Dr. L. E. Longley, 
Gladness and Rouge Cushion. 
The old favorites that impressed us the most this year were 
Canary, Chorale, Huntsman, Carnival and Patricia Lehman. 
These were all very good and measured up to anything we had in 
our entire planting. 
Among the recent things, those that most pleased us and the 
majority of visitors were Apache, Biretta, Crown Jewel, Early 
Crimson, Holiday and Lee Powell. 
The new variety that we liked best was Snowspoon, a pure white 
early-blooming spoon that we waited ten years for. This should top 
the popularity polls as soon as it ts better known. 
Real Gold, Old Lavender, Crowning Glory and Aglow were 
some of the best things to come out of our testing of approximately 
300 seedling selections made over the past several years. There 
are some glorious new varieties coming that will be ready for mtro- 
duction in the next two or three years, with bright colors, large 
flowers and heavy substance on good vigorous plants. 
Our letters from all parts of the country will give you an idea 
of just what varieties are favorites around the States: 
I.M.P. of Canon City, Colo., has this to say: “Just a line to tell 
you how much I have enjoyed the Mums I bought from you this 
spring. Malinda Brown is coming into bloom now—a fine big plant 
and promising-looking blooms, not yet more than half open but a 
nice lavender color. But Fascination! It was in bloom in July, and 
now since cooler weather has come it has such lovely pure white 
blossoms. Pure white, and I love them. The first blooms were pink 
but now they are the finest white I’ve ever seen. Apache is the finest 
bronze I’ve ever seen. It opens red-bronze and becomes golden bronze 
with age—large and of very nice form.” 
Visitors strolling through our test garden in late October 
22 
Mrs. E.S.R. of Joliet, Ill, says: “Olive Longland, Kathleen 
Lehman, White Bounty, Yellow Blanket, Prelude, Betty and 
Courageous do wonderfully well in my soil a an E : 
From Clarksburg, W. Va., Mrs. J.R.S. gave this report: “Malinda 
Brown is another beauty. This has done very well. It is straight, 
strong and sturdy and loaded with excellently formed, double blooms 
like the small exhibition type.” 
In the heart of the Ree at Grand Junction, Colo., Mrs. K.M.G. 
had this to say: “Lee Powell, Betty, Golden Hours, Magenta 
Spoon and Autumn Greetings were out of this world. Yellow 
Blanket was so different. Orchid Helen was a sight for sore eyes. 
Yellow Avalanche was beautiful! Joan Helen was very pretty 
and showy. Autumnsong, Successor, Lorenzo, and Autumntide 
were all nice. Many visitors liked Mary Harrison, Myrtle Wal- 
green, Olive Longland, Golden Sunset and Charles Nye.” 
From Belleville, Wis., Mrs. R.F. comments: “My favorite colors 
are pink and rose, so I tried both Betty and Patricia Lehman and 
they are beauties in color, height and size of their flowers. Beautiful, 
indeed. Tribute was very pretty and just smothered with blooms. 
Myrtle Walgreen was also very good. Avalanche is a dandy.” 
Reporting on the Mums at Antioch, Tenn., was IVErsuisons scm 
spite of the drought a few Mums came through with flying colors. 
First, Patricia Lehman. Pink Opal did very well; so did Lee 
Powell. But for color Carmine Queen was way ahead. Mas- 
querade had lots of blooms and I like the color. For a white Chris 
Columbus did very well. Beacon also was good, as was Carnival. 
Kathleen Lehman extra good; lots of blooms which lasted a long 
time.” 
L.W. at Ellwood City, Penna., had this to say: “I sure had some 
beauties last fall. Reyal Robe and Malinda Brown stole the gar- 
den.” 
A Mum grower from Jefferson City, Mo., Mrs. P.S.L., says: “The 
Mum plants I ordered from you Jast spring were the best I got. 
They were in excellent condition when they arrived. The many 
spoons were exotic and were favorites of everyone. Lee Powell and 
Beacon were simply out of this world. Have never seen anything 
more beautiful. Patricia Lehman was a beautiful pk and bloomed 
well for me.” ; 
*Mr. T.C.R., who grows his Mums on his farm in Wisconsin, writes: 
“This year Patricia Lehman was by all odds the finest Mum in 
our garden. Kathleen Lehman also made a very splendid showing.” 
More comments on Patricia Lehman. From Galesburg, IIL, 
M.L. raves: ‘Patricia Lehman was the Mum I had dreamed about 
but never expected to see. My hat’s off to you!’ And G.S.B. at 
Iowa City, Iowa, says: “Patricia Lehman is ‘a thing of beauty’ and 
I think it will be even lovelier once it 1s established.” 
From Comfrey, Minn., Mrs. M.R. writes: “Lee Powell was 
especially admired by friends and neighbors last year. Others out- 
standing in our garden were Kathleen Lehman, Dawnrose, Glad- 
ness, Chiquita and Autumn Beauty.” 
Still another good word for Lee Powell from Mrs. E.B.D. at Salem, 
Va.: “Was very pleased with Lee Powell. It bloomed magnificently 
and was greatly admired by all my friends.” 
To sum it all up, a 72-year-old Mum grower, Mr. A.T. of Sharon, 
Penna., writes: “I have grown Mums for over 50 years but have not 
seen better outdoor ones than what I got from you.” , 
