Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-16
CITY AND DISTRICT.
CONG EHNGNG THE CHRYSANTHE-
Wa ~.
An Cid md Favorife Flower.


magistrate and IN enthusiastic AMI successful
LoE;.- al. ,jra';,t made the following remarks
b-larr rar District horticultural society the
OLDER NIGHT mon "a favoriro old flower now COM
In latu fashion gain:
lr- President. In compliance with vour in
vi-a'.an / have rudrovorcj 10 emDody some
pra.fi.I. -r,--e>ron- for the culture, a. well as
q a-ic. botanical description. of the old and ia
Vsr--r ..e.r. th, carysarthenum
among t., earliest Tecp.iection= of most
lovers Cd: flowers. particularly those who have
Passed the Hup OF middle ;g.se-the loose and
tl.a~y H.up.Hut this plant WI! Ge remembered a.
Constituting enc ct the chef ornaments of the
-ar,"n of their youth.
EH' chrySaufhnmum hp!uarS to the coInp0s-
IL family o. pants and is - classified on ac-
count II tie manner IN which number of
flowers are CIU~frr,s! together 80 a. TO form one
Wa5tI = apparently slH-ip- This order is one
Ci very great extent. and contains many thou
ssHd species Inc &Ster. daisy. dandelIou. sun
flower. HaFiGu,t, and numerous others OF this
ia-"iiy are de> mated a. single flowers and vet
every ut-T ol them really rUlsifI>Gl q! head
Ga vI:eI large numbers O.. blossoms are crowded
together II or" o. these be- examined i'm its
natural state ttlat IS hot affected hv cultiya-
ton. .t VIII be found tu-ccaSiSt of the fove
sta4a. which spreads cut into "a large ficshy pX-
ItuSou. which y the disk or receptacle, of all
the H'W"rS united. Around this is a WhoTl of
small green ielfiCt~-these are the bracts
Above and within these are one or more whOrls
of fiat icdEy-C1lorCd organs. which at first sight
appear to be single petals. but which viii be
found To be- 80 many distinct forets. of which
the cofrola has expended itself ON one side
only
IL must not lie supposed that the clustering
together Ofthe fOrets in heads is essential a
Character Of this order that every plant in which
1t exists is to be regarded as belonging to it.
Though no plant of this order has other than
composite flowers there are several in other
orders in which the flowers grow in heads
This old and nuch esteemed fall flower bloom
ing when most OF the summer flowers have
gone into winter quarters. has been Tor several
years comparatively neglected
NEW VARIETIES OF THE CHRYsANTHEMUM
The new varieties. much improved by
INTIMIDATION, have awakened new in
terest in their cultivation. So unlike and
distinct are some of these as to be scarcely
recognized as the same flower Some possess
peculiarities heretofore unknown as belonging
to this family of plants. and many of the dwarf
Varieties might easily be taken for the quilted
China asters. Before the Introduction of the
new varieties the chief merit OF the chrysanthe-
NUNS consisted in the lateness of their flower
Ing, being destitute of symmetry, elegance of
form, or desirable fragrance. The new acQuis-
lions from China, Japan and England possess
peculiar forms and colOrs. and approach nearer
the proper standard of the florist 5 flower The
forms OF the old varieties were numerous and
embraced the ranunCulas lowered. the China
aster lowered. the marigoid lowered the in
Carved, the tasSelled and the clustered all of
which. except the ranunCulaS lowered were
untidy and loose in appearance. Great success
has attended the efforts of the florist in impr0v-
in@ their loose habits Among the recent addi-
lions We have ChTySIntheuumS as large as me-
dIum sized dahlias. and some as small and as
compact Is the daisy. and embracing the coOrs
az th@ rainbow. Few plants have been more
Improved. Hcin- large. ful of good form and
rejecting nearly every shade of color they are
Wo!tty OF place in every garden. and will
prove a source Of pleasure if they receive the
requisite attention. There are
THREE CLASSES OF CHRYsANTHENrrs-
the Chinese, bearing a large. loose and grace
1Ul flower, the japanese. with ragged fringe
lie flowers. aad the Pompoa or dwarf with
small and perfectly doaJle flowers in great pro-
fusion.
The China and japanese varieties differ
greatly from TIE o!I sorts and have novel and
striking cOioTS The fiOrcts in lLany reseu-
lie mass Of threads. some spotted. Others
plain. or peculiar forms. The hybriiS from these
are exceedingly Interesting from their various
forms and markings. with the enormous size of
Their flowers some possess the property of
towering during the winter months when de
Huded of their buds in autumn. With some
few exceptions no plant assumes such an ex-
tended variety of coors as the Chinese varieties
Oi the chrysanthemum.
HOW To CULTIVATE THE CHRYSANTHFHJ-N
Chrysaathemums like many other plants. re-
quire more care than they usually receive. AID
being allowed To run wild, do not add to the
beauty of the garden: and though regarded as
tsf hardy, theft beauty is frequently DESTROYED
10y frost just a they commence to bloom There
are peculiar methods IN gardening. but to be
successful proper care and attention must be
gwen The ctFy santhemum may be cultivated
a. a perennial herbaccOus. in borders or in
MASSES: a. dwarf snowy plant in flower Dor
dtrS. and a "a pot plant. When planted in bor-
OerN the ground should not he rich as ygrOr-
Gus growth Will make the plants tender Plants
when Nv" through the winter in poor ground
VII PERISH IN the same temperature if the soil
lee rich. The soil should be- good ordinary loan
All he we'll drained II planted on the south
sea" ~ the garden ana properly sheltered in
sJedd of their bloom being nipped ~ eariy frosts
them flowers may be had often TIL near Christ
EGs.
a. the plants progress in height, they should
D. secured 10 STAKES 10 prevent them from be-
INA BROKEN py the wind After blooming they
should De cut down 10 within two inches OF the
soil. and on the approach of severe weather
covered with straw leaves or litter which Will
protect them securely. The plants will come
up Tie ensuing spring much stronger and must
have the same care 10y tying to stakes single
stake viii prove sufficient II the branches are
tleO loosely. the head Of the bloom will cover
the Top looks best in a mass and is less liable
10 damage By this method. chrysanthemums
VII grow several years, and spread until they
become very large, with great masses of bloom.
hen they become too large. they should have
some of their roots taken away equally llround
with the attached portions which can be plant
ed elsewhere il desired
When grown In the ordinary way the plants
become too tall 10 be handsome and the lower
leaves wither and turn brown before the bloom
comes to perfection, even when the season il
I'll Table. This can be prevented by particular
culture. and II We desire to avoid tall and lanky
plants We must cOunteract the tendency of the
plant 10 assume these forms Nv the method
recommended, plants may remain undlsturbed
loI three or four years. Separated as directed
ard replanted every season. they preserve a
Character as superior 70 as they are unlike the
dlminutive flowers usually found In our gar
Gels.
PLANTS KEPT IN POTS,
wien commencing to grow in the spring should
De turned out, trimmed. have the top surface
o. the soil removed repOtted in pots one size
lar ger. with fresh soil and have ample
drainage. The soil should be we'll pressed
around the bali of earth, which, II much bound.
must be moderately loOsened. The plants
should be well watered and placed in the shade.
They will throw up more shoots than are
wanted. The strongest should be selected and
the weaker ones removed. The plants should
be allowed TO grow until cuttings be desired
when the strongest should he topped for that
ha in