Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15

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E&WA than general appear
~SN ances would warrant.
Recently New York state has chosen the golden
rod to be its representative in the floral king
dom, and the choice is certainly good one.
Long years ago a want was felt for national
flower in Japan. and the chrysanthemum that
floral gem and q native OF China and Japan,
was chosen as its emblem. The cultivation Of
the national flower has been carried on In
Japan for centuries. About a hundred years
ago the chrysanthemum was introduced
into Europe, and the centennial Of its
Introduction was celebrated last year. About
1888 the first chrysanthemums were brought to
this country and their cultivation began. Very
little attention paid to the flower up to
twenty years ago. Prior to 1870 we were
obliged to depend on England and France for
the new varieties Of chrysanthemums. but this
is no longer the case; on the contrary America
Is now the country to which all others look for
new varieties There are more line chrysan-
themums produced in America than can be
found in any other country. and they make up
about two-thirds OF the varieties now under
cultivation. Incidentally it may be remarked
that the chrysanthemum Is not only the easiest
of all flowers to obtain new varieties FROM but
its wonderful variations Of shape and color,
and the ready response it gives to the cultl-
vator's touch, set 1t almost apart from every
other produce of horticultural art
The process of raising chrysanthemums is
truly an interesting one. New varieties are pro-
duced from the seed. To do this only the best
plants selacted for the purpose. The sys-
tenn Is OF the same nature as that by which
finely bred horses are produced. When the
pedigree OF plant Is known to be right, the
pollen of one variety is put upon the flower of
another, and 3 new variety is the result in the
resultant seed. When the seed is ripe il should
be sown, after which it terminates rapidly.
The plant is allowed to grow until it attalns to
Q height Of three or four inches, when it is
treated in the same manner as plants raised
from cuttings. Plants thus raised will flower
about nine months after the sowing of the seed.
The percentage Of good varities thus obtained
varies considerably; from to 25 per cent
are generally preserved for two or three
years, and during this time thorough analysis
10 made OF the variety, SO that only a small
per cent Is retained for general culture. Chrys-
snthemums are ordinarily raised from cuttings
taken in January or February. Only the strong
plants are selected for this purpose and the cut
tings are planted in sand. As soon as the tiny
roots have been put forth the plant is ported
In two or three inch pots and gradually shifted
into larger pots as the roots become pot-bound
The main point in the successful culture of
chrysanthemums is the continuous growth of
the plant from roofing to blooming. The plant
should never receive a check, but must have a
continuous growth from the time roots are first
put IOrtn IN the sou TILL the DuQS open ana dis
play the beautiful flowers. Checks not only
invariably spoil the plant but in most cases
entirely ruin it The chrysanthemum natu-
rally thrives in a moderate temperature and
delights in plenty of light and sunshine.
THE SEVERAL CLASSES.
To distinguish the various kinds Of chrysan-
themums they have been divided into several
classes. The principal ones or general divi-
sions are the pompons, Chinese incurve, Chi
nese deiex, anemone lowered and the Japan
ese, the last class being the most esteemed be-
cause of their exceedingly large and snowy
flowers. The coursing OF the strains has been
carried on to such an extent that several sub
divisions have been made. Great interest is
exhibited by the grower in his attempts to
possess flowers of thoroughbred types. The
pompon class are distinguished by their small,
well-rounded flowers. The Chinese incurred
have the petals all arching upward so as to
form perfect ball. The anemone class has
long outer petals, while the inner ones are con-
siderably shortened.
The Japanese class is the most varied Of ALL
To il no rules can be assigned some of the
flowers being perfectly incurved; others are
detex or twisted In various ways. The most
popular varieties now under cultivation are
the Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. Mrs. Hicks Arnold,
Rohallion, Ahosta, COrtez. La Mona. H. A.
Widener, Advance. Avalanche. kiato, La For
tune, Violet Rose, William III. Lincoln and the
Lillian b. Bird. Chrysanthemums are named
In compliment to distinguished persons
growers and their friends, while now and then
q name is given because the plant from its
natural qualities seems to call for IL. Every
color save blue is produced in the chrysanthe-
NUNS, with their shades and sub-shades The col
oring in some Of the plants is really wonderful,
attaining at times the most delicate OF shades
and at others flaming into gorgeous hues In
the cultivation Of the plant the pervading idea
Of the grower is to attain varieties as near per-
lection as possible. To this end only such
varieties as are of merit are sought after. An
ideal plant must be a free grower. of sAf STEM
have perfect double flower of good substance
and possess a good, clear, distinct color The
chrysanthemum Is cultivated nowadays to a
great extent, not only by private parties who
raise more or less. but by all commercial florists
who grow from 100 to 10000 plants each an
Dually to supply the demand for cut flowers in
our large cities, where the chrysanthemum has
almost supplanted the rose in popularity
Raising flowers Of any kind is a larger business
than Is generally supposed. but the extent OF
the culture of the chrysanthemum alone is
wonderful There are over 5000 commercial
florists in the country, each of whom raises on
an average Of 1000 chrysanthemum plants an
nually. This is q low estimate. and when all
the amateurs are included the aggregate shows
the vastness of the enterprise, the amateurs
outnumbering the commercial florists ten to
one. The culture Of the chrysanthemum is
confined almost exclusively to the eastern
states, where they are grown to perfection.
i ne entnuslasm Win Whlch people have en-
tered into the cultivation of the chrysanthe-
mum is nowhere better shown than in the or
CARNATIONS which have been formed for
mutual conference relative to their culture
Societies have been formed in various sections
of the country. which hold large exhibitions OF
these beautiful flowers
There Is a National Chrysanthemum Society
In England which is composed of represent
atives Of smaller societies that are situated In
every shire of the country. In the United
States there Is q Chrysanthemum Society which
has among its members some of our most
prominent men, and is composed of a large
majority Of the commercial as well as the pri-
vate growers.
The general public shows a decided prefer
ence for the flowers of the yellow. white and
hight pink shades The season OF towering
extends from October until Christmas and
BY special cultivation the flowers can be had
even later. All the pOmpons and great many
varieties Of the choicest classes can be grown
rs hardy plants in warm, sheltered places
where they will repay for the little trouble
taken to preserve them by q fine show of fow-
ers in the late fall when no other flowers are in
the garden. They can be left standing during
the winter and are ready to bloom again the
following season The flowers vary in size
from half inch to fourteen inches in di-
ameter. In Japan they grow to . diameter of
eighteen inches, but become coarse and I'M
shspely from their immense size. The height
OF the plant varies from one and one-haH to
twelve feet
EXTENT OF TIE CULTIVATION.