Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-29
THE QUEEN FLOWER
LOCAL FLORISTS BUSY GETTING IN THE
SBAPlLY OBRYSANTHsKUMs.
A Flower Much Ests.msd-Ihs Varieties Kept Il
Stcek-somsthiDg About the Growth and
Care Of these Prizs Plants.

The chrysanthemum sedsou
hand, and local florists are busy getting
in the various varieties. In short
time every admirer of flowers Will be at
tracted to the show window displays OF
these gorgeous, symmetrical and shape
ly flowers. Handel, the Twelfth street
florist, already has number OF varieties
N stock, and expects many more In
the next week or two. L. II. Nowviock,
the florist on upper Main street, expects
some fifty varieties to arrive to-day,
while Laupp, florist On Market
street is making preparations to have
a big display.
The Chrisanthemum is the great
flower of November. After the sum-
mer's wealth Of bloom has passed, comes
the peerless queen OF autumn, and each
year brings renewed interest In It's cul-
ture. Many days of valuable time the
practical florists spend in fertillzing and
endeavoring to produce new varieties
and finer blooms. Florists have been
80 successful in this during the past
few wears that many OF the most popn-
lar and choice varieties have been pro-
duced by them, and each year some new
variety is brought out.
Prof. John Birch, speakes OF how re-
ligiously this flower is regarded in
Japan. He says that the highest dis
tinction the Mikado can confer upon
any OF his subjects is the decoration or
the chrysanthemum. 1t is also used as
the royal seal, and for centuries it has
been esteemed, loved, and reverenced
by the people, mobiles and commons.
There is no prettier sight or striking
spectacle than that presented In green
house at this season OF the year stocked
with chrysanthemums. Blooms of all
sizes, shapes, and colors, from the
creamy white and deserving the name
of the queen Of chrysanthemums, the
"Mrs. AlDheus Hardy" TO the deep
crimson maroon Of the Edward Audlg-
nier," or the rich chestnut brown OF the
edwin MolyneuX."
The varieties which have been COM
peting for popular favor during the
past few years are vast In number, but
there are only few which are grown
to any extent. The incurved varieties
are distinguished by the globular form
and regular outline Of the flower. The
plants are all more or less vigorous In
growth, and range from four to seven
feet in height, when grown without
stopping or training.
WHAT are some OF the best varie-
ties?" asked the reporter OF we'll
known florist.
lone of the best yellows is the old
"Gloriosum," which is often grown to
be 10 and u inches in diameter. OF
more recent introduction is the wide
ner." 1t is more perfect flower and
leading growers now consider it to be
the best yellow grown. Among the
whites the MRS. Alpheus Hardy" has
already been mentioned. The "Mrs.
John Thomas" and elaine" are also
good. The Louis Boehmer," which Is
an ''ostrich plume" closely resembling
Mrs. Alpheus Hardy" in shape, and
"Ferdinand Feral" are excellent speci-
mems of good pink chrysanthemums.
The "Magiciennc" is VI u channels col
or, and the John Thorpe" rich deep
lake, are good specimens when well
grown. A small white which is coming
into favor with growers is the Ivory"
1t is very dwarf, bushy and produces
perfect flowers. Many other varieties
might be mentioned, but those cited are
the most popular.
THE Andrew Carnegie variety was
one that proved very popular in Wheel
ing last season, and had the call"
Concerning the culture OF the chry-
santhemum, the method has under
gone many changes, and each year sees
new ideas formulated. After the flow
ering season OF the plants is over they
are generally cut down and allowed to
rest until the time for making
the cuttings for new plants. Most
growers do this in February.
The cuttings are put into the prOpaga-
ting bench and in few days are rooted
sufficiently to pot off. They are then
placed in two-nch pot, and from this
time constant care and plenty OF water
are necessary. They must be shifted
into larger pots from time TO time, as
occasion may require. Some growers
plant them out as soon as the ground
is warmed in the spring and the danger
of frost is over. If this is dones fine
plants can be obtained TO pot of In
large pots for fall use.
A large plant, such as would require
an eight-inch pot or larger, will, II
properly grown, produce one hundred
or two hundred buds, most of which
will bloom The florist, however, will
not ordinarily allow all this number to
bloom, for, il he did, the flowers would
be small and valueless. The work Of
disbudding is performed and, II speci-
men blooms are wanted, all buds will
be cut off except a single bud on a
stalk with plenty OF fertilizer, plenty of
air, and good deal of care, and in a
short time he will be handsomely re-
warded for his work.
Amateurs are growing chrysanthe-
NUNS TO a considerable extent, and
many good house wife rejoices in the
fall over the good luck she has had with
her one or two varieties which she pur-
chased when very small plants of some
unricf