The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-11-04
CNRYSANTHEMUM CULTURE.
This Is the Autumn Queens OPENING
Month,
SOME NEARLY PERFECT VARIETIES.
Suggestions for Judges at tho Coming
thrysanthemum Shows-unw Prizes
Should Bs Awarded.


proper to discuss the merits of blooming
flowers in general during the usual frosty
weather of November at time when most
flora should commence to retire in favor
OF Jack Frosts advances, but the chrysan-
themum at least is daring enough to coyer
the retreat by coming up in glariug array
Just in time to see the curtain fall and
the season ended.
| If we were sitting around a comfortable
iireslde as far north and east as the city
OF Boston, we could al this time admire the
graceful elegance of an apartment decor
ated with perhaps hundred varieties of
! cut blossoms tastefully displayed in pots
or vases, but as far south as Texas. where
the cool weather is not SO advanced, it is
doubtful whether more than n dozen varie-
ties IN bloom could be found This shows
coheiuslNely that the chrysanthemum is
| surety IA cool weather flower and its
plooining season governed by the climate,
IL 49, however, We'll known fact to ex-
PerleHced chrysanthemum growers that the
common practice of disbudding win greatl,
hasten The blooming period 1t is also n
reasonable theory that the strength of the
plant can burst out the petals and force
into bloom a few buds quicker than II The
same energy were employed In blooming
hundred.
But yet in spite of this artlftce ,ho
northern grown plants are from ten DAYS
10 Two weeks in advance and generally s,,
peflor III size if not in quality
me statement of the enormous fIf,eep-
men exhibition blooms is actually no OK.
asbetation but southern growers, unfor-
.uhately Tor me climate and long SUM-
ners, can hardly expect such resuits ovo,
with the most careful culture. There Ia
perhaps some consolation az a Soutbern
grower expresses il: I'VE are not atte,n,,
ing to raise cabbagos, but flowers /" nn1
mere is no doubt that when blooms attain
such abnormal size. they become more of
curiosity and beyond the moasuro ~
usefulness for ordinary utility and decora
ton,
Too much. however. can not be attempted
or advocated IN favor of quality the most
important measure to he used BY Judges In
giving awards for prize winning blooms,
What constitutes absolute perfection In
flower is a question every Judge win
have to ask and answer for himself In
order to pos satisfactorily in his best
Judgment on any contest placed before him
AS far as size and quality are concerned
the bloom that can be raised largest and
still retain its texture and softness in fin-
lsh should win, There are also other points
TO be desired that pertains as much To
culture.
Foliage should be desired of fresh. clean
appearance and we'll up TO the flower AZ
to establish a symetrcal appearance. then
che stcm should be OF sufficient strength
and substance, to give proper support TO
the bloom.
This is r very noticeable falling In some
of tho very finest varieties. for instance.
George Savage" one OF the very finest
incurYed whites In cultivation. but un-
fortunately II grows more Ike vine than
bush, and flower stems correspondinglv
unable to support the bloom. Mrs T. G.
Hin, probably the finest light pink. has
lost many premium because of stems
being TOO weak TO hold up the flower The
Ostrich Plume varieties are all objection
able in this particular aud In other re-
spects as we'll should not be considered In
the first rank.
Another important point in judging Is
the consideration OF the form and style OF
the flower, and the question arises natur-
ally OF al the many shapes. all seemingly |
perfect enough in their respective man
ner Of growth. what form should be con-
sidored hest?
1t would seem that this Is a question Of
individual taste or preference. but there
must certainly be a single standard OF per- /,
lection when the determination OF superior /
ity has to be arrived at. Perhaps the best |
Judge Of the chrysanthemum |
in America is MIR. Eliza A. Wood, now OF |
Denver, Colo. formerly OF West Newton.
Mass. other fine judges of late years have
waived their opinions In his favor, owing
to his remarkably keen, Perception and
good Judgment. based '1iq The best advanced
theory Of perfection In the flower.
He says a hgn-buut flower should be
superlor TO d flat, spreading one ana tho
varieties opening in such manner as 10
be equal in distance through the bloom in
every direction should he the most perfec,
form. This would be a flower nearest TO
a sphere in shape. He concentrates his