Evening star., 1902-08-02

Ne~s
Secretary Root has a keen interest in the
militia of the several states. Busy as ne
was before he sailed for Europe, he devoted
two days visiting the encampments of mill
tia troops His first visit was to Gettys-
burg, where 10000 soldiers of the Pennsyi-
yania National Guard were encamped upon
the field made famous by the civil war
Amidst hundreds of monuments reared to
forever mark the spot where different or
gauizations won eternal fame, the we'll
organized and well-equipped National
Guard Of the Keystone state was in camp,
and IL was there that they were Inspected
and reviewed by Secretary Root A few
days later the Secretary drove eighty miles
behind the celebrated army mules In order
to see the troops of the District OF Coium-
bia. the National Guard of the capital IN
camp. The visit made a deep impression
upon him. and it is certain that as long as
he is Secretary of War he will do all ne can
to forward the interests OF the NaIloi'as IIt, at
Guard in all states. Speaking generally OF
the National Guard, Secretary RoQt sala:
Il am very deeply interested in bringing
about entente Cordiale-a synpathetle
relation, a Observation-Disclosures the regu-
lar army and the guard. Nhlle the gudtus-
men OF the several states perform IN time
of peace their primary function OF state OF
ganiZatiou. il should in time OF war De III
position to assume national function OF
first reserve which. together with the reSu-
lar army can meet exigencies until tne
volunteers who are our greatest reserve
and support can be made ready. The evil
denre of uniformity in equipment ana spirit
~ the two great bodies in time of peace
and of their martial exercises think OF the
greatest value. l think the national gov
ernrlsnt ought to make due provision 10 en-
able the National Guard OF the poorer
states which cannot afford to furnish the
funds like Pennsylvania and other states, to
do what has been done by them. a
L think the federal government could aa-
yartageously and economically contribute
toward that end by furnishing arms ana
e1uipments and by paying the expense OF
the transportation and rations OF the Ma
tional Guard organizations, 10 take pdl III
ercampments and maneuVers IN cOHJuIctioI
aud co-operation with the regular army.
The national government ought TO recognize
the fact that the National Guard OF STATE
is the great school OF cltlZeh so!uleIs' hIu ~
that there is a double purpose suDserEeu py
the organization and existence OF every
body Cf state troops One is the malhte
nance of order and the other is the national
defense whenever war occurs Ana Whlie
the state pays the expense appropriate 10
the state purpose attained the natlondl
government should pay its fair share Tor
these trained soldiers IN thelr pfepai 0'iOit
for national defense"
Rrjgadier General Wood who accompa-
Eied Secretary Root on both OCCASIONS
while very much impressed with the SOL
dierIy qualities of the militia, declared that
it is the duty of the national government
To equip the infantry with the latest pattern
Of Krag-JorgensOn, or. as II mas no" pc
come known. the army rife. He says tnat
these soldiers should not longer practice
and drill with an obsolete Springfield gun.
an arm that has long been discarded by the
regular army and which was found OF SO
little use in the Spanish war and by the
volunteers in the Philippines. He says that
rip should at once De 1ur-
nfshed the troops of the National Guard IN
all the states.
x x X
A fine photograph Of a beautiful chrysan-
themum is the frontispiece Of the last an
n,ial report of Colonel Bingham. the engi-
neer officer in charge of the public build
. ings and grounds of the District The
flower is named Mrs J. NJ. Wilson In
honor Of the wife Of the former chief of
engineers.
Colonel Bingham talked in an interesting
way in regard to the cultivation of the
chrysanthemums to a Star reporter the
other dav .'Chrysanthemum,' he said, lis
the generic name of large genus of COM
posite plants many species of which are
cultivated for the beauty of their flowers
in every civilized land. The name literally
means golden flower (from the Greek
'chrysos gold and anthemon. a flower)
blIf u not an appropriate one as Only d
comparatively small number of the var1e-
ties Of the species have yellow flowers The
genus comprises about 12o species, natives
Of Asia. northern Africa. Europe and the
southern part of North America.
In Japan the chrysanthemum Sinensis
Is the national flower. the imperial emblem
being open siX-petaled flower, and in
China il ranks as the fayorite flower OF
the empire. In both Of these countries the
crysanthemum Sinensis. which is the larg-
est Towering variety of the species. has re-
ceived the special attention of their florists
and under their patient and skillful cultiva
tiOn had developed into very great diversity
Of forms and colors long before its intro
duction into Europe and America.
In the United States the rose. the carna
ton and the violet take precedence in pop
r:iar favor. and the chrysanthemum Is rele
gated to fourth place as a florists flower
This is largely owing. however. to the com
parativcly short period of its blooming sea
son tabOut two months), and efforts are be
ing made constantly to overcome this de
tiOn Of very early and very late blooming
varieties Should this eventually be accom-
plished the chrysanthemu:n will then be
come a powerful competitor Of the rose fol
the first place as a florists flower.
''At the propa eating gardens of the pub
lie grounds in Washington the special oh
ject Of our efforts for a series of years ha:
been to secure early Towering varieties o
take the place of the tropical plants palms
CrotOns. etc, which are used here to somt
extent iur summer paintings IN various pdrl
beds of the public grounds. and which ART
moved back into the green houses late IL
September.
we have not as vet attained the measure
ot success in this undertaking that We hop,
for. but have succeeded in securing promis
ing results among our early blooming va
rieties raised at the propagating gardens.
The variety shown in the frontispiece o.
my report. Mrs. j. NJ Wilson a cross be
tween 'GlOriosum' and r. ID. Adams in
beauty and form and size of flower is S,
far uneNcelled by any variety we hay.
yet seen exhibited by any of the chrysan
themum growers. The color of the fIowe
is pure white. with a creamy blush in tn
center. \ number of the petals are eIon
gated and exterd from two to three fnche
further out than the others, producing ;