Evening star., 1934-11-01
FIRST LADY VISITS
DISPLAY OF NUNS
Mrs. Wallace Is Hostess to
Wives of Cabinet Members.
Show Open to Public.

Uncle Sam, flower exhibitor extra
ordinary, is giving a free show to the
public at the greenhouses at Four
teenth street and Constitution avenue,
with thousands of chrysanthemums
of varied hues. The autumnal display
officially opened yesterday and drew
distinguished gathering. headed by
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and group
of cabinet ladies. Mrs. Henry A. Wal
lace, wife of the Secretary OF Agricul-
ture, was the hostess.
The Department of Agriculture ex-
poets to be host to some 10000 visi-
tors at the Chrysanthemum Show this
year, for the average of the past 10
years has been 27,000 annually and
interest in the exhibition is growing
The show will be open daily from 9
am. to pm, until next Wednesday
night. 1t is in charge of j. Y. Byrnes,
who superyises the greenhouses.
Not Just Flower Display.
"The Chrysanthemum Show is not
just flower display" B. Y. Morrison,
head of the division of plant explora-
ton and introduction, Bureau Of
Plant Industry, Department of Agri-
culture, today reminded the public
1T represents part of the work OF
the department for a great many
years. Through it more seedlings are
being introduced into trade.
There is great deal of educational
information that can be gained from
this display. The flowers were orig
inally developed from the wild chrys-
anthemum that first was cultivated in
China and Japan. Old varieties have
been brought from England and named
after the Turner family, who are still
mum growers.
The chrysanthemums have a great
many colors and different forms.
There are the small ones, called but
tons Another variety is known as
pompons. Then there are the aster
Powered. In the big f1owered plants
are the incurved, with the petals
turned inward as a tight wad and
the refeXed, in which the petals all
hang down like shaggy head. Then
there are the Japanese types in which
the flower petals are tubular"
Mr.. Morrison explained that chrys-
anthemums, like pigs, can be fat
tened" This is done by the use of
a special fertilizer and the special
practices in pruning. If permitted to
grow naturally, the chrysanthemums
would grow to a height of eight feet.
BY cutting them down, each stem
is made to produce only one flower.
Through lack of funds, the Depart
ment of Agriculture has not been able
to purchase much new stock, say the
officials. The Bureau of Plant In
dustry is fostering the show, which
represents a preparation dating back
to last January. After the current
show is over the authorities will Sc
lect the plants for propagating and
the flowers that will grace the 1885
Mum Show
Many Varieties in Show.
In this years show, there are some
500 pompon varieties, and of that
number 1868 were originated in the
greenhouses of the department, Mr..
Byrnes explains. There are 200 vari-
eties of japanese, and of that group
SO originated here. In addition,
there are four new cascade varieties
that hang like a floral waterfall from
baskets hung from the ceiling, and
these were all developed at the de-
partment. Commercial chrysanthe-
mum growers developed the other
varieties being exhibited.
The current show is the thirty
third annual display. and one of its
features is the large yellow variety
of japanese chrysanthemum. named
for Mrs. Roosevelt. White, pink, Law
ender. yellow, red. bronze, gold and
other colors, the display unfolds like
floral rainbow and it is entirely free
to the public.