For a hundred years the chrysanthemums have had periods of great popularity and then of neglect. As a cut flower every fall the chrysanthemum is as welcome as ever. The Australian varieties have added many splendid varieties to our exhibition sorts as well as some valuable commercial kinds. There are no longer a dozen firms each sending out a new set annually at Klondike prices, for which we must be devoutly thankful. An aspirant for public favor now must be about perfect and a slight advance on preceding kinds. A few new ones each year are an abundance and even these are offered at a price that allows us to give them a trial. We do not believe that chrysanthemums will ever drop from public favor, as has for instance the camellia, for it has many noble attributes to make it annually welcome. The perfection to which they are now grown is something former generations knew nothing of and the flower buying public of thirty years ago was so insignificant compared with today that it could be truthfully said to be non-existent.

Chrysanthemum Wm, Duckham.

The commercial florist is interested mostly in the cut blooms and in a much smaller extent in a medium sized plant in a pot. Cultural directions for both will be found below. The standards and large specimens are left to the private gardener who has time, money and space for them.