170 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOOIETY. 



shoots singly up to the main stalk, using a separate string for each 

 shoot, not tying all together like a sheaf of wheat. Later in the sea- 

 son more stalks will be necessary, as the branches will need to spread 

 out so the air can circulate through them, and induce their proper de- 

 velopment. At all times during the summer the ground around the 

 plants should be kept clean and well worked ; water always in dry- 

 weather. Chrysanthemum should never be allowed to suffer for want 

 of water. 



The soil for Crysanthemum is a matter of considerable importance. 

 My experience has been that the best compost is obtained from an old 

 pasture, using the soil cut from beneath the sod. In some places it may 

 be cut three inches; in others one-half inch will be deep enough to ob- 

 tain all the fibrous parts. The sod is just as good, provided it has 

 laid long enough for the grass to decay. Charcoal is of great assist- 

 ance in keeping the soil in the pots porous and acting as a store-house 

 for ammonia ; manure is of the next importance, and must be applied 

 in one form or another. The best manure is that prepared by shaking 

 out all the straw and reserving little but the droppings from horses. 

 Cow manure is good on light soils ; sheep droppings and the cleanings- 

 of poultry-houses may also be used. Bone meal is also a powerful 

 stimulant. Soot-water applied is also a powerful stimulant, but must 

 be used with caution, and not too excessively applied, or it will do more 

 injury than good. Quick-lime is good to destroy worms ; a handful is 

 all that is required. It is best applied when preparing the soil ; for 

 heavy soils, one-third sand should be used. Liquid manure should be 

 given freely once a week, after the plants have recovered from the 

 effects of potting; plants that have been grown in the open ground all 

 summer should be taken up and potted in September in this latitude, 

 in order that they may recover from the operation before blooming- 

 time arrives. The training and culture of specimen plants is much 

 the same, only the plants are never planted in the open ground. 



But time and space forbids me to go into particulars; more of this 

 anon. Hoping that the above lines may be of interest and assistance 

 to my flower-loving friends, will close. 



