MAY. 107 



ordinary results need be expected, and this is pre-eminently the case 

 with the Chrysanthemum. I stated last year that the cut blooms 

 produced by me at the exhibition of 1849 were from cuttings struck 

 on a hot-bed, mostly as late as March, and afterwards gradually 

 hardened off; but further experience has led me to i)refer propagat- 

 ing as soon after the blooming season as I can get cuttings ; as by 

 striking early it enables the plant to store up sufficient matter in its 

 young state to meet the demands made on it in the growing season ; 

 for in m)'^ opinion the plant cannot be too strong, if the production 

 of large and perfect blooms is the object in view. In selecting cut- 

 tings, I prefer the strongest suckers, with a portion of root attached 

 to them; I then fill some 3-inch pots with sandy loam, and in each 

 of these I insert three cuttings ; they are then placed in a cold frame 

 and kept rather close for a short time. I am opposed to striking in 

 heat, as it deprives them of that robust habit in the early stage of 

 their growth, which is necessary to ensure superb blooms. In April 

 most of them M'ill require potting ; I then prepare a compost, con- 

 sisting of one-third yellow loam, one-third rotten turf, and one-third 

 rotten manure, mixing all well together, and adding sufficient rough 

 sand, or grit, to make the whole porous. I shift them out of the 

 3-inch pots into G-inch ones, care being taken not to disturb the 

 young roots. 



After potting I place them in the open air, in a situation sheltered 

 from easterly winds, and sufficiently distant from each other to pre- 

 vent their growing up weakly. During their growth I frequently 

 alter their position, in order to rightly balance their shapes, and to 

 prevent their rooting through the pots into the ground. In the end 

 of June or the beginning of July, if all goes on well, they will be 

 ready for receiving their final shift. This is effected by providing some 

 large pots in which there is plenty of drainage, and using the com- 

 post mentioned above, but in a much coarser state ; I then place them 

 in a situation fully exposed to the influence of the sun, adopting the 

 same practice as before, and into each pot I fix stakes for tying the 

 plants as the)'^ may want it. Requiring, as the Chrysanthemums do, 

 a liberal supply of water during the growing season, they should not, 

 under any pretence, be permitted to suffer from drought ; if this 

 is the case, deformed blossoms will often be the result ; but, on the 

 other hand, the soil should not be so drenched as to become sod- 

 dened, for that would also prove injurious to a fine bloom, as well 

 as to the health of the plant. If they are well established in their 

 pots by the end of August, I commence supplying them with liquid 

 manure at least once a week, beginning with it rather weak at first, 

 but increasing its strength in proportion to the growth of the plant. 

 I discontinue the manure-water when the blooms expand, jireviously 

 diminishing its strength gradually until the sujiply is cut off. 



Constant attention is essential in the early stage of the growth 

 of the plant. Without it the blooms will be indifferent. As laterals 

 are produced, I pinch them oft'; but I never stop the main stem. As 

 soon as the blooming stems become visible, I remove all but tlrree or 

 four, according to the strength of the plant. When the flower- buds 



