66 THE FLORIST. 



dumpy woman ; yet many disagree and tell us that not so did 

 the ancient sculptor think, when he formed the Venus de 

 Medici. I must own that some of Mr. Broome's plants thus 

 grown struck me as heing very heautit'ul ; my great objection 

 to them heing that they take up so much room ; and after all, 

 who grows a plant naturally ? There must he staking, tying 

 out, nipping, &c, and the extent to which this is to go must 

 depend on the tastes and wishes of the grower. As a general 

 rule, I should prefer plants as natural as possible, though I see 

 no real objection to a few heing thus twisted out of their 

 natural position — however, he careful my good reader, this can 

 only he clone at a considerable expenditure of time and trouble. 

 I do not think that we have gained much in the way of cul- 

 tivation. The best time for striking cuttings is by many said 

 to be November ; but some of the finest plants at the last 

 shows were, I believe, from those taken off April and even May. 

 There can be but little advantage in autumn struck cuttings, 

 unless they are to be kept growing all the winter — as some 

 advise. It cannot be too strongly impressed on growers 

 that the Chrysanthemum is a very gross feeder, and that 

 consequently, if you grow it in a small pot, you must supply con- 

 tinued fresh nourishment — not only watering it well every day, 

 but giving it considerable doses of liquid manure. One great 

 object should be to have the foliage clean and fresh to the very 

 pot, and this will never be done if they are ever allowed to flag 

 for want of water. And now as to sorts ; if you have not any, 

 go to a good nurseryman — Mr. Salter, of Hammersmith ; Mr. 

 Henderson, of St. John's Wood ; and Mr. Turner, of Slough ; 

 may be relied on ; tell them your wants, and leave yourself in 

 their hands. If, however, you have a good number of varieties, 

 you will, I dare say, want some new ones. Let me refer you 

 then to the list at the close of this paper, which has been 

 supplied by one of the above eminent growers, and which we 

 have very little doubt can be fully relied on ; but before doing 

 so, I would again ask you to look at the plate, and when you 

 hear that the superb yellow there figured is a " sport," you will 

 doubtless cry out — Oh ! fortunate Mr. Salter; for he is the 

 originator of it. It bloomed last season at the Versailles 

 Nursery, from whence so many fine varieties have emanated. It 

 sported from Mr. S.'s own Queen of England, in 1857. The 

 colour is a golden canary, with a rosy shade when fully 

 incurved. As a show flower for cut blooms, it will, we believe, 

 stand unrivalled, both for form and size among yellows, even 

 as all blush flowers are eclipsed by Queen of England, of which it 

 is the exact counterpart, except in colour. To those who 

 visited the winter garden last November, any description will 

 be superfluous, inasmuch as all were unanimous in its praise ; 



