1871.] ABOUT THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 35 



ABOUT THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



About the first thing I do when the ' Gardener ' arrives is to read 

 the article by M. T., which appears as regularly as the 'Gardener' 

 does itself at the beginning of every month. In the May number, 

 1870, M. T. says something about Chrysanthemums, which, in my 

 opinion, is very far from right. He advises the plunging of the pots, 

 " so that the sun will not burn the roots." Now, as the Chrysanthe- 

 mum is a favourite of mine, and as my confreres in Scotland do not 

 generally give it the attention it deserves, I should like, with your 

 leave, to say a little in its favour, or rather to tell a few truths about it. 

 It does not require being said that the Chrysanthemum is the best 

 early winter-flowering plant we have. At the same time, a great pro- 

 portion of gardeners know absolutely nothing of the perfection to 

 which it can, with very little trouble, be grown. In the large-flower- 

 ing section, some of the incurved flowers rival either the Dahlia or 

 Hollyhock in size and symmetry of bloom. The Japanese varieties 

 are equally worthy of attention for their curious and eff'ective flowers ; 

 and the Pompons, whether Anemone-flowered or the more common 

 Chusan Daisy and its hybrids, quite as much deserve attention from the 

 fact of its being possible to train them any way that the fancy of the 

 grower may suggest, and for the beauty of their little flowers. In the 

 south of England, February is quite early enough to commence propa- 

 gating for general purposes ; but in Scotland the beginning of January 

 should see as many cuttings in of the various sorts as will be required 

 for the conservatory or greenhouse in December. Always get your 

 plants from cuttings, and never put in slips with roots attached. For 

 plants which are wanted for quality of flowers the strong-growing 

 points are best ; and those wanted for specimen plants, either large- 

 flowering or Pompons, ought to be stubby cuttings, as they are more 

 free in growth than the growing points. Insert one cutting in a 

 3-inch pot, and place them in a cool house, such as a greenhouse, 

 as near the glass as possible. If it can be managed to place a 

 frame over them, so as to keep them close, so much the better. Do 

 not, on any account, allow the soil to get dry. Keep it constantly 

 moist. • They will be rooted in four or five weeks, after which they 

 should not be checked, but must be kept growing. As soon as all 

 danger from the February frosts is past, they may be moved to a 

 cold frame or pit, and every precaution taken to keep frost from them; 

 for although they can stand a good deal of frost, still it checks the 

 growth, and therefore ought to be guarded against. Some ought to 

 be grown for quality of the flowers, and should never be pinched ; 

 but the side-shoots ought to be taken off. However, if there is any 



