THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



247 



push their cherry faces of white and say "llello" to you 

 in February. Other species of Crocus would flower every 

 week in the winter if a sheltered nook, where the sun 

 can reach them, was chosen for them ; and so we could 

 make our garden so interestino- during the winter that 

 there would be no need of puttint;- it out of onr memory 

 for three to four months. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 



After the shows are over look to your stock for the 

 coming" year. Select as many good healthy shoots as re- 

 quired, seeing that each variety is labeled correctly ; keep 

 clean from mildew and fl\- ; and when the propagating 

 time is at hand select the sturdy cuttings and insert in the 

 bench already prepared, watering in thoroughly. This 

 will carry them for a few days, besides firming the cut- 

 tings. Keep them sprayed lightly to guard against wilting. 



Thev should be rooted in about three weeks ; then pot 

 up in 2-inch or 2^o-inch pots with a nice light compost, 

 but do not firm sufificient to injure the roots. As soon as 

 they are established give an abundance of air to keep them 

 firm and sturdy, but never allow them to Ijecome root 

 boimd. 



It is essential to have the pots thoroughly clean in 

 order to transfer them without injury. Repot into 4-inch 

 pots with a nice compost consisting of three parts of 

 fibrous loam to one part leaf soil and one part decomposed 

 manure, adding charcoal, wood ashes, sand, etc. Place 

 in a house or frame and keep closed for two or three days. 

 Many people bench from 4-inch pots, while others prefer 

 the pot grown, which latter I am strongly in favor of. 



When they become nicely rooted, repot into 6-inch pots, 

 using practically the same compost, but coarser, besides 

 adding a little bonemeal. Keep a sharp lookout for mil- 

 dew and fly ; also to the disbudding. Should the plants 

 not show a natural break at this stage, it is policy to pinch 

 in order to encourage the next break. 



^^'hen the pots become well filled with roots, an occa- 

 sional watering with diluted liquid manure or soot water 

 niav be given with advantage. A spraying overhead with 

 the latter is also beneficial as an insecticide and stimulant. 



See that the plants are hardy and well-rooted before 

 placing into final pots (7-inch to 9-inch). Perfect drain- 

 age is most essential. 



The soil should be well rammed, allowing a space of 

 2 inches for watering and top dressing. For compost use 



four parts filjrous loam, one part leaf soil, one part de- 

 composed manure, adding lime rubble, wood ashes, char- 

 coal, sand, soot, and allowing a 6-inch pot of bone or 

 bonemeal to each of loam. 



• breeding may be commenced as soon as the roots are 

 found to be running freely, by applying weak doses of 

 liquid manure water. Change the feed sometimes as time 

 goes on, using chemical manure such as Clay's, Bon 

 Arbor, etc., wliich will be found most beneficial if used 

 with care and according to directions. Never apply ma- 

 nure when a plant is dry. 



About the middle of June some varieties not making a 

 natural break, such as F. S. Vallis, Harry E. Converse, 

 Mrs. Lopes, etc., will need pinching to make them produce 

 bud early in August. This allows about six weeks for the 

 last break ; later varieties should be timed accordingly. 



About the tenth of August many of the buds will be 

 ready for taking. After this date it is safe to take all buds 

 as soon as they become large enough to handle without 

 injury. In disbudding discretion must be exercised by 

 removing a few at a time. Keep the plants nicely staked, 

 tied and clean. 



After the buils are secured look out for their worst 

 enemy, the red spider, which will give considerable trou- 

 ble if they once get into the blooms. To avoid this fumi- 

 gate once a week until buds show color ; continue spraying 

 foliage on bright days, avoiding the buds, which will rot 

 if the water is allowed to settle in them. .-\lso beware of 

 the hairy caterpillar, which will ruin the foliage. Shade is 

 sometimes necessary to guard against the burning of tlie 

 petals during hot, bright days, the bronze and red varie- 

 ties being more susceptible to burning than the other 

 colors. 



Cut blooms intended for exhibition are greatly bene- 

 fited if put in water twenty-four hours before shipment. 

 In packing, the blooms travel much better if wrajiped 

 with a full sheet of soft tissue paper, which is quite easily 

 done by slitting the paper at the fold, inserting the stem 

 in the slit just below the bloom, then gathering the folds 

 and fastening at the top of the bloom with a gentle twist. 



In staging, see that all blooms are fresh, unblemished, 

 and preserve as much foliage as possible in the long stem 

 classes, as fresh blooms with good foliage generally cap- 

 ture the most points. 



Paper read by Wm. Vort before the Clirysauthcutittn Society of Aincriea, 

 Indianapolis, 2nd. 



EXHiniTIOX OF CHINESE .•\ND J.^P.■\^ESE V.\UIETTES, DEP.VRTMENT OF .XGRICUI.TURE. W.ASHINGTON, D. C. 



