IRISH GARDENING 



Chrysanthemum Propagation. 



By I). McIntosh, Gardener to Alderman liewley, 

 Danimi, Eathgar. 



Xo flowers are more highly esteemed during the 

 autumn and winter months than those of the 

 Chrysanthemum. From start to finish through- 

 out their jjeriod of growth it is very important 

 that they should be grown on slowly, cool, and 

 steadily, without the slightest check. In the 

 first jilace. it is the duty of the cultivator to see 

 that solid sturdy cuttings have been i)rei)ared 

 for insertion. 



If the best results are to be achieved, it is well to 

 have one or two j^lants of each variety cvit over as 

 early as ])ossible after the flowers have fully 

 expanded. These pots should then be set up in 

 a position near the glass, where they will receive 

 ])lenty of light and air. Any that have an over- 

 abundance of suckei's should be well thinned, 

 cutting out those that are soft and spindly. The 

 next important item is the preparation of the soil 

 in which the cuttings are to be rooted. The 

 best for this i)urpose is good old fibrous loam — 

 that which has been stacked for several months. 

 When in a suitably dry condition rub it through 

 a J-inch sieve and retain the fibry material for 

 drainage. To evei'y two parts of loam add one 

 ])art leaf-mould and one ])art silver or river sand 

 with a sprinkling of wood ashes. Mix the whole 

 together thoroughly. Thumb pots are the best 

 receptacles for the cuttings. If these have been 

 thoroughly washed and dried, place a little' fibry 

 material at the bottom of the pots to act as 

 drainage, and then fill up to the lim with the 

 ])re])ared compost, pressing it down gently as the 

 work ])roceeds. Cover the surface of each pot 

 with a good sprinkling of sand. The next job 

 will be to look round for those cuttings which 

 are ready for taking off. The inexjierienced are 

 a]it to jump at a big thick sucker. Believe me 

 it is not the treasure it looks. What should be 

 the aim of the cultivator is to select medium 

 sized cvittings. more solid and wiry than other- 

 wise, about three inches long. Remove the two 

 V)ottom leaves, make a clean cut immediately 

 underneath the joint and the cutting is ready for 

 insertion. If any trace of green or black fly is 

 ])resent, dip the cuttings in a solution of soft soap 

 and water. With a smooth round dibble make 

 a hole in the centre of the ]iot, carrying with it 

 some of the sand previously laid on, insert the 

 cutting and press the soil firni against its base. 

 Finish off by making the soil firm all round with 

 the blunt end of the dibble. Label each cut-ing, 

 water them well in with a fine rose, and allow 

 them to stand on the bench for an hour or so. 

 For reference, it is a good plan to have a smooth 

 board himg up in the potting shed, containing a 

 list of the varieties to be giown. It may be 

 marked ofT in the following manner : — 



It can thus be seen at a glance what (cuttings 

 have been inserted and how many ])lants have 

 been potted on. 



Boxes with sheets of glass laid over the top 

 make ideal rooting enclosures. Place one inch 

 of fine cinder ashes at the Ijottom of the box so 

 as to have a moist drainage underneath the pots. 

 Keep the temperature at 15° by night and 50^ 

 by day. On no account must fire heat be used 

 unless absolutely necessary in the event of a 

 sharp frost. The glass should be lifted off for 

 an hour or so every day and set back to dry. 

 Very little water will be required before the 

 ])lants are rooted. If they have a tendency to 

 flag at any time a slight s|)ra>ing will be sufficient 

 to freshen the leaves. As soon as signs of rooting 

 are shown, tilt the glass a little higher every day, 

 until it can be removed altogether, , gradually 

 inuring the plants to the atmosphere of the 

 house. In a few days they can then be lifted 

 out and stood on a staging laid with ashes, and 

 as near to the glass as possible. The m.ore light 

 and air the plants get the more stocky will be 

 their growth. While the plants are in thumb 

 ])ots careful watch must be kejjt that none of 

 them become dry. The roots are so (ino that 

 they are easily injured. 



Winter^flowering Begonias and 

 their Culture. 



Few plants during the last decade have made 

 such rai)id strides in public favour as these 

 Begonias. They are the result of intercrossing 

 the jnnk and winter-flowering B. socotrana with 

 the tuberous -rooting varieties that are so highly 

 prized for summer bedding and greenhouse 

 decoration. 



To Messrs. Veitcli, Chelsea, and Messrs. 

 Clibran, of Altrincham, is due the credit of 

 bringing out these beaAitiful svibjects. The first 

 one to be sent out by the former firm was named 

 .John Heal, a bright rose-carmine ; other single 

 varieties are Mrs. Heal, brilliant rose-carmine, 

 and Ideala. Among the senu-double kinds are 

 Elatior. Ensign, Julius, Winter Cheer and Winter 

 Perfec'tion, which are for the most ])art carmine 

 or rose-pink. Messrs. Veitch's newer varieties 

 embrace Fascination, bright orange-salmon : 

 Exquisite, pink and white ; Emita, dee]) orange : 

 Oi)tima, salmon-orange ; and Her Majesty, a 

 charming salmon-yellow. 



In Messrs. Clibran's (;atalogue will be found a 

 number of new sorts now offered for the first time. 

 Many have received awards of merit from the 

 Royal Horticultural Society, Vincent Square, 

 during the la-st year or so. They embrace Scarlet 

 Beauty, Splendour, reddish scarlet ; Eclipse, 

 salmon-scarlet : Lucy Clibran, bright salmon- 

 pink suffused with orange in centre : Clibran's 

 Ci'imson ; Clibran's Scarlet ; Disi)lay, a striking 

 novelty, with rich deep salmon flowers ; 

 Alti'incham Pink ; A]n-icot, orange-ai)ricot, 

 suffused with pink ; Mr. T. H. Cook, a lov^ely 

 shade of rose-pink : and a host of othei' good 

 things could be quoted if si)ace permitted. 



These charming Begonias i)roduce a wealth of 

 blossoms from October till the end of .fanuary, 

 and are almost indisjjensable where a bright show 

 of flower is required. For a long time the 

 dominant colour was rose-ptink or carmine, but 

 now we have some glorious shades f)f oi'ange- 



