DECEMBER 



IRISH GARDENING. 



179 



Chrysanthemum Madame 

 C. Desgrange. 



By J. M.Tkoi i>. 



MADAME DESGRANGE (and its yellow sport, 

 G. Wermig), when disbudded and grown in 

 7-inch pots, is one of the finest of the early- 

 flowering- chrysanthemums for conservator}' or house 

 decoration. The cuttings may be taken off in January 

 cr February, when about two inches long, and having 

 appeared at a slight distance from the stem of the 

 plant. The cuttings, having been relieved of their 

 lower leaves, should be placed round the edge of a 

 4-inch pot, with a little fine moist soil, consisting of 

 loam, sand, and leaf-mould in 

 equal parts, with a dusting of 

 powdered charcoal, making it 

 firm. The pots may then be 

 placed in a box (about one foot 

 deep and about the same breadth ), 

 which should contain a few inches 

 of ashes at the bottom, and can 

 be fitted with one or two pieces 

 of glass as a covering. The box 

 should then be placed in a green- 

 house. The ashes below the 

 pots should be kept constantly 

 damp, in order to afford the neces- 

 sary moisture to support the 

 foliage of the cuttings whilst they 

 are forming rootlets ; the soil in 

 the pots should not, however, be 

 over - watered, only supplying 

 water when it is fairh- dry, or 

 otherwise the cuttings may rot. 



The amount of air afforded 

 should be regulated by the length 

 of time the cuttings have been 

 made, increasing it as they form 

 roots, and removing the glass 

 entirely as soon as practicable, 

 for they must not be coddled or 



allowed to become drawn up and weakly. The 

 little plants, when rooted, should be potted oft' singly 

 into small pots and placed on a shelf near the glass, 

 transferring them to a cold frame early in March ; 

 then they should have plenty of air in mild weather, but 

 should be covered with a mat jn frosty nights. When 

 the rootlets reach the hole of the pot, the plants should 

 be shifted into 4J-inch pots, and again in Ma)' into 

 their flowering pots. In April the top of each plant 

 should be removed, and six or eight shoots may be 

 allowed for each plant. To have growth which will 

 develop suitable flowers, the soil should be rammed 

 firmly with a blunt stick. In soil of a light character 

 it is hardly possible to pot too firmly ; but it is not wise 

 to pot so firmly with heavier soil, as the water will not 

 percolate so freely, and, should the drainage become 

 defective, trouble may ensue through the soil becoming- 

 waterlogged. 



Careful and free drainage is essential to success ; the 

 pots and crocks used should be perfectly clean, and the 



latter free from grit. Over the drainage put a layer of 

 the roughest parts of the compost, to prevent the fine 

 soil running down and thus preventing the free egress 

 of water. Over this sprinkle a small quantity of soot, as 

 this prevents to some extent the ingress of worms when 

 the plants are standing out of doors, and the soot also 

 acts as a stimulant. This soil should be firmly rammed 

 down previous to placing the plant thereon. Do not 

 cover the top of the ball of soil too deeply, just adding 

 a little to cover any roots which may have become bare 

 through watering. Leave a depth of i^ inches to allow 

 space for water and a little top-dressing at a future 

 time. If the soil is moist at potting, no water will be 

 required for three or four days, after which time a good 

 soaking may be given. An occasional wetting of the 

 foliage with the syringe will be found beneficial in the 

 afternoons of fine days. Chr}- 

 santhemums need a change ot 

 food, therefore those who are in 

 a position to apply stimulants in 

 variety stand a better chance of 

 success. Soot I consider an al- 

 most indispensable agent to the 

 growth of chrysanthemums in 

 pots ; it gives a dark colour and 

 robustness to the foliage whicli 

 are pleasing, especially as they 

 indicate thorough health ; soot 

 is most easily applied in a liquid 

 state. Sheep manure, when it 

 can be had direct from the fields, 

 makes a capital stimulant when 

 applied in a liquid form. Artificial 

 manures extend over a wide 

 range, are very simple of appli- 

 cation, and decidedly efiicacious 

 if used according to the direc- 

 tion given with each. Every 

 available means should be taken 

 to maintain the foliage intact 

 right down to the soil, and of a 

 healthy green colour. Suckers 

 or offshoots spring freely from 

 the base of Desgranges, and, if 

 they w^ere allowed to grow, they would rob the plant 

 of strength which should be utilised in a much better 

 manner until the flowers are produced; after that 

 period no harm is done by allowing the suckers to 

 extend for the production of cuttings. 



Ji t^ ^ 



Mk. TnKOMOLii has published in the pages of the 

 lournal of the English Board of Agriculture the results 

 of a series of experiments on the grease banding ot 

 fruit trees that he has been conducting for a period ot 

 over six years. His conclusions briefly stated are- 

 (!) Grease banding should be carried out from October 

 to mid-April. (2) Other injurious insects are caught ni 

 addition to winter moth and its allies. (3) All greases 

 except -'Tanglefoot" placed directly on the bark are 

 injurious. (4; The bands are best placed not less than 

 4 feet from the ground. (5) Thick parchment paper, 

 grease-proof, if possible on both sides, .s requ.ted. 



