292 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



become very useful plants for bedding out in the flower garden 

 for a winter's display ; hence we shall address ourselves to their 

 treatment for that purpose, in the present notice, and leave the sub- 

 ject of their cultivation for exhibition till a more suitable time. 



Premising, then, that you have supplied yourself with a stock of 

 plants of each of the varieties, which you are desirous of getting a 

 quantity of for flower garden purposes, place them at once in a warm 

 greenhouse or pit, at a temperature of 45° to 55°, and as fast as 

 they produce cuttings of sufficient length, take them off, and strike 

 them in the propagating pit or a close frame. Continue that prac- 

 tice until you have a sufficient number of each kind, and pot the 

 cuttings off as they get well rooted ; but bring them up hardy, and 

 keep them as dwarf as possible. The young plants, after they are 

 established in small pots, may be protected under temporary frames 

 until they are planted out in June. Having provided a sufficient 

 number of plants, the next step will be to prepare the ground ; and 

 this should be rather strong and well enriched, so that the plants 

 may be taken up with good balls. Now, if large specimens are 

 wanted, averaging say eighteen inches in height, and the same in 

 diameter, the plants must be put out in rows three feet apart, the 

 plants standing two feet apart in the rows ; but if smaller plants 

 will suffice, then you may take the cuttings in June, and after root- 

 ins them in a close frame, plant them out direct from the cutting 

 pots, taking advautage of dull, showery weather, and just sticking 

 them iu with a dibble, as you would a lot of cabbage plants. These 

 youug plants will not require so much room ; and hence, if they stand 

 eighteen inches apart each way, that will be sufficient. As soon as 

 they are established, and begin to grow freely, go over them not 

 later than the middle of July, and stop each plant by cutting the 

 head off within a few inches of the ground : this will cause them to 

 branch, and to become dwarf and very compact plants. If the larger 

 plants are put out, they will require the same treatment as to 

 cutting back, or they may be allowed to grow on, and have the 

 points of the shoots layered the first week in August, by which 

 means they will form very dwarf and compact plants for potting. 

 One thing, however, must not be forgotten, and that is, that these 

 small varieties must never be stopped later than July, or the pro- 

 bability is th:it they will not flower. Through the summer and 

 autumn, the only care the plants will require will be to keep the 

 ground clear from weeds, and deeply hoed occasionally ; to water 

 the plants in dry weather, giving them, when necessary, a thorough 

 soaking, and to protect them, by timely tying and staking, from 

 being broken by the wind. Towards the end of August, if the plants 

 continue to grow strongly, go along each row on one side, and with 

 a spade cut the roots to w ithin three or four inches of the stem ; 

 then, in about a fortnight, go along the other side, and cut the roots 

 in the same way ; and, if necessary, a third or fourth time. This 

 will check the growth of the plants, and, by ripening the wood, 

 induce and promote the blooming principle. Chrysanthemums, to 

 bloom them properly, should not be planted upon a cold soil, as the 

 bads are found to come blind, hard-eyed, and otherwise deformed : 



