84 ON THE CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM IND1CUM. 



good rich light soil, as they advance in growth they will require 

 a stake to tie them to, to prevent them from being broken down 

 by the wind. If any suckers appear, let them be removed, as the 

 Chrysanthemum shows itself to the greatest advantage when 

 grown with a single stem, and that stem filled with flowering 

 shoots from the bottom upwards. 



In the second or third week in June, nip off the tops of the 

 plants, which will cause them to throw out lateral shoots. In a 

 month or five weeks after the plants have been stopped, take 

 them up with as much soil adhering to their roots as possible, put 

 them into pots of about eight inches over, using soil composed of 

 sandy loam and well rotted manure, or leaf mould in equal quan- 

 tities. Place them in the shade, «nd at such distance one from 

 another, so that they may not be drawn up weak, and let the plants 

 be well supplied with water. In a month from the time of their 

 first potting, they will require shifting into pots of from ten to 

 twelve inches over. 



As the plants will now be getting large, they will require a good 

 supply of water, frequently twice a day, and in hot weather, to 

 be syringed two or three times a week. Should any mildew ap- 

 pear, dust a little sulphur over them, which will soon cause it to 

 disappear. In a month from this shifting, some of the larger 

 growing sorts will require to be shifted into pots of from 14 to 16 

 inches over. At this time the plants are removed from the north 

 to a south aspect, where, if the weather is hot and dry, they 

 are frequently syringed two or three times a day. Towards the 

 end of September, I remove them into a vinery, and if the wea- 

 ther is cold, and the flower buds not so forward as could be 

 wished, I apply fire during the night sufficient to keep the house 

 from 55 to (0 degrees, giving air at all favourable opportunities, 

 and closing the house early in the afternoon, sprinkling the plants 

 and house all over with water, which causes the plants to grow 

 luxuriantly. I place them as far apart as circumstances will ad- 

 mit, taking care not to crowd them, and they never fail to reward 

 with a good show of large flowers from November to January. 



As soon as the flower-buds are forward enough to distinguish 

 the best, the inferior buds are removed, leaving from one to three 

 on each shoot. 



As the plants come into bloom, they are removed into the con. 

 servatory. It is generally supposed that the Chrysanthemum 



