112 THE CHRYSANTHEMUM IX CHINA. 



When they arc rooted, they are potted off at once into the pots in which they are 

 to grow and bloom ; that is, they are grown on what would be called by our 

 gardeners "the one-shift system." 



' The soil used in potting is of a very rich description. About Canton it is 

 generally obtained, in the first instance, from the bottom of lakes or ponds, where 

 the Nelumbium or "Water Lily grows. It is then laid up to dry and pulverize for 

 some months, when it is mixed with old night-soil, taken from the manure-tanks 

 found in every garden. A heap of this kind, after being laid up for some time, 

 and frequently turned over, is in a fit state for potting the Chrysanthemum. 

 Manure-water, taken also from the tanks, is liberally supplied during the growing 

 season, and its effects are visible in the luxuriant dark green leaves which cover the 

 plants. 



' In forming the plants into nice compact bushes, which, with due deference to 

 Chinese taste, I think prettier than animal and " seven-storied pagodas," their 

 system is as follows : — The plants are trained each with a single stem ; this is 

 forced to send out numerous laterals near its base, and these are tied down in a neat 

 and regular manner, with strings of silk thread. By having the plants clothed 

 with branches in this way, and by keeping the leaves in a green and healthy state, 

 the specimens never have that bare and brown appearance which they often present 

 in England, when taken into the greenhouse in the winter. 



' About Shanghae and Ningpo, the Chrysanthemum is still better managed than 

 it is near Canton ; but the success which attends it may be attributed, partly at least, 

 to the more favourable nature of the climate, the plant being indigenous to the 

 central or more northern parts of the empire. The system of cultivation is nearly 

 the same — the main points attended to being those already noticed, namely, 

 choosing a rich soil, planting at once into large pots, training to a single stem, and 

 inducing it to send out numerous laterals, and giving liberal supplies of manure 

 water during the growing season. The Chinese are fond of having very large 

 blooms, and in order to obtain these, they generally pick off all the small flower buds. 



' In China, as in England, the Chrysanthemum flowers during the winter months. 

 When in bloom, it is in great request among the people, and is used in the decoration 

 of court-yards, halls, and temples. It is everybody's plant, and blooms alike in the 

 garden of the lowly Chinese cottager, and in that of the red-buttoned mandarin. 



Although we are indebted to China for the parents of those varieties of Chrysan- 

 themums which now enliven our gardens during the dull months of winter, yet, 

 strange to say, the progeny is more numerous in Europe than in China itself. Some 

 of those more beautiful kinds raised by Mr. Salter in France would be much admired 

 even by the Chinese florist. It is a curious fact, however, that many of those kinds, 

 such as formosum and lucidum, which were originally raised from seed in Europe, are 

 also met with in the north of China.' — Fortune's Tea Districts of China. 



