122 ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



shaded with a mat, keeping them very damp, watering over the 

 leaves, and shutting down the lights cpiite close. In a few days 

 they strike fresh root ; I then give them air by degi'ees, and in a 

 few days more they are fit to be turned out of the pots, with earth 

 entire, where they are intended to remain. By this method, at 

 least a fortnight is gained, and this slight forcing, so far from 

 " iiTetrievably," or at all weakening them, decidedly helps them 

 forward. I have raised cuttings in this way with equal success 

 scarcely a leaf has flagged. 



Constant watering is essential to the well doing of the Chrysan- 

 themum, more particularly when placed against a south or west 

 aspected wall, and manured water should be often used ; that of a 

 mixture of soap-suds and horse-dung seem the best. 



Autumn planting I entirely dislike, and except from necessity, 

 should never be adopted ; cuttings never do well, and suckers very 

 seldom. As to training, if the object be to get tall plants, I have 

 three stems ; if they are wanted bushy, one stem is sufBcient, the 

 top of which should be pinched off about June, and the fan fashion 

 of training is decidedly the best ; many of the branches may be 

 trained back and made to bloom down to the root, and the effect 

 is very superior to the flowers only appearing at the extremities 

 of the branches. Thinning the flower buds increases the size of 

 the remaining flowers. A very good plan, where late flowers are 

 required, is to kave three stems, train the centre one against the 

 wall as above recommended, and shorten and peg down the other 

 two, one on each side ; the tops of the branches will raise them- 

 selves, and a profusion of bloom may be thus obtained ; or if ob- 

 liquely trained, the same result will follow, but the extremities in 

 this case should be nipped off. 



The above method, with suckers and cuttings, I have found 

 decidedly the best for plants in the open ground. 



As to plants in pots, which are so very desirable for the Green- 

 house, Mr. Haworth says not a word ; perhaps it may be of use, 

 to some of your readers, to state very briefly, a few ver}- successful 

 methods of growing them in pots. 



In the beginning of April, take cuttings five inches long j plant 

 them in thumbs or small 60's, one in each pot, in mould of about 

 one-fourtli sand, one-half loam, and one-fourth vegetable mould ; 

 treat them as above, and in June shift them into 48's in the same 



