THE CHRYSANTHEMUJI. 



Uesides these tall sorts, Messrs, Paul grow an interesting selection of dwarf 

 sorts, comprising most of the leading colours, the plants scarcely exceeding 

 iivo feet in height, the flowers very thick on the spikes from top to bottom, 

 .and with small green leaves protruding from the stem between. 



§ 3.— The Chrysanthemum. 



^97. Unusual importance attaches to the cultivation of Chrysanthemums, 

 from the facility with which they may be grown in the very heart of large towns, 

 -as has been proved by the efforts of Mr. Broome in the Temple Gardens, where 

 he has grown all the best varieties in a manner which has astonished many who 

 have examined his collection. The flower is of easy culture, and cuttings 

 may be struck almost up to the time of flowering, and nothing is finer than 

 the display of its flowers in October and November, ranging as they do from 

 pure white to a deep orange, from a jaale blue to deep red and crimson ; but, 

 like the dahlia, the first frost sadly spoils its bloom. Where the collection is a 

 -choice one, therefore, they are best trained against a wall, or in beds, where 

 protection against sudden frost can be easily applied. By means of pot-culture, 

 which is now extensively used, a splendid show of flowers may be preserved 

 •even up to Christmas, with comparatively little trouble. 



998. Cuttings of chrysanthemums should be potted pretty thickly together 

 in sandy soil, and the pots plunged to the rim in a gentle hotbed. If the 

 number is not lai-ge, put each in a thumb-pot, and let it root there, so that 

 there may be no dei-angement of the plants when they are repotted. Nothing 

 roots more certainly than the chrysanthemum ; but if rooted pieces of the old 

 plant are taken instead of cuttings, propagation will go on without any trouble 

 at all. In order to give the plants every advantage, they must never be either 

 root-bound or allowed to flag from drought; and these evils are to be avoided by 

 frequent repottings and constant attention to watering. The blooming-pots 

 should generally be 10 inches deep and 8 in diameter at the top; and between 

 the thumb-pots and these final ones there should be at least three shiftings. 

 Fresh rich soil must be used to fill up the space in the larger pot. Plenty of 

 fresh air and sunlight must be afforded all through the growth of the chry- 

 .santhemum, and as it absorbs rapidi}', it requires some care to prevent the 

 leaves from flagging. In hot sunny weather, with the sun shining full on the 

 pots, half a dozen waterings in a day would scarcely accomplish this, and 

 prevention must be tried by burying the pots up to the rim in the moist soil 

 of the garden : thus treated, one or two good waterinjfs in a day will be suffi- 

 cient. Care mus^, be taken that worms do not get into the pot, by placing them 

 on bricks, slates, or coal-ashes. They should be turned round twice a week 

 to prevent their roots striking into the material beneath the pots. Liquid 

 manure may be supplied rather plentifully as the flower-buds begin to expand r 

 when judiciously ai.plied, it produces finer growth and deeper colour. The 

 l)cst compost consists of two parts light loam to one part of well-decomposed 

 ■dung, freely mixed with sand. 



