CHAP. VIII VILLA GAEDENING 193 



to clarify it. In syringiug, use 1 quart of tlie liquid to 3 

 gallons of soft water. It is a good wash for Roses, Azaleas, or 

 any other plaut that requires a wash. Prevention is better than 

 ciu'e ; therefore use the wash in time and, in fact, for the sake of its 

 health-giving properties. 



Training, etc. — In order to show the blossoms to the best 

 advantage, it is necessary to afford them support ; but the stakes 

 should be neat, and not placed conspicuously. The training should 

 take place early, so that both flowers and foliage may appear 

 in their natural condition, which they rarely do if the plants are 

 left too long untrained. To obtain fine flowers the buds must be 

 thinned, but not immoderately, for home use, leaving, of course, 

 those which furnish evidence of their fitness to survive, and after a 

 little experience these can soon be identified. The plants should 

 be placed under shelter of some kind before severe frost arrives. 

 A glass roof is best, but I have often kept them securely under a 

 temporary canvas screen that coidd be rolled up in the daytime 

 and let down at night. The best compost for Chrysanthemums 

 is a good holding loam full of fibre, especially for the last shift. 

 It may also for this shift contain more nutriment in the shape of 

 manure. In the earlier pottings, leaf-mould or very old hotbed 

 manure to the extent of one-third should be added to the loam. 

 Calcined oyster-shells may be advantageously mixed with the soil, 

 as they will not only keep the soil open, but add to its stimulating 

 constituents. Bone-dust in small quantities can also be used witli 

 benefit, and when the loam is light and sandy, clay may be mixed 

 with it, fij'st drying it and then breaking it up into a fine dust 

 with a hammer, in which condition it at once blends thoroughly 

 with the loam. I found a great advantage years ago in using 

 clay when I cultivated a poor hungry soil. Another valuable 

 stimulant, too, for Chrysanthemums, Strawberries, etc., was night- 

 soil, laid up until it got mellow and then mixed with the soil. 

 For growing various plants which require high feeding, its eftect 

 was very marked ; in fact, since using it I have entertained a 

 very high opinion of night-soil as a fertiliser. 



Varieties — Large-flowered sections; Reflexed and Incurved. — 

 Dr. Sharpe, King of Crimsons, George Glenny, Chevalier Domage, 

 Progne, Venus, Christine, Prince of Wales, Mrs. Bundle, Princess 

 Beatrice, Empress of India, Queen of England, White Globe, White 

 Venus, Mr. Gladstone, Jardin des Plantes, C. E. Waters, Mrs. 

 Haliburtou, Mrs. Heale, Hero of Stoke-Newington, Alfred Salter, 

 Mrs. Forsyth, Golden Beverley, Lord Derby, Purple King, Lady 

 Hardinge, Lady Talfourd, Pink Perfection, Refulgence, Le Grand, 

 Mrs. Shiijman, Mr. Bunn, Duchess of Manchester, General Bain- 



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