HOUSING AND WINTERING OF PLANTS 



TOWARDS the end of September it will be advisable to 

 commence getting under cover some of the earliest of 

 the large blooming section. Those with buds rather 

 prominent will be safer indoors, for a slight frost unex- 

 pectedly happening might do mischief to some of the 

 unfolding petals. Rain and wind too are often unpleasant 

 factors at this period. 



When housing the plants they should be given as much 

 space as possible, also as much overhead light as is per- 

 missible. Too many growers make the fatal mistake of 

 bundling them into the houses, packing them like sardines 

 in a tin, as though the whole season was finished, and 

 there were little or nothing more to do except to watch 

 them develop their blooms. There is little possibility of a 

 plant doing itself justice under such circumstances. Far 

 better grow a less quantity and give them more room 

 and freedom. Each plant should have sufficient space 

 around it, so that its foliage may remain just clear of its 

 neighbours. It will then be in a position where it can 

 have individual attention as to watering, disbudding of 

 side growths, etc. There are always a number of side 

 growths which spring away from every plant almost as 

 soon as it is placed under cover. These should be 

 regularly removed, otherwise they will soon run out the 

 strength of the plant, every scrap of the latter of which 

 is needed for the development of the bloom. 



Where houses in their entirety cannot be devoted to the 

 housing of the 'Mums, the next best thing to do is to gjet 

 part of a house, where the plants can be grouped on the 



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