44 BOOK OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



lant, just to help swell the seed at this period, but what- 

 ever is given it must be done in a sparing manner. Bend 

 the blooms directly over the pipes, and should any fly or 

 other insect make its appearance, fumigate immediately. 

 When the flower has faded, and the seed is considered 

 to be swelling away, the stem may be sharply bent, 

 allowing the ffower head still to hang over the pipes so 

 as to obtain the necessary warmth. After a period of a 

 few weeks the stem may be broken right off, the centre 

 of the disc removed to prevent an unnecessary quantity 

 of singles, and the head of the bloom placed in a clean 

 dry vessel of some description, the latter near to the 

 pipes, until the time arrives when a gentle touch with 

 the finger will cause the ripe seed to fall out. 



This can be sown almost immediately in shallow pans 

 filled with some light sandy compost, and placed in a 

 frame which possesses a gentle bottom heat. 



When germinated and the seedlings large enough to 

 handle, prick off into other pans and then into 2|-inch 

 pots and so on, when in the space of a few months one 

 will be able to realise the result of his labours, and if 

 success has attended the efforts made, by the developing 

 of even one good bloom. Undoubtedly hybridising 

 requires a great amount of time and patience, at the 

 same time there is always a certain amount of pleasure 

 attached to it. 



Some growers by severing the blooms with portions 

 of stem, and placing them in vessels containing water 

 have successfully ripened seed in this manner. Mr 

 J. Salter accomplished this in the early days. 



I should have previously remarked that cuttings from 

 suitable varieties for hybridising may be obtained from 

 plants that have been pinched and cut back also when 

 breaking from the first bud. Sometimes more growths 

 are thrown than needed, when the spare ones may be 

 utilised for this purpose. 



