MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS 69 



above. Ram the soil tolerably solid, as the plants like a 

 firm rooting medium. At all times Chrysanthemums must 

 be kept moist at the roots, and to effect this towards the 

 autumn, when the pots are well filled with roots, it may 

 be necessary to water two or three times a day. This 

 love of water should be arranged for when potting, by 

 leaving at least one and a half inches between the rim of 

 the pot and the surface soil, so that sufficient to soak 

 the ball may be given at each instalment. When flower 

 buds have formed, feeding with manure may be com- 

 menced and continued until the flowers have opened. 

 During the summer months, the plants must be stood 

 outside in the open, so that the wood may be solid and 

 ripen well. Late in September or early in October, 

 according to locality, they must be brought into the 

 greenhouse, which should be fully ventilated night 

 and day. The removal will check the plants slightly, 

 and it will be necessary to reduce the water supply 

 for a few days until they become acclimatised to 

 their new surroundings. As a safeguard against mildew, 

 which frequently attacks the plants directly they are 

 housed, if not before, they should be laid down and 

 syringed all over with a solution of sulphide of potassium, 

 using half an ounce to the gallon of soft water. Do not 

 overcrowd the plants when housed, or indeed at any 

 other time, for they must be allowed always to have 

 plenty of air circulating round them. When flowering 

 is over, cut the plants down to within six inches of the 

 pots and remove them either to a cold frame, where 

 they may be protected from severe frost, or to a light 

 position in a cool greenhouse, giving for the time only 

 a limited water supply and throwing them away after 

 sufficient cuttings have been secured, for young plants 

 are better than old ones for general purposes. 



Crassulas. The Crassulas or Kalosanthes, as they are 

 sometimes called, are easily grown. To flower them 



