Ornamentals. 37 



the future. It seems, however, that there are two other 

 lines worth experimenting in, viz., the production of hand- 

 some and typical sprays, say of three flowers each, and, sec- 

 ondly, paying^ more attention to growing plants suitable for 

 house decoration. 



''It will not be easy for the commercial grower to bring 

 himself to the point of view which makes anything but the 

 biggest best. This is shown in the roses of the day, and, it 

 may be, the people who buy the flowers like the monstrosities 

 as well as the florist. There are signs in the air, however, that 

 a reaction may set in, and that the criterion of a well grown 

 flower will not always be size entirely. Even if size is re- 

 quired, a good showing can still be obtained by growing in 

 a more natural way. The cluster of three is natural to the 

 chrysanthemum, and if as carefully handled as in the one- 

 flowered system, there seems no reason to doubt that suf- 

 ficient size can be obtained, while a more characteristic effect 

 would be given ; the idea that chrysanthemums should be 

 bought, like cabbages, by the pound, would be abolished. 

 The long stems and fine foliage could easily be kept. Some 

 experiments would be needed to find out the varieties best 

 suited to this method of growing. Cut flowers so grown 

 might not at once commend themselves to the mass of 

 buyers. 



"In regard to potted plants being offered for sale in quan- 

 tities, there are some difficulties in the way ; chiefly, because 

 as compared with cut flowers, plants are cumbersome to 

 handle not only in shipping but in distribution, and there is 

 is as yet, in our market at least, no decided demand for grow- 

 ing plants of any kind. The chrysanthemum is a good one 

 to begin with ; it seems in every respect a plant to be used as 

 a whole, and is never so attractive as when of moderate size, 

 and without that excessive staking which increases the na- 

 tural stiffness of all the compositae ; a plant can be grown so 

 that it will- be well developed in every part, and yet not re- 

 quire the support of a stake for each individual flower as well 

 as stem, nor need these stakes be arranged with too much 

 firmness. Plants in six and seven inch pots would not be 

 expensive to handle ; they could be put on the market with 

 good profit to grower and shopman, and become an important 

 feature in the trade. A well grown plant fairly in flower, the 



