General Culture. 51 



After selecting the plants, choose an open spot, where they 

 can have an abundance of sunshine. Make the soil rich to a 

 depth of about eighteen inches with cow manure if the soil is 

 light and sandy. If stiff and clayey, horse droppings may be 

 used, while a little bone dust may be added with good effect: 

 A little sand may also be used to lighten the soil when it is 

 clayey, as the chrysanthemum thrives better in a rich loose 

 soil, and also because they may be lifted in the fall more 

 easily. The plants may be placed out of doors as soon as all 

 danger of severe frost is over ; in the latitude of New York, 

 from the middle of April to the end of May will be soon 

 enough, while in the extreme South and all through the Gulf 

 states they may be put out as soon as February, and propor- 

 tionately later to suit the climates of the intervening states. 

 The time at which they may be planted must be governed by 

 the frost periods in the given locality. The latest season at 

 which they may be planted with success is that which will 

 allow them a sufficiently long period of growth to become well 

 established in the ground before the dry hot days of summer. 



Set the plants out carefully, about two-and-a-half or three 

 feet apart, taking care that the roots are moist, and not suffer- 

 ing for want of water. While this amount of room should be 

 given when a border is devoted entirely to them, when grown 

 in a mixed border with other plants a space of two feet at 

 least should be given each individual. 



About the first week in June every plant should have the 

 center shoot pinched out an operation known as "stop- 

 ping." Care should be taken not to nip it out too low down, 

 only the center bud requiring removal. A strong stick should 

 be placed beside each plant, to which it should be loosely 

 tied. If it is desired to grow the plants to a single stem, all 

 side branches upon the lower part of the stem, and all shoots 

 that come from below the surface of the soil, should be removed 

 as fast as they appear. If, on the other hand, the bush form 



