122 Chrysanthemum Culture for America. 



JUNE. 



The principal duty of this month is the transferring of the 

 plants into larger pots, and many of the most vigorous plants 

 that are of good size may be put into their blooming pots. 

 Many, however, that were propagated late must not be put 

 into their blooming pots until July. The final potting is of 

 the utmost importance, as the ultimate success depends in no 

 small degree upon this operation. The soil for this purpose 

 is described elsewhere in this book, and the pots should be 

 from nine to twelve inches in diameter for the last change. 

 The stopping of all plants in the borders should be continued ; 

 always having in mind the desired shape of the plant, in the 

 pinching of the shoots. The tying of all specimens must be 

 given close attention through this month, as a good founda- 

 tion for all specimen plants must be laid early in July. Tie 

 down and spread out all long shoots, being careful not to snap 

 them off in the operation. The safest way is to tie a piece of 

 string or matting from the shoot you intend to tie down, to the 

 main stem. When the shoot is then bent the strain comes on 

 the string and not on the tender union of shoot to the main 

 branch. In potting do not fill the pots too full of soil ; leave 

 room for a top dressing of cow manure in August. Those not 

 quite ready for their blooming pots will require liquid manure ; 

 and the entire lot careful watering, frequent syringing, and a 

 sharp lookout for insect pests. 



JULY. 



Plants growing out of doors in the open ground without 

 pots must have plenty of water, and the surface not allowed 

 to become hard and baked. A working with a rake, or pronged 

 hoe, will prevent this if repeated every week. In a very dry 

 time a mulch of manure will prevent them from drying out so 

 rapidly. The July bud will now be appearing on most varie- 

 ties on the points of the strongest and earliest shoots, and 

 must be carefully removed at once. Two or three shoots will 



