BORDER CHRYSANTHEMUMS 33 



at a time when many of the bright summer flowers are on 

 the wane, and, in company with the Michaelmas Daisies, 

 make the borders and beds bright until frosts terminate 

 the outdoor flower display for the season. In this portion 

 of the Thames Valley we have been able to cut good 

 flowers in November and this is as late as we can reason- 

 ably expect to have them. 



Excessively hot and dry seasons are not favourable for 

 outdoor Chrysanthemums, for notwithstanding plenty of 

 water is afforded the roots, the shoots become too hard 

 to develop good flowers. This is probably the reason that 

 better results are often obtained in the North of England 

 and Scotland, where the plants bloom in cooler climatic 

 conditions than they do in the South. I do not for one 

 moment wish to infer that they are troublesome subjects to 

 grow in my own, or any, district, or that good results are 

 only obtained occasionally, for, given a normal season and 

 proper attention, the plants will flower well in any garden 

 if a fairly open position is afforded them. 



For massing in the mixed border, no plants excel 

 Chrysanthemums during September and October, the rich 

 yellows, bronzes, reds, and whites contrasting so well with 

 the Asters or Michaelmas Daisies. An illustration of their 

 value may generally be seen in the long, mixed border at 

 Hampton Court Palace, where the moderately light and 

 fairly moist soil perfectly suits the requirements of the 

 plants. Any one desiring an object lesson in the use of 

 Chrysanthemums for the mixed border might with advan- 

 tage pay a visit to the famous garden at Hampton Court 

 during the month of September. 



It may be objected in respect to outdoor Chrys- 

 anthemums that they furnish only a mass of green foliage 



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