36 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



It is not absolutely necessary to lift all the varieties, as 

 many of them are sufficiently hardy to live through the 

 winter in the open ground, but as young plants always give 

 the best results and the cuttings taken from the lifted 

 plants root more readily than those taken from the open 

 ground, the trouble of lifting a few roots of each variety is 

 amply repaid. 



The middle or the end of February is sufficiently early 

 to insert the cuttings, and by this time good clean shoots 

 should be present in quantity. Boxes are to be preferred for 

 rooting them in, the treatment being the same as advised 

 for striking the indoor decorative varieties. 



As soon as rooted and before the young plants get 

 drawn they should be potted off singly into 3-inch pots, 

 transferring them to a cold frame. As soon as the roots 

 become active all the air possible must be admitted, and the 

 more hardy the treatment the more likely will the plants 

 succeed when transferred to the open ground. 



The date of planting will vary according to the locality, 

 but if the plants were thoroughly well hardened before 

 planting, they will not suffer any harm from a degree or 

 two of frost ; whilst if they are left in the boxes until they 

 become the least bit drawn they are bound to suffer. My 

 outdoor Chrysanthemums have been planted regularly in 

 an open piece of ground about the middle of April and 

 they have always succeeded well, but in northern localities 

 it might be advisable to defer planting until the first week 

 in May. 



The ground that the Chrysanthemums are to occupy 

 should be well and deeply dug some time beforehand, and 

 if it is fairly rich in manure supplied for an earlier crop, 

 no fresh animal manure should be necessary, but should 



