ATTENTION OUT OF DOORS 51 



the pots begin to fill with roots, liquid manure may be 

 given to the stronger-growing varieties. This stage of 

 growth being one of the most critical periods in the culti- 

 vation of exhibition Chrysanthemums, it will be well to 

 emphasise the necessity of giving the plants every attention. 

 They should be transferred to their final pots before the 

 roots have become pot-bound, because if they fail to root 

 into the new soil before the plant receives a check, all the 

 good cultivation up to this point will have been in vain. 

 A steady and fairly well ripened growth throughout the 

 season is desirable, and checks arising through the plants 

 remaining in pots of the smaller sizes too long, a severe 

 freezing, or a period of drought, are all points to be 

 avoided. 



From the third week in May until the middle of June is 

 about the time for the final potting, and providing the 

 plants are in good order the earlier it is done the better. 

 The soil at this potting should be prepared some time 

 previous to use, storing the compost in a dry shed and 

 turning it over two or three times in the meantime in 

 order to mix the ingredients thoroughly and prevent any 

 fermentation arising owing to the presence of bones or 

 other manurial ingredients. 



It is not necessary to have an elaborately prepared 

 compost mixed with chemical accuracy, but it is essential 

 that the chief constituent shall be good, rich turfy loam 

 that has not been stacked too long. This loam should be 

 pulled to pieces of about the size of a walnut, and leaf 

 mould, decomposed droppings, lime rubble, ashes, and 

 sand added, whilst the further addition of a 5-inch potful 

 of soot and another of bone meal will make the compost 

 more lasting. For the stronger-growing Japanese No. 12 



