CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



109 



CINERARIA. 



times a day for a few weeks, the chances 

 are they will either discolour or fall off. 



Treatment in Open Ground. Pompons, 

 or others to bloom in beds or against walls, 

 may receive the same general treatment in 

 training and watering, &c. It is also a 

 common practice with many to plant out 

 their entire stock, and take up and pot 

 what they require in the beginning of 

 October. This plan succeeds well if the 

 leaves do not wither, as the result of the 

 check of potting. 



Management of Layers. Where layer- 

 ing is determined upon, the stools are 

 planted out in rich soil, and the branches 

 layered into pots about the beginning of 

 July. Very nice plants with splendid 

 foliage may be procured in this manner. 



Management of Cuttings. The favour- 

 te mode of increase by the best cultivators 

 s by cuttings. No plant, unless it be 

 couch grass, strikes so easily as the chry- 

 santhemum. In any soil, at any season, 

 put a growing branch in any place where it 

 does not freeze nor scorch, and it is almost 

 sure to root. Nearly all growers differ as 

 to the best time for striking these plants. 

 Some cultivators recommend November ; 

 some succeed admirably by inserting them 

 in May. Perhaps it is better to make a 

 compromise between the two extremes by 

 striking cuttings in March. These should 

 be well rooted and then potted off in April, 

 and receive their first shift into pots, 4 

 inches or 4^ inches across the top, the first 

 week in May. They should then be con- 

 tinued in a temperature of 50 for a fort- 

 night ; headed and hardened off, and stood 

 out of doors by the end of May, and re- 

 ceive their final shift a month or six weeks 

 later. By adopting this mode the amateur 

 will not fail to secure good blooms and 

 presentable plants, both essential for con- 

 servatory purposes. 



Varieties. No attempt is made to give 

 lists of the different varieties on account jf 



the enormous number of named plants now 

 in cultivation. Those who desire full infoi 

 mation on this matter should purchase the 

 descriptive catalogue issued by Mr. N. 

 Davis, Lilford Road Nurseries, Camber- 

 well, London, S.E., which may be obtained 

 for sixpence. Mr. Davis is one of the 

 largest and most successful growers in this 

 country, and has for years made the culture 

 of the chrysanthemum his speciality. 



Cineraria (not. ord. composita). 



Few plants are so effective for decorative 

 purposes as cinerarias, whose form and 

 habit is shown in the accompanying illus- 

 tration. Unless for exhibition, it is best to 

 grow them annually from seed. 



Culture and Management. The first 

 sowing should be made in March, in pans 



filled with equal parts of peat and loam, 

 and one-sixth part sand. They should be 

 well drained, made firm, and the seed 

 slightly covered and placed on a slight 

 bottom heat. Keep the pans and young 

 plants, when they appear, partially shaded 

 from the bright sun ; put them into 3-inch 

 pots as soon as they will bear handling, 

 return them to the same place, and 

 renew the same treatment until they 

 are thoroughly established in their pots. 



