THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 201 



potting and be pinched back for the first time. These operations 

 should, however, never be performed simultaneously. It is better 

 to pinch off the top of the main shoot first, and this ought to be 

 done when the soil in the pot is fairly dry. The object of pinching 

 is to induce the young plant to throw out two new shoots from the 

 apex of the stem. 



Soon after the new shoots have made their appearance the plants 

 may be transferred to five-inch or six-inch pots. The compost 

 or mixture of soils should be made up of fine loam, coarse sand, 

 sweet leaf mould and a sprinkling of soot and fine bone meal. The 

 incorporation of some old lime or mortar rubbish will be found 

 beneficial in keeping the soil sweet and also in providing food for 

 the plants. 



A point to bear in mind is that the chrysanthemum must not be 

 " overpotted " that is, must not be transferred to too large a pot. 

 The stronger and sturdier plants can be placed in six-inch pots, and 

 weaker in five-inch. Special attention must be paid to drainage. 

 The crocks should be placed carefully in the bottom of the pot, 

 and over this some of the larger pieces of mortar rubbish. Upon 

 this basis place a layer of fibrous loam and ram it down fairly 

 hard but not so hard as to interfere with the proper drainage 

 of the pot. Next turn the young chrysanthemum out of its 

 pot, and place it exactly in the centre of the larger pot, so that 

 the top of the old ball of soil is at least three-quarters of an 

 inch below the rim of its new receptacle. Fill in all round the 

 plant with the new soil, and ram it down firmly with the potting 

 stick, taking care during this operation not to damage the 

 roots. 



The plants should be returned to their old places in a cold frame 

 for a brief period, allowing plenty of ah* on all suitable days. 

 When growth has been thoroughly re-established, the pots can be 

 brought into the open. They should be placed in a sunny position 

 if possible, in rows running from north to south, and the pots 

 should rest either on a bed of ashes or upon pieces of wood placed 

 in parallel rows. The latter is perhaps the more satisfactory 

 method, since by keeping the pots well raised above the ground 



