CHAPTER IV. 



SPECIMEN PLANTS' 



Cuttings may be taken any time from January 15th to March 15th, t 

 those struck in February give best results. As soon as rooted they a 

 potted In 2-in. pots, using light soil, and placed in a cool, airy house a 

 as near the glass as possible. If given proper attention, such plants w 



FIG. 3. STOCK GROWN BY FLAT SYSTEM. 



make large specimens from three to six feet high, and nearly as wic 

 by flowering time. In the course of a week or ten days the roots w 

 push to the side of the pot and will need shifting into the next larg 

 size. 



Soil There are many ideas as to what soil is best suited for Chrj 

 trnMiemums. Each expert has a way of his own in preparing the so 

 but as equally good results have been obtained under varied conditioi 

 it is safe to conclude that the compost employed has little to do with i 

 suits, provided it contains sufficient food to nourish the plant and the ci 

 tivator is a close observer, considering the conditions under which th 

 are grown. 



All concede that fresh cut sod piled late the preceding fall with or 

 fourth of its bulk of decomposed manure, makes an excellent compost. 



Repotting Turn out the plants, take them with the left hand ai 

 place in the new pot (which is generally an inch larger than the one fro 

 which they were removed) so that the ball is a half an inch below the ri 



"This chapter is largely writings which have appeared in the Amei 

 can Florist and are from T. D. Hatfield, Wellesley, Mass., who has be 

 eminently successful in this important branch of chrysanthemum cultui 



