102 POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS 



ones. Personally, I have tried leaving Chrysanthemums 

 in the open ground throughout the winter as the cottager 

 does ; some have died, some have lived. But the type 

 of plant that one gets by treating the Chrysanthemum as 

 a hardy herbaceous perennial is not pleasing to me, and 

 I will not assume that it is any more gratifying to my 

 readers. If the plants are cut back in autumn, the root- 

 stock generally survives the winter and throws up fresh 

 growth in spring if the soil is light and well drained. 

 In damp soil the rootstocks often die in winter. 



Propagation. A person who particularly wanted to 

 propagate from his own stock, and had stiff soil, could, 

 if he liked, lift a few roots in autumn, pack them in soil 

 in boxes, and keep them in a sheltered place till spring. 

 They would probably live, and if put in a frame or in 

 a warm place in spring would throw up shoots, which 

 could be taken off and struck as cuttings in a greenhouse 

 or frame. New plants could be raised thus, and they 

 would probably give better results than old ones which 

 had passed the winter out of doors. 



Many florists make a speciality of collections of rooted 

 cuttings in spring, and sell excellent varieties at prices 

 averaging twopence a plant or thereabouts. By buying 

 fifty or upwards the cuttings can be procured cheaper 

 still. 



If the cuttings are not rooted when they arrive they 

 should be put into small pots or shallow boxes filled 

 with a compost containing a considerable proportion of 

 leaf mould and sand. It is wise to cover them with a 

 bellglass or small handlight if convenient, but as a rule 

 they will root without provided they are not exposed to 

 hot sun and dry air, but are sprinkled if they flag. The 

 soil should be kept just moist, but not saturated. Home- 

 made cuttings may be treated in the same way. 



