104 POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS 



grow steadily. Should any plants show a tendency to 

 straggle, the tips of the shoots may be pinched off, in 

 order to make them break from below and form a bush ; 

 otherwise no stopping will be required. It is hardly 

 likely that staking will be needed, but it should be done 

 if the plants are badly blown about. If green-fly should 

 attack the plants, they might be dusted with tobacco 

 powder and syringed vigorously an hour afterwards. 

 The course of treatment indicated ought to lead to great 

 success with garden Chrysanthemums. 



As the present work is devoted to garden flowers, the 

 cultivation of the Chrysanthemum as a pot plant for 

 conservatories and exhibition hardly comes within its 

 scope ; however, the principal items in pot culture may 

 be included in the following calendar : 



THE CHRYSANTHEMUM-GROWER'S YEAR A SUMMARY. 



January. Outdoor plants will be quite dormant. If 

 there is much rain, mortar rubbish or dry litter may be 

 put round the clumps. Keep an eye on any roots which 

 are wintered in boxes, and moisten the soil only to 

 prevent its getting dust dry ; do not let it get sodden. 

 Strike cuttings of pot plants, choosing the suckers which 

 spring up from the root when they are about three 

 inches long. They root best in sandy soil under a hand- 

 light. Put young plants from early cuttings on a shelf 

 near the glass to keep them sturdy. They ought to be 

 grown in a cool but frost-proof house to prevent their 

 growing fast. Rapid growth is not desirable at this 

 season. 



February. If boxed stools of outdoor plants have 

 begun to throw up shoots owing to mild weather, put 

 them in a frame and give them a little water. Take the 



