189fi.] ESSAYS. 95 



race of late fall flowers to liven up the dull days of the first approach 

 of wititor. There is nothing difficult in their culture; if given a shel- 

 tered corner in rich soil, not too shady, and an annual top-dressing 

 each year in early spring, they will take care of themselves after- 

 wards. Of this hardy race the flowers mostly belong to the Pompon 

 class, and, though not large, they are extremely pretty when grown 

 in large masses, or when cut and arranged in vases iudoors. 



You will expect me to tell you something about the growing of large 

 specimen plants, and also how to grow specimen blooms; and before 

 going further let me tell you, gardeners and florists, that I have 

 nothing to tell 3'ou that you do not know already. Chrysanthemum 

 culture is better understood to-day than ever before, owing to the 

 excellent literature we have on the subject ; besides the periodicals that 

 treat on the subject, and to those of you who have not already seen it 

 I would strongly advise a perusal of the American Chrysanthemum 

 Annual, now in its second year. It gets together just what is of in- 

 terest from all sources on this particular subject, and will be invalua- 

 ble as a work of reference in years to come. There is a prevalent 

 opinion that it is impossible to over-feed such a strong-growing plant 

 as the one under consideration, and I have seen it so stated by men 

 who ought to know better than to give such advice. As a matter of 

 fact there is no plant that will get dyspepsia quicker than the Chrys- 

 anthemum. Those who grow large quantities take care to separate the 

 kinds, giving each such soil as experience has proved desirable. Some 

 sorts will, as you all know, take a larger pot or more room on the 

 bench than others ; they are great growers, need rich food and plenty 

 of Avater ; others again are apt to get a yellowish tinge in the foliage 

 and to droop in strong sunshine, a sure sign that there is something- 

 wrong at the roots, most likely over-feeding, either in the shape of 

 too strong stimulants or a soil that is too rich to start with. For 

 these delicate-rooting kinds we have found that the addition of some 

 burnt earth from the smother heap or charcoal refuse is an admirable 

 ingredient to mix in with the compost ; it is not so much as a fertilizer, 

 though there will be a small percentage of potash contained therein, 

 but its action will be purely mechanical, as freeing the soil of a super- 

 abundance of moisture, and in this way sereating the soil so that there 

 will be a healthy root-action, and all other desirable results will surely 

 follow. Another plan, that is also good, is to make a saturated solu- 

 tion of lime, and after the water has become clear apply it to the plants 

 once every two or three weeks ; lime is a wonderful purifler, and the 

 same may be used over again when more water has been poured over 



