CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 87 



nished with first rate varieties at a moderate price. I notice 

 most of those plants cultivated five years since are thrown 

 away to make room for better ones. Many who possess 

 these plants, I discover, do not understand their culture to 

 advantage, and yet no plant is more simple. Many will 

 endeavor to produce the most flowers by planting more than 

 one in a pot. and by this means defeat the object 



The best plan is, at the end of April to take cuttings from 

 the tops, three or four inches long, and plant them in two 

 inch pots, one in each, and place them in a frame and cover 

 them with glass, or in a shady place, and water them free- 

 ly ; they will soon strike root, and when the pot is filled 

 with roots repot them into the next size ; repeat this until 

 the pots are six inches, which will be large enough to flow- 

 er in. In July pinch off the top ; this will cause them to 

 put out lateral shoots, and in August trim off all the laterals 

 but three, which will be sufficient for one pot, as these will 

 also put out laterals which should be permitted to grow. 

 The proper soil to raise Chrysanthemums in is one half old 

 manure, one half loam, with a portion of sand, the quantity 

 will depend on whether your loam contains sand. If you 

 plant them in open ground do not take them up until the 

 buds are well formed, and in damp weather. Planting in 

 beds is a good plan, and will require no attention being paid 

 them all the summer, more than topping and trimming. 

 You must not let them remain in the ground for the early 

 frost to injure their buds. Fine dwarf plants are obtained 

 by pegging them down at a joint in July ; they will soon 

 strike root, and be fit to pot in the middle of September, and 

 then brought into the house. Chrysanthemums, if planted 

 too close, whether in the ground or pots, will drop their 



