THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 171 



temperature and anxiety regarding frosts removed. Those who do not 

 possess a frame of suitable dimensions, may easily and quickly erect a 

 temporary one. Put ten-inch planks, about an inch in thickness, cut 

 to any size or shape, together, and keep the boards secure and upright. 

 Laths should be nailed across the frame, and fixed in such a way that 

 sheets of glass may be arranged upon them to form a kind of frame- 

 light. These sheets of glass may be removed at will, and any given 

 plant or number of plants inspected with ease. Within a month many 

 of the cuttings will have rooted, and they may then be taken from the 

 propagating frame to another structure, or temporary frame, without 

 delay. 



Treatment of Young Plants. Place the rooted cuttings, or what 

 may now be called "young plants," in a rough frame on the greenhouse 

 bench, and construct this in a similar way to the one used for propa- 

 gating described earlier. Put the pots on cocoanut fibre refuse or 

 sifted ashes, and give each one sufficient space for air to circulate freely 

 around. The frame must be carefully ventilated at first, gradually in- 

 creasing the ventilation so as to prevent a sickly growth. In a 

 comparatively short time the young plants will bear full exposure to 

 the greenhouse without flagging, and forthwith continue to grow. 

 The more forward plants when sufficiently hardened may safely be 

 placed on the shelves of the greenhouse near to the glass ; this will keep 

 them sturdy and stocky. It is a mistake to stand the pots on the bare 

 boards of the shelves, as with the lengthening days after the turn of the 

 year, accompanied with short periods of bright sunshine, the soil quickly 

 dries, and unless one is constantly on the alert many of these young 

 Chrysanthemums receive a serious check. It is a good rule to spread 

 a layer of cocoanut fibre, or any other substance answering the same 

 purpose, on the shelves, first standing the plants on this material. By 

 these means the air is kept cooler than would otherwise be the case, 

 consequently less water is required. Until the whole of the cuttings 

 are rooted, they must be constantly shifted from one structure to 

 another before hardening them off. Ventilate as occasion offers, and 

 special pains must be taken to keep the temperature at about 45 

 degrees or the plants will become drawn. As the days get warmer 

 admit air more freely, and as soon as the cuttings become rooted in the 

 frames outdoors give ventilation upon all favourable occasions. Ad- 

 vantage must be taken of fine days to increase the supply of air. Plants 

 raised in this way are often sickly in the early season, but by judicious 

 ventilation and careful water-supply an alteration soon occurs. 



First Repotting. As soon as the young plants have filled their small 

 pots with roots shift them into those of larger size. Those, too, which 

 were rooted around the edge of small pots and also propagated in 

 boxes, should receive similar attention when well rooted. Repot plants 

 rooted singly in " thumb " pots into those measuring three and a-half 

 inches across, and known as large sixties. Small sixties pots three 

 inches in diameter will suffice for the others, and on this account pre- 

 pare them in good time. It is a good rule to prepare for the next 

 operation as the last one is finished. The pots and crocks should always 



