CIIRYSAXTHEMIBIS. 7S 



that day. FmtlK'nnore, that uuuority was not confined to one 

 house, one city, or one continent. Many members of your Society — 

 the greatest horticultural society in the world — happily belonged to 

 Fortune's minority, one of the most prominent being your P2x- 

 President, Dr. Henry P. Walcott. It was the work of time, love, 

 and the expenditure of much money, to spread before the people 

 the feast which they uow annually enjoy, but everything comes to 

 him who waits. 



It is but a few years since chrysanthemum shows were unknown 

 except perhaps in your city. New York, and Philadelphia. The 

 numerous exhibitions held last season, numbering nearly fifty, are 

 proof of the progress the chrysanthenuim is making. 



I do not intend to give you the routine of general cultivation, as 

 I am sure many of 3'ou know how to grow chrysanthemums better 

 than I do. But there are a few points to which I desire to call 

 your attention. 



One is, never neglect a chrysanthemum. This ought to be 

 written very plainly on every plant. No plant can be as success- 

 fully cultivated in as many forms ; it matters not whether the 

 plants are gi'own as massive specimens, tall standards, or on 

 1)enches a few inches apart. If they receive the proper atteutiou 

 the result is always commensurate. The thousands of plants that 

 are now required to produce fine flowers for sale have brought 

 about a system differing entirely from that followed previously. 



The plants are grown continuouslj^ under glass and are treated 

 as follows. Good, strong cuttings are rooted in May. The 

 plants are potted into thumbs, from thumbs into three-inch, and 

 from three-inch into five-inch pots. In June or the early part of 

 July they are planted in benches, from sixteen to twenty-four 

 inches apart, according to size, the soil being the same as for roses 

 and from four to six inches deep. They are pinched back so as to 

 give from four to six shoots, carefully trained and well supported, 

 syi'inged often, and watered carefully. Air is given at all times, 

 provided no draught is created. The buds are selected at the end 

 of August or the beginning of September, one bud to each shoot; 

 the rest of the buds are rul)bed off, and all superfluous wood is 

 removed. As the plants grow the}" are tied, and as soon as the 

 buds are well in sight the feeding with liquid manure commences. 

 It is necessary to state that such plants require at least five feet of 

 head room ; otherwise they have to be bent down. 



