THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 35 



arduous, perhaps, that falls to the lot of the Chrysauthemum 

 raiser, with the single exception of raising new varieties from 

 seed. Exhibiting at the present day is by no means what it has 

 been in the past, and the gaining of prizes has become a really 

 difficult feat. Judging is more minute and more intelligent than 

 it was in bygone days. It is now performed almost exclusively 

 by points, and in order that a sufficient number of these points 

 may be secured, untold minutiae must be most closely observed, 

 otherwise the cultivator, to nse a homely, but yet most applicable 

 phrase, " will not be in it." The only way to succeed in these 

 days is to acquaint one's self thoroughly with the details of culti- 

 vation as practised by the best growers, and then by some 

 fortuitous combination of circumstances to discover a way by 

 which a better method, no matter how slight, may be attained. 

 In all cases, however, constant and unremitting attention must 

 be bestowed upon the plants from the time the cuttings have 

 been first inserted, until the flowers have been placed upon 

 exhibition and the prize won. 



There is one fact that it is well to bear constantly in mind, and 

 that is, that it is absolutely useless to attempt to grow plants or 

 blooms for exhibition, unless they have your constant attention. 

 To give them an occasional attendance, or even but once a day, 

 is in itself a suicidal act. As eternal vigilance is the price of 

 liberty, so unremitting attention is the price of success, so far as 

 the Chrysanthemum is concerned. It is a plant that possesses a 

 most voracious appetite, and it requires to be fed with as much 

 regularity, and as much care, as a suckling infant. It is dainty 

 in its food, and it is a gourmand as well as a gourmet. It 

 requires plenty to eat and drink, and of the very best the market 

 affords. It must be fed upon the very best soils, manures, etc., 

 and its drink must not be alone " the crystal well," but rich 

 liquids and plenty of them, and withal, like the human system, 

 it must breathe a sufficient supply of fresh, wholesome, and life- 

 giving air. Proper drainage is an essential requisite, in order to 

 insure that the plants, as is sometimes said of an unfortunate 

 ship, shall not become " water-logged." Cleanliness is next to 

 godliness in the plant, as well as in the man, and therefore the 

 intelligent grower will see to it that his plants have a clean habi- 

 tation. ]Srever use a dirty pot. The pots, or the long boxes in 

 ■which the plants may be raised, should be perfectly clean. 'Now 



