36 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



this, on the surface, appears to be a trivial matter, but in reality- 

 much depends upon it. Test it, and you will find that in turn- 

 ing plants out of pots that were dirty when used, the roots cling 

 so tenaciously to the sides that many are broken in the act of 

 removing them. This does not occur if the pots are clean, but 

 the plants may be shifted with their roots intact, and will not 

 undergo the slightest check from the operation. 



In the cultivation of the Chrysanthemum do not attempt too 

 many varieties : 



" The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, 



Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel ; 



But do not dull thy palm Avith entertainment 



Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd comrade." 



•An eminent English authority said on this matter of novel- 

 ties, ^' I venture to say that quite three parts of the new sorts 

 sent out in such glowing terms are not equal in merit to many 

 of the older varieties. No little disappointment has been caused 

 by purchasing all the new varieties, which were expected to 

 produce wonderful flowers. Instead of this it has often been 

 found that time and space have not been well occupied in grow- 

 ing them. Far better is it to grow an extra number of plants of 

 those varieties which experience has proved can be depended 

 upon as certain producers of first-class flowers under first-class 

 culture, than for a grower with limited experience, money, and 

 space to overburden himself with so-called ' novelties.' " 



• Every grower of the Chrysanthemum is well aware that it has 

 a tendency to " sport ; " that is, a plant that has always yielded 

 flowers of a certain color produces others of a different hue — 

 yellow, for instance, giving out bronze or orauge. There are 

 instances when the whole of a plant will thus throw different 

 colored blossoms, but as a rule they are only to be found on one 

 branch. Many of these " sports " when " fixed " are improve- 

 ments upon older kinds. Cuttings taken from the branch or part 

 of the plant which " sports " will usually produce flowers of the 

 same color again. If they and the plants raised in turn from 

 them continue to do so, and the departure becomes a permanency, 

 the sport is said to be '' fixed ; " and if this fresh break is of a 

 new or desirable hue and character, or in any manner an improve- 

 ment upon existing forms, it receives a name, is propagated, and 

 introduced into the market. There are occasions, however, when 



