12 THE CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



The First Potting. 



Soil : One bushel of good loam (that in which cucumbers 

 have been grown the previous year will do), one quarter 

 bushel oak or beech leaves twelve months old, one quarter 

 bushel old mortar rubbish sifted fine, a quart of ground 

 bones, and half a gallon of coarse sand. Failing the 

 ground bones, use one quarter bushel of very old rotten 

 manure, but nothing to cause rank, sappy growth. Pass 

 the whole through a %-in. sieve; and the coarser portion 

 of the soil may be put into the bottom of the pots for 

 drainage. I very rarely use a crock at the bottom of small 

 pots. Make the soil moderately firm with the thumbs. 

 Rig up a frame close to the glass (an old door will do), 

 put a thin layer o>f ashes or sand upon it, and stand the 

 newly-potted plants on this. Sprinkle them overhead once 

 a day, or twice in very sunny weather. If the sun is very 

 bright, they may want shading for a few days, but not 

 otherwise. Keep them close for a day or two ; then give 

 them all the light and air possible, but no fire-heat if you 

 can manage just to keep them above freezing-point with- 

 out it. Fumigate or dust them with tobacco powder on the 

 first appearance of iaiphis. 



When the Plants are Rooted. 



As soon as the plants are beginning to root nicely, the 

 best place for them is a cold frame, for by this time the 

 sun will have sufficient power to admit of them having a 

 little air each day, but cover them at night with mats if 

 frosty, leaving just a chink of air when the thermometer 

 is above 40 degrees. A sheltered spot should be selected, 

 so that they may get no cold, cutting draughts; but air 

 should be given on all favourable occasions. If the wind 

 is at all keen, tilt the lights a little o<n the opposite side to 

 that from which the wind is blowing; or use hurdles, or 

 boughs in fact, anything that will break the wind ; but 

 the plants should have air if the thermometer is above 

 40 degrees in the day. They must not be crowded at any 

 time, but should stand clear of each other. From the 



