1 8 THE CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



inches in diameter, with one end shaved to half an inch). 

 Add loosely a little of the fine soil for the plant to rest 

 upon, then turn the plant topsy-turvy, and give the rim of 

 the pot a sharp tap on the bench, catching the plant with 

 the left hand. Pick out the crock and all the rubble. 

 Take care not to injure the roots, but spread them out, 

 carefully resting the plant upon the soil. 



The base of the stem should be quite an inch below the 

 top of the pot, and in the centre. Hold it in position with 

 the left hand until you fill in sufficient soil to steady it. 

 Then gently ram the soil with the thin end of the stick, 

 being careful not to cut any of the roots in punching, and 

 continue to fill in and ram till you get the soil level with 

 the base, after which with the blunt end of the stick press 

 the surface down pretty tightly, so that you cannot make 

 any impression with your thumb. If the soil is sufficiently 

 porous, there will be no danger; but if your soil is very 

 heavy and fibreless, it would be well to pot one of your 

 worst plants first, and stand it out and water it to see if 

 the water passes through all right. 



I once made a sad mistake by tedling the men not to be 

 afraid of ramming the mould too tightly. The soil was 

 heavy and had very little fibre in it. It had, moreover, 

 been lying in a rather damp place, and ithe large pieces 

 which they put at the bottom of the pots were too wet. 

 They pounded it so thoroughly that the water could not 

 get (through, and not being at home to watch the pro- 

 ceedings, all that day's labour was wasted (see " Hints on 

 What Not to Do "). Several trying seasons have taught 

 me a lesson as regards putting chrysanthemums at once in 

 their summer quarters after being finally potted. The 

 weather has to be very carefully studied. A keen wind 

 may strip off the leaves and give the plants a severe check. 

 Many varieties turn quite yellow in the foliage, which 

 eventually dies off leaving the stems quite naked, and this, 

 as may be imagined, greatly retards development. So I 

 advise standing them for a. fortnight or so in a sheUtered 

 position, where they may be easily sprayed to prevent 

 drying too quickly, and also be syringed with paraffin 



