CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 21 



not shade the plants much, and, while they need no 

 sharpening, they will not bruise the roots if carefully in- 

 serted. The stakes should be placed on the north side of 

 the plant, so that they may not shade it at all, and each 

 plant should be looped to the stake. The plants should 

 be sprinkled over-head twice a day to prevent flagging 

 after being newly potted, and this will keep them fresh for 

 three or four days without watering; but do not syringe 

 them after 3 p.m. When they are watered for the first 

 time it should be done with the rose on, and 

 sufficient water should be given to go through (or fill 

 the pot, which will be enough), and they will not require 

 any more for a few days. But keep up the sprinkling with 

 very weak, clear soot-water once a day. The pots should 

 be tapped with the knuckles when they look dry to make 

 sure of the fact, and by no means give water unless they 

 sound hollow. If they are over-watered at this stage the 

 foliage will be sure to turn yellow, for the soil, being rich 

 and firm, holds the water ; but always when they are 

 watered they should have sufficient to soak them through. 



The First Break. 



After they have made their first break the shoots should 

 either be looped separately to the stake, or smaller sticks 

 should be inserted and tied to the wire on each side, so as 

 to allow each shoot to be attached to one stick. I have 

 tried both these methods, but I really cannot see any 

 difference in the flowers at the finish. As the tying out 

 requires more sticks and extra work an tying, especially 

 when the plants have to be taken indoors, and as the 

 plants so treated do not look so nice, I do not think there 

 is any preference to be given for the extra labour. Water- 

 ing must be very carefully done throughout, always giving 

 the pots enough when they want it, and not before. They 

 should be looked over three times a day at least, and if 

 the weather be hot and dry in July, four times. I have 

 sometimes seen plants neglected very much, especially on 

 Sundays, when they get what I call " flicked over " when 

 growers make a watering-potful go about three times as 



C 



