CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 23 



shoot, or three shoots to each plant as before. By that 

 time the plants will be wdl rooted, and may be given very 

 weak stimulants, beginning by only just colouring the 

 water, and changing the diet every week, or oftener if 

 possible. There are so many good manures that it is no 

 trouble to give the plants a change; but the best manures 

 at this time are those that will afford the plant something 

 to feed upon such as soot, or sheep, horse, cow, chicken, 

 or pigeon droppings put into a coarse bag and immersed 

 in a tub, which should be kept filled with water. A little 

 of this in the watering-pot every alternate day, or three 

 times a week, is far better than a stronger dose once a 

 week. Then there are Clay's and Barnes' manures, 

 which are advertised in this book. A mixture may 

 be made in the proportion of one gallon of manure 

 to one bushel of fine soil, and a small handful 

 may be sprinkled on the top of the pots by the 

 end of July, but the same chemical must not be used twice 

 in succession. The roots will have become pretty greedy 

 by this time, as they will have practically exhausted the 

 soil, and they must, therefore, have something to keep 

 them going. I do not believe in waiting until the bud is 

 secured before commencing to feed, for the plants will 

 ha,ve already made their growth. To withhold nourish- 

 ment from "them at this stage would be like starving a 

 boy when he is growing and wants plenty of food, and try- 

 ing to make it up to him when he arrives at manhood. 

 One must study Nature in everything, and, depend upon 

 it, Nature is always right ! 



Securiog the Buds. 



About the middle of August many of the plants of the 

 Japanese varieties will be showing buds. It would not be 

 safe to let them make another break after that, or the 

 blooms would be late and show a large eye in many 

 instances. The mid-August buds should, therefore, be 

 secured, and should the buds appear a week or so before 

 the middle of the month, one or two growths may be 



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