30 THE CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



But let it be distinctly understood that growers who have 

 weakly plants should never practise stopping, for stopping 

 has a tendency to check the growth. Therefore, unless a 

 plant is in good health and thoroughly established, it would 

 be better to allow it to grow on and gain strength. My 

 object in recommending early stopping is that the plants 

 may not subsequently receive any check, for the best 

 flowers are generally those which are produced on the top 

 growths. In a word, unless flowers are required by a 

 certain date as, for instance, for exhibition purposes stop- 

 ping is absolutely unnecessary. 



There are many ways by means of which the professional 

 gardener can time his chrysanthemums, the principal 

 method being, of course, to insert cuttings at certain 

 dates. But no man can control the weather ; neither can 

 he ensure that all his cuttings will grow nicely and make 

 their break at a stated time. In order to know the 

 peculiarities of different varieties, one has to grow them 

 a season or two, and even then some men will succeed 

 with particular varieties better than others. It is these 

 cultural peculiarities which make chrysanthemum growing 

 so interesting. 



For beginners I should advise a selection , from the easy 

 growers, or natural second crown varieties, as they do not 

 require ithe expert knowledge which is essential in the 

 case of other plants, and after ta season's handling the 

 enthusiast will learn all that is required to be known about 

 first breaks, first crowns, second crowns, and terminal 

 buds; in fact, the cultivation of the " Queen of Autumn " 

 will become as easy as " falling off a log. " ^ 



Suitable for Beginners. 



The group of chrysanthemums styled " second crowners " 

 are the most reliable for beginners, because they make 

 their breaks easily, and by tampering with them one is 

 more likely to throw them back than anything. A few of 

 the best varieties are Geo. Mileham, 1908, Lady Talbot, 



