76 THE CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



eight inches for the others. If the soil can be made as good 

 as that recommended for the large flowering (or show) 

 varieties, I would advise it; but the turfy loam has 

 generally by florists to be displaced by a substitute from 

 the old soil heap. If this has been turned over and got 

 pretty well frosted it answers the purpose. By the soil 

 heap I mean the old cucumber soil or anything which has 

 been turned out of pots and thrown into a heap and has 

 lain for a time. Such soil can easily be enriched by a 

 little rotten manure, a few ground bones, and a good 

 sprinkling of lime and soot. This should be prepared not 

 later than February or March, and it will be ready when 

 the busy time comes. For twenty to fifty cartloads of stuff 

 cannot be prepared so easily in May or June as it can in 

 winter, and it does not do to leave things till the last 

 minute. In fact, it is much better to get the compost 

 mixed a few months too soon than leave it until too late. 



Placed in Row a* " ur 



The pots should have good drainage, and the plants be 

 potted pretty firmly, or they will develop sappy growth at 

 once. This never gives good flowers. When potted, they 

 may be stood in beds four rows wide, but they must be 

 six inches from pot to pot each way. If room can be spared 

 I would advise only two rows. Each row must be wired 

 and staked, and if the pots can be stood on ashes or boards 

 so much the better, otherwise the roots get into the soil 

 below and they receive a check when they are torn away. 

 After the plants have made the next break, three or four 

 shoots may be left to each ; later, or the last break, three 

 again. Then you get from two to three dozen flowers on 

 a plant ; but if you want them extra large do not leave so 

 many. The last growths must be disbudded to one flower 

 on a shoot. Of course, watering must be attended to ; 

 but I would advise that all plants be kept rather on the dry 

 side than be over- watered. I would not recommend feed- 

 ing before the last growth begins ; but then you may feed 

 liberally, for it will add wonderfully to the colour as well 

 as the size of the blooms. Florists very rarely have any 



