THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 69 



are three or four feet high. These plants are grown 

 from cuttings, generally suckers, started in December 

 or January, and receive about the same care as the sin- 

 gle stemmed plants. They are not stopped until the 

 desired hight is reached, and the head then formed is 

 trained as desired. While the greatest pains is taken to 

 prevent the development of side shoots on the young 

 plants, the foliage should be preserved, and not removed 

 until the head is formed. 



FIELD CULTURE. 



"When the plants are grown in the field, as is still 

 sometimes practiced by amateurs, the soil should be 

 thoroughly prepared, and enriched either with stable 

 manure or commercial fertilizers. If well hardened in 

 a cold frame, the plants may be put out as soon as dan- 

 ger of severe frost is over, which will be by the middle 

 of May in most localities. The plants, to be well grown, 

 will require about the same care in pinching and train- 

 ing as was described for the pot-grown plants. If side 

 stakes are desired, they should be inserted near the stem 

 of the plant, and incline outward. In this way they 

 can be taken up with the ball of earth, and potted, with- 

 out being disturbed. 



In dry seasons, it will be well to scatter a mulch 

 along the rows, to keep the soil from drying out and, 

 when water is used, to prevent baking. Whenever the 

 soil seems dry, water should be given the plants, even- 

 ing being the best time to apply it. If the soil has been 

 properly enriched, no liquid manure need be given these 

 plants while in the ground, but if they fail to make a 

 satisfactory growth from a lack of plant food, a forkful 

 of decomposed manure can be used to advantage around 

 each plant. When water is applied, it will be washed 

 out and carried down to the roots, where it will be taken 

 up and used by the plants. The plants should be taken 



