CHAP. V. OKNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 563 



ravages of a large white beetle-maggot, which preys upon the 

 roots, and eats away the whole of their fibrous parts, thus even- 

 tually destroying it. When a plant under proper cultivation 

 appears in a languishing state it may often be referred to this 

 cause, and it should be turned out of its pot, examined, and 

 repotted in entirely fresh soil. 



The Chrysanthemum is a coarse-feeding plant, and requires a 

 good rich soil and abundance of water; it is benefited by repeated 

 applications of liquid manure, and also, it is said, of soap-suds. 



Mr. Fortune has described the method of cultivation adopted 

 by the Chinese, which, he says, brings the plant to great perfec- 

 tion. One peculiarity in their treatment consists in a liberal use 

 of night-soil, and in planting them at once in large pots. " The 

 plants," he states, " are trained each with a single stem. This is 

 forced to send out numerous laterals near its base. These are 

 tied down in a neat and regular manner with string of silken 

 thread. By having the plants clothed with branches in this way, 

 and by keeping the leaves in a green and healthy state, the 

 specimens never have that bare and broom-headed appearance 

 which they often present in England." * 



To obtain unusually dwarf specimens, Sir J. Paxton says : 

 " Directly the flower-buds are formed, the tops of the shoots pro- 

 ducing them are cut off at any desired length and planted in 

 sandy loam. They will form adequate roots and flower as well as 

 those not decapitated. We have them not more than six inches 

 high." t This however is a proceeding, I believe, not always 

 found successful, and is' rarely resorted to. The specimens ex- 

 hibited in the English shows have usually their stems from 

 five to even seven feet high. 



Artemisia. 



1. A. Abrotanum SOUTHERNWOOD. The old familiar shrub of 

 our English gardens, so much used in bouquets for the agreeable 

 fragrance of its leaves ; not uncommon in the gardens of Calcutta, 

 where, however, it attains only to a small size, and is generally 

 grown in pots. Propagated by slips. 



2. A. lactifolia. Sometimes misnamed A. odoratissima. An 

 herbaceous plant, at all times pleasing for the peculiar whitish 



* ' Tea Districts of China,' p. 124. t ' Bot. Mag.' vii. p. 191. 



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