102 GARDENING DIFFICULTIES SOLVED 



grown some fine plants of Chrysanthemum, which have produced 

 very promising buds. 1 try to grow them on to what I think is the 

 best bud for each individual variety, the buds appearing ready for 

 taking generally from the first week of August until the middle of 

 September. When housed, as a rule, my plants are perfectly clean and 

 healthy, but the buds do not develop as I anticipate, considering the 

 health and strength of the plants. I fancy it is something to do with 

 feeding after they are housed. I have so far restricted myself to 

 pure Peruvian guano, keeping the house and atmosphere as dry as 

 I can with a temperature of 50 to 55. Would you also tell me what 

 you think is the best bud to take to get good blooms of Mrs. 

 A. T. Miller, Rose Pockett, Pockett's Surprise, Formality, and 

 Splendour ? Chrysanthemum, Upper Norwood. 



A. It is quite possible that you have taken first crown buds too 

 eirly, and that the petals have not, in consequence, opened as freely, 

 and developed into as large flowers as they would if buds were taken 

 ten days or a fortnight later. Furthermore, you may have crippled 

 the roots by over feeding. Clay's Fertilizer, guano and other con- 

 centrated manures are suitable for feeding the plants after the latter 

 are placed under glass. The best buds to take of the following 

 varieties, Formality, Mrs. A. T. Miller, Rose Pockett, Pockett's Sur- 

 prise, and Splendour, are second crown buds. 



Outdoor Chrysanthemums in Winter 



Q. Will you tell me how to preserve outdoor Chrysanthemums 

 during the winter ? The situation is rather low. Last winter after I 

 had cut them down I covered them well over with ashes, but lost 

 every one. B. J. C., Melton Mowbray. 



A, If you have a cold frame, the best way is to take them up and 

 plant them thickly together in the frame, covering with mats in very 

 severe weather, planting in the borders again towards the end of 

 March. If you have not a frame, we should take them up and plant 

 at the foot of a south warm wall, packing some dry leaves well round 

 them, but not covering up the top of the plants. On very severe 

 nights cover over with mats or litter. In this way you should have 

 no difficulty in preserving your plants through the winter. 



