CULTURE OF FLORIST FLOWERS. 87 



every propriety placed in the green-house, to flower early, 

 where they will have a pretty appearance. 



The choice varieties may be propagated by cuttings, which 

 should be taken off early in the spring, or in September, and 

 treated the same as any other cuttings, by placing them in a 

 shady situation, and well attending them, when they will 

 generally strike root freely. 



ART. 8. The Chrysanthemum. 



It is much to be regretted that the Chrysanthemum is not 

 more generally cultivated, particularly when it is in season 

 when there are but few other plants in flower. This, I pre- 

 sume, may be more attributed to but few varieties being 

 generally known, and those of a very inferior quality, than to 

 any other cause. In hopes to make the subject better known, 

 I shall treat separately on the culture, and add a Descriptive 

 List of some of the best known varieties at the present period. 



The Chrysanthemum is a native of China, and may be 

 considered a hardy perennial; but, although it lives through 

 the winter unprotected, the plants do not bloom in perfection 

 unless they are protected from the early frost, either in a 

 frame, green-house, or room. There are various methods of 

 cultivating the Chrysanthemum, as by cuttings, layers, and 

 dividing the roots. The common mode of culture is to plant 

 out the roots in the spring in the flower borders, and allow 

 them to grow without any other culture than is given to plants 

 in common : these plants are taken up about the first week in 

 September, and put into pots or boxes, to suit their size, and 

 are allowed to flower, with the ordinary care given to plants. 



The most approved method by florists, is to increase the 

 plants by cuttings, which are taken from the plants in the 

 ground, when they are grown eight or ten inches. The me- 

 thod is to take off the cuttings at two or three joints and pot 

 them, in the same manner as recommended for the propaga- 

 tion of geraniums ; when the cuttings are well rooted, they 

 may be potted into three inch pots of compost, the same as 

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