THE CANADIAN HOETICULTURIST. 



63 



of this flower and its character. We 

 speak of this flower something like an 

 Aster, as a Chrysanthemum; it is really 

 a Pyrethrum. It is one of the Compo- 

 site flowers. Tlie Chrysanthemum we 

 cultivate the most, is one that comes 

 from China. This flower was for a long 

 time cultivated in India and China, and 

 in New England it was known as " the 

 India plant." The story he had heard 

 as a boy, as to the manner of their in- 

 troduction, was to the efiect that they 

 were brought out from India by some 

 sea-cajitaiu. And, doubtless, that was 

 their history. They are highly prized 

 in India ; they are plants that will 

 flower for a long tim« on ship-board, and 

 they are easy to transport. These Chrys- 

 anthemums have been greatly varied 

 by cultivation. The Chinese and Jap- 

 anese have from time immemorial vied 

 with each other in the production of 

 new varieties. Nowhere has the flor- 

 ist's art and cai-eful selection been car- 

 ried to such a pitch of perfection as in 

 China, or, still more, Japan. The Jap- 

 anese are our masters in that, as in so 

 many elegant arts. The Japanese attach 

 a special importance to the Chrysanthe- 

 mum. It is to them a sacred flower. 

 It has a peculiar religious symbolism. 

 Its fragrant odor; the freedom with 

 which it flowei-s ; the ease with which 

 it is cultivated, have given it promi- 

 nence among these people of the East. 

 We have three or four difierent types. 

 They are of every possible color but 

 pure blue, and are often beautifully 

 shaded with two or three tints ; one 

 colors at the tip, one at the base, one on 

 the upper side, and another on the 

 lower side ; there is infinite vai'iety in 

 this ojie little flower. Extremely hardy 

 and very easy in cultivation, they do 

 not stand our winters, and cannot be 

 made to blossom here in the open air. 

 In Rhode Island, or in Connecticut, 

 they bloom in Novembei-, and even in 

 early December, in the open. Here we 



cultivate them in pots and bring them 

 to bloom in the house. The propaga- 

 tion is simple : It is a little, woody, 

 shi-ubby plant, easily propagated, and 

 running up some four, five or six feet 

 in height, and is laden with flowers in 

 the late autumn and early winter. Tliey 

 are very fragrant, and keep their beauty 

 for a long time on the plant, and after 

 they are gathered. When the plant 

 has done its work of flowering, you cut 

 it down the ground, and put the root 

 in a place where there is not too much 

 moisture all the winter, and in the 

 spring, the root torn asunder, will give 

 you a great many plants. Compar- 

 tively few take the trouble to grow 

 them from seed ; you may get some- 

 thing that is more beautiful, but the 

 result is uncertain, and yoxi rather trust 

 to friends for cuttings of approved vari- 

 eties." 



FLORICULTURAL. 



Sowing Seeds. — Wm. Falconer, in 

 Rural New Yorker, ad\'ises early sow- 

 ing of the following flower seeds, among 

 others, in order to have fine plants for 

 ti'ansplanting in May, viz. : lobelia, tu- 

 berous rooted begonia, cockscomb, ver- 

 bena, snapdragon, petunia, stocks, can- 

 na, abuilton, pansy and chrysanthe- 

 mum. Lacking a hot-bed, seed pots 

 may be used, half-filled with drainage, 

 and balance with mellow, light, sandy 

 soil. Scatter fine earth over the seeds, 

 just enough to cover them, giving 

 very little water. The pots should be 

 placed on the window sill, away from 

 bright sunshine, and a bit of stiflf paper 

 laid over them, but tilted up about one- 

 fourth of an inch at one side. On germ- 

 ination of the seeds, the paper should 

 be removed. The Chinese and Jap- 

 anese chrysanthemums are so cojnous 

 and gay in November, and so easily 

 raised from seeds that we should all try 

 a few. 



