196 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



same origin, may be planted in the same pot, and when they produce 

 the blossoms, as their leaves are exactly similar, they will have the ap- 

 pearance of the same plant yielding differently coloured flowers ; the pots 

 used for the purpose should be large, to give full support to the increased 

 quantity of roots. ^ . 



" From an original drawing in the possession of the Horticultural Society, 

 it appears as if the Chinese obtained a variety of coloured blossoms toge- 

 ther by means of grafting." 



Most of the sorts of Chrysanthemum " succeed admirably," 

 and continue in beauty for a long period, trained against a 

 south wall the late : flowering sorts grow more vigorously and 

 flower better in this situation, than in pots under glass. 

 Whether against a wall or in pots, reducing the number of 

 flower-buds, as recommended by Mr. Joseph Wells, [Encyc. 

 ofGard. §64-74.) enlarges the size of the flowers. In train- 

 ing the shoots to a wall, contrive to have the branches of 

 different lengths, so that the flowers which only grow at their 

 ends may not all appear at the extremities of the plant. 



The best sorts for an open border are the purple, change- 

 able white, buff, and rose. 



" There are now nearly fifty-two varieties of the chrysanthemum in this 

 country, most of which have been introduced by the Society within the last 

 few years." 



A writer (Mr. Sabine, judging from his style and other circumstances,) 

 in Mr. Brande's Journal (Jan. 1827.) observes, " the brilliant colours of these 

 plants, and the facility with which they are cultivated, will soon make 

 them so common, that our cottagers' gardens will become as gay in the 

 month of November and December, as the Chinese rose has made them 

 during all the spring and summer. Such objects as these will add uni- 

 versally to the enjoyments of the country, and may, therefore, be justly 

 termed of national importance ; they are those to which the power and 

 attention of this and all similar public bodies cannot be too forcibly 

 directed." 



We readily allow the superior merit of introducing plants 

 which may be, and are worthy of universal culture ; but we are 

 also of opinion, that the attention of the Horticultural Society 

 has been, and is much too forcibly directed to the introduction 

 of such plants; because they have introduced them themselves, 

 instead of encouraging their introduction by others. According 

 to the views we have of the duties of a patriotic society, and we 

 believe these views are in accordance with the soundest prin- 

 ciples of political economy, a society ought to attempt nothing 

 that can be very well done by individuals. It ought to encour- 

 age the efforts of individuals by suitable rewards where encour- 

 agement is wanting, but it ought never either to slacken indi- 

 vidual industry by monopoly, or divert it into a channel which 



