THE CHRYSANTHEMUM I37 



but equally perfect flowers, is a thing of beauty which 

 will afford vastly mare pleasure than any plant can 

 which bears but a blossom or two, of such enormous 

 size that they are simply floral monstrosities. 



It is a good plan to leave the plants out of doors 

 as long as it is safe to do so. A slight frost will 

 not injure them. When you i:)ring them into the 

 house, put them in a room without fire. Fire heat 

 forces the plants to a rapid and weak development 

 which is highly disastrous to their welfare. In a cool 

 room you will have finer flowers and they will last 

 much longer than when exposed to too much warmth. 



After the flowering season is over cut away the 

 entire top of the plant, and put the pot containing 

 the roots in the cellar, if you desire to carry them 

 over. Give no water during the entire winter, unless 

 the soil seems to be getting dust-dry. In March the 

 pots can be brought up, the soil moistened, light and 

 warmth given, and in a short time young shoots will 

 appear all over the surface of the soil. When these 

 have made a growth of three or four inches, they 

 can be cut away from the old plant, with a small 

 piece of root attached, and put into small pots. It 

 will generally be found more satisfactory, however, to 

 get young plants each season from the florist, as these 

 will be likely to give the finest flowers. A list of 

 desirable kinds is not attempted because there are so 

 many fine sorts that it is almost impossible to make 

 a selection without leaving out some kinds quite as 

 desirable as those chosen. It is a good plan to go 

 over the lists and select those of the colors you 

 prefer. If this is done, you will be pretty sure to 

 be satisfied with your own selection. 



