100 MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITION PLANTS. 



reached the side of the pots, they should be shifted into nine-inch 

 or flowering pots, giving no more heat than is necessary to 

 keep out frost. Early in spring give liquid manure regularly, 

 made from sheep-droppings and soot, and an occasional pinch 

 of good artificial manure spread over the pots once a week, 

 and watered in with clean soft water, has a beneficial effect 

 on the size and quality of the flowers. Stake the plants neatly 

 before the flowers begin to expand, keeping the lower side-shoots 

 down to an angle of 4.5°, and the remainder equally distributed 

 over the plant. The points of merit are : (1.) Size and health 

 of the plant, which should be dwarf and compact; (2.) number 

 of heads and size of flowers ; and (3.) texture, colour, and form 

 of the flowers. 



CHRYSANTHEMUM. 

 An extensive and useful tribe of plants, which has repre- 

 sentatives throughout Europe and Asia ; the species from 

 which the most popular flower of the day has sprung, C. 

 sinensis, being a native of China. The varieties have been 

 crossed and re-crossed, with the result that all imaginable 

 colours and forms have been produced, and it almost seems 

 as if it were impossible to further improve or distort the race. 

 The following dozen varieties are some of the best for culture 

 as specimen plants for exhibition : — Alfred Salter, Belle Paule, 

 Blanche Eleur, Bouquet Fait, Golden Christine, James Salter, 

 Margot, Madame Bertie Rendatler, Madame de Sevin, Mrs. 

 G. Bundle, Mrs. Dixon, and Soleil Levant. These represent 

 the various forms, and are all free-flowering, which is of the 

 greatest importance in plants for exhibition. The best time to 

 take cuttings is from the middle of December to the middle of 

 January, and the best place to strike them is in a cool house 

 or frame where heat can be applied to keep out frost. In 

 selecting the cuttings, the sturdy, healthy, clean shoots at or 

 near the base of the stem shovild be taken. They should be 

 inserted firmly in 2j-ineh pots, using a mixture of leaf-mould 

 and river sand in about equal proportions. They should 

 then be set as near the glass as possible, and in a position 

 where they can be shaded from the sun, and kept close 

 until they are making roots freely, when they should receive 



