THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



great deal of nutriment if we would enable it 

 to do its best. It is really a vegetable gour- 

 mand. Therefore a soil of only ordinary fer- 

 tility is not the kind to grow it in if we would 

 grow it to perfection. Old barnyard manure 

 is excellent as the basis of the compost you 

 give it. If this is not readily obtainable, use 

 bone-meal as a substitute. Get the finely 

 ground article, and use in the proportion of a 

 teacupf ul to a half bushel of loam, for the early 

 stages of its growth. Later on, as develop- 

 ment increases, it will be well to give a liquid 

 fertilizer, and to give it at least once a week. 

 This, given at the right time, produces large 

 flowers and great quantities of them. Mix 

 some sand with the loam, and see that each 

 pot has good drainage. 



In the second place it must be borne in 

 mind that the Chrysanthemum is a plant that 

 likes a good deal of water while making active 

 growth. It not only likes it, but it must have 

 it if it is to give complete satisfaction. Often, 

 during the hottest weather of summer, it will 

 require two applications every twenty-four 

 hours — one at evening, and the other in the 

 forenoon of the following day. On no account 

 must it be allowed to get dry at its roots. If 



184 



