CHAPTER 20 



THE CHRYSANTHEMUM {Chrysanthemum sp.) 



Cultural Considerations. Chrysanthemum cut- 

 tings should be thick, firm, have several joints, and 

 be about three inches in length. If the cuttings 

 within three weeks fail to make a good root system, 

 they should be discarded as weak stock. A house 

 temperature of 50 degrees F. and a bottom heat of 

 60 degrees is best suited for the cuttings. It is very 

 unwise to allow the cuttings to remain in the propa- 

 gating bed as soon as they start to grow. In trans- 

 planting for the first time the soil should not be 

 too rich. A good loam with very little rotted manure 

 is all that is required by the newly rooted cuttings. 

 As the plants are finally set in benches in the green- 

 house (fig. 49) they need a rich soil, as they are 

 heavy feeders. The benches need not be over five 

 inches, the depth of the soil not over four inches. 

 As the plants are first set out in the benches, it is 

 advisable to water only around each plant. As they 

 become well established the entire bed may be 

 watered with safety. It should be borne in mind 

 that the soil must be kept moist very uniformly. 

 Sudden drying of the soil checks growth, and too 

 much will cause the leaves to become yellow and 

 sickly. On bright days, syringing the foliage is 



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