AND FLOWER-GARDEN DIRECTORY. 95 
off below in proper lengths. Pull off the under leaves and cut 
each shoot clean to a lower joint, cutting that part even at the 
end, and shorten the top leaves even. Place them in a bed, bor- 
der, or pots of good soil, an inch or two apart, inserted down to 
their leaves. Water and shade from the ‘sun. If covered close 
with hand-glasses, they will not only root sooner, but much more 
effectively. The month of July should be selected for this pur_ 
pose. In a month or six weeks they will be sufficiently rooted 
for transplanting. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
This old and much-esteemed fall flower, blooming when most 
of the summer bloomers have taken their leave, has been greatly 
improved in appearance by hybridization. So unlike and distinct 
are some of the new varieties as to be scarcely recognised as the 
same flower. Many of the dwarf ‘varieties resemble the quilled 
China Asters. They are all perfectly hardy, and may be propa- 
gated by any of the ordinary methods. The dwarf varieties, oc- 
cupying a very small space, well merit a place in every collection 
of plants. If the tops of the strongest shoots be selected for cut- 
tings, in April or May, and planted in the open ground, their 
tops pinched off to within five or six joints, and kept moderately 
watered, they will form handsome and strong-flowering plants. 
Being strong feeders, they should have a rich strong soil to enable 
them to flower in perfection. As soon as the plants show their 
flower-buds, they should be securely staked. If one-third of their 
buds be pinched off, the remainder will more than compensate for 
their abscence. 
DAHLIA. 
The Dahlia, particularly when planted early in the season, is 
frequently attacked, and their beauty greatly impaired, by the red 
