128 



CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



they had recovered from the check of parting. In this situation 

 the plants soon commenced a new growth, and when this was 

 observed they were all stopped with the intention of making 

 them bushy. Early in July they were shifted into sixteens, 

 using a good loamy soil moderately enriched with dung. Some 

 of the strongest plants were potted singly, two or three of the 

 weaker being put into one pot, and the pots set upon a bottom 

 of coal-ashes in the open air. Being carefully tended, the plants 

 soon began to grow rapidly, each producing several shoots, when 

 they were sticked and tied, some to three sticks, in order to form 

 tall plants, but the greater part into round bushes ; afterwards 

 they were allowed ample room, and never permitted to suffer for 

 want of water. At this stage of their progress, the pots being 

 well filled with roots, a few plants were set aside for the purpose 

 of trying the effect of guano-Mater upon them ; and finding 

 after a few applications that it deepened the rich green of the 

 leaves and increased the general robustness of the plants, the 

 whole stock was treated in the same manner, applying it libe- 

 rally twice a- week in lieu of ordinary waterings. As the 

 weather was dry and warm, the plants required water every day, 

 frequently twice a-day, so that a considerable portion of the 

 manure would no doubt be washed away ; but in moister weather, 

 when few of the guano particles would be unavailable, once 

 a-week would probably be often enough to give the manure- 

 water. When danger from night-frosts was apprehended, the 

 plants were removed into a conservatory, where they blossomed 

 beautifully, retaining their foliage almost down to the rim of the 

 pots. Plants of Rival and Surprise, not much exceeding 2 feet 

 in height, expanded nearly a hundred flowers each ; while other 

 varieties of less spreading habit, which produce their blossoms 

 upon shorter branchlets, such as De Crequi and Madame 

 Pompadour, had from fifteen to twenty flowers on a branch, 

 forming almost a close spike of bloom. No doubt this result 

 must partly be attributed to the last splendid summer, which re- 

 sembled that of the Chrysanthemum's native country ; still I 

 can confidently say that those who follow the course of culture 

 here described will find it less troublesome and more certain 

 than most other methods. 



