WATERING AND FEEDING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



3+3 



be necessary for forwarding some of the varieties, but the less forcing the chrysanthe- 

 mum is subjected to the better, as much heat impairs the colours of all but white 

 varieties. Any blooms too early will retain their freshness longer if the plants are 

 placed in cool, dry, darkened rooms. Lumps of newly slaked lime are of service in 

 absorbing atmospheric moisture in a damp room, and may be the means of preventing 

 decay of the blooms. If a few odd blooms only are too forward, cut them with long 

 stems, which insert in bottles of water in a dark room. Cut off a short portion of the 

 stem every morning, and change the water occasionally. Some flowers have been kept 

 in water in a light, dry greenhouse till seeds have ripened, and from one of such seeds 

 the variety James Salter was raised. 



"Watering, Feeding, and Top-dressing. 

 Not till the plants have exhausted much of the fertility contained in the soil they 

 are rooting in, ought feeding to be commenced. If from any unavoidable cause 

 they have to be kept in the smaller pots longer than is good for them, substitute clear 

 soot-water for ordinary water occasionally, ceasing this after the final shift has been 

 given. Newly potted plants, we repeat, must be most carefully watered, the aim being 

 to maintain the old ball of soil and roots uniformly moist without saturating and 

 souring the fresh. When the plants are well established in their flowering pots, 

 they require much more water than formerly. They ought to be examined every 

 day, twice or thrice on hot sunny days, not watering till the soil is approaching dryness, 

 but always giving sufficient for some to pass through the drainage. No liquid manure 

 ought to be given while the plants are growing strongly. Apply weak soot-water if 

 they show signs of requiring a little assistance, in July. Top-dressings composed of 

 equal parts of coarse fibrous loam and horse- droppings, with a dash of soot and super- 

 phosphate of lime, are given by some growers early in August, and under judicious 

 watering, much good results from the increased root activity thus incited. The reverse 

 may be the case if those who attend to the watering are guided by the appearance 

 of the top soil only. 



WTien the buds commence swelling, feeding must also commence systematically, and 

 be proceeded with intelligently. Too much manure, notably strong applications of 

 nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, kill many of the root fibres ; or failing that 

 calamity, the development of the blooms is so forced that they cannot resist damp so 

 long as they would do if less flimsy in character. Clear soot-water, obtained by 



