CHRYSANTHEMUMS : SPORTS AND PESTS. 



35' 



Chrysanthemum " Sports." 



When a branch of a plant of any variety gives a bloom or blooms differing in 

 colour from the parent, the departure is called a " sport." In this way many of 

 our best novelties originate. For instance, Charles Davis, terra-cotta, was a sport from 

 Viviand Morel, pink ; C. J. Warren, primrose yellow, sported from Madame Carnot, 

 white ; Empress of India, pure white, was a sport from Queen of England, blush ; 

 Golden Empress of India was a sport from the white Empress of India, and dozens 

 more could be cited. When a sport worthy of perpetuating is seen, the growth 

 on which it occurs may either be cut up into short lengths, and these rooted in 

 gentle heat, or what is safer, affixing the plant on its side so that the whole stem of 

 the sport can be layered by pegging it down into rich loamy soil. If the plants 

 resulting prove when flowering to be still quite distinct from the parent, a new and, it 

 may be, valuable variety, has been added to the list. Sometimes these freaks of nature 

 cannot be "fixed," the plants reverting to the colour of the parent. 



Parasitic and Insect Pests. 



Mildew is the worst scourge that chrysanthemum growers have to contend with. 

 On some varieties it is liable to show itself early in the summer, and unless promptly 

 checked spreads rapidly, and ruins the plants. Mildew specifics are sold by most horti- 

 cultural sundries men, but the following remedy may be home-made : — Place 1^ lbs. of 

 flowers of sulphur and 2 ozs. of newly- slaked lime in 6 quarts of water, and boil down 

 to 3 quarts. Let the sediment settle, then strain the solution through muslin, and 

 store in a bottle for future use. One wine-glass, or 2 ozs., measured with the aid of an 

 8 oz. medicine bottle, is sufficient for mixing with 4 gallons of water. Syringe the 

 affected plants with the mixture, thoroughly wetting the under sides of the leaves as 

 often as necessary, and in particular syringe all the plants with it just before housing, 

 as a preventive of further attacks. 



Aphides and Thrips are frequently troublesome during the summer, when they 

 must be got rid of by syringing with soot-water, varied, if need be, with well-diluted 

 tobacco-water. After housing, an occasional gentle fumigation with tobacco, or, better 

 still, by generating nicotine fumes with the aid of a vaporiser, will keep down many 

 enemies, which it is much better to prevent than destroy. 



Earwigs and Caterpillars are not so easy to combat, and these appear to be 



