MA RKET PL A NTS. — CHR FSA N THE MUMS. 



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Varieties that are to flower early ought not to be topped more than once after the 

 final potting. The topping of mid-season varieties should cease late in June, but 

 those intended to flower in December may have their last topping a month later, except 

 Lady Lawrence and Princess Victoria, which should form buds early on strong growths. 

 The plants ought to bo secured early to bamboo or other supports, elaborate staking 

 being expensive and unnecessary. 



Disbudding should be attended to in good time, leaving the central buds on each 

 shoot. In the case of the latest varieties much of this may bo done after the plants are 

 housed. Allowing all the buds to remain on the plants usually means a display of 

 small flowers which are only fit for bunching, low prices resulting. The early varieties 

 ought to be housed directly the buds begin to show colour, the mid-season sorts towards 

 the end of September. Provision should be made for sheltering tho late varieties, if the 

 attempt is made to retard them in the open ; but the safer plan is to arrange them in 

 a large, airy house, and keep this open day and night, closing and employing fire-heat 

 only when frost is anticipated. A dry atmosphere suits chrysanthemums under glass, 

 mildew quickly gaining an ascendancy in moisture-laden surroundings. Strong liquid 

 manure does more harm than good. Clear, well-strained soot- water, weak farm-yard 

 liquid manure, and light surfacings of special manure are beneficial, but if cither nitrate 

 of soda or sulphate of ammonia be used, do not exceed a quarter-ounce to the gallon of 

 water. 



Neat, bushy plants, in small pots, can best be had by rooting the tops of firm young 

 shoots of sturdy-growing varieties in April or May, topping them once, or at the most 

 twice, and shifting into the flowering pots before the plants become root-bound. From 

 first to last they must be properly watered and supported, and must not be permitted to 

 push roots through tho drainage into the ashes on which the pots stand in the open, as 

 this may cause tho subsequent loss of many leaves. When housed, arrange them in 

 light positions. Not more than one stake ought to be needed ; indeed, the best plants 

 sent to the markets do not require stalking at all. 



In preparing chrysanthemums in the open ground for lifting and re-planting under 

 glass, plant sturdy- growing varieties only, early in May, in soil that has been manured 

 for some previous crop, dug during the winter, and forked up in the spring, making it 

 fine to a good depth, arranging them 2 feet asunder, giving water, if necessary, and 

 mulching, after rain, with strawy manure. Only during exceptionally hot and dry 

 weather will they need an occasional soaking of water. Top the early varieties once 



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