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LXXXVIIL On the Cultivation of Chinese Chrysanthe- 

 mums. In a Letter to the Secretary. By Mr. Joseph 

 Wells, Gardener to William Wells, Esq. F. H. S. 



Read December 4, 1821. 



Sir, 



In consequence of your commendations of the Specimens 

 of Chrysanthemums, which I had the pleasure of shewing 

 you lately, and of your desire to be informed of my mode 

 of treating the plants, I now submit an account of my prac- 

 tice to you. 



In the last week of May, or early in June, I take cut- 

 tings of the plants five or six inches in length, and plant 

 them under a north wall, placing a hand-glass over them. 

 When they have struck root it is necessary to admita 

 little air to them, to prevent their being drawn up weak. 

 In a few days after they are well rooted, I take them up, 

 and plant them singly in as small pots as they can con- 

 veniently be put into, shading them until they have reco- 

 vered this removal ; I then select an airy border at a distance 

 from any wall or building into which I plunge the pots up 

 to their rims, the plants will speedily fill the pots with roots, 

 which will also soon extend over the rims. It is then neces- 

 sary to raise and re-plunge the pots, this checks the too rapid 

 growth of the young plants. 



Whilst in this border they require to be watered pretty 

 freely. When they begin to put forth shoots, I determine 



