154 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Jacintha was reared from home-saved seeds of Salter's 

 Early Blush, the flies having no doubt carried pollen to its 

 stigmas from other single or semi-double varieties. The best 

 early yellow Pompon, viz., Golden Shah, originated from this 

 seed, as also did the lovely white Duchess of Fife. 



When we come to consider the harvesting of Chrysanthemum 

 seed in the garden, we of course find that the question of nutri- 

 tion is at the bottom of the whole thing. 



Being, as wehave said, naturally a sub-shrubbyplant, the more 

 woody it is the better it seeds. Our plan of cutting down the 

 plants every winter, and growing on young plants from the 

 succulent young growths in rich soil by the aid of stimulants, is 

 quite opposed to the possibility of seeds being saved. All other 

 things, such as heat and light, being equal, rich soils and much 

 moisture or manurial stimulants conduce to the production of 

 vegetative growth, and the development of the female floral 

 organs, such as ray florets and styles. On the contrary, poor soils 

 and drought are highly conducive to the growth of the andraesial 

 whorl, or the anthers and their golden harvest of pollen, and also 

 to the production of seed. Heat and drought = <jf fls. Cold 

 and moisture = $ or neuter flowers. Do we not see this result 

 every year of our lives in the garden? After a hot dry summer 

 and autumn (which, as the gardeners say, ripens the wood) we 

 get good fruit and seed crops the succeeding year, but after a 

 dull wet cold season we know the reverse is generally the rule. 

 We must apply these broad and simple principles to the Chrys- 

 anthemum, and good seed will be attained in England quite as 

 readily as large blooms. 



But there must be no manurial stimulants, none of the 

 syringing, and but little of the watering so necessary in the 

 culture of large and showy flower-heads for decoration or 

 exhibition. The Chrysanthemum seeds best as planted out in 

 the open air in a high and dry position, and when the flowers 

 show colour they should be protected by a glass coping, with a 

 roller-blind of stout canvas to let down in front of the plants to 

 protect them from rain and frost. The thin, late and shabby 

 blooms seed best, and the greatest drawback to the seed ripening 

 is wet, or even a damp atmosphere. As a rule, the large and 

 early flowers of the Chrysanthemum are erect ; but the later 

 axillary flowers are drooping, and not so liable to suffer from 



