DWARFING AND GROUPING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



173 



to produce flowers of large size and substance, without coarseness, 

 in their true character and colour, and that such plants are more 

 ornamental and have much to recommend them. There is an 

 advantage in their not requiring the same amount of staking and 

 supporting through the summer months, neither do they require 

 so much head-room when housed in the autumn. They can be 

 flowered in a low-pitched vinery or peach -house, or on the stage 

 of a greenhouse, previously to being arranged in the conserva- 

 tory if required. There is also this advantage, which to the 

 professional gardener, who cultivates a large collection of Chrys- 

 anthemums, is important : there is a fortnight's relief after the 

 plants have been cut down, when they require but very little 

 attention. The potting-up being delayed for that period, more 

 time can be given to bedding-out, grape-thinning, or the thou- 

 sand and one things which claim the gardener's attention at a 

 very busy time of the year. I can understand cultivators keep- 

 ing aloof from the system at first. It is totally opposed to the 

 orthodox way of growing the plant, and it would appear a 

 grievous sacrifice of a fine stock of plants to cut them to the 

 ground at a time when they seem to be repaying you for your 

 attention during the spring. I must say, if we had had more 

 varieties of the type and habit of Avalanche, Mrs. Falconer 

 Jameson, and Monsieur Freeman, the system would not have 

 been so forced on me, but exhibitors generally will encourage 

 any variety that produces large flowers, no matter how tall and 

 ugly the habit of the plant may be. 



Details of striking the cuttings, potting-up, air-giving, soils 

 and manures, are purposely avoided in this paper. Much has 

 been written on the subject, and, although it is very important 

 that these details should be attended to, success depends much 

 more on the close attention given to plants from day to day. 

 Many young beginners imagine that if they could only find out 

 the proper soil or the proper manure, or if they only had the 

 conveniences their neighbours have, their success would be 

 assured. But it is not so. A few days' neglect will undo the work 

 of a whole season, no matter how closely the other details have 

 been adhered to ; so I w T ould impress upon my hearers the impor- 

 tance of doing what appears to them to be the proper thing at 

 the proper time, and make a note of the same, but yet not to 

 expect that they will command complete success the first season, 



