CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



223 



this season instead of mid-winter, a saving of nearly six months 

 is effected, which must be very valuable to most growers of 

 plants for decoration. Striking the cuttings at the time men- 

 tioned is an easy matter. If a number of plants are required, 

 the side -shoots from those planted out should be taken off first and 

 inserted singly in thumb-pots, and placed in a shady frame or 

 under a hand-light on the north side of a wall, where they will 

 be well rooted in three weeks. They should be carefully 

 hardened by gradual ventilation, and as soon as possible they 

 should be placed in 3j-inch pots, and stood in the shade for a 

 few days. They will soon get established, and in about a month 

 will be ready for the flowering pots, which should be 6-inch 

 ones. About ten days before the final potting they should be 

 pinched back to three or four leaves to induce them to make 

 bushy plants. 



After once being established let them be exposed to all the 

 light and sun possible until the time arrives for placing them in 

 frames or greenhouses, which is generally about the beginning 

 of October. Should still smaller plants be required, the tops of 

 these when pinched as directed, or of those planted outside, 

 may be inserted in the same way as late as August, and neat 

 little plants will be produced. 



This is a simple way of providing a display of Chysanthemums 

 in the least possible time by persons who, though anxious to 

 form a collection, have not the necessary means for the pro- 

 duction of large flowers, and the following is a list of a dozen 

 suitable varieties : — 



Avalanche, white Mdlle. Lacroix, white 



Edwin Beckett, yellow W. H. Lincoln, pure yellow 



J. S. Dibben, bronzy yellow Mdme. 0. Mirbeau, light mauve 



W. Tricker, delicate rose Viviand Morel, blush mauve 



Mrs. Hawkins, golden yellow W. Seward, rich crimson 



Mdlle. Therese Key, white J. Shrimpton, crimson-scarlet 



It will be noticed that I have omitted incurves in this selec- 

 tion, beautiful as doubtless they are. I do not, however, consider 

 them so useful for general decorative purposes as the Japanese ; 

 but should a few be desired, all the " Teck " and "Bundle" 

 families, with others of a dwarf floriferous character, may be 

 grown to form neat plants with perfect-shaped blooms. 



Of other modes of culture, that of propagating in December 

 and J anuary, and growing the plants with three stems for large 



