CHKYSANTHEMUMS. 



275 



Anemone -flowered section are pretty, and deserve a place in 

 large collections, if only to be grown as what are termed " decora- 

 tive " varieties. Under this latter head are included many very 

 beautiful varieties, but in private gardens they have been some- 

 what neglected of late years in favour of the larger flowers. 



Early border varieties now form quite an indispensable part 

 of the flower garden from August to the end of October, and the 

 recent additions to this class are decided gains both in habit of 

 growth and in the colour of the flowers. They well repay care- 

 ful attention, for they withstand the rains and cold nights of 

 autumn better than most hardy flowers at that time of the year, 

 and when frost has ruined all the tender blossoms of other plants, 

 there can always be found a gathering of Chrysanthemums, often 

 indeed far into November. 



With such a wealth of variety in all sections, one of the 

 chief difficulties seems to be to decide what not to grow ; for the 

 almost bewildering number of new introductions offered each 

 season, generally with such tempting descriptions, makes it 

 troublesome for the grower, who wishes to be up to date, to 

 keep his collection within any reasonable limits. It has become 

 more than ever necessary that before a novelty is granted 

 the honour of a First Class Certificate, it should be proved 

 to be not merely a good thing, but a distinct gain in every way 

 on existing varieties, in order that the public may take with con- 

 fidence anything so recommended. I believe there were not less 

 than one hundred new Japanese offered for the first time by 

 English firms last season, and thirty-six were awarded First 

 Class Certificates. 



Turning now to the culture of plants to produce specimen 

 flowers, I will only notice briefly the routine points of cultivation, 

 as these are so simple, and so generally known and understood, 

 that it will be better in following the growth of the plant from 

 the cutting stage onwards to deal mostly with considerations of 

 management which are of more interest. 



Propagation may commence about the middle of December 

 with the late varieties, and this work may be continued with good 

 results up to the end of January, finishing with those which flower 

 early. It is very important that good sturdy cuttings should be 

 selected : those of a weakly nature lose so much time in making 

 up their constitution that they rarely develop first-rate flowers. 



