MAE C II. 



35 



The magnificent cut blooms of Chrysanthemums which excite so much 

 admiration are, it is well known, produced by high feeding-, and, as Mr. 

 Holmes has remarked (p. 5), by selecting the "right bud" at the "right 

 time." Which, however, is to be considered the " right bud " may not 

 be so generally known : hence the few following remarks with which Mr. 

 Salter has favoured us, will be welcome. The " right time " for disbudding 

 can only be truly learned by experimental cultivation : — 



" To insure success in growing specimen blooms, the nature of the variety should be 

 well understood. Many Chrysanthemums produce the best flowers from the crown or centre 

 buds ; while others require that these should be removed. As a general ride, all the varieties 

 which have very double flowers made up of coarse or confused florets, should have the centre 

 bud taken away, and the second or side bud allowed to remain. On the contrary, those 

 which are of more delicate growth should have the buds from the side removed, and the 

 centre or crown buds alone should be allowed to develope. By this means it will be found 

 that many plants generally considered useless for exhibition, may be made to produce fine 

 well-formed blooms. The following lists will be some guide to inexperienced persons as to 

 the habit of some of the best varieties. 



" The following varieties should have the centre bud retained : — Alfred Salter, 

 Anaxo, Alarm, Aimee Feriere, Cassandra, Formosum, Glory, Golden Queen of England, 

 General Hardinge, Jardin des Plantes, Lu'euin formosum, Madame Lebois, Marechal Duroc, 

 Mrs. W. Holbom, Nonpareil, Queen of the Isles, Q.uintus Curtius, Raymond, Queen of 

 England, Thraiis, and Yellow Perfection. Of newer sorts, so far as experience has been 

 had :— Carissima, Cherub, Dr. Brock, Duchess of Wellington, Golden Trilby, Lady Hardinge, 

 Little Harry, Lord Ratielagh, Pandora, Penelope, Rincnian, Seraph, and Sparkler. 



" The following should have the centre bud removed : — Auguste Mid, Christophe 

 Colomb, Fabius, Hermine, Leon Leguay, Le Prophete, Lysias, Miss Kate, Novelty, Nell 

 Gwynne, Pio Nono, Trilby, and Vesta. Of the newer sorts : — Bacchus, Boadicea, Caractacus, 

 General Slade, Golden King, Golden Hermine, and Lord of the Isles." 



SITUATIONS FOR EINE-FOLIAGED PLANTS. 



Ornamental and large-leaved plants having of late years become favourites 

 for bedding purposes, a little notice of the most ornamental, and what we 

 have grown here, may be useful to parties anxious to try a few. 



The most suitable places for them are undulating grounds or by water, 

 among miscellaneous beds of American plants, and various places, according to 

 the circumstances of different grounds. They are never likely to be useful for 

 the geometrical style of gardening ; but this interesting addition to our English 

 gardening is only beginning. 



In the Champs Elysees, at Paris, where most of these are grown, they are 

 planted in large oval clumps raised high in the centre, and become a thicket, 

 only the outside plants being able properly to develope the leaves, at the same 

 time, answering, as intended there, the purpose of a thick screen. 



Beginning with Cannas, as the largest in the class, these are the only varie- 

 ties we consider worth cultivating for this purpose — viz., C. Annai, gigantea, and 

 zebrina ; the first and last we had in large beds this season, quite as fine as any 

 we saw in France, Annai, or as the French spell it, Annei, is much the best, 

 and we found last spring a month's decoration for the hall out of these before 

 turning them out. Gigantea is the next, and zebrina very little behind, some 

 might prefer it ; but in the other endless varieties there is nothing novel or good. 



Caladium is next, and of these esculentum is by far the best. We had large 

 beds of this equally as fine as any we saw in Paris, and left out as late as Geraniums. 



Next is Wigandia caracassana. This should be planted singly on the 

 grass, and the tcp pinched off: the leaves become, as our neighbours say, 

 " rnagnifique." This plant will not bear a lower temperature than 40° in 

 winter. Ricinus major, when two years old, and planted singly, is very 

 effective. These we found, like the others, to answer equally here as in Paris. 



