ON THE CULTIVATION OF CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 45 
'(small sixteens, one cutting into each pot. The soil for this purpose should be one 
half loam, and the other half peat, adding a little sand should either of these be 
deficient in that material. When planted, the pots should be placed into a pit or 
frame, upon a mild bottom-heat, in which they will root freely in about three or four 
weeks. When rooted, the plants are removed into a cool frame to harden them, 
and fit them for being placed in the open air. About the beginning of June they 
will require to be shifted into larger pots, of the size called forty-eights ; after 
which, they are to be arranged in the open air, upon a piece of ground prepared for 
them, in a dry and airy situation. While here, they should be watered frequently 
with liquid manure ; but not plunged, as in that case they would be likely to send 
their roots down into the soil, and these would be injured whenever it becomes 
necessary to move them. Soon after the above second potting, the tops are pinched 
off the plants, to cause them to branch out into good bushy heads ; but it is 
to be strictly observed, that no more branches be allowed to remain than the 
plants are likely to support. In August they are shifted a third time into 
thirty-two sized pots, and set sufficiently apart from each other at this time, to 
allow a free circulation of air passing through amongst the plants, which should be 
occasionally moved to prevent their roots from entering into the ground upon which 
they stand. The mould used for this third and last potting should be both strong 
and rich, that is, strong loam and dung well blended together. It has been 
recommended to reduce the number of flower-buds with a view to increase the size 
of the individual flowers, but unless for some particular purpose this practice is 
unnecessary. No doubt but that by doing so the size of the flowers would be a little 
enlarged, but it is questionable whether a greater number of flowers, if even of 
somewhat less a size, would not produce a much better effect. In arranging 
Chrysanthemums in the greenhouse, some degree of taste should be displayed, 
by a proper disposal of the different colours, sizes, and habits of the plants. 
The flowering season of this family may be considerably lengthened, by judicious 
management in bringing them into the house ; thus, for example, the early-flowering 
sorts should be taken in first, and that soon after they have formed their flowers ; as 
these decay, the next in order of flowering should be taken in to replace them, and 
so on, leaving the latest of all to be taken in last. To prevent these from sustaining 
injury from early autumnal frosts, it will be well to remove them into a cold pit or 
other sheltered place in time, giving plenty of air during the day, and otherwise 
retarding rather than forcing them into flower. 
By an arrangement of this kind, a display of these varied and beautiful flowers 
may be kept up from the beginning of October till the end of December, — three 
months more scanty of flowers than any other during the year. The following list 
includes some of the finest varieties of this family. But the Chinese possess many 
varieties which have not reached this country, and are in the habit of rearing them 
from seed, their climate being particularly favourable for that purpose. A nursery- 
man in Jersey has also succeeded in obtaining a number of varieties, the flowers of 
