BORDER VARIETIES. 
67 
ample growths must have plenty of room in which to develop. 
On all occasions plant firmly. Never hesitate to tread in well, 
all round the plants. Choose a fine day for this operation, 
when the soil is not sticky or pasty, but nice and friable. 
Carried out under conditions such as these, the divided plants 
quickly re-establish themselves, and afford great pleasure to 
those who watch their development. 
CULTURE. 
Preparation of the Borders. — Everything depends upon 
the preparation of the soil and the character of the same. 
These plants do not want too rich a soil, as this promotes 
growth of too rank a kind; or they will attain almost 
unwieldy proportions, and not infrequently develop quite out 
of character. Any soil of a fairly good kind will grow the 
garden crysanthemums quite satisfactorily, but the grower 
should bear in mind that to see the early or semi-early kinds 
at their best, growth of a sturdy and consolidated character 
should be produced. This is best developed by planting in 
soil that has been deeply dug, and manure of a thoroughly 
well-rotted kind incorporated at the time. New manure has 
the effect of promoting a coarse growth, and as we wish to 
avoid plants of this character, see to it that the manure has 
been stacked for some time, and has become well rotted. 
The preparation of the flowering quarters cannot well be 
begun at too early a period. There is nothing like commenc- 
ing in the late autumn or early winter in preparing the flowering 
quarters, and this is specially valuable in the case of small 
gardens, where the soil often is very sour, and for alt plants, 
is of a most undesirable kind. The advantage of turning up 
the soil in the winter is that the frosts are able to get well into 
it, killing insect pests, and sweetening and pulverising it. 
Frost is an important factor in the successful preparation of 
the soil, and if taken in hand at the period recommended, it 
cannot be denied that the grower has an immense advantage. 
In many cases, of course, this is not possible, especially in the 
case of those whose garden accommodation is limited, and 
who also want to make the most of it at all seasons. 
Too frequently the ground available for the chrysanthemums 
