94 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 31, 1884. 
case, the plants have been insufficiently potted, they will in a sense 
very soon become root-bound, and, taking this to be the case, our 
friend is certainly rather behind. But to suit the argument, we will 
consider the plants have been properly potted, in which case there 
is nothing extraordinary in the roots having reached the edge of the 
pots by the end of June. Some of my earlier plants were in that 
state bj'’ the middle of the month, but they were not root-bound. 
When the plants are well potted the roots wilt work about the centre 
of the pots for many weeks before they exhaust the soil, and by that 
time thej'’ will have reached a stage of growth that further freedom 
for the roots is not required, as 1 will try to explain. I can quite 
understand an emplo 3 mr objecting to larger than lO-inchpots (perhaps 
there would be far more Chrysanthemums grovvn if they took less 
space), but to talk about 14-inch pots for ordiuaiy plants of Chrysan¬ 
themums^ is taking a very extreme measure. I might say that the 
general size for veiy early struck trained specimen plants is a 12-inch 
pot. My advice to this grower is to let his plants alone. 
In treating of the other extreme, that of “ E. P. B.,'’ I can but 
presume that he simply grows a few plants for decoration, and does 
not desire good exhibition blooms. I should be very sorry to find 
my plants at the end of June in 60-size pots or small 48’s, for I do 
not gather what is meant by a 4-inch pot. My 60’s measure nearly 
4 inches, and ordinary 48's 6j- inches. “ R. P. B.’s plants I should 
ay are root-bound indeed, and not likely to make specimens. His 
system of one shift only will be thought by most growers rather a 
loose one ; no softwooded plant more repays for good treatment 
.than the Chiysanthemum. 
In giving a short account of m}^ simple culture I would first say 
that a collection of Chrysanthemums should be divided into three 
sections—Qpare rooters, medium rooters, and strong rooters. For this 
a grower must know his varieties ; if not, he must watch his plants 
closelj^ to avoid overpotting, and according to the need of his plants 
will he use discretion as to size of pots for final potting. 
I prefer cuttings, as far as I can get them, taken off at a level 
with the soil, and not suckers in the ordinary sense, as I am of 
opinion they root more freely, and do not club or throw up other 
.-suckers as those taken with roots from beneath the soil. It matters 
little if they aie inserted singly or in store pots. If the quantity is 
large or the plarrts cannot be attended to daily the latter is perhaps 
the best, at least it is mj^ plan. I like to commence striking cuttings 
..about the middle of December in a cold frame, made frost-proof if 
possible, and with favourable weather to be able to pot them into 
-60’s by the beginning of March or earlier, placing the strongest into 
full-sized 60’s, and the weaker ones into small GO’s. From six to 
..eight weeks later they are shifted into 32’s and 48’s respectively, 
and ray final potting commences by the third week in Majq and 
continues throughout June as the plants are readjq so that the last 
are finished b^r the end of June. My largest pots are 10 inches in 
-iliameter, commonl)’’ called 16’s, but not the small 9-inch with narrow 
bottoms of some potters. A 10-inch pot should be 8^ inches across 
at the bottom. My second size are 8|-inch, or full 24’s, and a few 
28’s, rather smaller than the 24’s, for the very spare rooters, so that 
the plants have pots suitable to their growth. 
For soil I prefer one-half of good yellow loam, rather stiff, jmt 
with as much fibre as possible ; the other half is composed of equal 
portions of sharp gritty sand and decajmd stable manure, then to 
every six bushels I add one bushel of small charcoal and 10 lbs. of 
dissolved bones. I am very particular as to using the soil in just 
guch a moist state only as will allow of it being rammed home as 
tight as my rammer can drive it. Treated thus the plants will not 
be root-bound, because in two or three weeks some of the roots have 
.reached the edge of the pots. They will continue making roots and 
growing freely until August, especially with the occasional use of 
■weak guano water. Should the dissolved bones not be used the 
plants will require liquid manure oftener. With the plants well 
...root-bound by the middle of August we find the plants well grown 
and ripened, proper attention having been taken to keep suckers and 
.laterals off as fast as they appear, and securing all the leaders 
possible at this stage, as it is a mistake to reduce to the exact number 
of blooms required until the buds are secured. I keep the plants 
rather quiet while the buds are forming ; strong supjalies of liquid 
manure “ blind ” the buds, but afterwards the plants will take large 
quantities of solution of guano and sulphate of ammonia. I finally 
finish off with pure sulphate of ammonia, half an ounce to the gallon, 
qntil the blooms are fully expanded, and then gradually reduce the 
(supply. 
I have endeavoured to show a system without hard-and-fast rules. 
To treat on the thousand and one peculiarities of the different 
varieties would be an endless task, which no one would like to 
commence, and these the cultivator must try and master for himself. 
I say Try, for I find after fifteen years the Chiysanthemum is to a 
great extent ray master. I would just remark in conclusion that 
X have simply treated on plants grown for exhibition as cut blooms. 
Another time I maj'- be able to treat on specimens and for decoration. 
—N. Davis, Camhervxll. 
Frost in July. —Mr. R. Savill, Watford, Herts, writes as 
follows :—“ Upon the night of the 24th of July (Friday) my neighbour 
had a plant of Vegetable Marrow killed by the frost, and several other 
plants were much damaged.” 
- Rules for Allotment Gardens. —A correspondent desirous 
of framing a few simple rules for the management of the above, will be 
obliged if copies of any that have worked well in country districts can be 
forwarded to him through this office. They may be addressed to the 
Editor. 
- We regret to learn of the death of a provincial nurseryman of 
repute— Mr. Wm. Crowder, which took place at his residence, Lincoln 
Road, Horncastle, on the 23rd inst., at the age of fifty-seven. Mr. 
Crowder was well known in the locality as the proprietor of nurseries at 
Thimbleby, Horncastle, and Tetford, and had gained a wide business 
connection. 
- The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society. — We are 
glad to learn that Capt. Hargreaves, The Mount, Bishopstoke, has 
decided to open his grounds on Bank Holiday, August 4th, for the 
benefit of the above Society, and has also kindly promised to pay for a 
band, so that the receipts at the gates may not be used for that purpose. 
' Mr. George Forty, the gardener, hopes to be enabled to send a good 
addition to the augmentation fund as the result of his employer’s 
thoughtful generosity. For this fund Mr. Cutler has received £524 16,v. Qd., 
and expects this amount will be much increased, as he trusts the 
collections will be very large on “ Gardeners’ Monday,” and so do we. 
- Messrs. James Carter & Co., High Holborn, send a box of 
Balsam flowers of a very choice and excellent strain. The blooms 
are full and well formed, over 2 inches in diameter, and varied in colour. 
Some pure white blooms are very handsome. Several brilliant shades 
of scarlet are represented, with salmon, pink, crimson, purple, and 
mauve. Several of the flowers are particoloured, streaked, striped, 
and mottled, and have a handsome substantial appearance. 
- The annual Exhibition of the Northern Section of the 
National Carnation and Picotee Society will be held in the new 
Town Hall, Manchester, on Tuesday, August 12th, 1884. 
- The large quantities of Imported Pine Apples which are now 
seen in the London markets have necessarily greatly reduced the prices ; 
and during the present week we have seen on the hawkers’ harrows in the 
City some reaUy fine fruits, 3 to 4 lbs. each, at &d. each, and at ^d. and 
I 5 . fruits that are better in appearance than many home-grown ones at 
exhibitions. The growers’ price must be exceedingly small. 
- The magnificent Smooth Cayenne Pine Apples which Mr. 
R. Nicholas exhibited at Kensington recently were splendid samples of 
English-grown Pines, and very rarely are such fine even fruits seen 
either in gardens or at shows. Not one of the specimens shown was 
under 7 lbs. weight, and several were above that, one handsome fruit 
being 10 lbs.—a very unusual weight. It is satisfactory to find that this 
grand fruit is not quite neglected by English gardeners, as, notwith¬ 
standing the great difference in the price of the home and foreign-grown 
samples, the former are far superior in flavour, especially such varieties 
as the Black Jamaica, which is the chief favourite with many growers at 
the present time. 
- Messrs. E. Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge, send us 
samples of their New Pea Wordsley Wonder, which they describe 
as “ the earliest blue wrinkled Marrow Pea.” It is a very prolific and 
useful variety, with pods of medium size, mostly in pairs, and extremely 
well filled, the pods containing from eight to twelve peas, the majority 
containing ten. Borne very handsome samples of this variety were 
exhibited at Kensington at the last Fruit and Vegetable Show, and then 
