chap, viii.] THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
273 
heartsease is very liable to be scorched by 
the excessive heat of the sun, and will require 
constant watering in hot weather; it is also 
very liable to be damped off by cold and wet 
in winter. The best varieties are propa¬ 
gated by cuttings, taken off in spring, which 
grow rapidly so as to flower the same sum¬ 
mer or autumn. These cuttings should be 
taken from the points of the shoots, cutting 
them off immediately below a joint; and 
they should be struck in pure white sand, as 
when the cutting is put into earth it is very 
apt to damp off. The cuttings when made 
should not be watered, but should be covered 
with a bell glass, and shaded for several days, 
on account of the succulent nature of the 
stems, and great evaporation from the leaves. 
Heartseases are sometimes propagated by 
layers, in which case the branch should be 
only pegged down at a joint, and not slit, on 
account of its tendency to damp off. 
Chrysanthemums are principally winter 
flowers, and they are valuable for affording 
a brilliant show at a season when there are 
few other flowers to be seen. In November 
and December, when no other flowers are in 
T 
