THE FLORIST. 
*275 
liquid manure may be given with good effect; it improves the size 
of the flower. I have seen plants not more than six inches high, 
with flowers the diameters of which were larger than the mouths of 
the pots in which they were grown, with foliage hanging over the 
side of the pot,—presenting, at least, a novelty in Chrysanthemum 
growing. 
3d. By this mode of culture the expenses of production are 
lessened materially, for no glass is required in striking the layers, 
nor in starting the plants into growth after they have been potted 
off. The pots in which they are layered are plunged in the ground, 
thereby rendering watering unnecessary, and the plants are stronger, 
from having the mother-plant to support them. Care must, how¬ 
ever, be taken to plant them well, leaving room for light and air to 
circulate freely amongst the plants. 
By this plan of cultivation plants may be obtained in sufficient 
quantity to allow them to be introduced into the flower-garden 
when the beauty of other less hardy things has passed by. They 
may be planted, according to their colours, near the windows of the 
dwelling-house; and for this purpose the old plants should be only 
'partly cut down, training them during the season to the ground, that 
their leaves may be all in one position, as they would take too long 
to recover themselves in November if allowed to grow promiscuously, 
and by growing them a good length they will cover the beds more 
effectually. In this way a few beds of Chrysanthemums have a good 
effect, and serve to relieve the gloom of winter, by shortening very 
considerably its duration. A very slight protection will save the 
foliage from getting browned, which sometimes happens after frost. 
I have found the yellow varieties best adapted for out-door work, 
being hardier than the white sorts; the dark-coloured kinds also 
stand very well. 
CYCLAMENS. 
Permit me to direct attention to that much-neglected but most 
beautiful plant, the sweet-scented Persian Cyclamen. Surely it must 
be an idea that it is difficult to cultivate, that keeps it so much a 
stranger to our greenhouses and drawing-rooms. How seldom do 
we see it there, and yet how well it is adapted to become one of the 
gayest and most welcome of our companions during the dark, dull 
season of our dreary winters. How few of Flora’s gayest produc¬ 
tions can vie with it; how different its shape, its form, from all 
others; how lasting is its beauty, and how fragrant; not even the 
Hyacinth or Violet can surpass it in odour. To what, then, can we 
attribute the comparative scarcity of so gay, so handsome, and so 
desirable a companion, but to the mistaken idea, that it is difficult to 
cultivate } 
Although this beautiful bulb has been upwards of a century in 
our possession, yet we do not seem to have made that progress in its 
