APRIL. 
85 
freely at this place during the last few years, is perfectly hardy as regards 
frost, but is apt to start rather too early in the spring, so that the young 
shoots get nipped by the morning frosts which sometimes prevail at that 
time. This tendency to break early may be partially corrected by giving it 
a full exposure to the north and east, with trees on the south side high enough 
to shade off the morning sun. It is a very fast grower, and altogether a 
noble tree, worthy of more attention than is generally accorded to it. I 
shall have more to say on this subject. 
Redleaf . John Cox. 
HINTS ON THE CULTURE OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Chrysanthemums are too beautiful and too valuable as autumn decorative 
plants to he thrown out of cultivation; they are, moreover, very easily grown. 
Since the close of the last century they have been grown in British gardens, 
and our people have become almost as partial to them as the Chinese are re¬ 
puted to he. The beauty of the leaves, the profusion and elegance of the 
flowers, and these standing in all their glory when the Dahlia and other 
autumnal flowers have yielded to the severity of the weather, are strong- 
features of recommendation. They will grow in almost any soil or situa¬ 
tion—in fact, they are everybody’s flower. 
Not only have the blooms of the Chrysanthemum been much improved 
of late years, but its cultivation has also extended, not about London only, 
but also in the provinces. "When large quantities of flowers are wanted for 
in-door decoration in November and December Chrysanthemums are invalu¬ 
able. They furnish me with many a good basketful at that season of the 
year when I would hesitate to cut flowers of stove or greenhouse plants in 
quantity. They grow and flower well when trained to south or west walls. In 
many parts of the south of England they look beautiful when trained to the 
walls of cottages. To grow fine plants in pots is attended with a considerable 
amount of labour, especially in summer, when so many other matters require 
looking after; but all this labour of potting, watering, &c., can be saved by 
planting them out in the open border. The following mode of treatment I 
find to answer admirably:— 
Towards the end of April, divide the roots and thin out all the weak 
shoots, saving three or four of the best, then plant thinly in a border with 
a west or east aspect in rows 3 feet apart and 2 feet 6 inches from plant to 
plant in the rows. In planting them, plenty of leaf mould and rotten dung- 
should be put around the roots in the holes, and the soil should be pressed 
well about them. The number to plant out should be decided by the require¬ 
ments of the establishment; but in most cases it is best to plant too many 
rather than too few, as, if all be not wanted for lifting and potting in the 
autumn, those left in the open borders will flower well in mild seasons like the 
last, and the flowers will be useful for decorative purposes. If the weather be 
showery at the time of planting out, they will not require watering, but if it 
should be dry, they should have one or two good waterings until they get 
established. By the beginning of June they will be growing freely; the 
shoots should then be all stopped and tied out, and they should not be stopped 
afterwards. In ordinary seasons they will require little or no watering, but 
in such as the summers of 1864 and 1865 they should occasionally have a 
good soaking of water. 
Towards the middle or end of September the plants will be showing flower- 
buds, and should he lifted and potted, using a compost of turfy loam and 
