470 
CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
pots and jars, placing it before the windows of their apartments, and 
decorate their tables with it at theiT entertainments; on which occa¬ 
sions he that produces the largest flower is considered as conferring 
the greatest honour on his guests. 
The varieties of this plant were introduced to Britain from France 
in 1790, having been brought from China to Marseilles in 1789. 
Before 1808, eight new varieties were introduced from China by Sir 
Abraham Hume and Mr. Evans. Between the years 1816 and 1823 
seventeen new varieties were added to the list; and from subsequent 
importations and variations from culture there are now more than 
fifty varieties in cultivation*. 
The mode of culture is simple and easy, and may be explained in 
the following rules:— 
1. The soil most suitable for their growth is a light, rich, turfy 
loam, mixed with good rotten dung, sand, and leaf mould, in the 
proportions, of one barrowful of the former to one-fourth of a barrow¬ 
ful of each of the latter. 
2. Propagation. This is performed many ways, but there are 
four or five principal means, namely, by cuttings, suckers, division 
of the roots, layers, and occasionally, though but seldom, by seeds. 
3. Cuttings. Take off the cuttings in April, this is preferable to 
planting them in the autumn, which is often practised. They should 
be taken from the upper part of the shoot, and from four to six in¬ 
ches long, according to the sort and strength of the shoots. Cut 
them off just below a joint, and trim of the leaves from that part 
which it is intendedTo insert in the soil. 
4. When the cuttings are prepared, plant them in sixty-sized pots, 
in a soil made somewhat lighter than the one mentioned above," by 
the addition of a little more sand and leaf mould. 
5. When potted, place them in a frame, and shut them close down 
with the lights, giving no air until they have begun to grow; also, 
whilst in this situation, they must be kept damp, and shaded from 
the violence of the sun by a mat. If it be not convenient to occupy 
a frame with them, they will grow very well, although not so rapidly, 
if placed in a somewhat shady situation out of doors, particularly if 
the pots be plunged in the ground. 
6. In May, those placed in frames, and in June, those placed out 
of doors, will require their leading shoots stopping, in order to in¬ 
duce them to form handsome heads. 
* This history is taken from a paper read in June, 1828, before the Vale of 
Evesham Horticultural Society, by the president, E. Rudge, Esq. and noticed 
some time since in the Gardeners’ Magazine. 
