Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/115

Rh In the middle of June the plants should be shifted into eight-inch pots, to give them a good chance in the height of the growing season. Keep them freely watered even in rainy weather, for it often happens that, while the leaves are well washed by rain, the roots get none of it. In dry weather syringe them once a day at least, in very hot weather twice, morning and evening being the best times.

By the middle of July the first-class show kinds will be the better for a shift into eleven-inch pots if large specimens are required, but the reflexed and smaller kinds may be allowed to flower in eight-inch pots, and be helped to the end of their journey by liquid manure as soon as they have quite filled their pots with roots. In any case, however, robust plants that have quite filled their pots with roots, and that appear, by their ample leafage audand [sic] walking-stick stems, to be capable of growing considerably larger yet, should be shifted to give them a chance of making a grand show when their day of triumph arrives. But there must be no disturbance of the roots after the middle of July or there will be very few flowers in November. And however strong the plants or propitious the season, eleven-pots are the largest allowable for chrysanthemums. If you put them into larger pots you may whistle for flowers.

The chrysanthemum is grown in a variety of forms according to the fancy of the cultivator. The tall untrained bushes suitable for the conservatory are the easiest to manage; and any one who has the least idea of gardening operations can stake and train them, for all they need is sufficient support to enable them to carry their flowers. But it is another matter when specimens such as here figured are required. To produce any of these forms it is necessary to take cuttings in November, and keep the young plants in the greenhouse through the winter.

are the most telling of all for exhibition purposes. The large flowering kinds and the pompons are equally adapted for this mode of management. The plants raised from November cuttings must be stopped about the middle of March. In the first week of April they should be shifted into six-inch pots. It is usual to grow all kinds of chrysanthemums in the same mixture; but, when perfection is aimed at, the large kinds will do better in a somewhat heavier soil than the