CHRYSANTHEMUM CULTURE.

Otaki Mail, 3 September 1923, Page 3

CHRYSANTHEMUM CULTURE.

Pianls lor produeiiig show blooms i «iiui'c as long a period ol growth a» it is possible lor tiiem \,o get aaid they should be taken us early in the season as the formation ol cuitmgs will aliow. Cuttings taken any time tins month are go-od enough lor the purpose provided they are rooted wen; a poorly rooted culling is of very liule use lor any purpose. For general garden purposes cut'Lihgfc can be taken next month. It is better to have sturdy short growers lor this purpose 'Ulan the .very la.'J. ones that are so oiten seen, in fact it; is our aim to grow the pVahts ag dvyarly as possioie for aif purposes. The "iiiiifii.-li growers pot up their plants as soon as they are rooted into small pots and then when the ball of earth is weli nllwll "1™ I'C'Jlo 'J'l"v' HI'JVC ille piain i to a larger sizld pot; in this way the growth is well hardened off before each re-potting- it U important to have thesbil the cuttings are put into tor striking nicely mixed with sand and pressed down around the cuttings its .firmly as. possible. »ott putting and loose soil form rank soft shoots which is a thing that nrtiet be avoided as much as possible. Press the soil down as firmly as possible around the cuttings and then when they are rooted and are being* potted up "have a small stake handy to ram the earth into the pots with. All these details may seem superfluous to a novice but it is important if the best plants'for the purpose are to be got. , When potting name each plant as it ' is put into the pot; this is Another i important thing because it does not ' do to trust to one's memory when 1 pottiuc a lor ol plants, The old vane- , tv, Mine. C&rnot, war- well shown at one or two shows last season and the grower when asked how he got them so good said that lie had potted them on from the smallest sized pots and when lie reached the .six inch size the balls ol roots were quite hard. They were then planted out in the open ground and the soil was welt rammed round them. No manure was given until the buds had set and then they

were manured regularly every second day'cw so with any licjuid immure that came 'handy. It is the same with many of the oilier vniieues and as lon<'" as they are weli potted it is not necessary to give any manure until he Plants leave set the.tr buds. At the same lime it is always better to use ; fresh piece of groiurd for the plants eviry year and if possible to have a mixture o* turf weli chopped up y> ffi them inl' V the ground has not piwt pir°"* „,„., i f „ /iressine at once. BSeSSSSrS-apply SS s? much^ Srden plants as to those that are. tofiig 'grown : $S sho.w F iy-pose£.-Stand: