CHRYSANTHEMUM CULTIVATION IN POTS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8932, 24 October 1894, Page 2

CHRYSANTHEMUM CULTIVATION IN POTS.

Notes on the System op Cutting Back. What is known as the Cutting-back System is one of great value to the ordinary grower, and to those who grow for exhibition it is indispensable. If we desire to sustain the standard of excellence reached at the last exhibition we must do ail we can to diffuse any principles of cultivation that will enable the grower to have the bulk of his collection in-flower at a given date. Cutting-back is not yet so well understood as it should be, and it is wel that the Club has given the member* thia, opportunity of discussing Its principles and objects. In cutting back the grower has three ends in view :—First —To produce dwarf plants that will be useful for the conservatory, verandah, and reception hall; second—to make late flowering varieties bloom earlier than' they''Would. if grown naturally; third—to retard early flowering varieties. With three result* to achieve in cutting back it will be seen that the modus operandi must be different in each case. To produce dwarf plants' for the conservatory without regard in date of flowering is very simple, but What we want: is a knowledge of. detail that will enable a grower of a few plants to prepare for a given date, with a view to competing at the exhibition. - We often. hear the exclamation at our show-*-" Tt the exhibition had been ft week ugo (or A week later) hovir many first prize* I might have won." This is what we desire to avoid, and the best way to do so is to have lan interchange of ideas, experiences, dec. It has often Seen pointed out that plants cut back in the open ground break much better than those cut back in pots. There certainly is a great difference, and I believe tbe cause to be that before the plants - in pots are cut back they are generally half starved by remaining in small pots, and when the grower cuts them buck the soil is exhausted, the stems have become hard and ripe, the roots receive a check and, of course, when they .tart Into activity agaiii they have nothing to feed on. How different with those growing in the open. When the roots start again they bare plenty of fresh soil to run in, and this I think is the reason trby Chose cut back in the open break so much better than those in pot 8. Of course all .varieties pbouid-tot be cut back at tbe same time. In fact, there will be quite two'months difference between the dates of the first and last cutting back. Therefore re-pot all plants as they require a shift, and the results will be better and more uniform. Plants generally break, best if cut back just as the roots reach the aides of their fresh pott, irrespective of what size the pots may be. Another point to be remembered is that the ball of soil does not get dry so soon if the pot i« not fall of roots, and as it is necessary to withhold water lor a few days after cutting bnck, it will be seen that tbe operation should be performed before the pots are quite full of roots, and the ball of soil will of course keep moist longer. If this it attended to aud the stems are kept fresh and soft we shall hear less about the indifferent way the plants break after they have been out back. "' « Cutting b_ck to produce plants for the conservatory.—Of course tiie latent flowering varieties must be cut back first, and the grower must have some regard as to the height tiie varieties grow naturally. The very latest must not be ent down so low as the earlier sorts, for the reason that the more yon cut from the stem, the later will the plant flower, as the top buds bloom first- and the lowest last. You will see. this if you look at any, chrysanthemum that has bad no attention whatever, and as a rule the latest flowering varieties are tall. Ido not propose to go into detail as to the merits of different varieties, but late ones, »uch as Mr F. Jameson and Mrs Alpheus Hardy, should be cut down about the middle cf October, and early varieties, aucH as Mdlle Ltcrolx, Avalanche, arid W. Tricker, about the first or second.week in December, intermediate varieties, of course, between these) dates; Early varieties may be cut back to within six inches of the soil, and late ones to about ten or twelves 'inches. . It is very desirable to leave one or two leaveon the stem when the plants are cut back-. One is enough, but two are better, aud it is better to leave an extra

* Paper read by Mr W. Jones at a &.«.___- of the __ri_"ta_-ro_ C_ry«anUu> «am Club ou October mil. As a piper by Mr _oowl*s,«t Tiniiir-, ou a •i—itsf 6nUj«ot was read at the same qieeiine. it shoal A lie- -xt4_-ed tfcafr as there had b«en ou.iderable dalo- is Mr K-oir'ea' paper euuln** to h_uU. the flab lvi re>*u.*t«d _it Jones to givsou*. ' *•■•

Inch on the stem with a leaf than t» '-'-"•'■'• below all the leaves. Ie in a good !_._*!• lay the plants on their aidet tor «£_*• days after cutting, as ir, enables break more evenly. Otherwise Rom**!? push the top eye and not those bewF* They should be syringed once or tw_!L**> day, and care should be taken that __-.7_ the roots get dry. As soon aa the _1_ 7 start into growth give them plefAl" l . room, as the more light and nl r /.V branch obtain-* the dwarfer it will h e ni course the first buds that form siioaid _ taken, and if they were cut dow„ ,"• the right dates, the collection win hi r flower about the same time. Do not r _ all the lateral growths from the ntJ,u They should be removed for about ten h twelve inches below the bloom, and h others left on the latter will give a _&_ supply of small flowers for cutting the large blooms are past their b.*t, _„l will also—by raking the surplus -an--n« vent the large blooms from damping __ difference between plants grown _„ _* catting back principle and those vaSt naturally is very great, and once a _:r_«2 adopts this method he will adhere lolt. To make late flowering varieties bin*... early.—This is a differentoperatioti fcotfc« we have just been discussing, aa*l_ j be successful the cultivator must ken > dates for future reference, for it IsafaS that no rule or series of dates canh given to suit all growers alike. {JOBgardens arc much warmer than olfa-.*? aud one set of dates that would solt» grower with a nice sheltered pa«lt'e_, would not do for one who had scared! any protection. Other conditions «vS also be taken into account, such as lUjtj pot and the quantity of water a grant? will use. As large pots and much w*b prolongs the growing season of the phM it is of course advisable to give theer_h varieties 1 arge pots, and vice verso,

Mrs Alpheus Hardy is perhaps thoUu, variety we have, and if it is crown natural in would rarely be in time for our ejMU, tion. So to make sure of it being ia tM Ihe point of the lender must be taken *_ early In October. The plant wi!l make it. break at once, and from the time thebrtrt is made the blooms should.be In perfectS in about seven,months—a little more „ less according to the conditions. As soft as the new growths have pushed out abo*. balf an inch select the growths you *££ and take the others away. Same-«*, only two. I prefer three, and if no a& dent befalls them take away the weskw bud, as two blooms are sufficient Jot thU yarletv to finish. Of course other latevak ties will want similar treatment, only (to do not require to be stopped quite so emit The leaders should be taken off with'i sharp knife, not piuched off, as this U tgi to bruise tbe part left on the plant. ".,™

To make early varieties flower latei The grower must wait until the plant bit made its natural break. When thU h formed, cut it off with a sharp knife ami make it form a second break below _» first. This operation will retard Ua peris, of flowering about three weeks. If itlsi specially early variety, you mey cut ttj second break off and make it form a (fern but this is not often done as it would} *&m it very late. As soon as Ihe latera)ji|pf choose the number of blooms theiijlilj to carry and remove tbe rest, i&M varieties will, of course, carry more ifS others. Now it will at once be seen that It tntm be a great help to cultivators to be able In stopping, to regulate tbe date at wkkt bis plants will be iv flower. A carets! study of these principles will enable evety grower to do this. In practice,of coqree.wt must be careful we do not waste tbe plabti and so get poor flowers, but I think ith only the careless grower who wool- it this, though often good methods are spoil) by the haphazard way in which sent growers try them. It is obvious tbtt t careful study of these principles must gin great strength to an exhibitor becMpa It knows tbat barring accidents, nearlyallhlj plants will be in flower at a given data and there are many who would -ajaj cultivating three or four dozen if tee] could be sure of setting tbem to bloom as the risht time. When, however, they in men grow two or three hundred and tlMt not get many prizes, lt tends to kef p t_„ a Way from cultivating- the Chryswthempm. There is no doubt that the &) of keen competition is at band, and fit pains must be spared If we are to ami good account of ourselves on tbe oaytf tbe exhibition.