Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-11-22
CULTIVATION OF THE OHRYsAN-
THEMUM.
John Thorpe in Harper,s Masazine.l

John Thorpe In Harper's Magazine.l
The cultivation of the chrysan-
themum as compared with the cultiva-
ton Of the rose is of the most simple
description, requiring only rich soil,
a sunny or partially sunny position,
and occasional waterings in extreme
drOughts. Young plants set in the
ground during April and May will
with some little attention make speci-
mems of two feet in diameter. The
tops of the leading or strongest growths
should be removed by pinching, after
the shoots have grown four or five
inches long, and this should be con-
tinued until the end of July, after
which the entire plant should be al
lowed 10 grow. The flower buds be.
gin to form about the end of August or
of September. Ii it is de-
sirable to have them flower in the
house or conservatory-a plan which is
highly recommended-they should be
dug up carefully about the first of
October, and placed in pots according
to the size of each plant. For the very
largest plants pots ten or twelve inches
in diameter are required. The plants
should be we'll drenched with water at
once, and set in some shady place for
few days, after which they can be
exposed 10 tho fnll sun. They must
be protected before the appearance Of
frost. but should not be subjected to
artificial heat, temperature of forty
five to fifty degrees Fahrenheit being
quite high enough. Where they are
intended to flower out-of doors it is
best either to plant them at first in
some sheltered position, or to dig care
fully and remove to such place after
the middle of October. With this sim
pie care they are among the most satls-
factory of all flowers. With such pop
ularity OF course the chrysanthemum is
all exhibition flower, aud for this pur-
pose many very large specimens are
grown in comparatively small pots in
various shapes. Some, grown as
bushes, are to be seen from four to six
feet in diameter; others, grown as
small trees, on stems four or five feet
high, are surmounted with heads two
or more feet in diameter, literally COW
cred with flowers. Others, again, are
trained in severe pyramidal and con-
vex forms. The flowers are also
grown Individually for exhibition, and
attain very large size, the plant being
allowed to carry but few buds, which
are removed from time to time during
September, until the largest plants
have only half-dozen flowers to sup
port. These are obtained by strict at
tention to watering, and stimulating
with manure water, three or four
times each day during the growing
season
AS to hardness, many of the varie-
ties will endure the severest winter
weather in climates as cold as New
York state, providing they are slightly
protected by loose leaves and few
branches of evergreens to keep the
leaves in position. The covering of
snow is sufficient protection in win
ter. The older kinds, as rule, are
somewhat harder than those of mod
err date, but Ill cases where they are
winter-killed they are easily replaced
at very slight cost. Where plants are
already i'll pots, sure and simple way
of keeping them is to place them in
any cool, light cellar, a cool pit, or
ou'housc, where the extreme weather
Is somewhat tempered.