Garden Notes - Chrysanthemum to Cytisus

Dwarf Chrysanthemum

Several varieties of Japanese decorative Chrysanthemums may be successfully cultivated as dwarfs. As soon as cuttings are rooted stop down to two leaves, and in due course pinch out the two breaks to two leaves. Transfer to 3 inch pots in April, and place in cold frame, protecting from frost, and spraying with water on fine days. Between April and June pinch freely, and transfer to 5 ½ or 6 inch pots set on ash bed out of doors and kept moist. As flowering season approaches pinch all shoots at same time so as to have flower buds equally developed.
 

Star Cineraria

C. stellata is a popular modern strain which makes an ideal plant for the amateur's greenhouse. Sow seeds in May in well-drained boxes, in compost consisting of turfy loam one part; oak leaf-mould, fine charcoal and coarse sand one part. Cover with glass, and set in a cool house or frame. Transplant in due course and re-pot when well rooted into 4 ½ inch pots, and in November shift into 6 or 8 inch pots and set near glass in greenhouse heated to 45 to 50 degrees. Fumigate frequently to destroy aphis.
 

Clivia

This attractive evergreen flowering plant, of which many varieties are cultivated, is sometimes known as imantophyllum. Pot in February, and keep close to glass. Compost: fibrous loam two parts, decayed manure and sand one part, together with a little broken charcoal and a few potsherds; good drainage is essential. Plants should be watered freely from February to August, and kept at a moderate temperature. Keep cool and airy afterwards, and water but little, returning to warmer quarters for flowering as spring approaches. Young plants are best raised by offsets or divisions, getting if possible a few roots with each.
 

Cyclamen

These popular greenhouse plants should be raised from seed annually, the fines blooms being obtained from seedling plants about a year old. Sow seeds about November, ¼ inch deep and 1 inch apart, in well-drained pans of light soil, at a temperature of about 55 or 60 degrees. Cover with thin layer of fiber, and keep moist. Transplant seedlings into thumb pots, and re-pot into 3 inch and again in 4 ½ inch pots as required. In September transfer to light greenhouse at about 50 degrees, and give liquid manure occasionally. Keep free from insects and draughts.
 

Cytisus or Genista

Cytisus fragrans, an evergreen spring-blooming shrub well adapted for cultivation in a cool greenhouse. Re-pot after flowering in a compost of turfy loam two parts, and turfy peat and silver sand one part, and cut back shoots to about two inches in length. Keep in a temperature 55 to 65 degrees, and syringe frequently until July; then harden oft, and set on bed of ashes in the open. Return to greenhouse in September, water moderately, and keep at a temperature 45 to 50 degrees, applying weak liquid manure when flower-buds show. Cuttings may be rooted in March, in sand, under a bell-glass set in propagating frame.