[Illustration: THE FLORAL BARBER AT HIS WORK. CONTRAST THE TWO PLANTS.]
The untied plant on the left is a wonderful specimen. It measures over four feet across the top, grows from one stalk, and yet only occupies a twelve-inch pot.
Blooms from some of the choice plants are worth from three to five shillings apiece, while even cuttings will fetch the latter figure.
One of the great fascinations of show-chrysanthemum growing is the possibility of producing new blooms. Out of twelve exhibited flowers shown me at a recent show, nine were entirely new specimens. Like the orchid grower, the chrysanthemum lover is ever seeking floral novelties. In the ordinary way it takes some years to produce and fix a new flower. Endless patience, experiment, and knowledge are necessary to success; but here, as in most branches of floriculture, there is a strong element of luck, and the raw amateur sometimes purchases a cutting which turns out to be an extraordinarily fine specimen of a new variety.
This element of uncertainty undoubtedly constitutes one of the great charms of horticulture.
_Illustrated with novel Photographs from life by Arthur Ullyett, Ilford._
"Wake up, Lessels!" said Stanley, in a hoarse whisper, shaking his younger brother as he spoke. "I've got a grand idea!"
[Illustration: "'WAKE UP, LESSELS! I'VE GOT A GRAND IDEA!'"]
[Illustration: "'I'M OFF TO KLONDYKE, AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE MY PARD.'"]
"Gimme a little bit then," answered Lessels, drowsily. "You had some of my chocolate cweam last night."
"You goose! Don't you know what an idea is?" retorted the elder boy, disdainfully. "It isn't anything to eat. It's a notion."
"Then you can have it all yourself," remarked Lessels, indifferently.
"Would you like a thousand pounds to spend on caramels and chocolate?" asked Stanley. "And a golden guinea to put in the bank till you are a man?"
"I'd like the chocolate," answered Lessels, with some show on interest. "An' I'd like a boxful of caramels; an' a barley-sugar lion; an' a real engine which would go by itself an' wun into things. An' I'd like a toy fire-engine, so that I could set fire to Madge's dolls' house an' put it out; an' a bucketful of ice cream, an'----"
"Don't speak so loud, you little duffer, or you'll get nothing at all!" interrupted the elder boy. "Just get out of bed at once, and dress yourself without dropping anything. We're off to Klondyke!"