356 Bulletin 147. 



by the crown or jingle buds. If these buds are not selected to produce 

 flowers, but are removed, the third break produces clusters of flower 

 buds which are called terminals. But, after all, differences in cultural 

 methods do not £,^0 to the root of the matter, for they are largely 

 dependent upon differences in public taste. In England, flowers are 

 chiefly shown on boards. The stems are cut short and each flower is 

 supported by a collar placed over the top of the vessel of water that 

 holds it, and the leaves are not seen. They are judged as individual 

 objects. Americans like mass effects, and the feeling for foliage is 

 general. With us a flower without foliage is like a gem without its 

 setting. Our best vase effects are loose, .airy, graceful, fluffy, and 

 they are obtained by using long stems and plenty of foliage. 



It will now be clear that there are special as well as general reasons 

 why English varieties do not succeed in America as a rule, and vice 

 versa. The English favor crowns, and crowns, as a rule, have poor 

 foliage. Choosing varieties from the exhibition halls is a fertile source 

 of disappointment. There are many general reasons for it, one of 

 which is that the habit is not seen, and a special reason in chrysanthe- 

 mums is that the show flower may be the product of a crown bud. 

 The practical application to American novelties is also not far to seek. 

 The terminal bud is the rule for American commercial purposes, and 

 no variety that is poor from the terminal may ever hope for anything 

 like permanent general prosperity in America. 



The actual work of disbudding can hardly be entrusted to anyone 

 who has not a stake in the welfare of the plants. It needs patient, 

 skillful, interested hands and the highest powers of discretion employed 

 in the growing of plants. If the crown bud is to be selected, all the 

 vegetative shoots should be removed at a stage much earlier than 

 shown in figure 180. Figure 182 shows a better time. If, however, 

 the crown bud is not desired, it is removed together with all the vege- 

 tative shoots save one. 'Jlie shoot A in figure 180 will naturally be 

 given the preference, as it may be expected to give a straighter stem. 

 The shoot that is saved will eventually bear a cluster of flower buds, 

 one of which is saved and thereby becomes the terminal. If possible, 

 the unnecessary buds in the cluster should be picked off earlier than 

 those shown in figure 181. The earlier the better, if successful, but 

 the risk in handling is greater. 'Y\\^ more the flower buds are advanced, 

 the easier is the manipulation, and the less is the amount of plant 



