SELECTING THE BUDS 



WHEN the time arrives for choosing, or " taking," the 

 buds, as it is technically termed, some considerable skill 

 must be exercised if successful results are to be obtained. 



First of all there will be the variety to consider, the 

 condition of the plant, and, if for showing purposes, at 

 what date the bloom will be required. 



Then the different stages for buds. 



The first or crown bud is the one to form after the 

 natural May break. It usually comes in August. If too 

 early in the month, say before the second week, it is 

 pinched out, and a growth is taken up immediately from 

 where pinched until another bud forms, and this is termed 

 the second crown bud. Should this bud be removed, 

 which is seldom necessary, we have the terminal, which 

 is the very last, as its name implies, that can be obtained 

 on the plant. 



The majority of the blooms are taken on the first or 

 second crown, according to the variety and whichsuits best. 



The second crown bud will often come a deeper, 

 warmer colour than the first. We may take the variety 

 Chas. Davis for instance : the first crown bloom is often 

 very pale, almost to yellow, while the result from the 

 second crown will often prove a bronze tone. 



It must not be taken for granted that all colours will 

 come better on the second crown, though in the majority 

 of cases it generally is so. 



The great drawback to the second crown is its late- 

 ness in blooming and thinness of flower, sometimes bare 

 in the centre. 



