BUSH AND TRAINED SPECIMEN PLANTS 



To many, one of the most interesting features at a 

 Chrysanthemum show are the specimen plants. These 

 are chiefly confined to the bush or pyramid style at the 

 present day. At one time all manner of shapes, such as 

 balloons, candelabra, fountains, and standard trees, were 

 resorted to. It requires a great amount of patience and 

 skill to carry out these designs successfully. 



The wonderful compact bush plants, with healthy 

 foliage and covered with several dozen blooms of good 

 quality, require a deal of care and attention. They are 

 chiefly confined to growers in or near centres where 

 Chrysanthemum shows are held. The principal thing in 

 growing specimen plants is to propagate them early, and 

 grow them on in a slightly warmer temperature than the 

 general run, until the latter part of May. The plant 

 should be stopped at a convenient size, to assist in 

 throwing out growths, and these again in their turn at 

 every third or fourth joint, until a sufficiency has been 

 obtained. 



The chief points to be aimed at in the culture are 

 good blooms, healthy foliage, a shapely plant, in as small 

 a pot as possible. They should be kept staked out 

 during the growing season, not allowing the growths to 

 crowd each other in any way, removing any weakly ones, 

 and keeping the plant sustained more particularly when 

 getting any way pot-bound, with a little stimulant either 

 sprinkled on the surface of the pot or given in the 

 watering. 



It is surprising what can be grown, even in a pot- 



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