158 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



one of the strongest on each of the shoots and remove the rest. It 

 is not always advisable to leave the large one at the terminus of the 

 shoot; this often brings a coarse bloom and too early. A second bud 

 lower down, although of smaller size, will produce an equally large 

 bloom, better finished, equal as to size, but somewhat later in the 

 season. After the bud has been selected keep all side growths pinched 

 out, the idea being to divert the entire flow of sap to one bud on each 

 shoot." 



AN EASIER WAY WITH CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



As there will probably be amateurs who wish to have chrysanthe- 

 mums but cannot rise to the intensity of the foregoing, it will be proper 

 to indicate ian easier way which will give inferior but still gratifying 

 flowers. It consists in working with the old roots with treatment fitted 

 to revive and re-stimulate them. Allow strong plants, after flowering 

 to retain their place until the following January or February, because, 

 not having strong, far-reaching roots, but netty, fibrous roots, they 

 have exhausted the soil. This is very difficult to replace even by giving 

 them a heavy top dressing; therefore, take them up, cut away the old 

 stems and save only strong single shoots. Unless the soil is very good, 

 remove it and put in new soil to the depth of one foot, using one part 

 manure to three parts of loam. Tread the soil firmly around the plant, 

 and when fairly started water well. 



Of the shoots which spring from the base of each plant, select four 

 of the large flowering variety and six of the small and single ones, 

 removing all the others. Stake when high enough to need support, 

 spreading them outward to give as much sun and air as possible. Do 

 not top the branches, as they grow best by allowing the shoots to 

 break naturally, selecting two of the strongest on each stem and 

 removing the others. When large flowers are required, allow three 

 stems on the plant to produce a single bud each. This is done by 

 removing all the side growths as fast as they appear upon the stems. 



When the production of a quantity of flowers is the main object, 

 top the plants when six inches high and continue doing so until the 

 end of June; or let them grow along to the latter part of June, and 

 then cut back to within six inches of the ground, and after that allow 

 them to grow away at will, being careful to remove suckers. 



FEEDING THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



Though the chrysanthemum will do something on any soil, it will 

 only be great, either in bush or in single blooms, when fed most gen- 

 erously on a soil best suited to root-action, as described in Chapter 

 III. Hints for autumn months, Chapter XII, are constantly repeated 

 for sake of emphasis upon their indispensability. To forget them is 

 to fail to get all the plant can do for the grower. There are several 



