22 SMITH'S CHRYSANTHEMUM MANUAL 



dwarf, short-jointed varieties, like Merza and others, may be tied to wires 

 running full length of the row, supplying additional wires when required. 

 See Fig. 7. 



Some use stakes fastened at the top to a wire stretched tight over each 

 row. Most commercial places use the twine system, which consists of two 

 wires, one over each row of plants and the other a few inches above the 

 &oil. Two-ply jute twine is cut the proper length and tied to top and bottom 

 wire. To this twine the plants are tied as often as required. See Fig. 8. 



Watering From this time on the principal detail is watering, which 

 requires constant attention and whosoever has this charge must rely on 

 his own discretion. The plants being vigorous, will use up quantities of 

 water each day and from this time until the flowers are cut they must not 



FIG. 8. BENCH SHOWING PLANTS TIED TO TWINE. 



suffer for the want of it. At the same time we must guard against over- 

 doing, particularly is this the case with many of the weaker growing sorts 

 which suddenly tell us of our mal-treatment by the foliage beginning to 

 turn yellow, showing a sickly appearance. The best remedy is withholding 

 vater, not to a degree that will injure the plant for want of it, but suffi- 

 cient to restore its normal condition. Let the appearance of the foliage be 

 an index to the supply of water. 



As long as the foliage is luxuriant and healthy in color we may feel 

 assured that the supply of water is not in excess of their demands. 



To maintain these conditions it is important that all dry spots in the 

 .benches be thoroughly watered before spraying the plants. 



