28 SMITH'S CHRYSANTHEMUM MANUAL 



Buds of new varieties, or those which have not been tested, should 

 be selected at intervals of five days, from Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, at- 

 taching a tree label with the date it was retained. If the flower is single 

 an earlier date may remedy this defect and if too double or poor in color 

 a later date may be beneficial. 



Such a course is the only way to become familiar with this prominent 

 feature and a record of the results should be filed for future reference. 



At flowering time it is easy to determine the best dates, and in mak- 

 ing these deductions, let purity of color be fully considered. The various 

 dates at which the buds of the white varieties are selected, will have no 

 material effect upon the color. 



Decided variations are noticed in the pinks and yellows and the great- 

 er the different in date of selecting the bud, the more contrast. The 

 least permanent color is pink and it is intensified or reduced by variance 

 in such conditions as heat, air, sunlight and date of buds. 



Flowers from early buds are the lightest, and those from latest buds, 

 darkest in color, provided other conditions are equal. 



Yellow is not so easily affected by conditions, although some varieties 

 described as yellow will become bronzy on late buds. When the flowers 

 are developing, an abundance of air, a light shading, to exclude the bright 

 sun, and a late bud, will give the highest color and best substance. 



Each grower must decide the best date for selecting buds, as the con- 

 ditions he maintains may be somewhat at variance with those of others. 



Late buds develop more rapidly than the early ones, in fact there is 

 very little difference in the maturity of those selected August 15th, and 

 September 5th, provided they are the same variety. 



Should the late buds intensify the color too much, giving the pinks 

 an objectionable purplish hue, and the yellow come bronzy, it would be 

 better to decide upon an earlier bud for future crops, providing the other 

 qualities are equal. 



The date of the buds also has effect on fullness and size of the 

 flowers. The early buds give the largest flowers, and are more double, 

 but the petals are narrow compared with those from later buds. 



The flower buying public insist that the stems be of good length and 

 well clothed with foliage. All concede those produced from terminal buds 

 are of brighter color and amply provided for as far as foliage "is con- 

 cerned, also much easier managed than the crowns. 



Early Since publishing the second edition of this work the flowering 

 season has advanced two months. This is due to the introduction of 

 Golden Glow and Smith's Advance, both of which may be had in bloom 

 from July to October, according to when they are planted and date the 

 buds are selected. Formerly all varieties flowering by October 15th were 

 considered early, but at present such should be termed semi-early. 



Those desiring flowers prior to October should arrange to bench the 

 plants in April or early in May, which would necessitate the cuttings 

 being put into sand in March, securing buds in June, July or early August, 

 according to when they appear. Should the early or crown bud develop- 



