32 



SMITH'S CHRYSANTHEMUM MANUAL 



which takes place in the autumn months has a tendency to ripen or 

 solidify the wood, and is immediately followed by bud formation. In the 

 northern hemisphere this change 

 generally takes place from the 

 1st of August to the 1st of Sep- 

 tember, according to location. 

 Those living at a high altitude 

 or adjacent to large bodies of 

 water are first to feel the 

 change, hence are favored with 

 early buds. In the southern 

 hemisphere this change takes 

 this reason the chrysanthemum 

 flowers in Australia during the 

 months of March and April. 



Having set forth these facts 

 that climatic conditions are in- 

 strumental in bring about this 

 desired bud state, we must all 

 consider our own locality and be 

 governed accordingly. Some of 

 the experts secure buds on some 

 varieties as early as the first 

 therefrom. 



FIG. 11 



CROWNS AS THEY APPEAR ON 

 THE PLANT. 



of August, and get magnificent blooms; 

 Doubtless they have solved the problem, as far as they are 

 concerned, but there are others not so favored. We doubt if those located 

 in the middle states where the heat continues through the month of 

 August and sometimes into September, would find such an early date 

 practical, unless for some of the early varieties which naturally set early 

 buds. 



In this locality (Southern Michigan) best results are from buds taken 

 August 25th, or soon after, with the exception of a few kinds, which are 



single unless earlier buds are se- 

 cured. Many varieties that de- 

 velop to the highest degree on 

 the Atlantic and Pacific coasts 

 from early August buds refuse 

 to expand properly under more 

 arid conditions. 



As soon as the new varieties 

 are brought under our care we 

 make a record of the date of 

 disbudding, selecting a few of 

 the earliest, and repeating this 

 operation as far as possible 

 every five days, up to the mid- 

 dle of September. When the 

 flowers are cut we make a 



FIG 12. CROWN WHEN RESERVED. 



record of best dates, and the next year we are in a fair position to know 



