EXHIBITION BLOOMS 35 



The whole subject of buds resolves itself into a few simple facts 

 Avhich. each grower must take into consideration before taking any 

 decisive steps, viz. : climatic conditions, date of the exhibition, classes 

 in which they are to compete, and peculiarities of the varieties under 

 consideration. 



The operation of disbudding should be confined to the early hours of 

 the day as far as possible, at which time the growth is more brittle and 

 can be easily removed with thumb and finger. As soon as the buds are 



FIG. 16. SHOWING THE EFFECT OF EARLY AND LATE BUDS UPON THE 

 FORM AND COLOR. 



formed, lateral growth from the leaf axils push forward. These should 

 be removed as fast as they appear, or the bud will be robbed of its 

 nourishment which lias been previously provided. 



Stopping Most of the exhibition growers of England have given con- 

 siderable thought to what they term "timing" the buds, that is, having 

 the flowers in perfection at a certain date. To this end they resort to 

 stopping many varieties. The object is to force flowers at an earlier date 

 than they would naturally mature if allowed to make a natural break. 

 This system has not been practiced in this country to any great extent, 

 although it may be worthy of consideration as competition grows keener. 



Record of Operations In a work where there are so many conditions 

 which have influence upon the result, it is very important that each opera- 

 tor keep a fairly complete record of quantity and quality of fertilizers, 

 and when applied, height of plants at maturity, date of bud, and general 

 comments as to merit. Such records are invaluable for future reference. 



Such details as watering, spraying, airing and shading are fully de- 

 lined in the chapter devoted to commercial flowers. 



Feeding This operation is also fully treated in the preceding chap- 



