98 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1896. 



Soda, 10 per cent.; and Magnesia, 10 per cent.; so that we are 

 enabled to know what to apply to make up the deficiency caused by the 

 drain on the soil by the plants in search of these five elements. We 

 see that Potash and Phosphoric acid are not present in larger quanti- 

 ties than in most other plants, but that Soda, Magnesia, and Lime are 

 greatly in excess. It will be found, however, that by following a 

 change of diet, as before noted, that there will be a sustained vigor, 

 a well-ripened growth, and in consequence, good flowers of bright 

 colors. It is always wise to discontinue the application of stimulants 

 as soon as the flower-buds begin to unfold, for unless it is discon- 

 tinued there will be danger of decay in the half-opened blooms, and 

 also a tendency to pale-colored or abnormal blooms. I have often 

 been asked which bud is the best one to select when taking one for 

 the purpose of having exhibition flowers. This is a large question, 

 and can only be decided exhaustively by each cultivator for himself 

 in his locality, for his special needs, and with the varieties under culti- 

 vation. To illustrate my meaning, it is not safe to take buds before 

 the middle of August, but after that time, it is, we find, good prac- 

 tice to get the first that comes along, and at the beginning of Septem- 

 ber the plants will require daily watching to see that none escape us. 

 These first buds will be those termed crown buds, and we find that if 

 the largest flowers are desired, this is the one to secure to obtain that 

 result, but the flowers produced are at times out of character alto- 

 gether; take Vivi and Morel on the crown bud, and it will be a very 

 pale washy pink, but wait and take the next bud, call it second crown 

 or terminal, whichever you like, and the result will be a flower of 

 smaller size and characteristic of that variety. This same peculiarity 

 is also noticed with Ada Spaulding, one of the prettiest Chrysanthe- 

 mums we have when taken on the terminal or final bud. Then there is 

 Ivory, well known to you all, that is always best on the first bud you 

 can secure, and in fact, if I am to be permitted to offer opinion, though 

 it may differ considerably from that of others, it is always to take the 

 crown bud on short, dwarf-growing varieties if exhibition flowers are 

 wanted, and if this is not the issue, then wait and take the next that 

 comes and be satisfied with flowers that are perhaps smaller, but 

 normal in coloring. We have got to sacrifice something in either case, 

 especially if we are not familiar with the peculiarities of each kind 

 to start with, but after growing them for a season we can form a 

 pretty accurate idea which is best treatment for each variety, always 

 making notes on the results as they are demonstrated, especially as to 

 the height the plants grow, so as to get them arranged accordingly 



