306 



CHRYSANTHEMUM 



blooms. Each expert has a way of his own in preparing 



the soil, but as equally good results have been obtained 



under varied conditions, it is safe to conclude that the 



method of preparing the soil has little to do with the 



results, provided there is sufficient food within their 



^^^ reach. All concede that fresh cut sod, 



^H^ piled late the preceding fall or in early 



4HPa^ spring, with K to % its bulk of half- 



iMffl' decomposed manure, forms an excellent 



VBT compost. Manyiisi' 1 ..r '2 in. of miinure 



It as a mulch after 1 III iLm - lin ^ l.ii-ome 



established. t.>ili' in<-h of 



* half-decomposed n iH.ttom 



of the bench. TIusMm i-.t-Hn,! as soon 



as they require it. (iood blooms have 



been grown by planting on decomposed 



sod and relying on liquid applications of 



chemicals. 



4. Feedinr/.—l^o definite rule can be 

 given for this work, as so much de- 

 pends on the amount of food incorporated 

 in the soil. If the soil be very rich, the 

 ™' , liquid applications should be only occa- 

 One kind ot gional and very dilute. There is more 

 Chrysanthemum danger of overfeeding by the use of 

 cuitmE. liquids than by using excessively rich 



soil. Each grower must depend on his own judgment as 

 to the requirements, being guided bv the appearance of 

 the plants When the Ivs become dark colored and veiy 

 brittle, it is safe to consider that the limit m feeding has 

 been reached Some virieties ref us< to Tmd w In ii overfed 

 making i mass of Ivs instead Otli is sb w \ , i \ con 

 torted petals giving a rou^h iiiilini li ill in btiU 

 others, partuularly the red % ui ti u lil I \ to be 

 ruined b\ decomposition of tht j i il ill I I inning, 

 espeeialU if the atmosphere is iii I i i me hot 

 and stuff> The same result will i ither, 



or when the nights become coi I i t the 



house is allowed to fall upon th i i i such 



conditions the ventilation should i n ii n i \ night, 

 or heat be turned in iccordingto tin iit nk tt uipcruture 



CHRYSANTHEMUM 



ger of overwatering as long as the foliage is bright 

 green. A little shading at planting time is not objec- 

 tionable, but it should be removed as soon as the plants 

 are established. It is often necessary to shade the pink 



455. Crown bud of Chrysanthemum at a later stage. 



Showing how its strength is sapped by the shoots beneath, 

 which are just showing clusters of terminul buds. 



and red flowers if the weather continues bright for some 

 time, to prevent their fading. 



6. Tniinimi. ^\Vhr-n the plants are 8 in. high, they 

 should be tiid riilitr u> stakes or to jute twine. In the 

 former sysi. m. u-.' ..m' horizontal wire over each row, 

 tying till' stiik.' {., i!ii^ after the bottom has been in- 

 serted into tlu; ground. Two wires will be necessary 

 where twine is used, one above the plants and the other 

 a few inches above the soil. From the tirst of August 

 until the flowers are in color all lateral gron-ths should 

 be renioved as soon as they appear, allowing only the 

 shoots iiitiii.Ird for flowers to remain. The above re- 

 marks rot. 1 to the training of benched Chrysanthemums 

 -flowers. Other kinds of 



■ists for 



■ibed 1 



idor ,Si,^s, 



//. 



begin t 

 after, a 

 before Oe 



10. Til. 



5. Watering. — liet the foliage be the index to water- 

 ing. If it appears yellow and sickly, use less water, and 

 see that the drainage is perfect. There is but little dan- 



small buds and retaining the best is to . 

 whole energy of the plant and thereby increase the size 

 of the flower. There are two forms of buds, crowns and 

 teniiiiials. A crown bud is formed first, never comes 

 Willi other flower-buds, and is provided witli lateral 

 f,nowtlis which, if allowed to remain, wUl continue their 

 growtli and produce terminal buds later. Terminal buds 

 come later, always in clusters, are never associated with 

 lateral growths, and terminate the plant's growth for 

 that season. If the crown bud is to be saved, remove 

 the lateral growths a.s shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 

 454, and the operation is complete. If the terminal bud 

 is desired, remove the crown and allow 1, 2 or 3 (accord- 

 ing to the vigor of the plant) of the growths to remain. 

 In a few weeks these will show a cluster of buds, and, 

 when well advanced, it will be noticed that the largest 

 Is at the apex of the growth (the one saved, if perfect, 

 as it usually is), and one at each of the leaf axils (see 

 Fig. 4.56). The rejected buds are easiest and safest re- 

 moved with the thumb and forefinger. Should the bud 

 appear to be one-sided or otli. i . i . inii' i f. ot. remove it 

 and retain the next best. In i ' lonls, begin at 



the top and work down. I L. re are buds 



in reserve, in case the besi i io ;,. rideiitally be 



broken, while if the reverse cooum aih taken, and the 

 best bud broken at the conipktiou of the work, all the 

 labor would be lost. A few hours' disbudding will teach 

 the operator how far the buds should be advanced to 

 disbud easily. Early and late in the day, when the 



