CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR DECORATION. 39 



pinchings tend to weaken the growths, which must now 

 have time to get strong. By the end of July, or early in 

 August, they will make a natural break, when three or four 

 shoots may be left from each break. 



Training the Shoots* 



Great care must be taken to prevent the shoots from 

 snapping or splintering off, and the cultivator must decide 

 as to how he will secure these shoots and in what shape he 

 will train the plant. Some prefer staking them out evenly 

 all round. If this is done monster plants result from some 

 varieties, six to eight feet through. Some again train and tie 

 them all one way for going back against walls, some to 

 form large pin-cushions, some pyramids. In each case 

 they look very pretty. For training, a hoop of rather stout 

 wire must be fixed beyond the rim of the pot by securing 



four sticks to the top of the pot thus 



and the wire 



round them. For pyramids a stout stake must be placed 

 in the centre of the pot the height required, and thin wire 

 or string stretched from the top of the stake to the circular 

 wire at regular intervals. A stiff wire hoop should be 

 placed half-way down to support these wires, or the bend- 

 ing of the shoots will pull them out of shape. Then the 

 shoots may be tied so as to distribute the points evenly 

 all over. The last tying should be done soon after the 

 buds are secured, and before the growth gets too stiff. It 

 left too late, the flowers will not grow upright, and so 

 look unnatural. When the plants are housed they should 

 have a position where the light is equally diffused all 

 round or they will draw in a one-sided way. 



If the plants are to be trained to an oval or cushion 

 shape they must have several stakes evenly distributed 

 about the height required, and wire or string attached 

 from the hoop to the slicks in several places, sufficient for 

 all the shoots to be tied to. Tie them all over evenly as 

 for the pyramids. 



D 2 



