LIFTED " CHRYSANTHEMUMS 



57 



In a dry summer recourse must be had to watering, and this 

 might be with liquid manure after the buds have formed and 

 been " taken." For the chrysanthemum is a gross feeder ; 

 it amply repays a mulch at least once during the growing season, 

 but not during its earlier stages. No one wants to throw a lot 

 of strength into the foliage, for when that is done the flower 

 bud is starved, and we have often seen this result from feeding 

 too soon. (See Fig. 12.) 



The operation of disbudding may begin in August and, 



FiG . 1 2 . Chrysanthemum . 

 A. Normal B. Results of Overfeeding 



according to variety, go on till, and even after, the time for 

 housing. Some of the latest flowering varieties do not develop 

 their buds before the end of October or the beginning of November, 

 but whenever it is done the operator must determine whether 

 to disbud for specimens, half specimens, or sprays. So, too, 

 with the thinning out of the growths. Not more than three 

 of the strongest growths must be retained if " specimen " 

 blooms are required. For " half specimens," six or even eight 

 may be carried on, while for sprays, the number should be 

 limited to six. If a plant was allowed to carry all its growths, 



