CHAPTER IX 



GENERAL CULTURE 



THE work after planting will consist of careful attention 

 to detail as regards the culture of the plants and in 

 pushing ahead all unfinished construction work as quickly as 

 possible. The time passes very quickly and the sooner every- 

 thing is in good shape the better it will be. The heating ap- 

 paratus should be tested and kept in readiness for use as soon 

 as needed. 



The object, at first, is to get the beds filled with roots and 

 to get good healthy plants of a fair size. The flower buds are 

 cut off through the Summer and thrown away. Some growers 

 take off the buds when about the size of peas, while others leave 

 them until the flower is open before removing them. I would 

 advise taking them off as soon as they show color. We are 

 guided by the size and condition of the plant when 

 disbudding. Take off any useless wood with the bud, but leave 

 on every good leaf and eye; generally one or two of the top 

 leaves only are taken off when throwing away the buds. 



After the plants have attained some size, say in September, 

 a few of the best buds on each plant may be allowed to develop, 

 still pinching off the buds from the smaller wood. This helps 

 to build up the plant and, when the flowers are removed, there 

 is not such a shock given the plant as when all the flowers are 

 removed at once. The smaller plants may be disbudded up to 

 the time that they catch up to the larger ones when they will 

 be in good shape to work all through the Winter months. 



If flowers are desired for special occasions, eight weeks 

 should be allowed, in Midwinter, after the final pinching, and 



