40 THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



might be advantageously applied. Judging from the 

 dates for stopping given in the English lists a great 

 number of plants are stopped there at a time when 

 ours are but cuttings in the propagating bed. 



SOME OBJECTIONS TO CROWN BUDS 



There are growers who object to the crown bud, 

 who confess their inability to handle it, or in other 

 words to produce good flowers if this bud be taken. 

 Yet they have no substantial ground for objection and 

 it is certain that he who would be among the fortunate 

 to attain awards at exhibitions must become proficient 

 in the management of crown buds, whose flowers alto- 

 gether outclass those from terminal buds. The reason 

 for this is obvious. A crown bud properly timed is 

 attaining size and developing petals, but if the grower 

 neglect to take this bud, the plant has to grow again 

 for three or four weeks before it throws the terminal 

 bud. There will be little or no difference in the date 

 of the flower expanding from the two buds, but there 

 must naturally be a difference in the size attained. 

 A month or more may elapse between the taking of 

 two buds of the same variety, but this does not indicate 

 that one flower will expand a month in advance of the 

 other. The early bud is "marking time" to some sub- 

 stantial purpose. 



One more or less apparent objection to the 

 crown bud is the long neck that results through a 

 continued growth of stem, almost or entirely devoid 

 of foliage. The remedy for this is largely under the 

 grower's control. There are a few exceptional varie- 

 ties that will always have a long neck if the crown 

 bud be taken, but collectively this objection cannot 

 apply. If the plants have been grown as advised, and 

 have strong, well ripened wood, the additional growth 



