58 CHRYSANTHEMUMS 



ing ten wires in all. You have thus made a 

 frame like that of an umbrella having ten 

 divisions. If the work has been well done 

 two men can take hold of the frame and carry 

 the plant by it. 



When you are ready to begin tying the 

 blooms, count the number of them on the 

 plant, divide the number by ten, and the 

 quotient will be the number of blooms to 

 be allotted to each division. This dividing 

 and allotting would better be done before 

 the short wires are tied in place at the lower 

 end. Then they may be raised to allow 

 the blooms to be passed from one division 

 to another, as undoubtedly some will con- 

 tain more than the required number and 

 others less. This work well done, the 

 plant is ready for tying the blooms in posi- 

 tion. The tying can be done at any time 

 after the buds have formed, but it is better 

 to defer doing it until the blooms are nearly 

 half open, as the size and character of the 

 bloom can then be determined, and a much 

 better finish given to the plant. Begin at 

 the centre of the plant and work outward and 

 consequently downward. The blooms will, 

 in all probability, vary considerably in size 



