GROWING EXHIBITION BLOOMS 89 



There are always in cultivation a few varie- 

 ties on which the crown bud produces an 

 inferior bloom, but with most varieties 

 blooms produced from crown buds selected 

 at the proper time will prove superior, other 

 things being equal. The question of whether 

 the crown bud shall be used or discarded will 

 occasionally depend upon the variety pro- 

 ducing it, but generally upon the date on 

 which it makes its appearance. This matter 

 will be fully discussed farther on. To get 

 first-class exhibition blooms it is important 

 that the crown bud be selected whenever it 

 appears at the proper time. Blooms of the 

 same variety will often be fully one fourth 

 larger from crown than from terminal buds. 

 They will also be fuller and of better sub- 

 stance, and the stem and foliage will gen- 

 erally be better, although some varieties 

 develop a long bare "neck" just below the 

 bloom when the crown bud is used. There 

 are, however, enough varieties in cultivation 

 that do not have this objectionable feature 

 to allow those that do have it to be reserved 

 for purposes in which the neck will not be 

 objectionable. Blooms of pink varieties 

 sometimes lack colour when crown buds are 



