CUT FLO^VEES. 131 



plants. About the end of May the plants can be set in the 

 open air, in rows at convenient distances apart, with strong 

 posts fixed at the ends and wires stretched between them, 

 to which the stakes supporting the plants should be firmly 

 secured. Watering must be carefully attended to daily, giving 

 it copiously where needed, and sprinkling the plants and 

 ground between them late in the afternoon of dry warm 

 days. 



Taking the Buds. — Sometimes buds appear preinaturely, 

 when the top should be pinched off at a good leaf, from which 

 fresh growth will be made, producing buds that will come 

 in at the right time. Certain varieties require special treat- 

 ment for the timing of the buds, such as the Rundle family, 

 as representing the early varieties. These should be pinched 

 from the middle to the end of May, which throws the first 

 break into the end of June or beginning of July. The later 

 varieties should be pinched between the last week in May and 

 the middle of June, some allowance being made for the localitj' 

 where the plants are grown. Cutting hard down is recom- 

 mended at this time by some growers, but we see no advan- 

 tage from this process further than reducing the height of 

 the plants, which should not be considered by those growing 

 for exhibition blooms, as the best have been and are obtained 

 from plants which have been allowed to grow to their full 

 height or to the crown buds. Regular attention should be 

 given to tying the plants and rubbing out all side-shoots 

 except the three leading ones produced at the first break, 

 which takes place in June. The term " first break " is de- 

 rived from a particular stage of the plant's growth. If the 

 cutting has been rooted at the proper time and allowed to 

 grow naturally with a single stem, a flower-bud will appear 

 about the end of May or in June, the time varying with the 

 variety and locality where it is grown. Immediately under 

 this bud a number of small shoots will spring, three of which 

 should be allowed to grow and the others rubbed off. During 

 the month of August a bud will be formed on each of these 

 shoots, which is termed the "crown bud." Shoots will also 

 start below this bud, and they must be rubbed off as they 



