132 CUT FLOWERS. 



appear. Should the crown bud, however, show too early, 

 it should be promptly pinched out, and one of these shoots 

 retained, and encouraged to grow as fast as possible. On 

 it the second crown or "terminal bud" will soon appear, and 

 must be "taken," or preserved, with every care, as it gives 

 the bloom for exhibition. All other flower-buds must be 

 ruthlessly rubbed off as soon as they appear, and so must all 

 young shoots that may start from the stem. A little prac- 

 tice enables the operator to take the buds deftly, without 

 injury to the chosen bud or to the stem on which it grows, 

 and the best time to do it is in the early morning, or in the 

 evening when the dew is on them. The crown bud is usually 

 found the best for exhibition, and should be chosen when well 

 timed. If the buds of late varieties are fit to be taken in the 

 second week of August, it is the best time for them. Tlie 

 mid-season varieties come in best if taken from the middle 

 to the end of August. The first fortnight in September is 

 the most suitable time to take the early varieties. The 

 flowers from the terminal bud are generally smaller and 

 neater than from the crown bud, and should be chosen for 

 certain varieties in both the Incurved and Japanese classes, 

 which varieties should be observed and noted in regular 

 practice. The largest flowers are obtained from plants with 

 a single stem, and the first crown bud on the top of it. 

 The plants should be gone over twice a week, to regulate 

 the growth and carefully remove all useless side-shoots and 

 suckers. 



Mildew and Insects. — A constant watch requires to be kept 

 for the first sign of mildew appearing on the plants, and at once 

 dust the parts affected with flowers of sulphur. Aphides are 

 also an insidious pest, and should be promptly kept in check by 

 dusting the shoots on which they appear with tobacco powder. 

 In some seasons earwigs are a troublesome nuisance, and they 

 must be diligently watched and trapped whenever they appear ; 

 the hollow stalks of broad beans forming excellent traps when 

 cut into lengths of 6 to 8 inches and placed among the plants 

 and pots. They should be carefully examined daily, and the 

 earwigs lodging in them are easil}' shaken or blown out into a 



