GROWING EXHIBITION BLOOMS 9I 



removed except the central or largest one. 

 The same method may be used for removing 

 these as was advised for the crown bud, and 

 the same care must be taken in order that the 

 remaining bud be not damaged. Thus it 

 will be seen that "taking" the bud is merely- 

 selecting and deciding which bud to retain. 

 The operation of removing the discarded 

 buds and growths is called "disbudding." 

 It should be borne in mind that, in disbud- 

 ding, all buds and growths are to be removed 

 from the given stem of cut bloom plants and 

 from the flowering shoots of bush plants, 

 except the buds that have been taken, or 

 selected, to produce the flower. Disbud- 

 ding should never be done during the heat of 

 the day, as the growth is then wilted and 

 tough, and there is greater danger of damag- 

 ing the remaining buds. If done in the early 

 morning or during cool, cloudy weather, 

 while the growth is firm, the buds will snap 

 out very easily. 



The question of whether to take the crown 

 bud or allow the plant to grow and develop 

 a terminal bud can only be determined 

 by the judgment of the operator in each 

 individual instance. The date upon which 



