CHRYSANTHEMUMS : SETTING THE BUDS. 



339 



have the blooms in their best condition on the dates they are required, and not either 

 sooner or later. It is therefore important to take careful note of the peculiarities of 

 each new variety that may be tried; such as the times of natural breaks, or sub- 

 division of leading growths. 



Plants grown with a single stem for producing the grandest blooms are kept free 

 of side shoots. A natural check to the elongation of the stem will probably occur before 

 June or as late as July. A flower bud (a) forms in the point, and from immediately 

 below it spring four axillary shoots (see Fig. 153, b and c c c c). This is the "first 

 crown " bud. It may not be necessary to remove it, though it often has to be done in 

 the case of precocious varieties. The re- 

 resulting shoots are then retained, but may 

 have to be reduced in number. Nothing 

 is gained by reducing them to one only. 

 Three growths and blooms may be regarded 

 as a good average, leaving a lesser number 

 on comparatively late and feeble plants, or 

 naturally small bloomed varieties. 



Supposing a bud forms in June or July ; 

 this, if " set," by the removal of the sur- 

 rounding growths, would probably develop 

 a coarse and too early bloom. The bud is 

 therefore removed with all but the best- 

 placed of the shoots mentioned. The 

 reserved growths will in turn show buds 

 during the second or third week in August; these, the coveted "second crown" buds, 

 are usually set, that is to say, the side shoots are carefully removed as shown except one 

 (b, Pig. 153), and this is only retained for a few days for supporting the bud; but should 

 the flower bud fail, the shoot is allowed to extend for a later bloom, as, indeed, it some- 

 times is, whether the August bud fails or not. This later bud may be a " Terminal," 

 that is, have other buds (not shoots) clustering round it. "Crown" buds are not 

 surrounded by other flower buds, but by wood growths, and such buds produce large 

 blooms; "Terminal" buds, neat, and often better coloured examples. The illustrations 

 which follow will be elucidatory in these references. It is of the first importance not 

 to injure in any degree the bud, or its stem that is retained, in the process of securing it. 



x x 2 



Fig. 153. Setting Chrysanthemum Buds. 

 a, " Crown " bud; b, nursing shoot ; c, c, c, axillary 

 growths removed for strengthening the bloom. 



