40 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
next visit. It is so easy to be deceived, and to water a 
plant when it does not require it is to court failure. 
Do not be satisfied with just once watering a dry plant. 
It may be so dry that just one application may only moisten 
the surface soil, as the space between it and the rim of the 
pot is often very small. Therefore, to plants that are dry, 
give two or three waterings that the whole of the soil in 
the pots may be thoroughly moistened. Late afternoon, 
if possible, should be selected as the period when the 
plants should be well syringed. The benefit of this work 
is incalculable. A fine-rosed can will answer the same 
purpose, but is less handy to work with. 
For hints on feeding, see Chapter IV. 
Bud Selection. — This matter has already been touched 
upon under other headings, but it is a question that need 
not worry the grower as do the same remarks when 
applied to exhibition plants. The bud selection of deco- 
rative plants is a very simple matter, as in most instances 
the grower would serve the interests of his plants better if 
he were to grow on the shoots to the terminal buds, i.e. , 
the termination of their growth. But there are many 
who wish to produce plants that will develop some twelve 
to twenty or more blooms of a rather larger size than one 
ordinarily meets with in plants grown for decorative pur- 
poses. Secure what are known as “ crown buds ” on 
such plants. In the ordinary course of a plant’s life the 
first bud to develop is described as the “ break bud,” 
from which several growths are taken up, and these in 
turn produce ‘‘crown buds.” 
The first series of crown buds are usually described as 
‘‘ first crown buds,” but, as a rule, especially in the case 
of decorative plants, their selection would be rather too 
early. For this reason, therefore, the first crown buds 
are pinched out, and the surrounding growths on each 
shoot, to the number of two, three, or four, are again 
taken up, and these subsequently develop another series 
of crown buds, which are known as “ second crown buds.” 
