50 
GARDENING IN THE SOUTHWEST 
Protection 
Disbud for 
Large 
Flowers 
Watering 
Pests 
Insects 
Stem Rot 
Old 
Fashioned 
Varieties 
Again 
Popular 
For garden purposes, protection is rarely provided; but, after 
the buds begin to show color, it is vital, for exhibition purposes, 
to keep dew and rain and frost off the beds. The plants can stand 
very low temperature, but the frost and dew, particularly, are 
injurious to the buds. 
Disbudding, tying, watering all come in for their share of atten¬ 
tion regularly and much depends on this regularity. Disbudding 
(or pinching off all buds on a stem except those designed for 
maturity) is regulated by the number of blooms desired on a 
plant. For bedding purposes, little disbudding is absolutely neces¬ 
sary, but for exhibition purposes, it is essential to confine the 
number of buds left on the plant to about two blooms. Disbudding 
must be done continuously to insure success. 
Watering must be done unstintingly. A thorough watering, 
using a pretty stiff pressure, is most beneficial and necessary to keep 
the leaves free from dust, to keep the plants healthy and to help 
control Aphis, Red Spider and Mealy Bug. Care should be used 
not to wet the buds that are showing color. 
There are several insect pests and diseases that must be guarded 
against, so that the foregoing hints on culture, if followed, leaves 
only two or three more dangers to combat. The hardest to control 
is Mealy Bug which attacks the leaves, and the Black Aphis which 
sucks the sap from the tender shoots. Both are controlled by two 
teaspoonful of Black Leaf 40, or "Nicotfume.” (See page 221). 
Midge, or Stem Rot, is not to be controlled by spraying or in¬ 
secticide. Pull up any plants affected and destroy by burning and 
applying a light application of hydrated lime to the soil where the 
plant was pulled. "Quasol”, diluted to specific directions is also 
helpful. Midge or Stem Rot is the Chrysanthemum’s worst disease. 
It shows itself only at blooming-time (by turning a sickly yellow 
and wilting overnight). 
The original Chrysanthemum, as it was introduced, was of the 
hardy type but for many years the florists’ variety has completely 
overshadowed the old-fashioned kind. The trend of taste is swing¬ 
ing back now to give the original single and pompom style an 
equal chance and many gardens will again be graced by the cheer- 
