42 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
CULTURAL SUGGESTIONS FOR 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
A few points vital to successful culture should be considered before deciding the 
best course to take. If the plants at hand are such as are recommended for the pro¬ 
duction of large blooms designated as Exhibition and Commercial sorts they should 
be restricted to a very few growths. 
A plant producing but three flowers will develop larger blooms than where more 
are allowed to remain. 
The reason is obvious. Flowers are developed by the plant s energy exerted by 
the assimilation of the elements contained in the soil. When such energy is divided 
we cannot expect the maximum size. 
We would not recommend, when grown out of doors, restricting the plant to one 
growth as such a course is somewhat hazardous, for should the bud be injured a total 
loss would result. When growing under glass or other forms of protection one bloom 
per plant is often resorted to for increasing the size. 
DEFECTIVE FOLIAGE —As a general rule, all defective foliage is due to a sudden 
check, such as: A drouth, over-watering, excessive heat or sudden low temperature. 
Any extreme or adverse condition has a tendency to abate growth for a time and the 
results of such spells are usually manifest in blighted or blackened foliage. 
DEFORMED FLOWERS —The foregoing paragraph also applies to cases where flow¬ 
ers are onesided or when the center petals fail to develop. Another cause of imperfect 
flowers is too liberal a supply of nutriment, either in the form of manure incorporated 
in the soil, or too frequent or strong applications of liquid fertilizers. The more nour¬ 
ishment given, the stronger and more luxuriant the foliage becomes, so that after the 
buds are selected a continuance of such treatment is in excess of their needs, and the 
petals just forming are often destroyed or injured. Better results will follow by the use 
of a moderate amount of fertilizer during the growing season. All applications at this 
time should be light at first, gradually increasing until the maximum is reached at the 
time the buds begin to show color. 
Another cause of imperfect flowers is the depredation of the Tarnished Plant Bug. 
This as a rule applies to plants grown out of doors and in warm dry climates, a con¬ 
dition which is most favorable to their development. They do not eat the foliage but 
puncture the tender growth and extract the juice, thus checking the growth and if the 
buds are stung, they often produce one-sided flowers. 
WATERING —To guard against diseases, it is advisable to confine the hours of wat¬ 
ering, as far as possible, to the early morning, so the plants will be fairly dry at night, 
especially from the middle of August onward. 
TIME OF PLANTING —Early planting increases the strength and vigor of the plants, 
and should improve the quality of the blooms when all the conditions are equal. Such 
a course is imperative when early flowers are desired, so that the plants attain suffi¬ 
cient size to permit saving early buds. 
LIFTING PLANTS —When lifting and potting plants from the open border, see that it 
is done before the buds appear. 
RESERVING STOCK —Those who save the old plants for the sake of perpetuating 
for the next seasons use, should (if protected under glass) keep them rather on the dry 
side and give them all the light and air possible at all times unless severe weather 
prevents. 
