ELMER D. SMITH & CO. 
43 
WINTER PROTECTION —The protection ot hardy or garden varieties of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums is a subject that interests many of our customers. The preceding year's growth 
dies and the underground stems or rhizomes are really what should be protected so as 
to survive and make new growth for the following year. It is not so much the severity 
of the winter that causes the plants to perish as the continued freezing and thawing. 
With this in mind it is best to use some form of light protection which will shade the 
ground and prevent thawing after it has frozen. Leaves are satisfactory if not used 
too heavily so as to smother out the plants. If used with some brush on top to keep 
them in position they will be practical. Those having evergreen boughs or cornstalks 
will find them very serviceable for this purpose as they will admit the air and shade 
the ground. When the plants are situated near a building that affords some warmth 
they very often survive the winter without a covering of any kind. 
BUD SELECTION—About August first some varieties begin to develop buds and these 
are called crown buds. (See cut). This first bud, which appears from about August 
tenth to twentieth, is the one to reserve for the large exhibition blooms. For this pur¬ 
pose remove all of the lateral growths as they appear. This will concentrate the 
plant's energy in the bud and subsequent bloom. With a few exceptions the first bud 
is the one to select for the exhibition varieties and a few of the commercial varieties. 
By removing this early crown bud the lateral growths continue and will later form 
another bud which terminates the growth. This bud is known as the terminal bud. 
(See cut). This is the bud usually preferred for commercial varieties as well as for 
large anemones and pompons. 
The Early or Crown Bud The Terminal or Late Bud 
The dates suggested in the catalog are fairly accurate in the northern states but in 
the south buds may not appear as early. This is due to the shortening of the day¬ 
light and cooler weather which usually manifests itself by mid-August. From the fore¬ 
going it is apparent no fast rule can be given. Every grower should mark the date 
each bud is selected and when single flowers result make note to advance the date 
for next year, if too double and malformed select a later bud. 
BROKEN PLANTS —It often happens the end of plants are broken off during the pro¬ 
cess of packing and transporting, such a condition does not impair or detract the qual¬ 
ity of the blooms at the flowering time. At the base of each leaf is a laten bud which 
will soon produce a new growth. Experienced growers often pinch out the centers for 
the purpose of producing more dwarf growth or to secure dwarf and bushy plants. 
