42 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
CULTURAL SUGGESTIONS 
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 production 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. 
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 sufficient size to permit saving early buds. 
WATERING—To guard against diseases, it is advisable to confine the hours 
of watering, as far as possible, to> the early morning, so the plants will be fairly 
dry at night, especially from the middle of August onward. 
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 purpose 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. 
The Early or Crown Bud 
The Terminal or Late Bud 
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. 
