The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1891-09-02
THE FLOWERS THAT BLOOM.
Something About the Product of the
Flower Show by Captain Whitted.

Something About the Product of the
Flower Show by Captain Whitted.
With this month let us look again to
our exhibition plants; they have made
rapid growth and have branched odt into
leaders and laterals the former are those
branches into which the main stem
divides early in June; the laterals are
those springing from the axis of the
leaves up to the stems, these should be
taken out as soon as they appear. AS
the plants break, they lead off in the
manner described-early in June-they
sometimes leave bud at the break this
bud is simply useless, and, if allowed to
expand, naturally weakens the after
, growth so must be discarded The lead
ers (of which there may be from three to
fiVe), after some six weeks growth, will
form what is termed the crown bud, that
is enc bud on each stem. The plants
naturally will again branch, and these
branches or leaders are known as termi-
nails, and the buds, Of which by this time,
there will be a cluster, are the terminal
| buds or the termination of the plants
| growth. Now, to the exhibitor, it is g
nicely asto which bud is to be taken
crown or terminal | could not in this
| brief treatise give more than a general
rule as to which bud should be taken
The experienced cultivator will study the
season and the strength Of his plants, and
act up to or depart from any general rule
he may have accordingly. AS a rule, if
the plants are not too ripe and hard, the
crown bud forms the best flower but if
this bud forms so early as< to bloom a
month before it is wanted, it is folly to
retain it, but let the terminals grow and
take the buds from them. AS rule, all
buds coming before the first week in
August are useless for exhibition, and it
is, therefore, best to discard them. A lit
tie careful study Of the character Of the
individual varieties will be the main
point to an exhibitors success How
over, passing on the work of the month,
the plants may be said to have finished
their growth, and all buds must be taken
as fast as they appear, and can be con-
veniently handled; nip out all the buds
except the centre one of the cluster This
operation must be very carefully done
Or else the one to be retained may be
damaged, and, perhaps, broken off en-
tirely. All buds appearing at the axis
of the leaves all down the stems must be
taken out and all laterals removed this
done the plants will now require liberal
feeding with manure water. Some re-
commend the usual mixture from the
stable. This may be very good in tie
hands of an experienced man, but how
often can any one tell the strength of
manure may be twice the strength of that
from others. | have seen many buds
blinded by such inexperienced use.
Others recommend various artificial
manures, which may be very useful with
some plants, but with the chrysanthemum
just now al that is wanted is an ammoni-
cal stimulant to take immediate effect on
the plant, in order to swell the buds to
the largest possible size, and in no
manure can we get this in such strength
as sulphate of ammonia. A small guam
titY commencing at quarter of an ounce
and increasing to half an ounce to the
gallon of water, is safe in the hands OF
any operator, and may be given twice a
week Or three times to extra strong
plants This is the cleanest and least of
fensive process of manuring the plants
and costs only about one farthing pei
gallon of water, have long used this
and have found nothing to equal it.