Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-16
FRIDAY, APRIL 70, 1909.

oIhCi hoWCtt oh6 odto ia choWSs ~ ~~-~
reporters question, "for as matter OF
fact have never given a great deal
Of attention to anything but the state
ly mum But IL 1t will be of any use
to you, it will be a pleasure to explain
the methods / pursue in the production
of the flowers that were exhibited at
the show.
Early in the spring. about the first
Of April" Mrs. Stephenson continued,
"the plot intended for the plants is
thoroughly spaded and worked over.
the soil being made soft and free from
Jumps or stones, as well as grass roots.
I suppose nobody else would have the
same trouble to contend with that
have had. 1 refer to luxuriant
growth of wire grass. This must be
thoroughly worked out OF the soil con-
tiguous to the young plant, or 1t VIII
sap the strength Of the flowers. The
chief end for which I work during the
first months is strong, hardy plant,
for the healthier the plant the better
the bloom.
After the soil has been prepared, we
dig holes about foot square and
foot deep, and three feet apart, as
many holes as we have plants to put
out. At the bottom Of each hole we
put about spadeful of well-rotted
manure from the cow lot, and cover
this with the soil. 1t is now ready for
the planting. Before putting the plant
down I always pour water into the
hole, wetting the soil thoroughly, thus
planting the flower In paste Of soil
and water. These tender shoots must
be watered each evening, for at least
a week, and be covered from early
morning until the sun Is low. This
must be continued until the roots have
taken firm hold and they are ready to
grow.
mo, that is not all yet; for the work
really continues until the plants are in
bloom. I watch them carefully all
along. This Is a pleasure. for love
them. The grass must be kept out
and water given every day during the
summer months. Indeed, It is said II
is impossible to give them too much
water during July and August. When
the plant is about 10 or IL inches high
pinch out the top bud. This causes
the plant to branch. Now comes steady
watching and pruning. decide just
how many blooms ! wish plant to
have, leave just that number OF
branches and pinch OF all other
growth. This Is not the work OF a
day, but of the whole life Of the plant.
L., a Il, Inx.
sist In sending out shoot after shoot.
The suckers from the roots are not al
lowed to grow, for they draw from the
strength of the plant. I never use any
fertilizers save from the COW lot
"The first Of August begin feeding
mine with the liquid manure, which Ia
allowed to stand in the barrel about
two days before 1t is used. During
August I feed about twice week and
during a part Of September three times
week. The disbudding begins about
the last week In August. ! leave only
one bud to branch. find, as gen.
eral rule, the terminal bud more salts
factory than the crown bud. When
the flower begins to show color, It is
best to stop feeding. or the petals Will
burn. That was one Of my serious
troubles this year. find some plants
need much feeding, some very little to
reach perfection"
The reporter thanked Mrs. Stephen
son for the clear and intelligent state
ment, and remarked that maybe IL had
not occurred to her that now since she
had given away her whole secret, she
might have more difficulty In carrying
away so many prizes next year.
Maybe So" she replied smilingly.
but you must remember that expert
ence Is worth a great deal In all things,
and although some one may surpass
my productions next year, I promise
that they will have to be considerably
in advance Of my finest specimens this
year. ! believe I can do great deal
better than have done heretofore, and
am certainly going to try"
But Is the net result worth the
trouble and expense?" the reporter
| suggested.
"The net result, no!"' replied Mrs.
Stephenson; but the pleasure expert
enced in developing the growth Of the
plants is. A successful flower grower
must be genuine lover Of flowers. /
believe firmly that flowers respond to
love just as human beings do, and IL
one loves the chrysanthemum sum-
ciently to be willing to give 1t all the
patience, vigilance and attention 1t re-
quires, there is no possibility OF fall
ing to develop II. to high state OF per-
fection. II you do not believe there fs
full compensation In the pursuit OF
this pleasure just learn to love chrys-
anthemums and try to raise them