Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-05-10
+ j. y. !. !. !. j. j. IL J. i. !
+ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. y
; seneca Lady Tells How They
: Are Grown In the Open.
"F IL y. j. !. !. 10 \. !. J.
(Alrs. l.. w. Werner in "Chrysanthe
NUNS for tho Million.")

s'S ~
find that my success in growing
chrysanthemums is due largely to the
preparation OF the ground. ANA
teurs often make the mistake OF set
ting their plants in some impover-
lshed spot. giving little or no atten-
uon to the preparation Of the soil
II to cultivation. TO obtain the
pest results it is just as necessary to
select favorable conditions as in
growing cotton.
AS early In the spring as the
ground can be stirred | make deeD
trenches, (1S inches is not too deep) ,
throwing out the soil with spade or
plow. These trenches, or rows, are
three feet apart. | fill in with alter
nate layers Of a good commercial fer
tilizer, wood ashes. a sprinkling of
lime, bonemeal and well rotted COW
manure, Gin this locality the last is
more easily o~btainable, and is there
tore oftener used). alternating each
layer in turn with a heavy layer Of
the thrown out soil. When the trench
Is filled, mix thoroughly from the
bottom. After the ground is pre-
pared In this way allow to settle well
before placing plants. Heavy rains
Will prove most effectual in settling
the ground.
After danger of frost is over. set
the plants in the rows thus prepared.
o II inches apart for single
stems or as man as three blooms:
If for larger plants, place IS inches
apart. find that three blooms to
the plant can be grown as large as
single stems. When plants are 6
nches high pinch out bud, allowing
as many branches as you desire
blooms to the plant. The plants will
soon put out lateral growths O." side
SHOOTS. These must be kept pinched
or as fast as they appear. leaving al
ways the original number of
branches. When plants are about u
inches high, begin stalking. |. use
the following method. which | prefer
to II or any other that have
seen used: Place upright stakes. 9
by 2 inches, at intervals of j feet in
the rows. and stretch wires or cords
from n to the other, the first
about - inches from the ground.
lie plants to the wire and, as they
grow, add other wires - inches
apart.
About the middle OF July use a
mulch Of we'll rotted COW manure,
when feeds the plants and holds
moisture in the ground. After about
TWO weeks, when the strength of
mulch is exhausted, begin feeding
with liquid fertilizer, alternating
with light side dressing of nitrate Of
soda, about a teaspoonful to each
plant, being careful not to- allow It
to Il the plant. In our climate
1t Is not necessary to water plants
unless In extreme drought, but
nave found spraying the plants late
In the afternoon OF great benefit TO
the foliage. Our dews are generally
heavy except during drought. and
spraying, | find, is a good substitute
for dew.
1 keep up constant feeding until
buds begin TO show color. Follow |
the u rule for d%isbudding. In
our climate it Is necessary to protect
from the first frost, generally the
middle of October, using canvas over
a frame. Except when necessary I
leave the canvas back, as the plants
seem to thrive better If exposed to
the night air. An advantage in u.s.
ing frames Is the possibility of
growing late blooms, the outlay in |
expense Of canvas being fully met by
growing them for late sales. This
mode OF culture has been followed
here with great success and it has
been said that as fine specimens are
round here at the flower shows az
are grown in the world.