People have been growing chrysanthemumsfor more than two thousand years.Mums make bright and colorful gardens.People in China and other Asian culturesmake tea with the flowers.Giacomo Puccini, the great Italian composer,even named one of his worksafter chrysanthemums, "Crisantemi."(MUSIC: Manhattan String Quartet)One basic kind of mum is the hardy or garden mum.The other basic kind is the florist mum.The garden mum is better ableto handle different growing conditions.There are many varieties of mums.The decorative mum is often seen in gardens.Another popular type, the quill mum,has long, straight petals like a tube or needle.Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow,gold, red or other colors.The plants often grow one meter high.The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moistbut well drained so it does not get too wet.Newly planted mums should be watered twoor three times a week, depending on conditions.Plants established in the groundmay do well just with normal rainfall.Mums grow best in full sunshine.They produce colorful bloomswhen days get shorter and nights get longer.The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight.This is why experts advise against placing mumsnear nightlights or streetlights.The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle.The plants may develop buds too soon.In climates where temperatures fall below freezing,plant mums at least six weeksbefore the first frost is expected.Placing mulch around the plants can protect them from the cold.Consider using straw or shredded leaves for the mulch.The material will also add nutrients to the soil.Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentationcomes from planting mums close together.But be sure to leave enough space to let air flowbetween the plants.If not, there may be a greater chance of disease.To get more blooms, gardeners pinch back the brancheswhen new growth has reached fifteen centimeters.Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch.Pinch it again when a branchgrows another twelve to fifteen centimeters.Stop the pinching about one hundred daysbefore you want the plants to bloom.And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.