Here's an oldskool term

"Florescence" ...when the hairs on the bud turned clear.

I probably don't have the spelling correct but I remember years ago that was the indicator of when to harvest. Anyone else remember this and if so when did this technique give way to trichomes as the indicator to harvest?

Inflorescence: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified. The modifications can involve the length and the nature of the internodes and the phyllotaxis, as well as variations in the proportions, compressions, swellings, adnations, connations and reduction of main and secondary axes. Inflorescence can also be defined as the reproductive portion of a plant that bears a cluster of flowers in a specific pattern.

Post your source even a link is good ....
My first grow went down in may 1972,
my mentors advised me to grow,
until you can see them trics dripping then you make the decision to go
clear...white ...or amber...?

never heard of that usually the stigmas turn brown, or amber when ready to harvest.

So , I was " supposed " to smoke the buds ? Not the stems and roots all this time ?

God Damnit !