BALL CALENDULA 
T he present cut flower strain of Calendula was originated by us 15 years ago. All varieties 
in this fine long-stemmed class are of our production. Furthermore, we continue to devote a 
large area of our glass to improving the present strains and to developing new ones. We feel 
very sure that better strains of Calendula are not available than we are offering today. 
CULTURE 
With every lot of seed we send 
out, a circular is enclosed detailing 
our methods of culture that will in¬ 
sure fine stock if the suggestions 
offered are carried out. A few 
fundamental points follow: The 
most profitable crop is the one 
started August 1 in our latitude. 
This gets into full crop for Christmas 
and January. As far south as Cin¬ 
cinnati the sowing for this should 
be made 10 days, possibly 2 weeks, 
later and be in good shape for 
Christmas. We sow in our c loth 
aster houses to protect the seedlings 
from the same “yellows” that in¬ 
fects asters. This disease is carried 
by the leaf hopper that is screened 
out with aster cloth. If a cloth 
house is not available, sow in an 
outdoor frame and protect with 
aster house cloth. This precaution 
may not be so necessary in all sec¬ 
tions as it is with us. 
In sowing during mid-summer, es¬ 
pecially outdoors, be sure to cover A Christmas Crop of Our Ball Calendula 
the seed fairly deep and maintain 
the soil uniformly moist. Failure to watch this explains why the seed doesn’t grow, — sometimes. 
To get a strong growth, with flowers, that won t wilt, it is necessary to use a light hou se, and the 
stems draw up much better in a deep ground bed tho nice flowers are grown on raised beds. In pre¬ 
paring the soil use well rotted manure freely. Little danger in over doing it. After the young stock 
is well started, we top dress several times during the season with a balanced fertilizer. About 
September 1, we transplant into the greenhouse or flowering beds, spacing them 12 x 12 in. To get 
an even stand, discard the weak or small seedlings,- or if they can’t be spared, plant such by themselves- 
Calendula are strictly cool temperature plants. 42-45° nights with 10-15° higher days should be the 
limit, except about the holidays when they can be temporarily warmed up some. 
Of a good strain of Calendula less than 1 % will come single and such are weak, flower early, and 
should be removed for they are worthless. Why do many come single, — sometimes? Unfavorable 
conditioning or treatment or check to the growth, such as too much heat, not enough moisture or 
fertility in the soil, a mess of greenfly drawing the life out of them,- in fact, they tend to come single, 
the better to enable them to produce seed or reproduce themselves, when any unfavorable cultural 
conditions threaten their life. As the crop becomes cut down, the weakening effect it has on the 
plants will leave nearly all that’s left single. 
[ 6 ] Calendula, in a cool, light house and deep soil, can't help being fine. 
