One of our cold houses—pipe-frame construction. No ventilators or side walls. 
Ideal growing conditions for this crop. Silver Sheen is shown. We find it an 
excellent early white, being particularly hard and not easily spotted by rot. This 
is a very important point when flowered during hot weather. Some growers report 
Betsy Ross even better for this early crop,—not quite so hard as Silver Sheen, but 
larger and better formed. Stock shown was planted May 5th, shading begun July 
15th, photographed September 12th. 
times, it will not affect the final setting of buds that should take place in 3-4 weeks 
with big mums. Soon as buds are large enough to safely take, discontinue the shad¬ 
ing, except on the pompons. Shading should be continued on them until first or 
center buds show color, or are ready to open. Unless this is done, the side or lower 
buds will not be set along with those about the top, resulting in fewer flowers. 
Probably the most important point in this early flowering method is planting 
early and using unchecked young stock. Reason is to get enough stem before shad¬ 
ing starts, for, of course, the setting of buds nearly ends lengthening of stem, around 
12-18 in. more can be counted on for big mums and 10-12 in. for the pompons. 
Naturally, long-stemmed kinds under favorable conditions will draw some longer. 
Stock propagated late January or February is all right, especially for pompons, but 
if this early stock is checked or hardened through getting too dry, or overcrowding, 
it will be clearly better to use a late February or March start. In fact, we supply 
several of the largest growers with their entire supply of stock in the form of 
rooted cuttings at the proper planting dates,—usually in May. 
A check in young stock has a far more stunting effect on growth than is gener¬ 
ally appreciated, and when good cuttings are used for direct planting, there is little 
or no danger of it being checked. Unskilled labor is the principal cost in a crop 
of mums; little or no fuel, and cuttings at $25.00 per 1000 make it an inexpensive 
crop to produce; but the margin of profit is not unduly large and cost account 
records will show that it entirely disappears if it is not well grown. So keep in mind 
these important points: Well drained soil, unchecked growth, insects, and—the best 
varieties. 
"Enclose Your Mum Wi+h Your Seed Order" 
.. 22 .. 
