gested for use over cold houses. We can say nothing from experience 
with this plan, but we believe it could be worked out to good advantage, 
especially South of us. It would require more shading material because 
of the sides and more attention than our wider cold or sash house plan, but 
the sash covered single bed would be some less costly and less permanent too, 
than our regular wider cold house. Both plans have the very important advan¬ 
tage of complete exposure to air throughout the season, resulting in harder 
growth and better flowers. When we add to this distinct advantage the lower 
cost or overhead of the sash or cold houses, we understand why considerable 
interest is being taken in them. The 150 acre greenhouse plant of Lowe & 
Shawyer near London, England, makes very extensive use of this class of 
construction. They are planted up during the summer months with early 
Mums that are cleared in time to refill with later varieties that are grown out¬ 
doors all summer in 9 inch or 10 inch pots. These two crops of Mums are 
followed by Tulips and Iris—three substantial crops in a low over-head type 
of construction. Something along this line might be done in our Southern Sec¬ 
tions and when the first or early crop is shaded into flower by mid-September 
it might be worked out in the North, if the structures are made frost-proof. 
About London temperatures of 15-20 degrees seem fairly common, though 
short-lived. 
General Culture 
A poor, or we might even say very mediocre, greenhouse crop of any 
kind does not leave the grower a profit. Clearly better, we are sure, to 
leave the bed quite empty. This applies particularly to Mums on which the 
margin is fairly close at best. When Mum growth is weak, sick or uneven 
in spots or thruout, there is a reason for it. This reason is frequently due 
to starting with weak or checked young stock. If to this is added old used 
soil in which there is an accumulation of poisonous material from much man¬ 
uring and the continual use of hard water, we have perfect conditions for 
failure with most any crop. Ground beds in which drainage is not perfect is 
a factor in many cases of half sick Mums. Such beds are easily gotten into 
an overwatered condition thru regular summer syringing. Raised beds are 
clearly safer for Mums and most other crops as well, in fact. Excellent hard 
Mums are grown in 3-4 in. of soil. But good stock is also produced in deep 
beds if drainage is perfect and the soil examined occasionally during the 
summer, especially early in the season when growth is not heavy. With a 
raised bed, filled with clean fresh soil and planted with unchecked young 
stock, successful growth is certain to follow if aphis are kept down and reason¬ 
able attention given to moisture in soil and atmosphere. 
Late planting is also responsible for lots of unprofitable Mums. In our 
latitude this should be finished by lune 1 if good marketable flowers are to 
be produced. Early planting gives them a chance to get well started before 
hot weather hits them. Growth is slow, almost at a stand-still when tempera¬ 
tures are around 90°; but they hold up under it if growth is vigorous and not 
kept too wet at the roots. If Mums are to be flowered early thru shading, the 
planting should be done May 1st to not later than the 15th if shading is to 
start luly 15th, which is the necessary date for flowering September 15-20. 
The important reason for early planting of stock to be shaded is to get neces¬ 
sary stem length. Much unprofitable short stemmed shaded stock is noted 
about most markets every fall. However, a retail grower can usually make 
better use of shorter flowers than a market grower requires. Except earlier 
planting, there are no cultural differences in growing Mums for shading. But 
the added cost of getting an early start will be wasted if hardened or checked 
"Enclose Your Mum With Your Seed Order" 
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