Profit or Loss in Chrysanthemum Culture 
Throughout the years that we have been 
growing Chrysanthemums our one aim has 
been to make the Mum crop a real paying 
proposition. Suffice to say that as a result 
of constant experiments, we now grow Mums 
exclusively. 
It is true that many growers do not realize a 
great amount of profit from growing Chrys¬ 
anthemums. This is usually attributed to 
low market prices, but the trouble more often 
than not, does not lie with market conditions. 
We find it essential to start with cuttings 
that are strong, of uniform size and disease 
free so that each will quickly get under 
way and produce its share of flowers. A 
weakly cutting will never amount to much 
and the result is poor production. This, of 
course, can be overcome by buying cuttings 
from reputable Mum specialists. 
The next common cause of failure comes 
through overfeeding and overwatering dur¬ 
ing the growing season. Watering should 
be watched very carefully, as a great deal of 
damage can be done by too much water. 
Regarding feeding, the soil should be tested 
regularly, so that blind applications are 
avoided. 
The last, and perhaps most important reason 
for Mum failures is due to slackening of 
efforts in keeping down disease towards the 
end of the season, just before the plants 
bloom. No matter how well they have done 
all Summer, a few days’ neglect will ruin a 
Mum crop if disease secures a footing. 
Ultimate success depends greatly on the 
foregoing facts. A well grown crop of Chrys¬ 
anthemums and Pompons will pay well, 
but as with all other flower crops, neglect 
of the essentials that mean good health, 
will spell loss instead of profit. 
GRECO'S GREENHOUSES 
