B Bare BOR 
Mr COMES ESE O HK 
1943 FROM — 
gipall 
ON GROWING MUMS 
Chrysanthemums are not cheaply grown, nor 
are they particularly easy to grow if first class 
flowers are expected. However, if good cuttings 
are planted at the right time, sufficient fertilizer 
and labor is used as needed and given someone 
who is really interested in getting the most out 
of their Mum crop, Mums definitely pay. Either 
Mums or Pomps, however, must be treated as a 
major crop to be successful; other crops must be 
used to fit the requirements of Mums. 
During these doubly difficult times for flor- 
ists, we must come quickly to the realization— 
and act promptly upon that realization—that our 
facilities, labor, capital, and equipment, are 
definitely limited. We must limit our crops to 
those we can do well and concentrate on those. 
That isn’t a bad idea any time but might easily 
be our salvation now. Therefore, if you want 
to grow your Mums, grow them well or else 
don’t bother with them. 
TO PROPAGATE OR BUY? 
One of the first decisions to be made in plan- 
ning a crop of Mums or Pomps is the one involv- 
ing whether to propagate one’s own cuttings or 
to buy. The answer can easily be determined by 
yourself in a few minutes of thinking. If you 
want to grow a first-class crop of flowers, then 
all cuttings of a given variety and planting must 
be taken and rooted as near one time as possible. 
And of course they must be clean and first class 
in every respect. You can’t expect a 100% crop 
from a variety if your plants come from a half 
dozen different propagations. If you don’t have 
sufficient stock plants and propagating equip- 
ment to produce good cuttings and all you need 
at the right time, then it will be more profitable 
to buy. Most growers are convinced 
that to buy from a dependable propa- 
gator who can deliver your cuttings 
in one bunch, when you want them, 
is the cheapest way out and the one 
most conducive to a first class crop of 
flowers—one that will show a profit 
at the end of the season. 
There are many growers—both large 
and small—who successfully propa- 
gate their own Mum cuttings. They 
are successful because they realize the 
importance of doing a good job, that 
includes keeping their stock plants 
clean of insects, especially midge, and 
diseases and having sufficiently large 
plantings and facilities to provide the 
kind and number of cuttings when they 
want to plant. 
SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 
On the basis of the experience of 
several good growers, there doesn’t 
seem to be much difference between 
raised or ground beds for Mum grow- 
ing altho most growers prefer raised 
beds. The nutrient materials in the 
16 
soil and careful watering seem to be the critical 
soil factors. Nearly any good greenhouse soil 
that is neutral or slightly acid and of a medium 
texture will do very well. 
Most growers like to start their Mum crop 
off with a layer of well-rotted manure and an 
application of about 5 pounds of 20% super- 
phosphate per 100 sq. ft. of bench space before 
planting. Given ordinarily good greenhouse 
soil, this should be sufficient to carry the plants 
along until buds are set. It is customary at that 
time to begin regular (two week intervals) feed- 
ings of a quickly available nitrogenous fertilizer 
until buds begin to unfold and show color. Am- 
monium sulfate, calcium nitrate or sodium ni- 
trate applied 1 pound per 100 sq. ft. of bench 
space are suitable top dressing materials. 
Balanced fertilizers such as Vigoro may be 
used instead of nitrogenous materials. Altho 
nitrogen is the critical nutrient element for this 
feeding, most balanced fertilizers contain sup- 
plies of the lesser important and minor elements 
that, if not applied, sometimes become limiting 
factors to plant growth. Alex Laurie of Ohio 
State recommends a mulch of a foreign or do- 
mestic Peat on Chrysanthemums as soon as they 
are started. He states that they act as quick 
growth starters. Altho his claim for 50 to 100% 
increase in growth because of a peat application 
probably couldn’t be duplicated in all green- 
houses, as he says, peat, especially domestic 
brands, contains a certain amount of nitrogen. 
It also benefits the soil both in its moisture 
holding capacity and by adding its humus which 
most soils can stand. If your soil is on the 
alkaline side, peat applications will gradually 
bring it down to neutral or acid. 
There is a magnificence to perfectly finished big white Mums that 
never fails to attract. 
for white and yellow averages about even thru the season. 
yellow is wanted in Oct. but 
Our sales records show that the demand 
More 
Noy. and Dec. want plenty good 
white such as is supplied by Indianapolis White pictured. 

