BETTER MOMS) FOR) -19 4407 RO Gg Ge 

Nice bed of Pink Dot grown in our Aster cloth house. 
20. 
early outdoor shaded crop. 
cial growers. Some will go further and produce 
4-6 flowers with the same spacing or 8x8 in; 
and we have seen this carried yet further. In 
England where the small sizes are far more 
popular than the large ones, we have noted 
them grown outdoors during summer by the 
acre in 10-12 in. pots. These plants are flowered 
in cold or sash houses, an early and a late crop 
being flowered in a season in the same house. 
18-24 flowers are grown in each pot; with some 
varieties two and three plants are used in a pot, 
but generally one only is used. The important 
point in favor of the small ones is that the num- 
ber of such that can be grown in the same space 
in which a large one is produced, are worth more 
than the large one. But, from the labor point 
of view we must remember that almost as much 
time is used disbudding individual flowers of 
either size. 
PINCHING. Only a few inches of growth 
are ordinarily taken. If taken down to where 
the growth does not snap easily and clean, the 
breaks will not be as prompt as in softer wood. 
We have pointed out the advantage of restrict- 
ing pompon growth thru the one pinch plan. 
There might be some further advantage in an 
additional pinch of the 3 breaks carried up 
when they reach a height of about 16-18 in. 
or, for the earlies not later than July 1st. When 
they reach the suggested height by this date, 
stem length is assured and a second pinch, we 
have found, tends to spread and increase the 
number of flowers open at one time. But it 
also tends to delay the crop some. If a second 
pinch is made, limit the breaks from it to not 
over two. A little experimenting along this 
line will show up the plan best suited to your 
demand, varieties and conditions. If the big 
standards are grown with but one flower to a 
plant there is of course no pinching, but for 
Cuttings 
planted May 10; shaded July 10 to Aug. 10; photo taken Sept. 
We consider Pink Dot one of the finest varieties for this 
commercial growing not less than 
two and sometimes three, and up to 
a half dozen are carried on one 
plant. Two to a plant is quite 
popular for one of them’ usually 
reaches nearly the size made when 
the one to a plant plan is used. 
According to our checks on this the 
two will average fully 25% more in 
gross market value than one to a 
plant in the same space. But this 
will vary with demand, culture and 
varieties. Before pinching the plants 
should be up at least 8-10 in. for at 
this height they have a strong vig- 
orous start that enables them to 
break more promptly. Anemones 
and other disbuds are usually topped 
at the same height and 2-4 breaks 
carried up as already noted. Three 
well grown Anemones or singles to 
a plant is a popular practice. The 
demand for such small disbuds of 
the ordinary kind is rather limited, 
and when the labor of disbudding 
is counted against them, they are 
not left particularly profitable. 
WATERING. Under favorable conditions 
Mum growth is rank and strong and will use 
lots of water. However, if it is not vigorous 
or if its color is off, use water rather sparingly 
until it gets under way again. This is of course 
just a common sense suggestion that any grower 
can figure out for himself. However, insects 
or disease especially at the roots might some- 
times be responsible for that ‘off’ appearance 
and no amount of withholding of water will 
overcome it. Regardless of its cause, if a plant 
is not in full vigor it must be watered accord- 
ingly, or it will get into trouble. Mum growth 
does not enjoy temperatures of around 100°. 
Like such cool temperature subjects as Cine- 
rarias or Calceolarias, active growth is greatly 
slowed up during the heat of mid-summer. We 
naturally assume that absorption of water at 
the roots is decreased under these conditions 
and that this easily leads to overwatering and 
decaying of roots. This in turn weakens growth. 
Every practical grower knows how growth of 
such subjects wakes up with renewed vigor as 
Fall temperatures set in. During mid-summer 
we use overhead spraying quite freely—at least 
2-3 times on hot days. By filling the atmosphere 
with condensation we check the loss of mois- 
ture from the leaves thru respiration, thereby 
checking excessive wilting. If wilting is not 
checked in this way it becomes responsible for 
burning, especially the edges of the leaves. In 
growing Mums in raised beds of 4-5 in. of soil, 
a great.deal more water is of course necessary 
than when deep beds are used. In fact water 
is usually the limiting factor in such beds. The 
fact that raised beds are usually more success- 
ful and easily managed than the average ground 
bed is an example of the importance of drainage 
that is sometimes lacking in deep beds. To 
at eh ee 
