

AN AUTHORITATIVE ARTICLE BY 
Alex Laurie 
PROFESSOR OF FLORICULTURE 
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 
The popularity of the crysanthemum has made it a 
universally grown crop. Practically every grower of miscellaneous flowering crops 
includes the chrysanthemum in his program of rotation. Unfortunately the com- 
parative ease of culture of this crop results frequently in neglect and sloppy 
methods. With competition becoming greater in the post-war period, quality be- 
comes essential and to produce quality the chrysanthemum should not be treated 
as a step-child and given inadequate care. Lack of attention to stock plants, un- 
timely propagation, use of weak cuttings, hardening of plants before benching, 
allowing insects and disease to become rampant, growing plants to too many 
stems, bunching improperly and handling the cut stock roughly, are some of the 
glaring inadequacies of culture e e e 
SOILS 
A fibrous soil, well aerated by having granular 
structure and adequate amounts of organic mat- 
ter, is necessary. The use of manure or peat at the 
rate of at least one-quarter by volume is desirable. 
Extremely heavy soils are benefited by inclusion of 
fine cinders (less than 4 inch) or even sand together 
with the organic matter. 
Acidity 
Since chrysanthemums do best in slightly acid 
soils, additions of lime are not recommended except 
in areas where extreme soil acidity exists. However, 
calcium is often low and in that case in slightly acid 
or neutral soils gypsum or calcium sulphate could 
well be added at the rate of 2 lbs. to 100 sq. ft. If 
available soils are alkaline an application of sul- 
phur at the rate of 2 lbs. to 100 sq. ft. will be found 
desirable. Since, however, this material is a slow 
acidifier, it should be added several weeks in ad- 
vance of planting. A pH of 6-6.5 is best. 
Levels of Nutrition 
If soils are tested and they really should be, the 
following levels in parts per million (do not confuse 
these with pounds per acre) should be maintained: 
nitrates 10-25, phosphorus 5, potassium 20, calcium 
150. It is well, however, not to have the nitrates 
high at the time of benching—10 p.p.m. is more than 
adequate then. High nitrates at the start check 
growth and are frequently responsible for the yel- 
lowing of foliage and stunted appearance. Heavy 
leaching in well drained soil will correct such a con- 
dition. Usually superphosphate should be added 
(S lbs. to 100 sq. ft.) at the time of soil preparation to 
insure a proper distribution of that material since 
surface applications are ineffective for a long time. 
For a short time crop, such as the chrysanthemum, 
slowly acting bone meal could well be eliminated 
from consideration. 
Steam Sterilization 
In this connection, it may be well to state that 
there is no necessity for the complete removal of 
soil from benches or beds every year. If the old soil 
is free of disease, its rejuvenation may be accom- 
plished by the addition of one-fourth of the volume 
of peat and manure. This addition may be made 
at the rate of two-thirds peat and one-third well 
rotted manure. However, it is absolutely important 
that such soils be sterilized with steam. This serves 
a dual purpose. It destroys the verticillium wilt fun- 
gus and at the same time betters the structural con- 
PLEASE TURN TO PAGES FOUR TO TEN FOR VARIETY PRICE LIST 
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