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such as our level prairies or inclined to be at all low, which it of course should not be, 
the cost of two lines of 4 in. drain tile in a 4-5 ft. bed will be a very profitable expendi- 
ture. This is so not only for drainage but for steaming the soil; and these tiles have 
sub-irrigating possibilities, and are of some aeration value. However, promoting the 
prompt drying out of the soil is their principal value. While 3 in. tile is sometimes sug- 
gested and is evidently all right, we prefer 4 in. How deep to lay the tile depends some 
on depth of good soil in the bed. We use 6 in. siding for ground beds and get the tile 
down 12 in. below top of siding. We find this arrangement works out very Welletor 
steam sterilizing and sub-irrigating of such deep rooting crops as Peas, but we do not 
use this irrigating plan for Mums because of their shallower rooting habit. Six inch deep 
raised beds are of course the safest because of their 100% drainage. They are also in- 
dispensable for most bedding and pot plant growing but for cut flowers generally, and 
that includes Mums, the well-drained deep bed is. not only less costly to build and main- 
tain, but top results can be had with them if lower soil moisture is watched. 
SPACING DISTANCE 
This question is a rather vital one for commercial growers, for it does bear on the net 
results. We sometimes get the impression that there is a tendency to over space, but 
this may be due to lack of possible growth or late planting. These factors make it 
difficult to safely make definite suggestions. However, with big standard Mums planted 
in June or early July, 8 x 8 in. with 2 flowers per plant is standard commercial practice. 
With a 4 ft. raised bed this might be closed up some, say 7 x 8. This spacing with one 
flower to a plant will of course produce some larger flowers, but they will not return as 
much as will the two smaller fowers per plant with the same spacing. For most retail 
growers the net will be still higher if at least part of the planting carries 4-5 flowers per 
plant using the same or 8 x 10 spacing. In England the tendency is almost exclusively 
toward smaller flowers and more of them. They are largely grown there outdoors during 
the summer in what appears to be 10 in. pots with from 12-16 flowers per pot. In the 
Paris market the bigger they are the better they like them, so better make it some of 
each size. Pompons we like to space 6 x 7 or for strong growers planted early 7 x 8 in., 
top half way down at a height of 8 in. and carry up about three stems. As already stated, 
if side growths are trimmed out once from about the base, this plan makes for longer 
stems because there is no waste of the plant’s energy in making brushy blind growth. 
WATERING 
This is probably the most important factor in the profitable culture of any crop. There 
is just one way to determine whether or not water should be supplied and that is to dig 
down 6 or 8 in. in deep beds and examine the soil. If it is wet enuf to ball up in the 
hand, chances are it should be let alone. While this comes close to being a hard and fast 
rule, we must also consider the strength and health of growth. A raised bed in the fall 
filled with roots and strong heavy growth can hardly be overwatered. On the other hand, 
with temperatures in the 90’s growth is not nearly so active as during cool fall weather 
and water must be used accordingly. This is true of any cool temperature plant. Ciner- 
arias and Calceolarias sometimes have quite a struggle to keep alive during mid-summer, 
but brace up wonderfully with cooling weather. While Mums tolerate summer heat 
better, they too brace up with fall weather. Although these conditions do not call for much 
difference in watering, the experienced grower knows that it means some adjustment must 
be made; and every grower knows or should know that stiff, clayey soil is very much 
more retentive of moisture than a soil filled with organic matter and perhaps some sand. 
The difference in their water requirements is considerable. We are inclined to believe 
that, generally speaking, most growers do not use as much water as they should with 
raised bench crops. We checked on this in a series of experiments with Carnations a few 
years back. One plot was given a full watering between each regular watering of the 
house. In other words, this check received 100% more than was considered ample, and 
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