Beene UMS FOR 1946 reo Gs giate 
this was begun with planting in July. The result was as interesting as unexpected. Not 
only did the growth retain its dark color, but the crops came on more rapidly and the 
average stem length was about 6 in. ahead of the check, with production increase about 
1 flower per plant. This check was carried on for 2 seasons with identical results. the 
variety Charm being used. While we do not believe Mums would tolerate this trea 
- for their nature is different, we do feel that raised bed crops in open or light soil will 
frequently stand more water than they get. - 
SHADING FOR EARLY FLOWERS 
Some classes of plants are influenced to form buds and flower by long or short days. 
Mums are definitely short day plants, by which is meant they can be induced to set buds 
at any time by artificially shortening daylight hours. This is easily done by enclosing the 
beds with black cloth that is applied around 5 o’clock in the evening and removed about 
7 in the morning. With the sun shining the degree of darkness is not or cannot be made 
total and it need not be; but it should be fairly close to it, which means that there should 
be no openings to let light stream in. To support the cloth a framework is built over 
the beds, the height of which must of course clear the plants when in bud. If the crop 
is grown outdoors the height should clear the crop in full flower, for the cloth might be 
of value in protecting against frost. For the top of the bed we have used a good grade of 
sisalkraft paper. Where a number of adjoining beds are shaded, and there are no upright 
supports to interfere, the top including the walks should be entirely covered. This makes 
side covering for each bed unnecessary. Only the outer sides of the entire area need be 
covered. 
We cover the top in 10 ft. sections by attaching the paper or cloth to a round 10 ft. 
pole that is easily unrolled over the bed. For the sides, better use black sateen cloth that 
is attached to an upper wire along which it can be pushed back and forth by means of 
rings attached to cloth and wire. 
Planting for shading should be done about a month earlier than for regulation grow- 
ing to insure stem length, which of course nearly stops with bud setting. We try to get 
our stock for early July shading planted the 15th to 20th of May. This gets in most 
October varieties around mid-September. If shading is complete, bud setting will be in 
evidence in about 3 weeks from start of shading but it should be continued a week or 
10 days to insure the setting of plenty of laterals in the case of pompons. Standard buds 
should be about the size of a dime before shading is discontinued. Should an occasional 
day be missed in applying shade, or the shade not be as dense as it should be because 
of old used cloth, setting of buds will be delayed accordingly. On a quiet rainy evening 
with atmospheric moisture quite high, it might be better not to use the shade. To begin 
with, light intensity is low on such an occasion; also if plants are enclosed with high 
humidity conditions, any form of rot or disease that the plants might be susceptible to will 
be encouraged by it. Should any form of rot set in as a result of shutting off air cir- 
culation thru shading, the shading material should be removed after darkness is complete 
and replaced before daylight. 
SELECTING OR “TAKING” BUDS 
In giving dates in Mum catalogs for selecting buds it should be noted that it is based 
on mid-northern conditions and average timely planting dates. Also, because of more 
prolonged heat, setting buds in the south is delayed some and should be allowed for. As 
near as we can estimate, flowering in the south is a week to 10 days later than in the 
north, the difference not being so great with the quite late varieties. Further, the ever 
vatying seasons in all sections have a bearing on the setting of buds, or the oe 
dates. Accordingly, the catalog dates given can only be approximate and are intended for 
the northern states. . 
The two classes of buds are known as ‘“‘crown” and “terminal”. The latter 1s the last 
or second one and terminates the growth. However, a late planting, or some varieties 
Thirty-five 
