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In the carnation house, we have one 
hii ation 94 the house in V=Bottom benches, and E. H % Kl Fy P, | NC. 
we aré injeoting all the water through the 
tile pipe, We notice that in keeping the Se ee 
foliage y, the rust and stem rot are en- MILLWOOD NEW YORK 
tirely eliminated. These benches look very 
good to me, and I believe that when the first In the spring of 1943 we constructed one 
expense is over in building these, it will V-Bottom concrete bench 110 feet long. This 
exclude all future repairs, and it should be bench was planted with rose plants and has 
a life-time investment. We find that we can been watered by sub-irrigation. Since then 
grow much better and stronger plants, there- we have constructed 4316 feet of this type 
by, increasing production enormously. The bench, using forms supplied by Lord & Burnham 
saving alone on labor is also worthwhile Co., Irvington, N.Y., and method of construce= 
looxing into, as it takes one man less than tion as advised by them. All these beds are 
ten minutes bo water a house of V-Bottom water tight and can be watered by the sub-ir 
benches with automatic watering. rigation method, 
This system has, indeed, proved to be Our system of watering these beds in the 
very satisfactory and profitable, past two years is as follows; During the 
‘ spring, summer and early fall we water almost 
Repl entirely by flooding the bench or by sub= 
irrigation. However, we have found that in 
the winter there were certain times when it 
was advisable to surface water these beds and 
partioularly during long stretches of dark 
C.F. BEKTANZHL 
96 Fb EH Hh te OE aE at db A Ah bE ae HD 
FAUST & F EN N weather. During these times we water the beds 
by surface watering. All fertilizer has been 
applied to the surface of the benches and 
Growers immediately watered in by flooding the surface 
of the bed, 
WANTACH,L.T.,N-Y- It is simple and easy to water these 
benches. All we do is cap the ends of the 
Our benches are constructed as the en- drain pipe in the bulkhead, and then open a 
Closed drawing shows, they are deeper because one-j1nch water line which is inserted into 
we use 4" round tile perferated on the bottom the drain tile approximately in the center of 
half, The benches are reinforced with 3/8" the bench. When the water reaches the top of 
steel rods every 12" across and lengthwise : the soil in the bench, we shut off the flow 
with an expansion joint every & feet. and open up the drains, As we have our ow 
water supply we do not save the drainage 
Our reoord of production is the same ae water, 
our surface watering benches but we find long 
er stems on our constant water level benches, We are experimenting with one of these 
Following 1s our production record; beds and with this bed we are constantly 
maintaining water in the bottom of the bench 
Carnation Cut up to the top of the tile or gravel layer. 
This method of watering has not been in opera] 
From 15,400 plants we have cut up to tion long enough to determine results — but 
February 21, 1946, 62,572 flowers, These at present no damage has resulted from this 
plants are planted in ten benches 4,000 square 
feet. We started cutting September 16, 1945, 
Total average is 15.5 flowers per square foot, 
treatment, the growth being as good as a sub= 
irrigation bench along side of it, 
The growth of the rose plants in all of 
CONSTANT LEVEL BENCHES AS CONSTRUCTED BY these V-Bottom benches so far has been strong, 
FAUST AND FENN 
free and exceptionally even throughout the 
ee are are a a entire greenhouse, 
l fi We have found this type of bench and 
Lys 18" method of watering entirely satisfactory for 
growing roses and we will this coming spring 

construct an additional 1800 feet of these 
benches, 
yale Q yn 3/8" STEEL ROD We would be glad to have anyone vho is 
considering installing this type of bench 
stop in at our plant and examine our benches. 

4" Tile perferated 
on bottom half only. 
An expansion joint is used every § feet. 
We do make a bench longer than 12 sections 
which is 96'-6' long, these benches oan be 
safely sterilized with stean. 7 = 
