

GROWING MUMS 
(continued from page 3) 
must be used accordingly. This is true 
of any cool temperature plant. Cine- 
rarias and Calceolarias sometimes have 
quite a struggle to keep alive during 
mid-summer, but brace up wonderfully 
with cooling weather. While Mums tol- 
erate summer heat better, they too brace 
up with fall weather. Although these 
conditions do not call for much differ- 
ence in watering Mums, the experienced 
grower knows that it means some ad- 
justment. should 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 speak- 
ing, most growers do not use as much 
water as they should with raised bench 
crops. We checked on this in a series of expert- 
ments 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 this was begun with 
planting in July. The result was as interesting as unex- 
pected: 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 in- 
crease 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 toler- 
ate this increase 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. 
_ SUMMERING MUMS OUTDOORS 
The advantage of planting out in the open to be planted 
indoors: later is that it permits using the greenhouse space 
for another crop that presumably pays. This is sometimes 
done with bunch Mums with a fair degree of success. It 
can be carried out with the big standards if planted in be- 
fore August and mid-season or late varieties used. But if 
the test of cost accounting were put against this method, 
we believe the net would be cut some, perhaps substantially. 
The cost that the greenhouse grower or any other line must 
figure’ most closely today, and especially tomorrow, is 
labor. Every possible labor saving device or crop or method 
must be studied and put into use. In our thinking along 
‘that Jine isn’t it easy, even without figures, to imagine a 
BETTER MUMS FOR FLORISTS 
One of our 
ie) 14. 


cold houses—pipe-frame construction. No ventilators or side walls. 
Ideal growing conditions for Mums. 
considerable cost difference between planting rooted cut- 
tings direct and summering in the field? Not only does 
the indoor growing entail considerable heavy labor in 
planting them out and bringing them in, but frequently 
the result is not uniformly so good. Such late planting 
tends to make blind growth in quite a few varieties. How- 
ever, we have noted some fair results with this procedure. 
Further, if the indoor space can be used to substantial ad- 
vantage up to August, and if union labor doesn’t have to 
be used, the net might be in the black. We've also seen 
some pretty nicely finished pot plants that were grown in 
the open until early September. If lifted before fall rains 
‘soften them, they brace up and become established in a 
short time. Planting 3 cuttings in a 6 in. pot in June 
produces more uniformly good results, of course, but the 
field plants will not be quite so costly. After all is said 
on this, every grower’s conditions vary. The fellow who 
has made out well with field growing will incline to dis- 
count our experience and ideas and be justified; but gen- 
erally speaking, carrying them over in the field until late 
summer is not conducive to most profitable results. 
SHADING FOR EARLY FLOWERS 
We feel quite safe in saying that the most valuable cul- 
tural discovery for Mum growers is the short day nature 
of these plants. As it applies to the Mum family it means 
that buds can be set at any season thru simulating the fall 
or short days. The fact that bud setting is brought on by 
shortening daylight hours is demonstrated by delaying 
bud setting thru lengthening them with lights, Most val- 
P33) 
