BETTER MUMS 

GOL FOR FLORISTS 


Green Mill Gardens at Addison, Ill., one of the largest quality pot plant growers in the Chicago area, shade a 36x 150 ft. house 
in 4 to 5 minutes. Shade cloth is drawn over a net-work of over-head wires, covering all beds at one time. Variety shown is 
Bonnaffon Deluxe. Rooted cuttings to 214’s 6/1; 4 plants in a 6” pot (Mr. Bergholt says 3 would have been better) 7/15; 
shaded ‘8/15—9/15. 
ung Getter. Mums 
By Vic Ball 
s 
FIRST, ON PROPAGATION 
Soon as the flowering season is over, select your stock 
using only vigorous clean plants. You can count on 
about ten cuttings from each stock plant; more or less 
on certain varieties. Plant them to good clean soil in a 
cool airy house, and preferably on a raised bench. You'll 
get the strongest cuttings if they are kept at 45 degrees 
and on the dry side. A house kept at 50 or higher, close, 
muggy, poorly ventilated, will surely turn out spindly 
soft cuttings. Where winters are not too severe, a heated 
cold frame would do well. Keep a sharp eye out for 
insects here. It’s a lot easier to control them, particularly 
midge, now than later. 
In late winter, they may be run up to 50 degrees and 
given more water. In propagating, take cuttings 3 to 4 
inches long and leave most or all of the foliage on. Some 
prefer to remove lower leaves and trim the uppers. It has 
been clearly shown that, if some shade is provided from 
bright sun, the untrimmed cuttings will root faster and 
better. Be sure to use sterilized sand—kept at 60 to 65 
degrees thru some bottom heat. 
We should add a word on the recently advocated 
method of rooting cuttings right in soil. The unrooted 
cutting is usually potted to a soil made light with sand 
—and low in plant foods. The plan is being used success- 
fully by a few large specialists who keep a close eye on 
the cuttings. For the average smaller grower, particularly 
when benching cuttings directly, it would be of question- 
able value. 
FOR THOSE WHO BUY 
For those growers who have switched over to buying 
in rooted cuttings from the specialist: First, if cuttings 
are wilted at all upon arrival, dip them in cold water and 
let them stand a few hours before planting. It will stif- 
fen them up. If they are lightly frozen upon arrival they 
can ordinarily be revived by thawing them very gradually. 
Keep them just above freezing for half a day, then warm 
up gradually. 
mas ya 
