
a pinch is that when time pinched all flowers in the spray 
will be at about one level. If pinched too early, the crown 
or center flower in the spike will be set low and the side 
buds will grow out above it. Too late pinching will cause 
the crown to be higher than the rest of the spray. 
In the case of big Mums, a correctly timed pinch will 
usually avoid formation of a crown bud. The terminal that 
does form will give a straighter, more desirable neck. 
Under our listing of varieties and prices, page 9, will 
be found correct pinching dates for all kinds flowered at 
normal dates. Under our CROP SCHEDULE, page 15, 
will be found correct pinching dates for all shaded and 
lighted crops. To time pinch, you must simply pinch the 
plant once, on the date given (except for pot plants—see 
pot plant Crop Schedule). Pinching plants previous to the 
date given, then re-pinching them on the correct date, will 
not produce desired results on cut flower crops. This double 
pinch produces a lot of small sprays which might be usable 
by retail growers or for pot culture, but a single time pinch 
will be much better for market growers. 
Quality of Pompons will be definitely improved by re- 
moving all but the best 3, sometimes 4, breaks per plant. 
The plant then doesn’t waste its strength in poor sideshoots. 
Uniformity is improved. Big Mums are usually grown two 
flowers per plant. Some retail growers might prefer three. 
Even if only one flower per plant is grown, follow the time 
pinching schedule and select the one best shoot. 
Best results will follow if you bench rooted cuttings, or 
if necessary, unpinched 21% inch plants not checked. Bench 
several weeks in advance of pinching date so that plant 
will have made enough growth for a good pinch. Never 
pinch into hard wood; poor breaks will result. 
Now, as to selecting buds on standards. Mums produce 
two types of buds: 
a. CROWN. A flowering bud surrounded by non- 
flowering vegetative shoots. 
b. TERMINAL. A flowering bud surrounded by other 
flowering buds. 
Mums with an early normal flowering date will usually 
throw a crown bud in August. If it is removed and the 
best of the vegetative side shoots “‘selected’’, it in turn will 
produce a terminal bud. Some quite early sorts benched 
early will even make two crowns successively, but a terminal 
will always follow. Correct time pinching will usually cause 
the Mum to send out a terminal first; no crown. 
On early varieties not shaded, the safest rule is to remove 
crown buds that appear up to August 20, allowing the 
strongest side shoot to grow on.’ If crowns appear shortly 
BETTER MUMS GGG 
FOR FLORISTS 


A new angle in black cloth shading with Sisalkraft paper. The 
10 ft. bed is covered by strips of paper running from ground, 
over top, down to ground on other side. Strips are 1314 ft. 
wide; 114 ft. overlap desirable to prevent light leak. To remove 
shade simply slide strips off one end. Cost about 114c per sq. 
ft. of paper. The paper will keep rain off in fall as blooms open. 
after that date, they may be left on. Early crowns are gen- 
erally safe on shaded Mums. On mid-season sorts the final 
flowering bud should have been selected by around Septem- 
ber 1 to 10; on late ones by October 1 to 10. Terminal 
buds are always used on late sorts. On this whole matter, 
experience is the best teacher. Try a few earlier crowns 
and note results—in writing. 
WHEN TO CUT 
Unlike Carnations and other flowers, a standard Mum 
cannot be cut half open and open in water. It will simply 
wilt within 24 hours and prove a big disappointment. Be 
sure the center is fully developed before cutting. Pomps 
should be cut when most of the flowers in the spray have 
opened. If you are shipping, check with your wholesaler 
after the first lot goes in. It will pay. 
BLACK CLOTH SHADING 
Mums, being short day plants, can be very nicely brought. 
into bloom about a month ahead of schedule by covering 
them with black cloth from 5 P.M. to 7 A.M. in late sum- 
mer. This actually simulates the shorter days of fall. Some 
pointers: 
1. BENCHING DATE: (Rooted cuttings) Must be 6-8 
weeks prior to shading date, otherwise you won’t get the 
necessary 12 to 18 inches of growth before shading starts 
(See Crop Schedule, page 15). Too late benching means 
short stems. This may be delayed several weeks by holding 
cuttings in 214 inch plant bands. Varieties which are to be 
Pas § Ae! 
