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CHRYSANTHEMUM Gloechrer§ CUTTIN 

8 
Clie NENA P otnlers 
WATERING 
The knowledge of proper watering is essential to success. Chrysanthemums produce extremely heavy 
foliage and a great deal of water is required at the roots, and under ordinary conditions of bench cul- 
ture overwatering would be difficult. When grown in beds more care should be exercised in watering. 
After benching young plants grown in 2'/4"' pots, spot watering around the plants is more desirable 
than watering the entire area. When the plants become established the entire area should be given 
a thorough watering. A trowel should be used to examine the soil to determine the necessity of water- 
ing. Some soils look wet on the surface but are very dry several inches below. Bree are. 
Steam sterilization causes the soil to become more granular and capillary movement of water in it is oa a 
much slower than in soils not steamed. Cuttings planted in it cannot obtain water readily, and fort. 2g8) 
this reason should be kept more moist than in not sterilized soils. 
When planting rooted cuttings directly into their permanent locations it is essential to water thoroughly — 
to set the soil around the plant roots. We suggest double watering again when the soil gets on the 
dry side. By this time the plants are established and regular watering should be followed. Keep 
humidity in the house by wetting down bench and walks. 
Surface Watering 
During the past several years many labor saving devices have been developed. Surface watering is 
one that will save many hours of hand watering your chrysanthemum crop. 
The Skinner Superior nozzle is the final answer to the exacting requirements of surface watering. An 
absolutely flat uniform spray is obtained over a full circle with a constant pattern under any pres- 
sure. This nozzle throws a fine spray 5 feet in diameter at 5 pounds pressure at the nozzle, and uses 
0.9 gallons per minute. 
When installing surface watering, check your water supply and the capacity needed to irrigate your 
area. It is advisable to have an engineer figure out your requirements. 
Leaching 
Many greenhouse soils are excessively rich and chrysanthemums will not thrive in such a medium. If y: 
this is the case, the remedy is leaching with water. After the soil is sterilized it should be leached. 
Use a skinner line and allow it to run for hours if necessary. Raised benches do not require as much oe 
water to leach. aoe 
Syringing 
During the heat of the summer it is 
beneficial to syringe or spray the 
foliage of chrysanthemums. “When 
syringing is started around 8:00 
A.M. and continued at regular in- 
tervals, with the help of a light shade 
on the glass, the house temperature 
can be kept down and the humidity 
raised within the house. When the 
growth becomes thick or when the 
nights get chilly discontinue all syr- 
inging. Some growers who grow 
quality mums tell us that they do 
not syringe their crop during the 
entire season. 

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