Biber Tak OK MUMS 

Gp FOR 
F170 (Rel Siaags 
Varieties 

To Bench Lights Lights Start 
Flower Cuttings Pinch on off Shade 
Nov. 1 June 27 ~ July 18) Aue. 1 
Dec. 1 ulya2 Ope Ani eed eet oat Sept. 15" Sept. 15 
Aug. 16 Aug. 16 Pompons: Little America, Shasta, Wh. Mensa, Snowdrift, Gold- 
smith, Constellation, Lollypop, Yel. Shasta, Soprano, Linda 
Lou, Br. Goldsmith, Bittersweet. 
Standards: Chattanooga, Marketeer, Ind. White, Yel. Mefo, Gold- 
en Pearson, Yel. Chattanooga, Ind. Yellow, Ed. Seidewitz, 
Thanks. Pink, Ind. Pink. 
Pompons: Little America, Shasta, Goldsmith, Nosegay, Lollypop, 
Yel. Shasta, Soprano, Linda Lou, Br. Goldsmith, Bittersweet. 
Standards: Chattanooga, Marketeer, Ind. White, Yel. Mefo. Gold- 
en Pearson, Golden Mrs. Ross, Yel. Chattanooga, Ind. Yellow, 
Ed. Seidewitz, Thanks. Pink, Ind. Pink. 
Note: The following Pompons may be shaded together to flower during August, September, October: Pinocchio, Gold Coast, 
Ballerina, Seneca, Reward. They should not be shaded along with varieties on above table because they will bloom 10-12 days 
sooner after shading starts. 
The following Standards may be shaded to flower together during August, September and October: Queen’s Lace (white Spi- 
der), Silver Sheen, Blazing Gold, Good News, Detroit News. They should not be shaded along with the above Pompons nor with 
varieties from the above table, since they will bloom sooner after shading. 
SCHEDULE FOR YEAR AROUND FLOWERING OF UNPINCHED CROPS 
From the table on pages 27 and 28, dates for benching, shad- 
ing, lighting of unpinched crops can be figured. This tabulation 
is not as simple as the one on page 25, but it permits more ac- 
curate timing. Data for this table is from Yoder Bros., Barberton, 
Ohio. 
For example, to flower Shasta on January 15, look under the 
first column on the left (January 15 to March 15 flowering peri- 
od) and follow down till you come to Shasta. You find three 
figures, “55, 75, 130.” First is number of long days (benching 
to shading), second is number of short days (shading to flower- 
ing), and last is total days benching to flowering. Now, for the 
schedule. 
1. Benching date. Total days benching to flowering is 130. 
Figuring back 130 days from January 15, we bench cuttings Sep- 
tember 7. 
2. Benching to shading date (long days). For proper develop- 
ment, the plants must be exposed to a long day (14 hours) for 
exactly 55 days in this case. This is accomplished as follows: 
Sept. 7-30 2 hours light per night 
Och 1-31 3 hours light per night 
Nov. 1- 2 4 hours light per night 
Note: Where long day period falls between May 1 and August 
1, no artificial light is used. Days are naturally long enough. 
3. Shading to flowering (short days). To set buds properly, 
this crop requires 75 short days. Since the short day period for 
this crop occurs in winter when days are naturally short, no black 
cloth shade is necessary. Where part or all of a short day period 
falls between February 15 and September 1, the day must be 
shortened by applying black sateen 5 PM to 7 AM. For example, 
on a crop where the short day period ends June 15, black cloth 
shading starts June 15,.is kept up till buds are set. 
These directions for lighting and shading are based on Middle 
Western day length. Growers farther south have naturally longer 
days in winter, hence shorter periods of artificial light are re- 
quired at night. Just remember that during long day periods, 
plants should have a 14 hour day, during short day periods, the 
day should be 10 hours long. 
A correction to these tables must be made by southern 
growers—for higher light intensity and longer days in winter. 
Although there is no accurate data available, the following tabie 
based on experience of growers in Southern Florida will illustrate 
the point. 
To Flower Encore During January 
Total Long Total Short Total Days 
Days Needed Days Needed Benching to 
Flowering 
Latitude of 
Chicago 54 73 127 
Atlanta, Ga. 37 73 110 
Miami, Fla. 20 74 94 
26 
In other words, Miami, Florida growers must use the same 
schedules in January that are used in Chicago in June. 
Lastly, it should be emphasized that these closely timed sched- 
ules can apply only where rapid, unchecked growth is maintained. 
Any check to the growth of the plant delays it—and makes it 
impossible to stay on schedule. To maintain this rapid growth, 
you must start with a succulent, well rooted cutting, use good 
open soil, keep plants well watered, fed, keep 60 degree tempera- 
ture, and keep plants free of insects and diseases. 
ABOUT SINGLE STEM MUM CULTURE 
This season, practically all the Mums we grew—both Pomps 
and Standards—were grown single stem, no pinch. The closer 
spacing obviously increases cost of cuttings per bed—but we 
believe that both Mums and Pomps can be grown so much quick- 
er and better this way that it will eventually become common 
practice. Here’s why: 
1. We save a good 3 weeks time on the bench. Including 
cost of watering, spraying, etc., plus general overhead, we figure 
this saving alone offsets much of the added cost. Furthermore, 
where the time saved means an extra crop per year on the bed— 
the economy is even greater. The three crops per year on year- 
coed Mum ranges would not be possible without single stem 
culture. 
2. Heavier production. A noteworthy increase in bunches of 
Pomps per square foot over the pinched crop. 
3. Better uniformity. Where three sprays are grown to a plant, 
one is usually a weakling. On single stem growing, they're all 
about alike. 
4. Better spray formation. Yoders of Barberton find in general 
much more desirable spray formation on single stem grown 
Pomps, and more fully petaled Standards. 
_ About spacing: Current thinking is to use wider spacing dur- 
ing the low light months of the year. Yoders recommend 4 x 9 
(or 6 x 6) for crops to flower in winter, gradually changing 
-to 4 x 6 for summer flowered crops. These close spacings use 
more cuttings but produce lighter individual sprays. This means 
4-5 sprays per bunch in place of 2 or 3, which is more to the 
liking of retailers, 
SS 
See “Grower Talks”, November 1950, for fur- 
ther discussion of this table and other aspects of 
off-season Mum flowering, 

