10 
CUTTING § 
CHRYSANTHEMUM 
Cultural Pointers 
SUPPORTS 
Standards and disbuds are usually staked up by means of a support, starting when the plants are a foot 
high. The simplest method is to run a wire overhead along each row and tie a string from the base 
of the plant to this wire. This method eliminates the need of tying the stem at intervals to the support 
since the string may be twined in and out of the leaves of the stem. The quickest means of support is 
the use of galvanized wire stakes, which are fastened by patented clips to the wire overhead. Several 
string ties are necessary to keep the stem in position. In some cases the same type of support that is 
used in supporting carnations with wire and string has been used satisfactorily. 
Pompons are usually supported by the string and wire method similar to that used for snapdragons and 
carnations. Two layers of wires are necessary to give. the pompons good support. When growing out 
of doors or in cloth houses heavier wire is necessary to give proper support because moisture often 
collects in the open blooms accounting for the extra weight requiring very strong supports. 
SOUTHERN CULTURE 
It is true the material presented in this manual is primarily from experiences gathered for the northern 
part of the United States. Yet many of the pointers are similar for all parts of the country. 
We have noted that the early flowering varieties from October 15 to November | flower approxi- 
mately one week later in the southern states while those flowering naturally November 15 to December 
| bloom one week earlier than the dates given in this manual. Last Pinch dates will have to be gov- 
erned accordingly. 
When shading, it has been suggested that the black cloth be placed on the beds late in the evening 
7 or 8 P.M. and left on until 8 or 9? A.M. Shading the usual time traps the excessive heat under the 
cloth and appears to affect foliage and flower buds. Pink and bronze varieties used for shading 
and early normal production fade to inferior colors. 
During the months of July and August little growth may be expected, therefore fertilization should 
be kept to a minimum. When the nights get cooler in September, October and November, growth 
is more rapid and the fertilization program should be stepped up accordingly. 
The young plants should be illuminated until Mav | to prevent premature flower buds. 
The length of day is constantly changing. In Ohi> the shortest day has 9 hours of light while the long- 
est day length is 15 hours, in Florida it varies from 10 for the shortest and 14 for the longest. In 
Ohio the day length will change about 15 minutes each week. 
CLOTH HOUSES 
Much has been written about the construction and care of the cloth house. It seems that this subject 
is well taken care of, although there are a few new ideas that should be mentioned. 
To grow quality stock it is necessary to use some type of covering such as aster cloth, onion bag or 
saran. Saran is manufactured by Dow Chemical Co. and is a plastic that will outlive copper screen- 
ing. There are several colors of this material and the natural colored saran produced better quality 
pompons than did the green colored material. The amber colored saran allows more light to reach 
the plants. The plants growing under natural colored saran required twice the amount of water as 
did those under the green cloth. The important difference is that higher quality stock was produced 
under the natural colored saran, 
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