Bee alehOR 
MUFF MS 
Mr. C. R. Vance of 
Princeton, Ill. Seen with 
a house of Indianapolis 
Mums (as of Feb. 26.) 
They were grown in a 
Carnation house tem- 
perature—pbut few va- 
rieties will set buds re- 
liably at 50 degrees. 
A good example: cloth house Pomps if pinched can’t be 
flowered before Labor Day. A single stemmed crop planted 
May 7 flowers August 7—and on our market last year they 
brought 30c per bunch more than in September. Where you 
are figuring a tight rotation in the greenhouse this saving of 
3-5 weeks might mean getting an extra crop in. Single stemmed 
culture is a must on 3-crops-a-year Mum growing. 
Where standards (big Mums) ate grown single stemmed, 
in practically all cases, the first center bud that appears 
should be left on and allowed to develop. Removal of side 
buds must be done before they over-grow the center bud! 
Try “it! 
Lighting Details 
The purpose of lights on winter crops is to delay bud for- 
mation till sufficient stem has developed. If you are getting 
premature bud formation at the corners (farthest away from 
the bulbs), your light intensity is too low. Best way is to 
check with a light meter—can be borrowed from your Public 
Service Company or electrical contractor. 10 foot candles 
minimum is ample, we shoot for at least 7 all over; one large 
grower works on an absolute minimum of 5. 
For single 4 ft. beds, one string of 60 watt bulbs with re- 
flectors spaced 4 ft. apart and 3 ft. above plant tops is ade- 
quate. Where two beds are to be lighted together, one string 
of 100 watt bulbs with reflectors does it. A string of 150 watt 
bulbs will handle three 314 ft. beds for us. 
To reduce sizes of electric mains, the area to be lighted can 
be split in half. The first half is lighted the required number 
of hours before midnight; the second half gets the same num- 
ber of hours light after midnight. Also 230 volt lines will 
help reduce main sizes on some installations. Consult your 
electrician. 
ES ORK EF EBOTR] Sais 
WEST CHICAGO 
HUNOTS 
Some growers fasten 150 watt or larger “self reflector” 
bulbs to the roof of the houses, lighting the entire house. 
Round the Clock Mums 
Three crops a year on one bench are being produced by 
quite a few Mum growers around the United States and 
Canada. That’s a story in itself! Write us for our three-crops- 
a-year program. 
About Spray Formation 
Some varieties during certain winter periods tend toward a 
clubby, tight spray. To some extent this is a question of va- 
rieties; avoid those that make poor sprays. In general, the 
normally late varieties make better sprays for January-Febru- 
ary-March flowering than will the earlier kinds. 
Also, many growers reduce the period of light to 1 hour 
during the last one-third of the lighting period to improve 
spray form. For example, on the crop to flower January 14, 
lights would be turned on only 1 hour nightly from September 
23 to October 8. 
Unchecked, Rapid Growth 
These schedules are all based on a rapid, unchecked growth. 
You should realize 8-10 inches of new growth on a cutting 
within 30 days of benching. (We have gotten as much as 
20 inches!) If you aren’t getting it, here are things to look for: 
1. Poorly rooted, hard cuttings; too long in the sand. 
2. Tight soil; poorly drained and aerated. Add peat or 
manure. 
3. Nutrient deficiency—lack of nitrates, potash or phos- 
phate. 
4. Too cold—they grow much faster at 60° than at 45°! 
5. Too dry—soil must be kept uniformly moist. 
6. Bugs. 
DATES TO START AND STOP LIGHTS 
AND SHADE 
Start Light Stop Light Start Shade Stop Shade 
Response Group in Fall in Spring in Spring in Fall 
S797 10 elip Weeks July 15 = Mayels— Marche ibeasepiel > 
12, 13,014 Week = Aug5 May TO meer ebiaat 5 ect) 
HOURS OF LIGHT PER NIGHT (Latitude 35-45°) 
1 hour per night during July and May. 
2 hours per night during August and April. 
3 hours per night during September, October, and March. 
4 hours per night during November and February. 
5 hours per night during December and January. 
HOURS OF LIGHT PER NIGHT (Latitude 25-35°) 
1 hour per night during June and July. 
2 hours per night during April, May, and August. 
3 hours per night during February, March, September, and 
October. 
4 hours per night during November, December, and January. 
LATITUDE TABLE 
includes: 
Southern New Jersey, 
Southern Ohio, Southern Indiana, 
includes: 
New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Northern Ohio, Northern Indiana, Northern Illinois, lowa, 
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Washing 
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Southern Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Northern Arkansas, 
ton, and Oregon. 
Northern Oklahoma, Southern Nevada, Southern Utah, and Central California. 
includes: 
includes: 
Southern California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas : 
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Northern Florida. 
Central and Southern Florida, and Southern Texas. 
(North of Austin), Southern Oklahoma, Southern 
