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ALeft to Right — Dr. Russell Larson, Head of Dept. of Horticullure; Dr. LymanJackson, Dean of College of Agriculture: meet al .Student Hort Slum with Dr.Herbert Albrecht, Director of Agricultural Extension, who has resigned to acceplthe Presidency of North Dakota State University. The PFG extends congratulations and best wishes lo Dr. Albrecht for success in his new position.

FLOWER GROWERS

BULLETIN 131 DECEMBER, 1961

PENNSYLVANIA FLOWER GROWERS

BULLETIN

P.O. Box 652

CONTENTS

Page

FORCING HYDRANGEAS 1

PFG COMMITTEES 2

PANSIES AS ANNUALS 3

PRODUCT PROMOTION 4

PLANT DISEASES 6

CARNATION RESEARCH TOUR 6

LILY SCHEDULE 7

HYDRANGEA SCHEDULE 7

PRESIDENT'S CORNER 7

BUSINESS INSURANCE 8

PENNSYLVANIA FLOWER GROWERS

Bulletin 131 December, 1961

Published monthly at 907 Glenn Circle South. StateCollege, Pennsylvania, by the Pennsylvania FlowerGrowers, 1413 Pelham Road, Windsor Farms, R.D. 2.Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Entered as second classmatter, postage paid at State College, Pennsylvania.Subscription rates: active members - $5.00 per year;all other subscriptions - $10.00 per year. Send allcommunications to the Publications Office or to theExecutive Secretary, P. O. Box 652, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT HERMAN HELLBERGPeter Hellberg Co., Chalfont, Pa.

V. PRESIDENT ARNOLD WAGNERBox 180, Bloomsburg, Pa.

TREASURER AND EXECUTIVESECRETARY GLENN A. MARBURGER

1413 Pelham Rd., Windsor Farms,R. D. 2, Harrisburg, Pa.

EDITOR JOHN W. MASTALERZ907 Glenn Circle South, State College, Fa.

Second Class Postage Paid at State College, Pa.

Harrisburg, Pa.

<y~Colidau

TO ALL

PFG MEMBERS

FROM

PRESIDENT HERMAN HJELLBERG

THE PFG DIRECTORS

GLENN MARBURGER, Executive Secretary

AND

THE PENN STATE

FLORICULTURE

STAFF

^

FORCINGD. Stewart Padgett

Joseph S. Merritt, Inc.Dundalk, Maryland

HYDRANGEASPresented at the

1961 Pennsylvania Greenhouse Florists ConferenceThis article on Hydrangea Forcing is part of the complete talk

presented by Stewart Padgett. Other sections will bepresented as the Hydrangea season develops.

FORCING — Generally speaking most varietiesof Hydrangeas may be forced in 13 weeks, if properlyand sufficiently cured. Some later varieties likeSTRAFFORD take 10 days or so longer, but onething that should be remembered, however, is that themore dormant the Hydrangea, the better and easierit will force. Likewise, a well rested human can do amuch better day's work after a good night's sleep andrest. Timing, therefore, is important and growth shouldnot be started either too early or too late to meet theflowering date desired. It is interesting to note thatwe find that more growers miss a late Easter than anearly one—and this past season a great many growershad Hydrangeas in bloom long before the holidaywhich was on April 2nd. In this connection, however,these same growers found considerable interest on thepart of retail customers who were glad to have flowering Hydrangeas long before Easter. Perhaps thereason for this is that people have had available allduring the winter months an abundant supply ofchrysanthemums, and are ready and willing to buy aquality Hydrangea as a home or hospital plant assoon as it is available on the market. One of the

reasons for this, I feel, is that the beautiful pink shadesof the Hydrangea, with its showy flower head has notbeen on the market during the winter, and the customer is ready for something a little different. Thisis to say that in many areas, particularly in the warmerclimate of the south it is rather common to plan onhaving Hydrangeas salable in mid-March, which isusually several weeks in advance of even an earlyEaster. Should you desire to meet this possible marketin your locality your first consideration would be toselect the early forcing varieties, such as HAMBURGand RED CAP. Then, for those plants that are to beforced for Easter, the starting date should be timedto the following Easter insofar as possible. In mostareas Mother's Day plants may be forced in about11 weeks rather than the longer period for the earlierseasons, this fact being primarily due to the extra longperiod of storage that is possible.

Hydrangeas that were grown in smaller pots during the summer would at this time be shifted to thefinishing sized pots. Normally, this would be to a 5"pot for single flowered plants, and to 6" or 7" pots forplants to have more flower heads. If you receive your

dormant plants from another supplier, one thing thatshould be done on arrival is to unpack the boxes andgive each ball of earth a thorough soaking before potting. An exception to this rule is in the event theplants have been frozen enroute, which occasionallyhappens, the plants should not be unpacked. Instead,leave the plants in the opened cartons in dry, coolstorage until thoroughly thawed, this time being perhaps 24 to 36 hours. Do not assume that the flowerbuds are ruined because of freezing — this is notnecessarily the case, and in fact a certain amount offreezing is good for the plants. If damage has beendone, it will be apparent soon after the plants areplaced on the benches. In the meantime, take theprecautions mentioned and most likely these plantsmay result in some of the finest you will have. Afterpotting, the Hydrangeas should be placed on drybenches, rather than on left over soil. Many growersmake a practice of placing unpotted plants on thebench, bunched together as tightly as possible untilsuch time as growth appears before potting. Otherswill place the plants in the same sized pots they weregrown in before shifting to larger pots. Either ofthese procedures is recommended and the extraamount of effort required will usually pay off in thelong run by a better plant. We have previously considered the importance of soil texture, as well as thepH of both the soil and water to be used, as thesefactors will control the growth and resultant flowercolors of the finished product. Do not fertilize untilnew growth appears. A common mistake by inexperienced growers is to feel that a Hydrangea (its namsbeing derived from Hydra — water) should be wetat all times, and that the pot should be on moist soil.At this point it is well to recall the old saying that"while a Hydrangea wants plenty of water it can notstand wet feet," any more than you or I, as humans,could live under such circumstances. More and more

growers are now finding that their best pot plantcrops can be grown directly on dry benches, whetherthey be made of wood, concrete or transite. Somegrowers are now finding that in place of constructingbenches in the conventional manner that plants willgrow as well if the pots are placed directly on wiremesh. This latter idea is relatively new and certainlylooks promising. It is quickly apparent that this method simplifies bench construction, eliminates the timeand effort consumed in sterilizing or washing thebenches for each crop, and allows the maximum pos-

(Coniinued on page 4)

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PRESIDENT HELLBERG

APPOINTS PFGCOMMITTEESDIRECTORS (Elected)E. C. Geiger, North WalesElwyn L. Kuhl, MansfieldMichael Chulyak, GreenwoodJ. Clarence Groff, StrasburgWalter Hahn, PittsburghPaul A. Wernig, YorkArthur E. Balcomb, West PittstonHenry F. Michell, King of PrussiaEarl Wagoner, Beaver Falls

COLLEGE RELATIONS

Joseph M. Johnston, Jr., Chairman, McKeesportMarshall P. Yeatman, Co-Chairman, Kennett SquareKenneth Bryfogle, MuncyJ. Duff George, CarlisleJames George, CarlisleE. C. Geiger, North Wales

ECONOMICS

Earl Wagoner, Chairman, Beaver FallsEarl C. Hall, West GrovePeter B. Pfahl, Penn StatePaul Stott, Kennett SquareClarence E. Trotter, Penn StateAlvi O. Voigt, Penn State

RESEARCH FUND

J. Clarence Groff, Cliairman, StrasburgMichael Chulyak, AltoonaPaul Wernig, YorkDaniel Ziegler, Hatfield

FARM SHOW

Harry L. Erdman, Chairman, Mt. GretnaSamuel Simon, Chairman, HarrisburgArthur E. Balcomb, PittstonAlfred M. Campbell, StraffordJ. Duff George, CarlisleAlfred Gianfagna, Penn StateJ. Clarence Groff, StrasburgEarl C. Hall, West GroveLou Helbling, PittsburghJoseph M. Johnston, Jr., McKeesportWilliam A. MacDonald, Old ForgeJohn W. Mastalerz, Penn StateClinton A. Miller, AllentownJames K. Rathmell, Jr., LansdaleHarry L. Stephenson, ShiremanstownMarshall P. Yeatman, Kennett Square

FLORIST CONFERENCE

Douglas Dillon, Chairman, BloomsburgElwyn L. Kuhl, MansfieldHenry F. Michell, King of PrussiaAll Members of University Staff

PUBLIC RELATIONS

William A. MacDonald, Chairman, Old ForgeHoward E. Clark, LancasterArthur George, CarlisleErnest Morroni, SmithvilleJames K. Rathmell, Jr., Penn State

BULLETIN

Edward E. Blind, Chairman, PittsburghE. C. Geiger, North WalesClarence W. Landis, StrasburgEarl Wagoner, Beaver Falls

MEMBERSHIP

J. A. Himes, Co-Chairman, New BrightonCarl Springer, Co-Chairman, North WalesArnold Wagner, Co-Chairman, Bloomsburg

PROJECTS ADVISORYJ. Robert Oglevee, Chairman, ConnellsvilleFrank Allburn, ErieKenneth Bryfogle, MuncyAlfred Gianfagna, Penn StateJohn Girvin, LeolaElwyn L. Kuhl, MansfieldJohn W. Mastalerz, Penn StateJames K. Rathmell, Jr., LansdaleJohn W. White, Penn State

LEGISLATION

J. Duff George, Chairman, CarlisleSamuel Simon, HarrisburgA. Marlin Enders, HalifaxHarry L. Erdman, Mt. Gretna

BUDGET

J. Duff George, Chairman, CarlisleArnold Wagner, Bloomsburg

ADVERTISING

Joseph M. Johnston, Jr., Chairman, McKeesportEdward E. Blind, PittsburghClinton A. Miller, AllentownRobert B. Peters, AllentownArnold Wagner, BloomsburgMarshall P. Yeatman, Kennett SquareGlenn A. Marburger, Harrisburg

HORT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

J. Duff George, CarlisleJoseph M. Johnston, Jr., McKeesportArnold Wagner, BloomsburgMarshall P. Yeatman, Kennett Square

Contributors to

DILLON RESEARCH FUND

for November

W. H. Bock & Sons, PittsburghFlorists' Mutual Insurance Co., Edwardsville, 111.P. B. Way & Son, Robert Way, Kennett Square

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PANSIES AS ANNUALSJohn W. White

Penn State University

There are few bedding plants more popular thanthe pansy. Every year the demand for the plants isgreater. Pansies were first improved in Great Britainwhere it was grown as a perennial or as a biennial.The word pansy is only a corruption of the Frenchpansee, meaning thought. The flower is often likenedto a face with a pensive expression. The old folkname,heartsease, is also associated with the familiar placewhich the plant has occupied; it signifies remembrance.

There is some confusion over the use of the termspansy and viola. At this point lets simply say that allpansies are violas but not all violas are pansies. Bothof these groups belong to a huge, virtually world-widetribe collectively known as the Violets.

Pansies are perennial, but they are grown practically as winter or spring annuals. Commercial growers may sow the seeds in late summer or early fall andsell great quantities of the seedling plants beforewinter sets in. The unsold plants are budded in coldframes or cold greenhouses and sold as floweringplants early the next spring. They may also be plantedin open fields and mulched and later be flatted forspring sales. Plants are also started indoors in latewinter or early spring for spring sales. Pansies delightin cool, moist weather; hence in the southern tier ofthe United States the summer is not to their liking,and they often die. A new stock of plants is usuallystarted every year. Plants in the late summer of oneyear will bloom well through the first summer andsome of these will live over for a second summer;however, these plants rarely make it past July of thesecond summer and usually succumb to the first dryspell. Plants started in late winter will be smallerplants than those started in the summer but will stillbloom through much of the summer, however theseplants will not bloom as early and more of them willbe required to fill in the same amount of bed space.Likewise some of these plants will likely survive fora partial second summer. Since there is no assuranceof the number or type of plants surviving any givenyear most people prefer to plan on replanting eachyear.

Culture as Annuals

The success of growing a crop of pansies dependslargely on having good fresh seed of a good selection.To keep the seed fresh store it in a refrigerator untilneeded. There are from 25,000 to 28,000 seeds in oneounce of pansy seed. Growers usually allow one ounceof seed for 4000 mature plants. With good fresh seedand great care, 7000 to 8000 plants could easily be

obtained from one ounce of seed. Although propagators maintain their lines by vegetative reproductionthis would be too expensive for most growers plus thelack of suitable inbreds for hybridization of the bettervarieties.

The first six to twelve days are very important;for if pansy seed becomes dry after once sprouting, itis dead and if kept too wet or humid there is a goodchance for damping off. Therefore uniform moistureand adequately drained soil are critical during propagation.

A good soil would consist of % composted potting soil and Va perlite; or 2 parts of a loamy soil with1 part peat moss and 1 part of sand mixed with it.Seed may be covered slightly with vermiculite andthe flat covered with paper or burlap; but the newesttechnique is to sow, then barely cover and propagatein full light under intermittent mist. Seeds will germinate in from 6 to 10 days depending on the timeof the year and the age of the seed. Germination isbest at 65°F night temperature with 10 degrees higherduring the day.

Once the seedlings are thru the ground theyshould be hardened at 50°F in full sun with plenty ofair for a week or two. Seedlings are then transplantedto small flats or market packs and may be kept in acool greenhouse (40-50°F) till spring. Most growersallow about 40 sq. in. for each dozen Pansies in flatsor a spacing of about 2x2 inches. Some growers findit practical to plant young plants in flats or packs andplace them in a heated frame to keep them growing,and then gradually reduce the temperature to hardenthem off before selling in early spring.

If a loose well drained soil with organic matteris selected for pansies and there has been some fertilizer added as it is prepared, then the soil shouldcarry the plants until they are planted outdoors. Ifthey are yellowing and stretching in the spring it maymean too much fertilizer, too wet, too high a temperature or crowding.

Plants can be sold even before all danger offrost is past or as soon as the soil is workable. Plantsstarted in peat pots in flats will offer your customer aplant which will take off quickly and should give anearly bloom.

The advantages of this annual treatment aremany. It overcomes the danger of losing leaves orwhole plants due to careless digging of field plants,and eliminates the expense of digging or of handling

(Continued on page 9)

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SAF PRODUCT

PROMOTION PROGRAM

ATTENTION, RETAILERS!

Atwayt look for thii intignio on your purchoieif

This official insignia of the National Product Promotion Program

Identifies the growers, wholesalers, and allied tradesmen who con

sider your patronage important enough to help you Sell America

Flowers through national advertising and promotion. It's just good

business to support those who support you.

LOOK FOR ^Ujj^

o^

PRODUCT

PROMOTIONPROGRAM

An increasing number of wholesalers, growers,and suppliers are using the official insignia of the National Product Promotion Program on their books,flowers, stationery, and trucks according to the ProductPromotion Committee of the Society of AmericanFlorists. Retailers and NPPP participants are realizingthe importance of this insignia.

"Its purpose is to enable retailers to identify thewholesalers, growers, and suppliers who are investingin flower promotion to help retailers, sell more flowersand plants," pointed out John D. Shanklin, Chairmanof SAF's Product Promotion Committee.

Mr. Shanklin emphatically states that it is justgood business for retailers to support those who aresupporting them. He urges all retailers to look for theofficial insignia on their purchases.

As a flower producer in Pennsylvania, are you acontributor to the SAF Product Promotion Program?Take advantage of the favorable reaction of retailersto this promotion effort and include the official insignia on all of your flower shipment containers.

Forcing Hydrangeas-(Continued from page 1)

sible drainage — as there is no hindrance whatsoeverto collect the excess water. Some of the distinct advantages in growing on dry benches are that (1) watering is not nearly so critical — relatively inexperiencedpersonnel can do this important job, as the pots havea tendency to dry out more evenly and (2) there islittle or no collection of dirt or algae on the pots allof which seems to reduce the possibility of infectionby fungus or disease.

If, as a result of your preliminary soil and pHtests the use of lime is indicated due to the soil beingtoo acid to produce pink or white flowers, it may beadded by applying a teaspoon of hydrated lime in each

6" pot, or by using lime water at the rate of 5 to 6pounds per 50 gallons. Incidentally, I think it is worthmentioning that if you do not have your own soil testing equipment you should feel free in availing yourselfof the services of your state university or agriculturalextension service facilities — they have the equipmentand experience and are glad to help in any way possible — all for a very nominal fee.

During the forcing season the fertilization program may be increased over that used during thesummer by applying 25-10-10 at the rate of 3 poundsper 100 gallons every 10 days, or proportionately lessfor more frequent feedings. To assure pink flowers ifthe soil is acid, alternate the feeding program by using3 pounds of ammonium phosphate per 100 gallons.For blue flowers the pH must be much lower to startwith and in order to make aluminum available to theplant a 25-0-20 or 25-5-20 fertilizer should be used,and it is well to supplement this with up to 6 applications of aluminum sulphate at the rate of 1 poundper 7 gallons. Of course, it is assumed that you alsoselected varieties that are easily blued, such asKUHNERT, MERRITT'S BLUE, MERVEILLE orRED STAR, only to name a few.

TIMING — Preferably the Hydrangeas shouldbe grown in 60° F. night temperatures, so the temperatures should be raised or lowered accordingly ifyou find that your crop is not coming along approximately on schedule. Eight weeks before bloom thebud should be about the size of a pea. This is theproper time to do the final pruning of unwanted, orblind shoots, keeping only those that show uniformgrowth and development and paying some attentionto balancing the plant for equal distribution of theflowers. At this time the staking can be done. Usuallyone stake is sufficient to support the green string orwire ties attached to each stem below the flower head.At 6 weeks before blooming the bud should be aboutthe size of a 5^ piece, and at 4 weeks the sepals shouldstart to unfold, and should be about the size of a 500piece. At 2 weeks before blooming date the bractsshould be coloring. Plants behind this schedule shouldbe grown warmer with a night temperature as muchas 68 to 70° F., while those coming along too rapidlyshould be dropped to as low as 55° F. at nights. Wenever recommend temperatures below 55° F. as suchare conducive to mildew. It is preferable to have theplants come along a little early so that time will beavailable for hardening them off towards the last twoweeks or so. Plants subjected to high temperatureslate in the forcing season are subject to being too softand the flower heads are likely to wilt upon leavingthe greenhouse, thus making for unsatisfied customers.All during the first weeks of forcing, before colorshows it is important to take adequate precautionsagainst disease and insects, as the applications ofsprays for such may seriously affect the flowers if applied too late in the season.

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CHLOROSIS — Sometimes the Hydrangea willshow an iron deficiency, and like a human, becomessickly or "yellow at the gills." This results in a chloro-

^, tic condition which shows up as a yellowing of leaves,with darker green veins, and usually indicates a lackof iron, or injured roots resulting from excessive feeding or watering. The proper and discriminate use ofchelated iron will usually restore the natural greencolor of the foliage, but you, as the doctor, should takecorrective action to correct the problem. Chelate iron(Sequestrene) should be applied at the rate of 1 ounceper 25 gallons, and should be used as soon as thiscondition is apparent.

WATERING — All during the forcing periodperiod attention should be given to watering, beingcareful not to over water, and certainly to not let theplants dry out. The old time growers could tell moreabout the sound of a ring against the pot than bysight, but modern growers depend largely on a visualinspection of each pot, and far too many make themistake of watering indiscriminately. As the leavesget larger they lose water more rapidly on warm,sunlit days, and thus require more watering than oncloudy days. We never recommend spraying waterover the flower heads after they are in color, as frequently this causes undesirable spotting.

PESTS — Red Spider and aphids are the principal insects that attack Hydranges, and mites sometimes become a problem. Diathion or Parathion aero-

/ sols can be safely used anytime before flowering, and^tm' should be used to keep such insects under control at

all times, right from the mother plant, through thesummer growing season on into the forcing period.Aramite sprays are not recommended as they cancause leaf drop, particularly in hot weather. It is notfeasible to aerosol Hydrangeas after flowers are developed, so care must be taken to rid the plants ofinsects before that time.

MILDEW — While it can become a very seriousproblem on certain varities, particularly MERVEILLEit can usually be eliminated by properly spacing theplants to allow all possible light and air, and by controlling the humidity so that it does not get too high,being certain at all times to provide adequate ventilation, even in the coldest weather. This problem isworse during prolonged periods of dark, dampweather, or when night temperatures fall below 55° F.Sulphur applied to heat pipes, or evaporated in a"Sulphur Fumer," or some equally good commercialproduct, is a tried and practicable method of mildewcontrol. It is important, however, to not use areosolsfor insect control within a 7 day period of usingsulphur. Mildex is a very acceptable control and iscommercially available in most localities.

BOTRYTIS — or grey mold is sometimes confused with mildew, and is prevalent at any time when

^^ ventilation is poor, crowded conditions exist, or whenplants are subjected to water drops. Spraying Zerlate

or Fermate will help clear up the condition, providedthe plants are subjected to the ideal growing conditions previously recommended.

AND NOW — THE SALE — Like any proudparent, we have devoted considerable time and attention to growing "our child" and preparing him for theoutside world. Or, is it possible that we have becomea "parental delinquent" and are about to foist ontothe world an inferior, uneducated, unclothed, unprepared child that will soon fall by the wayside? Havewe possibly failed to see the forest for the trees? AsI see it in today's highly competitive world it becomesnecessary for each of us, as growers in business tomake a living and a profit, not just for the love of it,to grow the highest quality plant and then to SELLIT. In addition to the basic function of seeking orders,we must see that each and every plant taken from ourgreenhouse is "sold" to the ultimate consumer by(1) making certain that it is sufficiently fed to remaina beautiful plant for weeks to come, (2) being certainthat it is thoroughly watered to withstand the roughtreatment it inevitably receives both in transit and inretail establishments and (3) thoroughly dressed upin a clean pot. This is just as elementary, in my wayof thinking, as any parent growing his own child inthe best surroundings, properly fed and clothed andeducated before the child begins to make his ownplace in the world. Endeavor to train your own personnel to follow through with these basic principals,and make every effort possible to instruct the buyerin the proper handling of the plant. Only then is thesale completed — when the plant has become a lastingthing of beauty in the home. Recently at a meetingof florists in Bozeman, Montana, Dr. Shanks, of theUniversity of Maryland was asked about the keepingqualities of Hydrangeas as compared to pot mumsand his answer, as quoted in the July 8, 1961 issue ofTHE FLORISTS EXCHANGE, was "the keepingquality of Hydrangeas is a cultural factor, to whichthe grower should pay attention." I thoroughly andcompletely concur in his opinion.

The price of your finished Hydrangea, in myopinion depends more on the quality of the productyou produce than on your competition. Too frequently we are inclined to price our product, whether it beHydrangeas or Petunias, on what our competitors aredoing. This is O.K. up to a point — but rememberthat a superior product can command a higher price,despite undercutting competition. The customerusually gets just what he pays for. Therefore, I submit that you should price your Hydrangea in accordance with its quality.

PENN STATE GERANIUM MANUAL

Copies Available - $2.00Order from John W. Mastalerz

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The Latest on . . .

PLANT DISEASESLes Nichols

WATCH YOUR WATERING

The cold, dark and damp months of the yearbring on the threat of losses from diseases such asdamping-off of seedlings, Botrytis blight of manyplants, and oedema of geraniums. In this weather,seedlings that are watered late in the day will staywet all night and conditions will be just right for therapid spread of damping-off. Splashing while watering not only is an excellent means of spreadingBotrytis spores to healthy plants and flowers but wetfoliage and flowers are made-to-order for the germination of these spores. Overwatering and the resultingsoggy soil is a perfect setup for the development ofoedema on geraniums in this dark weather when thetranspiration rate of water from the leaves is reduced.SO watch your watering operation — water in themorning, do not splash or water the tops of the plants,and do not overwater.

AZALEA LEAF SPOT (Septoria Spp.)Look for signs of leaf scorch or leaf spot on your

azaleas. They should have been free of the diseasewhen you brought them inside, but if you find smallyellow spots with brown centers and a red or brownmargin on the leaves somebody slipped someplace anda zineb spray is in order. Use 1% pounds of 75%zineb wettable powder to 100 gallons of water at 10-day intervals until the leaf spot is no longer a problem.

ROSE POWDERY MILDEW

Careful heating and ventilation are still the bestpreventives for powdery mildew. If the disease seemsto be spreading, use sulfur on the pipes or sprays ofKarathane or Actidione PM as valuable supplementsto your preventive measures.

FUNGICIDE NOTE

Botran 50% wettable powder and Botran 8% dustare new materials on the market. They are soil andfoliar fungicides containing 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroanilineand are used for the control of Botrytis gray mold onroses, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, and geraniums.Our limited observations on its use for the control ofBotrytis on hydrangeas and geraniums indicate thatthis fungicide holds promise for the control of Botrytisdiseases.

Next Month —

QUALITY IN ANNUALSSTUDENT HORT SHOW

NEW ANNUAL VARIETIES

NEXT MONTH

Complete List of Contributors to

1961 Dillon Memorial Research Fund

Send your contribution now to be included

— your help is needed to put the Fund

over the top.

Carnation Growers

Review Penn State ResearchCarnation research at Penn State was reviewed

for the Middle Atlantic Carnation Growers in a secondannual tour of the research greenhouses on October 5.Holding their usual monthly business meeting whileenroute by bus to Penn State, 35 members participatedin a full afternoon and evening discussion of the carnation research in progress, a summary of the resultsof experiments completed during the past year, and abull session on carnation problems presently confronting growers. Jim Rathmell assisted in the arrangements and participated in the tour.

Growers and the Floriculture staff at Penn Statelunched together at the HUB, watched a live TVappearance by PFG President Herman Hellberg onthe Extension Service Farm and Home Show originating from the Campus and examined the research inprogress on carnations. Dr. James Tammen discussedthe experiments recently initiated on Fusarium Wiltand the effects of nutrient levels and soil temperatureson the development of this disease. The behavior ofmoisture in soils placed in containers and the effectsof managing greenhouse temperatures in relation tocarnation splitting were presented by John White. Extending the life of carnation flowers with chemicalpreservatives was demonstrated by Dr. John Mastalerz.He also reviewed the work on subjecting young carnation plants to different temperatures and kinds oflight.

The group then took time out to enjoy a stop atthe University Ice Cream Store and to catch up on theWorld Series. A tour of the Penn State Soil TestingLab followed with Dr. Robert Thomas explaining anddemonstrating the procedures used for analyzinggreenhouse soil samples. A bull session and dinnercompleted the carnation research tour.

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