p

E

N

N

S

Y

L

V

A

N

I

PENN STATE FLOWER JUDGING TEAM FINISHES 4th; OHIO STATEWINS CONTEST. L. TO R. — WILLIAM KLING, COACH DR. PETER

PFAHL, LYLE HARDING, BARBARA SPAETH, AND LAWRENCESHAPIRA. LYLE HARDING HAD HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL

SCORE FOR ALL CONTESTANTS.

A FLOWER GROWERS

BULLETIN 170 APRIL, 1965

PEARSON TO RHODE ISLANDJ. Lincoln Pearson, Extension Specialist in Flori

culture, has resigned effective May 1 to accept a position as Extension Specialist in Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Rhode Island. Line will alsobe responsible for coordinating information on theuse of pesticides throughout the state. We extend ourbest wishes for success in his new position.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERSCharles A. Schasch, Mt. Troy Floral Greenhouses,

PittsburghEdwin Swink, Mt. Pleasant Floral, Mt. PleasantRichard Chamberland, Ledgehill Greenhouses, Car

lisleIrwin M. AH, Ahl Greenhouse, Union CityJohn E. Fclsinger, Felsinger Flower Shoppe, Lancas

ter

Albert J. Oldham, Oldham's Greenhouse, CheltenhamR. M. Landis, Landis Greenhouse, Sugarloaf

News From SAF

HAHN WINS SAF OSCAR

The SAF National Flower Show Committee "Oscar" award program made its debut during thisspring's gala flower show season, announces EverettConklin, Chairman, National Flower Show Committee, Society of American Florists. Local committeechairmen, chosen by Mr. Conklin to cover major industry flower shows, appointed judging teams to selectwinners of this major SAF award. SAF awards werepresented for individual arrangements, displays, andoutstanding use of fresh flowers and plants.

Among the outstanding displays meriting this newprestige SAF National Flower Show CommitteeAward was the garden staged by Louis Halm & Son,Pittsburgh at the National Capital Flower and GardenShow, Washington, D.C., March 12-21. The settingfocused on azaleas and included flowering plants,shrubs, dogwood, a pine tree, and a rustic old mill.This "Best of the Show" selection was made by Granville Gude, Bertram McGinnis, Col. Walter Mosmiller,S. S. Pennock, Jr., and Lewis Potter.

FIC RELEASES SPEECH MATERIAL

Two basic speeches, for delivery to civic, businessand social groups, are available from the Florist Information Committee, announces William O'Laughlin,FIC Chairman, Society of American Florists. Developed by the Society's public relations counselors, thematerial is designed to provide audiences with a bet

ter understanding of the floral industry and to convince them of the value of funeral flowers.

"By adapting this basic speech material to thelocal situation and by injecting appropriate anecdotesor humor, florists can take advantage of opportunitiesto speak out on industry affairs," points out Mr.O'Laughlin. "Influential converts to the florist's pointof view can be gained through speaking before civic,business and social groups. These people are often ina position to exert vast influence in a community. Properly motivated, they can become vocal spokesmen forour industry."

FIC's speech, "The Sense in Sentiment," is fordelivery to selected local audiences. It is limited insubject matter to grief, its relationship to funerals andsympathy flowers, freedom of expression, and the importance of sentiment in our way of life.

The other speech, "The Growing World of Flowers in Modern Life," is more of an "all-purpose"speech, designed to do a "sales job" for traditional andnontraditional use of flowers. It includes informationon flowers in decorating and fashion, business use offlowers and plants, billion-dollar-a-year aspects of thefloral industry, revolutionary research developments,transportation of floral products, and the logic andvalue of funeral flowers.

Florists wishing copies of these speeches shouldwrite to the Society of American Florists, Sheraton-Park Hotel, Washington, D. C. 2000S.

AT PENN STATE

RETAIL FLORISTS CONFERENCE

JULY 12 - 13 - 14, 1965

GREENHOUSE FLORISTS CONFERENCE

AUGUST 3 - 4 - 5, 1965

PENNSYLVANIA FLOWER GROWERS

Bulletin 170 April, 1965Published monthly at 907 Glenn Circle South, State_ College,Pennsylvania, by the Pennsylvania Flower Growers, 50 NorthMain Street, Chalfont, Pennsylvania. Entered as second classmatter, postage paid at State College, Pennsylvania. Subscriptionrates: active members - $5.00 per year; all other subscriptions -$10.00 per year. Send all communications to the PublicationsOHice or to the Executive Secretary, 50 Nortli Main Street, Chalfont, Pennsylvania.

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT LEWIS REINIGERWin. D. Reiniger & Sons, Ilatboro, Pa.

V. PRESIDENT HERMAN HELLBERGPeter Hellberg Co., Chalfont, Pa.

TREASURER AND EXECUTIVESECRETARY HOWARD G. KRUPP

50 North Main Street. Chalfont, Pa.

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

Second Class Postage Paid at State College, Pa.

Contributors to 1965

DILLON RESEARCH FUNDDonald M. Anderson, Rine's Flower Shop & Greenhouse,

SelinsgroveArner's Greenhouse, RimersburgGeo. J. Ball, Inc., West Chicago, IllinoisRussell J. Barreea, Allyn & Allyn, West Palm Beach, Florida

Karl Bauss, Florist, LyndellW. Quinton Bock, PittsburghByer Bros., Florists, ChambersburgStan Cassel, Chalfont

J. B. Coddington Co., Murray Hill, New JerseyEstate of Peter DeSandis, Moscow

Douglas K. Dillon, J. L. Dillon, Inc., BloomsburgEastern Fert-O-Ject Service, Trenton, New Jersey

R. A. Ferguson, Whirlpool Corp. (Tectrol Div.), Glassboro,New Jersey

Raymond A. Fleck, SouthamptonWilliam J. Franklin, Jr., Geo. J. Ball, Inc., Reisterstown, Mary

land

Thomas R. Fries Sons, LancasterGeorge's Flowers, Carlisle

H. G. German, Seeds, SmethportFred C. Gloeckner, Fred C. Gloeckner & Co., Inc., New YorkJ. Clarence Grofl, StrasburgErich T. Gumto, Penn Flower Shop & Greenhouse, PittsburghNiels V. Hansen, Port Chester, New York

Ileemskerk & Co., Ridgewood, New JerseyH. E. Heiner, The Garland Companyy, Cleveland, OhioPeter Hellberg Co., Chalfont

James A. Himes, Friedl-Elverson Pottery Co., New BrightonF. C. Hinkel & Bro., Inc., PittsburghHarold W. Innis, Geo. J. Ball Inc., Canfield, OhioJackson & Perkins Co., Newark, New YorkErnest A. Joseph, American Horticultural Supply Co., New

York, New York

Michael Kasarda, Kasarda's Greenhouse, KingstonDonald C. Layser, Layser's Flowers, MyerstownHerman Lederer Sons, Parkerford

William A. MacDonald, Geo. J. Ball Inc., Old ForgeG. E. Malborg, Manheim

John H. Marx, Mendenhall

Norman L. Meyer, Friedl-Elverson Pottery Co., New BrightonHenry F. Michell Co., King of PrussiaClinton F. A. Miller, Geo. J. Ball, Inc., AllentownJames L. Nevill, Nevill's Flowers, Montoursville

Northwest Pennsylvania Florist AssociationOelschigs' Nursery, Inc., Savannah, GeorgiaAndrew Oleksia, ConemaughMartha Orient, Bridgeville

Pennsylvania Perlite Corp., AllentownGeorge F. Peterman, L. S. Petcrman Co., AltoonaRobert B. Peters Co., Inc., Allentown

J. Harvey Pettyjohn, Koons' Florist, LittlestownBill D. Phillipe, Florists Mutual Insurance Co., Camp HillL. K. Philips & Sons Florists, Oxford

Plankinton & Stott, Kennelt Square

Donald S. Pratt, Avondale

Proper's Greenhouse, Bradford

S. Russell Prizer, Parkerford

Rayne & Darling, Kennett SquareWm. D. Reiniger Sons, Hatboro

Henry W. Ridgway, H. W. Ridgway Co., Mickleton, NewJersey

F. O. Ranker & Sons, Bloomsburg

George Rueker, Florist, RichboroLouis Ru/icka, Elkins Park

Sawyer & Johnson, Bethlehem

Gustav II. Schroeder, Newton Square

Leonard J. Seiger, Ocean City, New Jersey

Bernard R. Sherman Agency, Continental Casualty Co.,Lancaster

X. S. Smith, Inc., Red Bank, New JerseyCarl Springer, E. C. Geiger Co., LansdaleHoward W. Stein, Stein's Flowers, Mohnton

Summers Fertilizer Co., Inc., Somerset

Alexander Sutherland III, Sutherland's Nursery & Greenhouse,Jeannette

Syracuse Pottery, Inc., Syracuse, New York

William E. Ten Eyck, Jr., Ten Eyck's Greenhouse, Bucyrus,Ohio

J. II. Thompson's Sons, Florists, Kennett Square

W. Pomeroy Thomson, The W. W. Thomson Co., West Hart-lord, Connecticut

Frank A. Tinari, Tinari Greenhouses, BethayresOctave Vlamynck & Co., Inc., East Patterson, New JerseyVosters Nurseries & Greenhouses, Inc., Secane

Arnold B. Wagner, J. L. Dillon, Inc., BloomsburgE. B. Walton & Sons, Kennett SquareAugust Wassman, Germania Seed Co., Chicago, IllinoisWeiland Greenhouses, New Castle

Chas. M. Wernig's Sons, YorkHenry J. Whalen, Henry Whalen & Sons, Drexel HillFrank R. Willheim, Cremer Florist, Inc., Hanover

Winandy Greenhouse Construction, Inc., Richmond, IndianaP. J. Yeatman's Sons, Kennett Square

Zelienople Greenhouse Co., Zelienople

Daniel K. Ziegler, George Didden Greenhouses, Hatfield

LIST COMPLETE TO APRIL 15

The Latest on . . .

Plant DiseasesLes Nichols

Plant Pathology Extension

WATER IN THE MORNING

Prevent damping-off in seed flats and other fungusdiseases of older plants by doing all watering in themorning. Plants watered in the late afternoon willstay wet all night and conditions will be ideal for thegrowth of the fungi which cause damping-off, Botrytisblight, and leaf spots.

USE THE HOSE HANGERS

It is fine to have a hook on the bench on whichto hang the end of the watering hose but unless it isused all of the time it is worthless. It only takes onedrop of water from the end of a hose which has beenlying in the walk to carry a pathogen from the soil inthe walk to the plant on the bench. Keep after youremployees to use the hose hooks 100? of the time.

CAUTION ON ROT-PROOFING WOOD

If you are going to build a new plastic house thisspring and are considering rot-proofing the wood withcreosote or pentachlorophenol, forget it. Creosote orpentachlorophenol have no place around plants as thefumes given off from wood treated with these materials can cause severe injury to seedlings and otherplants for several years after treatment. There is nopractical way to paint or coat the treated wood sothat the fumes will not be given off and cause damage.So, play it safe and rot-proof your posts and otherwooden parts of the new plastic house with a safermaterial such as one of the copper naphthenate woodpreservatives. Even with these materials, care must betaken since the solvent used for copper naphthenate istoxic to plants growing in a closed house. It is advisable to ventilate the house for at least 24 hours after

treatment to allow the fumes of the solvent to vola

tilize. When used in bulb cellars and other closed

areas, allow adequate ventilation as the fumes may betoxic to the person applying the copper naphthenate.

Copper naphthenate also may be used for treating benches and shelves. It prevents fungi from growing on or into the wood which it thus protects fromdecay, as well as giving a self-disinfcsting surface forat least a year. Copper naphthenate may be used fortreating wooden flats, but root injury may result toroots of seedlings planted 2 to 3 inches from the sidesof treated flats.

NON-PATHOGENIC FUNGI IN

THE GREENHOUSE

Growers often become alarmed when they seelarge masses of fungi growing on the surface of seedflats, on peat pots, or on the lower stems of snapdragons or chrysanthemums growing under moist

FIGURE 1. Slime mold on dieffenbaehia leaf.

crowded conditions. Most of these fungi are nonpathogenic and will cause little or no damage to theplants. Some of these non-pathogenic fungi are asfollows:

Fungi growing on the surface of seed flats. Whensoil is steamed in seed flats most pathogenic and nonpathogenic fungi are killed. An unbalanced situationthen exists and heat resistant non-pathogenic fungi ofthe Pyronema group often grow luxuriently over thesurface of the soil. A thin, whitish, moldy growth firstappears and then reproductive structures are formedwhich gives the whole area a bright orange or yellowcolor. These fungi are harmless to the seedlings andusually disappear within a few days. Other harmlessfungi such as the bread molds or Mucors also maygrow over the surface of the soil of seed flats.

Fungi growing on the outside of peat pots. Thesurface of peat pots seems to be an ideal medium onwhich the Pyronema fungi will grow. A thick coatingof these fungi may be found growing on the outsideof peat pots in moist areas. They will not harm theplants growing in the pots.

Fungi growing on the lower stems of snapdragonsand chrysanthemums. Pure white lacy strands of afungus offer are found growing on the lower leavesand stems of mature snapdragon and chrysanthemumplants growing in crowded moist conditions. This isthe Botryosporium fungus and is harmless to theplants.

— 6 —

J

Slime molds. A low form of fungi known as theslime molds may grow in the soil of pots or benches.When the slime mold reproduces it grows up from thesoil onto the lower stems and leaves of plants and avariety of gray to black fruiting masses are formed.Figs. 1 & 2. These masses may be only one-eighth ofan inch in diameter or they may be several incheslong. The large black-colored masses are very conspicuous but they do not harm the plant and usuallycan be washed off with a stream of water from thehose.

"Flying fungi." Occasionally growers may findgummy black balls slightly smaller than BB-shot appearing on the leaves and stems of plants and even onthe surface of the pots. These structures apparentlycome from nowhere. Actually they are the fruitingbodies of Spliaerobolus, a form of wood-attacking fungus found in older wood-framed greenhouses or innewer houses where bark or sawdust may be used.The fungus itself is found on moist portions of woodand is rather inconspicuous. When the fungus reproduces, black spore cases are formed which are force-bly ejected and may fly through the air for up to 18feet where they may land on the plants and pots.Hence the apparent mysterious appearance of theblack balls. The spore cases are harmless to plantsbut if their presence is objectionable it has been suggested by sources in Oregon that the wood on whichthe fungi are growing be sprayed with ferbam, a di-nitro material such as Elgetol, or a phenylmercuryfungicide such as Puratized Agricultural Spray. Donot spray the plants with Elgetol or Puratized anddo not use any mercury containing fungicide in a rosehouse.

FIGURE 2. Slime mold on holly cutting.

VIEWS FROM

EXTENSION'S NOTEBOOK

Linc Pearson

Extension Floriculturist

This month there are many items of interest andmany trouble areas, too. Let's look first at the itemsof interest where production is on the go.

GO-GO-GO!

From this traveling man's viewpoint, beddingplant production is on the increase, and they are selling. This includes all the usual bedding plants plusthe begonia group and bedding geraniums.

To be successful in spring sales, you should offera full sun group, a partial sun group and, of course ashade group. Don't forget the faithful begonia; it isa free bloomer and will sell and should be sold forpartial shade and shade conditions.

A Package for Every CustomerEverytime a customer walks into your sales room

he should walk out with a plant. Many areas of Pennsylvania are providing a plant for every person'spocketbook. The 4-inch geranium is a tradition, but3's and even market packs of geraniums will sell tosome classes of buyers. Yes, even a 21/4 will sell andshould be available for those who can't afford thelarger ones. In plainer words, you can cut bench timeand take cuttings in March and even early April andhave a geranium for every customer by MemorialDay. Never overlook the customer who can't afford a$1 item. You can make as much money on a $.79item if you grow it for less days.

Soil Management Has ImprovedEveryone who reads these columns knows that

this extension man is pushing soil management. Lastyear 63 out of every 100 soil samples showed highsalts causing many thousands of dollars of damage tobedding plants and other crops.

This year, 1965, the soil management problemshave lessened according to soil reports. More growers,by my records, are testing before planting and are adjusting their soil mixes to prevent damage.

TROUBLES

If there weren't some cultural troubles in thegreenhouse industry, everybody would be in it. However, it is discouraging to find industrious flower growers repeating their mistakes every year. A list of afew of the often repeated mistakes may serve as a reminder to some growers "that you should not do itagain."

(Continued on page 10)

— 7 —

"FAST CROP" POT MUMS-(Continued from page 2)

West Chicago and plants in our home, have been verysatisfactory. However, the question Frank poses aboutadaptability of "fast crop" plants to the modern homeis one well worth keeping in mind.

Tok Furuta

Tok is a well-known teacher and research man infloriculture—associated with the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Tokhas also been following the comments and experiences of growers with "fast crop" pot Mums — andbase been doing some work of his own. He againbrings a little different slant to the matter. We quotefrom a recent letter from him:

"I believe there is a future for automatic irrigation in greenhouse production of cut flowers and potted plants, and I believe there is a future for morethan daily watering. In other words, I believe that weshould put the irrigation of crops on more of a scientific basis than has been true in the past. As I mentioned, I think that it is necessary to consider all thecomponents as part of a system, however, and that thesystem is properly balanced. If this is done, I don'tbelieve it would be necessarily the frequency of irrigation, the use of constant feeding, the changing insoil mixture or any other single change which wouldresult in the tremendous growth which we like tosee. On the other hand, I feel that the frequent, thatis more than once a day, watering by time clock canbe troublesome and lead to a great deal of difficulty— especially during periods of low light intensity.

"Therefore, the system which I had proposed is toautomatically compensate for this changing light condition. It is well known among research workers thatthe water used by plants is highly correlated to theamount of radiant energy received by the crops. Thisis true of all plants. The chief stumbling block to datehas been a good reliable1 instrument. I have been incontact with several engineering firms but so far aninstrument has not been developed. Perhaps withyour help, there can be developed an instrument thatwill be suitable. I shall be glad to work with youshould you want to pursue this matter.

"You may ask what this has to offer over timeclock irrigation. First, 1 think I have made it clearthat this automatically compensates for changing lightconditions, which a time clock will not — and thegrower willhave to make these compensations. Therefore, a time clock is no better than the present hit andmiss method of irrigation. As far as the scale is concerned, it works very well with plants in containers,that is potted plants, but can not be used for cut flowers. This system, the light system, is usable not onlyfor pot plants but for cut flowers. It can be used indoors, in greenhouses, outdoors in shade houses or caneven be used in the field. It can be used to irrigate

field crops as well as cut flowers or other ornamentalcrops.

Sincerely,Tok"

Comments: Here again is certainly a fair andsquare difference of opinion. One of the basic pointsof the system proposed by John White was a veryloose open mix with complete and perfect drainage sothat the plants' tolerance to feeding and watering wasvery wide. This, then, permitted use of a rigid schedule of watering and feeding, varied only by seasons— from summer to winter. Of course, if good qualityplants can be grown on a completely rigid schedule,in this way, it greatly simplifies the task.

In other words, the issue is simply whether or notday to day fluctuations in temperature must be reflected in the variation and the amount of water andfeed provided the plants.

Tok published his ideas in a very good bulletinentitled "Precision Irrigation With Solar Energy", Circular 146, Agricultural Experiment Station, AuburnUniversity, Auburn, Alabama.

North Carolina Pot Mums

We were very interested to note in a recent issueof the North Carolina Flower Grower's Bulletin, areport of apparently outstanding quality of pot Mumsproduced by a Mr. James Melton, of New River Nursery in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Apparently except for a slow-down in the watering and feedingschedule, this grower again is close to the recommended procedure for "fast crop" growing. We quoteagain, this time from the state bulletin:

"New River Nursery, owned by Mr. James Melton,is but one of the commercial ranges that produces finequality pot Mums. Incidentally, Jimmy caused a certain amount of controversy at the recent Cornell Chrysanthemum School with his description of the size six-inch mum plant that he grows in Jacksonville, N. C.(The tales were amplified by other members of theparty).

"During the spring, summer, and early fall months,six-inch pot Mums are grown outdoors in frames at

For TheDiscerningGroioer

Complete Catalogs on Request

IMPORTERS - DISTRIBUTORS - JOBBERS

SEEDS - FLORIST SUPPLIES

RAYMOND A. FLECK, INC.1139 Street Road Southampton, Pa. 18966

Phone: ELmwood 7-9200 - Area Code 215