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Governor David Lawrence is greeted at the PFG - PRF Farm Show exhibit byHenry Johnson (left), Past-President of Pennsylvania Retail Florists, and HermanHellberg (right), President of Pennsylvania Flower Growers.

A FLOWER GROWERS

BULLETIN 133 FEBRUARY, 1962

PENNSYLVANIA FLOWER GROWERS

BULLETIN

P.O. Box 652

CONTENTS

Page

R. E. LARSON 1

LILY BUD BLASTING 2

HYDRANGEAS 4

BEDDING PLANTS 5

RESEARCH FUND 6-7

NEWS FROM S.A.F 9

PLANT DISEASES 11

PRESIDENT'S CORNER 11

PLAN AND PLANT FILMS 13

INSECTICIDES 14

PENNSYLVANIA FLOWER GROWERS

Bulletin 133 February, 1962

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, Pa.

Second Class Postage Paid at State College, Pa.

Harrisburg, Pa.

TO DR. R. E. LARSON

From the Officers, Directors, and Members of

the Pennsylvania Flower Growers, congratulations

and best wishes for success on your appointment

as Agricultural Extension Director. Our thanks for

your fine cooperation with the flower growing in

dustry.

TO THE CONTRIBUTORS

OF THE 1961 DILLON MEMORIAL

RESEARCH FUND

From the Floriculture staff at Penn State, our

sincere thanks for your support of the research pro

gram at Penn State. May we continue to enjoy your

assistance for our work through your contributions

to the 1962 Research Fund.

J

J

LARSON APPOINTED EXTENSION DIRECTOR

DR. RUSSELL E. LARSON

Dr. Russell E. Larson, head of the Departmentof Horticulture since 1952, and Chairman of the Division of Plant Sciences and Industry since March 1961,has been named Director of Agricultural and HomeEconomics Extension and Associate Dean of the Col

lege of Agriculture of The Pennsylvania State University effective January I, 1962.

During the ten years that Russ was head of horticulture, the department lias grown and has attractedincreasingly wider recognition from industry and theacademic world. His efforts have been directed toward

more effective training of undergraduate and graduatestudents so that they may be better prepared to servethe horticultural industries or to contribute to research

which is necessary to support the industry. Likewisehe has succeeded in creating an atmosphere conduciveto encouraging research by his staff. A few of hismany accomplishments include the establishment ofan accredited landscape architecture curriculum andthe addition of a full time staff member each in orna

mental horticulture, floriculture, landscape architecture and vegetable physiology. The horticulture processing laboratory was equipped and staffed during his

period. A 160 acre horticulture research farm wasestablished to serve part of the research needs ofolericulture, plant breeding, plant nutrition and ornamental horticulture. New buildings scheduled forcompletion during the next few weeks will providelaboratory, workroom and greenhouse facilities on theresearch farm and on the campus near the existingresearch greenhouses.

Russ helped to organize and has worked closelywith the horticultural council. The council is madeup of representatives of the horticultural organizationsin the state and has been most helpful in coordinatingthe teaching and research in horticulture.

He has been a member of the Penn State facultysince 1944 when he was appointed assistant professorof plant breeding. Prior to that time he had been atthe University of Rhode Island. His undergraduateand graduate work was done at the University ofMinnesota and last June his alma mater honored himwith the Outstanding Achievement Award, one ofthree given at that time.

His research has been done in the area of genetics,breeding and physiology of vegetable crops. He developed the Keystone tomato and Pennsweet musk-inellon and received an All-American Selections awardfor the latter. He has authored numerous publicationson his research and received the Leonard II. VaughanMemorial Research Award in 1949 for his research onsterility in tomatoes.

Russ has also found time to serve on many important college and university committees as well asbeing very active in the American Society for Horticultural Science. From July through December of1960, he served, while on leave from the university, asscientific aide to the Mexican Agricultural programof the Rockefeller Foundation. Also while in Mexicohe did plant exploration and brought back seeds ofseveral vegetable and ornamental species indigenousto that country. These collected accessions will beused in the departmental breeding programs.

The members of the Department of Horticulturemost reluctantly relinquish Russ to the Extensionservice but have known for some time that his valuable talents qualified him for greater responsibility inthe administration of the University. We congratulateRuss on receiving this appointment and complementthe extension service for selecting their new directorso wisely and are especially glad that Pennsylvaniawill continue to enjoy the benefits of his valuabletalents.

D. E. Walker

Dr. Darrell E. Walker, associate professor of Floriculture andOrnamental Plant Breeding, has been appointed acting head ofthe Department of Horticulture by Dean Jackson. The appointment was effective immediately. A committee is now reviewingtlie qualifications of candidates for the department head.

LILY BUD BLASTING John W. Mastalehz

Penn Slate University

Bud blasting in Croft, Erabu, and Creole lilieswas increased by reducing the light intensity duringforcing or by restricting the movement of food materials from the leaves to the developing buds. Variouscombinations or changes in soil and air temperaturesdid not consistantly affect the number of blasted buds.A slight increase in bud blasting did occur at a constant soil temperature of 4()°F.

SYMPTOMS

When symptoms of bud blasting first occur, thebases of immature buds (approximately '^ inch inlength) become yellow then dark brown in color:gradually the entire bud becomes brown in color andpapery in texture. The blasted buds cease to grow,but remain attached to the plants while unaffectedadjacent buds continue to develop normally.

METHODS

To study the effects of light intensity, soil and airtemperatures on bud blasting, lily plants were subjected to treatments when the buds were approximately '4 to l/i inch ,n length. Precooled bulbs of Croft,Creole, or Erabu lilies (% size) were potted into a3:1:1 soil, peat, and sand mixture to which sufficientground limestone was added to maintain a pH of6.5-7.0. Plants were fertilized every ten days with 2lbs. of a 25-0-25 per 100 gallons.

Except during the limited period when plantswere subjected to specific soil and air temperatures toinduce bud blasting, the lilies were forced at a minimum day-night temperature of 60°F. Prevailing lightintensities and photoperiods were maintained throughout forcing except during the treatment periods whenthe light intensity was reduced with cheese or blackcloth, or when plants were placed in refrigerators tolower air temperatures during the night. Changes in

air or soil temperatures were made at 4:30 p.m. and at8:00 a.m. each day of the treatment period.

Plants used for the soil temperature treatmentswere potted into metal cans coated with horticulturalasphalt. A single drainage hole in the bottom wasplugged with a rubber stopper only when the canswere plunged into water baths maintained at temperatures lower or higher than the 60°F air temperature.Plants for other treatments were grown in standard6-inch clay pots.

SOIL AND AIR TEMPERATURES

Of the many combinations of soil and air temperatures to which lily plants were subjected, only soiltemperatures of 40°F had any appreciable effect onbud blasting (Table 1). It is interesting to note thatsoil temperatures maintained constantly (day andnight for 10 days) at 40°F or during the day only increased bud blasting; but low soil temperatures atnight followed by 80°F soil temperatures during theday did not result in bud blasting.

It appears that the combination of low soil andhigh air temperatures during the daylight hours wasresponsible for a higher percentage of blasted buds.Cooling the soil and plants during the night, then increasing the air temperatures during the day did notaffect bud blasting although the plants warmed upmore rapidly than the soil. Changes in soil temperatures lagged behind air temperatures for approximatelyone to two hours. Post made the observation that a

high light intensity at the tops of the plants when thesoil was cold resulted in 100 per cent blasting of smallbuds.

Cold soils usually restrict the uptake of water:suggesting that a water deficit at the buds may resultin bud blasting. However, in these experiments novisible evidence of wilting was observed except duringthe first day when plants were plunged into the 40°Fconstant soil temperature tanks. The effects of lowsoil temperatures on bud blasting probably are indirectly related to the supply of food materials available to the buds as discussed in the following section.

REDUCING LIGHT INTENSITY

When lily plants were held in total darkness for10 days at 80°F, the percentage of bud blasting rangedfrom 18.7 to 83.3 percent (Table 2). No buds blastedat S0°F with a normal light intensity. Subjecting theplants to total darkness at 40°F did not result in budblasting either.

At the high temperatures in the dark, food materials necessary for bud growth and developmentwere rapidly depleated; but at 40°F, the existing sup-

Table 1. Effect of air and soil temperature treatments on bud blasting of Croft, Erabu, and Creole lilies.

Date of PlantingCROFT12/2/50

CROFT4/25/51

ERABU12/2/50

CREOLE12/2/50

Treatment Period 3/13-3/23/51 6/8-6/18/51 2/15-3/2/51 3/24 - 4/6/51

Treatment

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4. 40"F air night60 °F air day

5. 40 "F air night80 "F air day

6. 40"F soil constant

7. 80°F soil constant

8. 40 °F soil night80 "F soil day

9. 80"F soil night40 "F soil clay

10. 40"F air night40" F soil day

32

35

31

32

33

34

35

33

35

32

0

0

1

0

1

4

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9

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0

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11.8

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22

23

19

21

22

24

23

21

27

18

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9

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24

25

24

24

28

23

0

0

0

0

0

11

0

0

0

0

0

0

47.8

0

Table 2. Effect of light reduction and air temperatures on bud blasting of Croft and Creole lilies.

Date of PlantingCROFT4/26/51

CROFT4/26/51

CREOLE12/2/50

Treatment Period 6/21-7/1/51 7/2-7/12/51 4/13 - 4/23/51

TreatmentTotal

No. BudsNo.

BlastedPercentBlasted

TotalNo. Buds

No.Blasted

PercentBlasted

TotalNo. Burs

No.Blasted

PercentBlasted

1. Check-60" FFull Light Intensity

2. Total Darkness 10 daysat 40"F

3. Full Light 10 claysat 40"F

4. Total Darkness 10 claysat 80"F

5. Full Light 10 claysat 80"F

26

24

25

30

28

0

0

0

25

0

0

0

0

83.3

0

17

16

16

19

17

0

0

0

7

0

0

0

0

36.8

0

15

13

17

16

14

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

18.7

0

Table 3. Effect of varying the period of light reduction on bud blasting of Croft lilies. Planted 12/28/55; treatments started3/6/56.

Light IntensityPreceeding Treatment Period

Days in CompleteDarkness at 60°F Total No. Buds No. Blasted Percent Blasted

Normal Light 0 38 0 0

2 43 5 11.6

4 36 20 55.6

8 39 39 100.0

Light reduced 50% during the4 weeks preceeding treatment

0

2

47

40

6

17

12.8

42.5

4 48 29 60.4

8 40 34 85.0

(Continued on page 9)

— 3 —

HYDRANGEAS - VARIETIESD. Stewart Padgett

Joseph S. Merritt, Inc., Dundalk, Maryland

1961 Pentisylvania Greenhouse Florists Conference

This article on Propagation, Summer Growing is part of thecomplete talk presented by Stewart Padgett.

VARIETIES

The selection of the best and most popular varieties in your area is your first consideration in growingand marketing the Hydrangea. Without doubt STRAFFORD is the most popular one in most areas and itrepresents about 40% of our total sales at Merritts.STRAFFORD has strong foliage, with a desirable pinkcolor (usually very difficult to blue) and the flowerheads are compact. It is not a free grower, but doeshave strong stems, medium sized leaves and is generally tougher than most other varieties. A few years agoMERVEILLE was our second most popular variety,but we have noted a strong tendency among growersto find a substitute for it, primarily due to the factthat it is susceptible to mildew and bud rot. Today itaccounts for only about 15% of Merritts sales, whereasfive years ago it appeared that it might surpass allother varieties in sales. It can be grown for either pinkor blue, is compact, medium sized, with strong stemsand glossy leaves, and in most cases is easier to growthan STRAFFORD. We find it to be a more pleasingdark pink than STRAFFORD, but its popularity seemsto be waning. Some years ago Joseph Merritt introduced ROSE SUPREME, which was slow in catchingon and, in fact, as late as five years ago we had tosell it ,whereas today it practically sells itself, and accounts for about 28% of our sales. ROSE SUPREMEis a strong grower, large leaves, color somewhat lighterthan STRAFFORD, and is consistently taller thaneither of the varieties mentioned. It is particularly wellliked for sale as a single flowered plant that makes avery large, showy flower head. We have seen singleflower heads 19" in diameter. Many growers find theycan place a premium price on ROSE SUPREME.HAMBURG is an old German variety most growersare familiar with, but is losing its popularity, except asan early plant, or for bluing. It is usually very easy togrow, and produces a rather nice flower head with serrated petals of a carmine shade. SISTER THERESEis becoming very popular in many areas as a white,although REGULA is not out of the picture, by anymeans. Characteristically, all whites seem to have nicegrowth habits, although tending to be tall, and thesetwo favorites will keep a pure white color for quite along period of time, if they are grown and fertilized

PROPAGATIONproperly, the same as for pinks. TODI is a beautifulHydrangea that deserves more attention than it getsfrom most growers. It is a high quality, medium sizedplant with large, dark pink flowers, and is relativelyeasy to grow. The color is brilliant, foliage dark andglossy. RED CAP is a new one, with an extremelydeep pink that is about as close to a red as any I haveseen. In the southern areas it appears to be a veryearly forcer — in fact some growers had that varietyavailable for sale on or about March 10th this pastseason. It is yet in limited supply, but one that isworth considering in your future growing plans. MERRITTS SUPREME is another promising variety, withsome of the better qualities of ROSE SUPREME, butwith a darker pink coloring. There are, of course,many other varieties on the market today, but thosementioned are among the most popular, or are showing some signs of becoming popular in the forseeablefuture as growers and customers become more experienced with them. In addition to the fifteen, or so,varieties we are currently listing for sale we are continually experimenting with 50 or more varieties wehave imported from German, Dutch and Belgianbreeders to determine which, if any, would be marketable in the United States. It is interesting, in this connection, to note that many varieties that do well andare popular in Europe are not necessarily good forgrowing in this country, and vice versa. Some yearsago it seemed that most people wanted a large numberof flower heads on short, stocky plants, whereas todaymany buyers lean towards larger plants with one, twoor three nice colorful flower heads.

CUTTINGS

After you have decided which varieties you shouldgrow — the next most important thing to do is to buyyour cuttings from a supplier who specializes in thisservice, or, if you prefer to grow your own — then besure you have a sufficient quantity of quality stockplants. This is elementary, just as in the case of ayoung man about to embark into matrimony — hecarefully selects the finest young lady to become hiswife and to bear and raise his children. The desirableprocedure is to maintain, and continually rogue outand replace a special block of plants to be used exclusively for making strong cuttings, although manygrowers successfully start new plants by prunning excessive shoots or blind wood from plants being forced.

(Continued on page 10)

— 4 —

Bud Blasting—(Continued from page 3)

ply was sufficient to maintain viable buds. Restrictingthe supply of food materials available to the buds bystopping photosynthesis resulted in bud blasting onlywhen temperatures and respiration were high.

As indicated in Table 3, the percentage of blastedbuds was related to the number of days lilies wereheld in complete darkness. This relationship betweentime in the dark and the percent of bud blasting wassimilar for plants grown at a normal light intensity orat one-half of the prevailing light intensity prior tothe treatment period. The greater the period duringwhich food manufacturing was halted and utilizationcontinued, the larger the increase in number of blastedbuds.

In an experiment not reported here, restrictingthe movement of food materials from the leaves to thebuds by cooling the stem immediately below the budsalso resulted in a higher percentage of blasted buds.No buds blasted when the stem at the base of the

plant was cooled. In this latter treatment, the movement of food materials to the buds was not restricted

as the leaves were above the cooled region of the stem.On the basis of these experiments, any treatment

that reduces the supply of food materials needed bythe developing buds, probably will result in bud blasting. Low soil temperatures during the daylight hoursalso may reduce the rate of photosynthesis by causingwilting of the leaves. While visible signs of wiltingwere not observed in these experiments, it is possiblethat leaf cells were not fully turgid, thus affecting theprocess of photosynthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

When forcing lilies, growers should avoid dark,shaded locations in the greenhouse. Use only thebrightest benches available for lily production. Anyreduction in light intensity may result in bud blasting.

If high temperatures are needed to speed upflower development, then high light intensities areparticularly critical. Shading lilies to reduce water losswhen high temperatures are used may result in blastedbuds.

GERANIUM MANUAL

Copies of the Geranium Manual prepared forthe Penn State Geranium Clinics are available

at a cost of $2.00 each. Send orders to John W.Mastalerz, 207 Tyson Building, The PennsylvaniaState University, University Park, Penna.

Make checks payable to the

PENNSYLVANIA FLOWER GROWERS

— 9

News from S. A. F.GIRL SCOUTS 50th ANNIVERSARY

Florists have an excellent tie-in possibility withthe 50th Anniversary celebration of the Girl Scouts ofthe U.S.A., announces John Shanklin, Chairman, Product Promotion Committee, Society of American Florists. The Scouts are using a floral theme — "GoldBlossoms." Plans call for the Scouts, some three anda half million strong, to plant and care for floweringplants with golden blooms.

Golden blossoms, including a special yellow flori-bunda named the "Girl Scout Rose" and a dwarf marigold called "Brownie Scout," will appear in parks; onhospital, library, church and synagogue grounds;along highways; in shopping malls; and in homegardens. Scouts who live in congested areas and girlswith handicaps will grow yellow blossoms in windowboxes and indoor planters. Many of the youngsterswill present these to orphanages, old age homes andhospitals.

The Society of American Florists salutes the GirlScouts as they celebrate fifty years of communityservice and personal development. Florists are urgedto contact their local Girl Scout leaders so that theycan tie in effectively with the event.

SUNDAY BLUE LAWSThe Society of American Florists hopes to act as

a clearinghouse on Sunday Blue Laws so that it canprovide florists and their associations with informationthat might be helpful in areas where the enforcementof such laws is working a hardship on florists, statesSAF Executive Dircetor John H. Walker. "While theenforcement of Blue Laws is, by nature, a state matter," points out Mr. Walker, "the Society would liketo be of assistance wherever possible.

Sunday Blue Laws are being revived in manylocalities and in many states. Specifically, Massachu-

(Continued on page 12)

'PETERS FERTILIZERS"

A complete line of soluble and long-life fertilizer formulas specially designed for the commercial grower andmanufactured by ROBERT B. PETERS CO., INC., thetrade's leading commercial soil test laboratory. Drop a

card for complete price list and your free brochure,

"The Peters System Of Soil Fertility Control."

ROBERT B. PETERS CO., INC.

2833 Pennsylvania Street Allentown, Penna.

Hydrangeas-

(Continued from page 4)Cuttings can be taken in January and February forlarge plants to be forced the following year, while latercuttings can be successfully taken as late as June andJuly to make smaller plants, particularly single flowers,and many growers make these cuttings as a by-productof pinching the already established plants. The earlycuttings can be either terminal (tip) or leaf bud cuttings, as desired, however the leaf bud cuttings takenafter about May 1 will not "break" well in the hotweather usually encountered during the summermonths. The cuttings are best started in sterilized,well drained sand, preferably under mist to assureadequate moisture and humidity. If mist is not available, careful watering must be done, and fresh cuttings should be partially shaded under cheesecloth toprevent wilting and burning. Bottom heat of 65°F.with air temperatures between 55°F. and 60°F. arerecommended. When the cuttings have been rooted,generally in 3 to 4 weeks, they can then be potteddirectly into 5" or 6" fiinishing pots, or to 3" pots, ifit is desirable or necessary to conserve greenhousespace. Be sure to allow plenty of room at the top ofeach pot to provide for holding sufficient water without too rapid run-off. Many growers successfully rootcuttings under mist in pots, using well drained soiland/or peat.

SUMMER GROWING

The potting soil should be sterilized and as muchas 50% peat can be added to either heavy or sandysoils, if desired. Course sand should be added to clayor heavy soils to help provide proper drainage. Another means of providing this all-important drainageis to place a small quantity of gravel or cinders, or aninverted piece of broken clay pot or a commerciallyavailable "aerator" at the bottom of the pot. The importance of proper drainage can not be over emphasized, as Hydrangeas, like humans, want plenty ofwater, along with adequate drainage. Then, too, thepots should be placed on a well drained surface. If asandy soil is available, it is satisfactory to plunge thepot to reduce the amount of watering required and toreduce the liklihood of the pots being knocked over bywinds, dragged hoses, etc. Space the pots to allow forplenty of air and light and to prevent undue stretching.

The Hydrangea is best grown in slightly acidsoil, but the pH should be at least partially governedby the color of the finished flower head. For plantsto be blued the pH should range between 5.0 and 5.5,while for pinks and whites the pH should range from6.0 to 6.5. Your supplier of dormant Hydrangeas mostlikely will grow his plants during the summer in thehigher range, as most customers want pink flowers, butwe, and I assume other specialists, will reduce the pHto the lower range if you let him know what quanti

ties, sizes and varieties you desire to blue. The matterof selecting easily-blued varieties should be carefullyconsidered from the very beginning. KUHNERT isperhaps the best liked to produce a pale or "babyblue," while MERVEILLE and RED STAR or MERRITTS BLUE can be selected to produce the deeperblue or lavender colors — and which in some caseswill result in " easter egg" colors, which may or maynot be desirable in your locality.

Fertilization can be started as soon as roots showat the edge of the small pots, usually about 2 weeksfrom potting. Since Hydrangeas are high Nitrogenfeeders using 25-10-10 at the rate of V/> pounds per100 gallons every ten days would be about the minimum feeding schedule recommended. Experienceshows that the best results can be obtained by morefrequent feeding in smaller doses, just as you and Iprefer three meals a day, rather than one large one.Many growers are now using the injection method offeeding to apply minimum dosage with each watering.The proper proportion can be easily ascertained by reducing the previously mentioned quantities downward, depending on the frequency you prefer. In doing "area" fertilization the rate should be 10 poundsper 1,000 feet of ground coverage every three weeks,or proportionately less for a more frequent feedingprogram. Such a feeding program should be maintained until late September, or even up to the timethe plants are placed in storage, excepting that duringextremely hot spells that may be encountered duringJuly and August the program should be reduced, particularly on such slow growing varieties as STRAFFORD.

All plants that are being grown to produce two ormore flowers should be pinched between about June15 and July 20. The vigorous varieties such as HAMBURG should not only be propagated late, but shouldbe pinched at the latter date as well, while varietiessimilar to STRAFFORD should have the earlier pinch,and mid-season varieties such as MERVEILLE canbe pinched at the mid-point. Pinching should bedone only in the soft wood, and at least two pairs ofleaves should be left on the plant, to avoid possibleinjury to the plant, with resultant blindness. It maybe desirable to later prune unwanted shoots that develop following pinching, and this may be done aslate as August and September, being certain to leaveextra shoots on the plants to compensate for those thatmay be lost in handling, storage or shipment.

PLANT BREEDERS

Remember New Varieties Display at

Summer Greenhouse Florists Conference

— 10 —