Page Two

NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE

CONTEST

(Continued from page 1)

The following growers in North Carolina donated the flowers used in the

Judging Contest.

1. Mr. James Weaver, J. J. Fallon Co.,

Inc., Raleigh, N. C.

2. Patterson's Flowers, Shelby, N. C.

3. John Van Hanford, J. Van Han-

ford's, Salisbury, N. C.

4. Oscar Maier, Maier's Greenhouses,

Asheville, N. C.

5. Asheville Floral Co., Asheville, N.

C.

6. Hugh Smith. Smith's Flowers.Cornelius, N. C.

7. Hugh Oosterwyk, Cape Fear BulbCo.. Castle Hayne, N. C.

8. J. P. Carroll, Carroll's Green

houses, Louisburg Highway, Raleigh, N.

C.

9. John McCormick, Carolina Whole

sale Florists, Sanford, N. C.

10. Swart Brothers, N. C. Bulb Co.,Box 14, Wilmington, N. C.

11. J. B. Webster, Sedgefield Green

houses, Greensboro, N. C.

12. James Melton, New River Nur

series, Hubert, N. C.

13. Imlay's Greenhouses, GuilfordCollege, N. C.

TEDION, A NEW CHEMICALFOR SPIDER MITE CONTROL

By A. Earl Pritchard

(From Flower Notes Univ. Calif. Agric.

Ext. Service)

Since World War II numerous acari-

cides have been developed for mite con

trol, but only a few of these have been

suitable for use on roses because these

plants are so susceptible to chemicalinjury. Moreover, the mites have developed resistance to all of these materials,at least under certain greenhouse conditions where the same populations receiverepeated treatment. In some rose rangesthe spider mites have become resistantto azobenzene fumigation, malathion,sulfotepp ("Dithio") aerosols andsmokes, aramite, chorobenzilate, andKarathane.

A new chemical, Tedion, is giving excellent control of these resistant mites,at least before very heavy and non-feeding populations develop. Although it wasdeveloped in Holland, it was registeredlast June by Niagara Chemical Companyfor use on roses, carnations, and gardenias in California, and last fall Federalregistration was approved.

BULLETIN

Tedion is an unusual acricide inas

much as it does not. kill the adults; however, females on treated plants lay eggsthat do not hatch. The very young mitesand eggs are also killed. Evidence ofthe control is thus not immediately apparent.

The 2 5 per cent wettable powder ofTedion is used at a rate of one pound

per 100 gallons of water, and onepound of Z-l sticker is added to thespray mixture. A second applicationshould be made in about ten days to insure eradication. Combinations of Tedion

with other materials such as aramite is

under consideration.

Because Tedion is related to another

acaricide that certain spider mites havebecome resistant to, it is suggested thatit be used only when other materialsfail.

In our experience Tedion has causedno damage to roses and other flowering

crops, and it has a very low order oftoxicity to warm-blooded animals.

Editor's Note—This article is presentedfor your information. It does not constitute a recommendation by the Dept.of Hort. or Agric. Extension Service atN. C State College.

50° FOR SNAPDRAGONS?

Robert 0. Miller*

Department of Horticulture

Ohio University

Temperature manipulation experiments with snapdragons point out thatthe best temperature for growing thtcrop may not be near 50°F for thewhole life of the plant. Raising thenight, temperature to 60°F after brightdays or growing small plants in 2 Vi inchposts at temperatures considerably higher than 50°F for as long as one monthprevious to benching have resulted inearlier flowering with little decrease insize.

Snapdragons have long been growncool with night temperatures near 50°F.Experience has shown that especiallystrong stems, large, well-proportioned(lower spikes and good color developunder this system. Snapdragons grownin this way, however, are relativelyslow and sometimes an unprofitablecrop. Temperature manipulation experiments were started a year ago to investigate the temperature responses of snapdragons, to search for ways to reducethe time a crop occupies the bench, andto improve the size and quality of theplants with existing schedules.

May, 1958

Market experience has indicated thatalthough most markets willingly accept _^f*(lowers of large size they do not paypremium prices for them. Research hasshown that the same price was paid forlarge snapdragons of "special" grade aswas paid for smaller ones of "fancy"grade. In many cases snapdragon growers are producing larger stems thannecessary. In most cases, more money

per square foot of greenhouse spacecould be made by producing the sizegiving the maximum return per squarefoot rather than striving to produce thelargest size possible. In spite of markettrends, however, these experiments weredirected towards producing as high agrade as possible.

One series of experiments was aimedat trying to determine if the optimumnight temperature for growth a n dflowering depends on light intensity andif larger size or quicker maturity mightresult from adjusting the night temperature in relation to the amount of light.

For years growers have adjusted daytemperatures in relation to the amountof light. Usually on bright days the

day temperatures are higher than oncloudy or overcast days. The idea, ofcourse, has been to allow the plant toutilize available sunlight to the bestadvantage. When high light intensityprevails, higher temperatures allowphotosynthesis, greater respiration and.as a result, more growth. When lightconditions are poor, photosynthesis isdecreased and lower temperatures reduce respiration, thereby conserving theavailable carbohyrates.

Respiration, which results in a depletion of stored carbohydrates, takes placeat night as well as during the day, andis known to depend on temperature(being higher at higher temperatures).It was believed that relatively high night,temperatures after dark weather probably would deplete the carbohydrate reserve of the plant. On the other hand,night temperatures higher than 50°Fafter exceptionally bright days, whenthe food supply is high, could conceivably result in a high respiration ratewith a greater release of energy forgrowth. A series of treatments were set

up during the winter of 1956-57 in whichsnapdragon plants were shifted to various temperatures depending on the a-mount of light available during the day.With the aid of a recording light meterarbitrary limits were set up as to theamount of light on a "bright", "average"or "dark" day and the plants weremoved accordingly. All plants weregrown at 60°F during the day. Onegroup of plants was grown at 50°F everynight. A second group was shifted to(10°F after "bright' days but remained

Page Two

NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE

CONTEST

(Continued from page 1)

The following growers in North Carolina donated the flowers used in the

Judging Contest.

1. Mr. James Weaver, J. J. Fallon Co.,

Inc., Raleigh, N. C.

2. Patterson's Flowers, Shelby, N. C.

3. John Van Hanford, J. Van Han-

ford's, Salisbury, N. C.

4. Oscar Maier, Maier's Greenhouses,

Asheville, N. C.

5. Asheville Floral Co., Asheville, N.

C.

6. Hugh Smith. Smith's Flowers.Cornelius, N. C.

7. Hugh Oosterwyk, Cape Fear BulbCo.. Castle Hayne, N. C.

8. J. P. Carroll, Carroll's Green

houses, Louisburg Highway, Raleigh, N.

C.

9. John McCormick, Carolina Whole

sale Florists, Sanford, N. C.

10. Swart Brothers, N. C. Bulb Co.,Box 14, Wilmington, N. C.

11. J. B. Webster, Sedgefield Green

houses, Greensboro, N. C.

12. James Melton, New River Nur

series, Hubert, N. C.

13. Imlay's Greenhouses, GuilfordCollege, N. C.

TEDION, A NEW CHEMICALFOR SPIDER MITE CONTROL

By A. Earl Pritchard

(From Flower Notes Univ. Calif. Agric.

Ext. Service)

Since World War II numerous acari-

cides have been developed for mite con

trol, but only a few of these have been

suitable for use on roses because these

plants are so susceptible to chemicalinjury. Moreover, the mites have developed resistance to all of these materials,at least under certain greenhouse conditions where the same populations receiverepeated treatment. In some rose rangesthe spider mites have become resistantto azobenzene fumigation, malathion,sulfotepp ("Dithio") aerosols andsmokes, aramite, chorobenzilate, andKarathane.

A new chemical, Tedion, is giving excellent control of these resistant mites,at least before very heavy and non-feeding populations develop. Although it wasdeveloped in Holland, it was registeredlast June by Niagara Chemical Companyfor use on roses, carnations, and gardenias in California, and last fall Federalregistration was approved.

BULLETIN

Tedion is an unusual acricide inas

much as it does not. kill the adults; however, females on treated plants lay eggsthat do not hatch. The very young mitesand eggs are also killed. Evidence ofthe control is thus not immediately apparent.

The 2 5 per cent wettable powder ofTedion is used at a rate of one pound

per 100 gallons of water, and onepound of Z-l sticker is added to thespray mixture. A second applicationshould be made in about ten days to insure eradication. Combinations of Tedion

with other materials such as aramite is

under consideration.

Because Tedion is related to another

acaricide that certain spider mites havebecome resistant to, it is suggested thatit be used only when other materialsfail.

In our experience Tedion has causedno damage to roses and other flowering

crops, and it has a very low order oftoxicity to warm-blooded animals.

Editor's Note—This article is presentedfor your information. It does not constitute a recommendation by the Dept.of Hort. or Agric. Extension Service atN. C State College.

50° FOR SNAPDRAGONS?

Robert 0. Miller*

Department of Horticulture

Ohio University

Temperature manipulation experiments with snapdragons point out thatthe best temperature for growing thtcrop may not be near 50°F for thewhole life of the plant. Raising thenight, temperature to 60°F after brightdays or growing small plants in 2 Vi inchposts at temperatures considerably higher than 50°F for as long as one monthprevious to benching have resulted inearlier flowering with little decrease insize.

Snapdragons have long been growncool with night temperatures near 50°F.Experience has shown that especiallystrong stems, large, well-proportioned(lower spikes and good color developunder this system. Snapdragons grownin this way, however, are relativelyslow and sometimes an unprofitablecrop. Temperature manipulation experiments were started a year ago to investigate the temperature responses of snapdragons, to search for ways to reducethe time a crop occupies the bench, andto improve the size and quality of theplants with existing schedules.

May, 1958

Market experience has indicated thatalthough most markets willingly accept _^f*(lowers of large size they do not paypremium prices for them. Research hasshown that the same price was paid forlarge snapdragons of "special" grade aswas paid for smaller ones of "fancy"grade. In many cases snapdragon growers are producing larger stems thannecessary. In most cases, more money

per square foot of greenhouse spacecould be made by producing the sizegiving the maximum return per squarefoot rather than striving to produce thelargest size possible. In spite of markettrends, however, these experiments weredirected towards producing as high agrade as possible.

One series of experiments was aimedat trying to determine if the optimumnight temperature for growth a n dflowering depends on light intensity andif larger size or quicker maturity mightresult from adjusting the night temperature in relation to the amount of light.

For years growers have adjusted daytemperatures in relation to the amountof light. Usually on bright days the

day temperatures are higher than oncloudy or overcast days. The idea, ofcourse, has been to allow the plant toutilize available sunlight to the bestadvantage. When high light intensityprevails, higher temperatures allowphotosynthesis, greater respiration and.as a result, more growth. When lightconditions are poor, photosynthesis isdecreased and lower temperatures reduce respiration, thereby conserving theavailable carbohyrates.

Respiration, which results in a depletion of stored carbohydrates, takes placeat night as well as during the day, andis known to depend on temperature(being higher at higher temperatures).It was believed that relatively high night,temperatures after dark weather probably would deplete the carbohydrate reserve of the plant. On the other hand,night temperatures higher than 50°Fafter exceptionally bright days, whenthe food supply is high, could conceivably result in a high respiration ratewith a greater release of energy forgrowth. A series of treatments were set

up during the winter of 1956-57 in whichsnapdragon plants were shifted to various temperatures depending on the a-mount of light available during the day.With the aid of a recording light meterarbitrary limits were set up as to theamount of light on a "bright", "average"or "dark" day and the plants weremoved accordingly. All plants weregrown at 60°F during the day. Onegroup of plants was grown at 50°F everynight. A second group was shifted to(10°F after "bright' days but remained

May, 1958

at 50°F after dark or average days. Thethird group was shifted to 40°F after"dark" days but remained at 60°F after"bright" or "average" days. A finalgroup received 60°F after "bright' days, .50° after "average" days and 4 0°F after"dark" days.

At the time the first group of plantsflowered it was evident that temperatureshifting had influenced growth. Thoseplants that received some 60°F nightsflowered two weeks earlier than thosenot receiving any 60°F nights. Theplants which had been occasionallyplaced at 60°F were somewhat smallerthan plants grown at 50°F or below, buteven at a 3 x G inch spacing they werelarge enough to be classed as "special"grade (the highest S. A. F. grade).

Little or no increase in size or qualityresulted from giving 4 0°F night temperatures after cloudy days compared togrowing continuously at 50°F regardlessof light intensity.

Increasing night temperatures afterbright days cause earlier flowering andresulted in slightly smaller salable stems.The experiment suggested, however, thatthe practice of reducing night temperatures after cloudy days was not worthwhile. It has been observed by growers

that reducing night temperatures during cloudy weather results in larger sizeand higher quality. It is possible, however, that a 40°F night temperatureafter dark days and throughout the entire growing season prevented maximumgrowth while the lower night temperature used late in the growth of the crop,as is done commercially, might have improved size and quality.

On the basis of the above experimentand other tests carried out undergrowth chamber conditions, it appearedthat low temperature might be effectivein increasing size and quality if theplants were large but that it would inhibit the growth of small plants. Itfurther appeared that if higher temperatures were used to promote vegetativegrowth while the plants were small andthen the crop finished at the normalnight temperature of 50°F or lower, adecrease in time to flower might resultwithout appreciably reducing size orquality.

An experiment to test this was carriedout in the spring of 19 57. Small snapdragon plants in 2 Vi inch pots weresubjected to temperatures ranging from50°F to 80°F for two and four weeksprevious to benching at 50°F. The result,indicated that flowering could be hastened by as much as six days (for plantsflowering in June) without a significantreduction in grade or 11 days with somereduction in grade.

BULLETIN

The results obtained from these experiments indicated that the optimumtemperature for the most rapid vegetative growth of young plants may bedifferent from those commonly used incommercial production. Further experiments will be necessary before practicalrecommendations can be made, andadditional varieties must be tested as

well as planting at other times of theyears in order to fully substantiate theresults.

No doubt light intensity may influencethe response to temperature but it maybe practical to grow young snapdragonsat relatively warm temperatures andreduce the temperature as the plantgrows larger. Growers with smallplantings could do this by growing theyoung plants, previous to benching, withchrysanthemums or other warm-housecrops. Further experiments will determine the practicability of the program.

♦Present address: Department of Horticulture, Ohio Agriculture ExperimentStation, Wooster, Ohio.

Food For Thought—Planning and Scheduling Work

Of all the functions in industry, planning and scheduling of maintenancemanagement is the most neglected. Withlimited controls and procedures, maintenance efVectheness varies from 20 to4 0 per cent. Good procedures and controls up it to 4 0 to 60 per cent. By addingsound job methods it goes up to 70 to 80per cent of possible effectiveness.

Planned maintenance, according toFactory magazine, is "discharging theplant engineering and maintenancefunction so that only necessary work willbe done most efficiently."

Aims of Planning, Scheduling

PLANNING—there ought to be aneasier and better way, and we're goingto find it.

SCHEDULING—when to carry out thework outlined by the planning function.

The aim of planning is to set up equipment and jobs in order to cut time.

The aim of scheduling is to reducedelays between jobs.

Planning calls for a lot of know-howand ingenuity. Scheduling is a mechanical aftermath of planning. You can dogood planning without scheduling, butnot good scheduling without planning.

What do you achieve by sound planning and scheduling?

Page Three

(1) Supply job priorities to all crews,stacking the work up in advance.

( 2 ) Coordinate their activities duringthe job process.

(3) Follow up on completion dates,and meet time schedules.

(4) Pre-plan jobs and preparatorywork, coordinate equipment and information relative to the most efficient

way of doing the job.

Sound Planning Pleases EverybodyAnybody who has adopted sound plan

ning techniques will tell you he "neverhad it so good." Not only managementbut employees feel the same way.

The big job in sound planning andscheduling is to have someone thinkout the job in detail ahead of time.Don't leave it entirely to a gang foreman.

This is not a speed-up. The objectiveis to have your employees work .smarter,not harder.

One of the commonest gripes today

"I can't get a fair day's work out ofmy men."

Your pretty well convinced they couldproduce better. You don't have to guess.Study important work samples to findout. Identify working time, travellingtime, personal time, delays, and anyother minor categories special to your

needs.

Are You Due For a Surprise

If the pattern of your business holdstrue to other industries, you're due forsome surprises. Don't be shocked if yourmen show only 30 to 50 per cent laboreffectiveness, as Du Pont de Nemours

and many other companies discoveredwhen first digging into the problem.

Look into the nature of the 70 to 50

per cent unproductive time. Much of itis due to poor maintenance management and not to lazy or incompetentworkers. Often they can't work efficiently, because they lack information, proper tools, or proper materials as thecase may be.

How Good is Your Planning

Now turn to maintenance manage

ment. How good is your planning? Youcan take an overall sampling of your

entire maintenance function, or a sampling of a single operating division, oreven of a single crew job. The aim is touncover nonproductive time as revealedby all sorts of delays. Label the delaysas to cause; you can then pin-point areasneeding improvement.

(Continued on page 1 l

May, 1958

at 50°F after dark or average days. Thethird group was shifted to 40°F after"dark" days but remained at 60°F after"bright" or "average" days. A finalgroup received 60°F after "bright' days, .50° after "average" days and 4 0°F after"dark" days.

At the time the first group of plantsflowered it was evident that temperatureshifting had influenced growth. Thoseplants that received some 60°F nightsflowered two weeks earlier than thosenot receiving any 60°F nights. Theplants which had been occasionallyplaced at 60°F were somewhat smallerthan plants grown at 50°F or below, buteven at a 3 x G inch spacing they werelarge enough to be classed as "special"grade (the highest S. A. F. grade).

Little or no increase in size or qualityresulted from giving 4 0°F night temperatures after cloudy days compared togrowing continuously at 50°F regardlessof light intensity.

Increasing night temperatures afterbright days cause earlier flowering andresulted in slightly smaller salable stems.The experiment suggested, however, thatthe practice of reducing night temperatures after cloudy days was not worthwhile. It has been observed by growers

that reducing night temperatures during cloudy weather results in larger sizeand higher quality. It is possible, however, that a 40°F night temperatureafter dark days and throughout the entire growing season prevented maximumgrowth while the lower night temperature used late in the growth of the crop,as is done commercially, might have improved size and quality.

On the basis of the above experimentand other tests carried out undergrowth chamber conditions, it appearedthat low temperature might be effectivein increasing size and quality if theplants were large but that it would inhibit the growth of small plants. Itfurther appeared that if higher temperatures were used to promote vegetativegrowth while the plants were small andthen the crop finished at the normalnight temperature of 50°F or lower, adecrease in time to flower might resultwithout appreciably reducing size orquality.

An experiment to test this was carriedout in the spring of 19 57. Small snapdragon plants in 2 Vi inch pots weresubjected to temperatures ranging from50°F to 80°F for two and four weeksprevious to benching at 50°F. The result,indicated that flowering could be hastened by as much as six days (for plantsflowering in June) without a significantreduction in grade or 11 days with somereduction in grade.

BULLETIN

The results obtained from these experiments indicated that the optimumtemperature for the most rapid vegetative growth of young plants may bedifferent from those commonly used incommercial production. Further experiments will be necessary before practicalrecommendations can be made, andadditional varieties must be tested as

well as planting at other times of theyears in order to fully substantiate theresults.

No doubt light intensity may influencethe response to temperature but it maybe practical to grow young snapdragonsat relatively warm temperatures andreduce the temperature as the plantgrows larger. Growers with smallplantings could do this by growing theyoung plants, previous to benching, withchrysanthemums or other warm-housecrops. Further experiments will determine the practicability of the program.

♦Present address: Department of Horticulture, Ohio Agriculture ExperimentStation, Wooster, Ohio.

Food For Thought—Planning and Scheduling Work

Of all the functions in industry, planning and scheduling of maintenancemanagement is the most neglected. Withlimited controls and procedures, maintenance efVectheness varies from 20 to4 0 per cent. Good procedures and controls up it to 4 0 to 60 per cent. By addingsound job methods it goes up to 70 to 80per cent of possible effectiveness.

Planned maintenance, according toFactory magazine, is "discharging theplant engineering and maintenancefunction so that only necessary work willbe done most efficiently."

Aims of Planning, Scheduling

PLANNING—there ought to be aneasier and better way, and we're goingto find it.

SCHEDULING—when to carry out thework outlined by the planning function.

The aim of planning is to set up equipment and jobs in order to cut time.

The aim of scheduling is to reducedelays between jobs.

Planning calls for a lot of know-howand ingenuity. Scheduling is a mechanical aftermath of planning. You can dogood planning without scheduling, butnot good scheduling without planning.

What do you achieve by sound planning and scheduling?

Page Three

(1) Supply job priorities to all crews,stacking the work up in advance.

( 2 ) Coordinate their activities duringthe job process.

(3) Follow up on completion dates,and meet time schedules.

(4) Pre-plan jobs and preparatorywork, coordinate equipment and information relative to the most efficient

way of doing the job.

Sound Planning Pleases EverybodyAnybody who has adopted sound plan

ning techniques will tell you he "neverhad it so good." Not only managementbut employees feel the same way.

The big job in sound planning andscheduling is to have someone thinkout the job in detail ahead of time.Don't leave it entirely to a gang foreman.

This is not a speed-up. The objectiveis to have your employees work .smarter,not harder.

One of the commonest gripes today

"I can't get a fair day's work out ofmy men."

Your pretty well convinced they couldproduce better. You don't have to guess.Study important work samples to findout. Identify working time, travellingtime, personal time, delays, and anyother minor categories special to your

needs.

Are You Due For a Surprise

If the pattern of your business holdstrue to other industries, you're due forsome surprises. Don't be shocked if yourmen show only 30 to 50 per cent laboreffectiveness, as Du Pont de Nemours

and many other companies discoveredwhen first digging into the problem.

Look into the nature of the 70 to 50

per cent unproductive time. Much of itis due to poor maintenance management and not to lazy or incompetentworkers. Often they can't work efficiently, because they lack information, proper tools, or proper materials as thecase may be.

How Good is Your Planning

Now turn to maintenance manage

ment. How good is your planning? Youcan take an overall sampling of your

entire maintenance function, or a sampling of a single operating division, oreven of a single crew job. The aim is touncover nonproductive time as revealedby all sorts of delays. Label the delaysas to cause; you can then pin-point areasneeding improvement.

(Continued on page 1 l