Senior 4-H/FFA State HORTICULTURE Exam 2015 DO NOT WRITE ON THIS EXAM. Please fill in the scantron bubbles completely using a #2 pencil only. Make sure your name and number are on the scantron sheet. Check that you have all the pages. There are 80 questions on this exam. Answer questions 1-50 using the section marked Exam. True or false on the answer sheet, mark A for True statements or B for False statements. 1. T/F Adequate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are necessary for a healthy lawn. 2. T/F You should handle balled and burlapped or containerized plants by the soil ball or pot, and never by the trunk or crown. 3. T/F The gas found in bruised or aging plant material that causes rapid decay of cut flowers is called ethylene. 4. T/F A plant that has both stamens and pistils in each flower is said to have monoecious flowers. 5. T/F Light level is the most important environmental factor to consider when picking a location for planting bulbs. 6. T/F Onions grow best in moderately cool temperatures with abundant moisture. 7. T/F A good place to plant tomatoes and other garden crops is near a walnut tree. 8. T/F Petunias, zinnias, and marigolds are examples of annual flowers. 9. T/F You should apply preemergence herbicides before seeding an area to prevent weeds. 10. T/F Plants generated from layering will have the same flower, fruit, and foliage characteristics of the parent plant. 11. T/F Peat pellets are used for starting seeds. 12. T/F The dahlia is ready to be dug up when it is blackened by frost. 13. T/F Leaves at the ends of a flower stem should be removed before the flower is placed in a vase of water. 14. T/F The filament and anther make up the pistil. 15. T/F Fertilizer requirements for vegetables should be established during the harvest season. 1
Multiple Choice: On the scantron answer sheet, mark the correct letter answer (A, B, C, D, E) 16. Planting depth for most seeds should be A. 5 times the size of the seed. B. 3 times the size of the seed. C. 1 1 1/2 times the size of the seed. 17. A general rule to follow when planting bulbs is to plant them A. 4 inches deep. B. 2 ½ to 3 times their own depth. C. 4 to 5 times their own depth. 18. Division of daylilies is done usually every: A. 2-4 years B. 8-10 years C. 5-7 years 19. Hedges should be pruned so the: A. Top is wider than the bottom B. Bottom is wider than the top C. The same for the top and bottom 20. Mulching annuals and perennials in the landscape will help to A. conserve soil moisture B. help to control weeds C. moderate soil temperatures D. all of the above 21. The potato tuber is an underground, modified A. fruit. B. leaf. C. stem. D. flower. 2
22. The first symptom of wilt disease in tomatoes is A. yellowing of the lower leaves. B. blackened fruit. C. striping on the older leaves. 23. Pinching annuals as well as removing faded blooms promotes A. disease problems. B. lush heavy foliage. C. increased flowering. 24. It is best to water plants A. during the early part of the day. B. midday. C. after dark. 25. When flowers are pollinated and fertilization is successful A. the plant wilts. B. a fruit forms. C. the plants become a richer green. 26. Tall growing vegetable plants such as corn and pole beans should be planted on the side of the garden. A. North B. South C. East 27. For cuttings that are difficult to root use A. water. B. hormones. C. vermiculite. 28. Blueberries must have: A. Acid Soil B. Alkaline Soil C. Neutral Soil 3
29. What are the two most popular types of layering: A. air and simple B. air and cutting C. tip and serpentine D. stem tip and root 30. The state flower of Indiana is the A. Rose B. Daylily C. Peony 31. Vegetable gardens should be located in the A. shade. B. partial shade. C. sun. 32. Most perennial plants will benefit from A. deep cultivation. B. tip cuttings. C. division every 3-4 years. 33. What are the three important characteristics that determine how long cut flowers will remain attractive and useful? A. High water content, light, and warm temperatures B. High water content, food, and avoiding toxic substances C. Food, light, and cool temperatures 34. Many woody plants do not bloom if they are A. dwarf B. mature C. juvenile 35. Daylily may be propagated by A. Division B. Seeding C. Rhizomes D. Both A and C 4
36. An insect or animal that transfers pollen from the stamen to the stigma of a flower is: A. bee B. butterfly C. bat D. all of the above 37. The stamen contains A. stigma and filament B. anther and filament C. ovary and stigma D. ovary and style 38. A build-up of white crusty material on the soil surface or rim of a flowerpot indicates A. salt accumulation. B. lack of water. C. too much sun. 39. Too much of this element before vegetables have begun to set fruit can reduce yields A. nitrogen B. phosphorus C. potassium 40. Deciduous trees and shrubs are often propagated by this method: A. leaf cuttings B. hardwood cuttings C. root cuttings 41. This annual garden flower does poorly in the heat of summer A. Petunia B. Marigold C. Pansy 5
42. Newly planted shrubs or trees should be pruned to have their leaf area reduced by: A. 1/4 B. 1/3 C. 1/2 43. Onions may be planted from A. Sets B. Seeds C. Transplants D. All the above 44. Which landscape plants have an undisturbed ball of soil around their roots? A. Bare-Root B. Machine-Balled C. Balled and Burlapped D. Containerized Plants 45. Mint and lemon balm are both A. potentially invasive plants B. should be harvested before they flower C. both A & B 46. Dioecious plants have A. separate male and female parts on the same plant B. separate male and female parts on different plants C. have perfect flowers 47. Cross-pollination occurs when pollen is A. transferred from one plant to another B. transferred on the same plant C. transferred from different species of plants D. self-pollination cannot occur 6
48. Photoperiodism is A. a plants response to how much it is watered B. a plants response to the amount of light it receives C. a plants response to fertilizer 49. What nutrient proportion is most beneficial for cucurbits? A. Low nitrogen, high potassium and phosphorus, which promotes good fruit development. B. High nitrogen, low potassium and phosphorus, which promotes vines and spreading. C. High nitrogen and potassium, and no phosphorus, which controls fruit growth 50. Selective pruning and thinning of limbs and removal of some trees in a landscaped yard will: A. Allow better penetration of sunlight B. Increase are circulation to the turf C. Decrease humidity to the turf, which lowers the chance of disease D. All of the above Answer the next 25 questions using the section marked Exam 2/Team. 1. To overwinter Cannas: A. Place the plants in a pot near a window B. Cut the plants down to ground, dig up and store tuberous roots C. Take cuttings of the stems and place them in water 2. When staking plants, you should be sure that A. The stakes are 6-12 inches shorter than the full height of the plant. B. You tie the plant loosely to the stake with soft cloth ties or wire covered with paper or plastic. C. You place the stake behind the plant and sink it into the ground. D. All of the above E. B&C only 7
3. Plants add moisture to the air through a process known as A. wilting. B. perspiration. C. imbibition. D. transpiration. 4. Self-pollination occurs when pollen is A. transferred from one plant to another. B. transferred on the same plant. C. transferred from different species of plants. D. self-pollination cannot occur. 5. A general rule for watering lawns is A. to water frequently. B. to water when you have time. C. to water in the heat of the day in 10 minute intervals. D. to water deeply and infrequently. 6. Most soil testing labs recommend that you check the status of your soil A. every year. B. every three to five years. C. every ten years. D. whenever you start seeing problems in your plants. 7. What is damping-off? A. Letting a plant dry out completely before you water it again. B. A disease which affects seedling development. C. Putting your seedlings in a tray of water when you first plant them. 8. Trench layering is mainly used for A. shrubs B. perennials C. fruit trees D. evergreen tree 8
9. After sticking cuttings in rooting media, A. The plants should be placed in direct sunlight. B. The plants should be placed in water. C. The plants container should be enclosed in a plastic tent to keep humidity high. 10. Turf fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is referred to as a A. complete fertilizer B. balanced fertilizer C. slow release fertilizer 11. The best time to control broadleaf lawn weeds, such as dandelions, is A. Mid-spring B. Mid-summer C. Mid-fall 12. How much of the foliage of an herb can be picked at one time? A. 1/3 B. 1/2 C. 1/4 13. When repotting indoor plants, shift the plant to A. the largest pot you have B. a pot 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the previous pot C. reuse the previous potting soil 14. Which of the following best describes powdery mildew: A. light brown stripes on stems and petioles. B. sappy residue found underneath leaves and on plant nodes. C. white blotches on stems, leaves, and fruit. 15. The hardiness of a plant indicates its ability to A. thrive in minimum rainfall. B. flower throughout the growing season. C. survive winter conditions. 9
16. How can you tell if a tree has suffered from cold injury? A. Cut a twig and examine its pith. B. Take a sample of the cambium layer. C. Cut open the tree s buds and examine them. 17. Number of pounds of nitrogen in 50 pounds of 18-24-6 A. 9 B. 12 C. 3 18. Most formal deciduous hedges need reshaping at least A. Once a season B. Twice a season C. Three times a season 19. Use only healthy, certified disease free tubers of known origin for "seed" when planting white, red or yellow potatoes. A. True B. False 20. After germination, seedlings must receive A. No light B. Low light C. Bright light 21. An herbicide to be used among a certain food crop is not listed on the herbicide label. The herbicide is still safe to use among that food crop. A. True B. False 22. Which of the following flowering plants are most affected by low winter temperatures? A. forsythia B. cherry C. tulip tree D. flowering dogwood 10
23. When indoor plants become spindly it means they need more A. Light B. Water C. Growing media D. Fertilizer 24. All plants require the same amount of sunlight. A. True B. False 25. This element is the most important for lush, green, top growth A. Calcium B. Boron C. Iron D. Nitrogen Answer the next 5 questions using the section marked Assessment and Solutions. 1. Turf can survive in dormant conditions without a significant thinning of turf for: A. One week B. Two to four weeks C. Four to six weeks D. Eight weeks 2. The seed of parsley has a tough outer shell that takes up to weeks to soften. A. 1 B. 3 C. 5 3. When forcing flowering bulbs for indoor bloom, cool storage is recommended for: A. 5 weeks B. 10 weeks C. 15 weeks D. 20 weeks 11
4. If hardy bulbs that have remained undisturbed for many years begin to have an abundance of foliage with few or no flowers, A. They need to be fertilized. B. They are planted too deep. C. They need to be divided. 5. Seeds saved from F1 hybrid plants A. are the best way to propagate a hybrid B. usually don t come back true to type of the parent plant C. always resemble the parents in color, size, and habit of growth 12