AN ANALYSIS OF TRAINING NEEDS AND EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GREENHOUSE GROWER IN THREE METROPOLITAN AREAS.

INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH THE MANAGERS OF 58 GREENHOUSES WHICH COVERED ONE ACRE OR MORE IN THE CHICAGO, CLEVELAND, AND DETROIT AREAS (1) TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF TRAINING DESIRED FOR THE COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSE GROWER IN TERMS OF THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES OF ORNAMENTAL FLOWERING PLANTS PRODUCED, AND THE DEGREE OF ATTAINMENT OF COMPETENCIES NEEDED, AND (2) TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION USEFUL IN THE GUIDANCE AND TRAINING OF SUCH WORKERS. UNDER THE BASIC AREAS OF PLANT KNOWLEDGE, THE CATEGORIES OF PLANT PARTS, GROWTH PROCESSES, AND PLANT NAMES WERE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL BY TWO-THIRDS OF THE MANAGERS. FIFTY-FOUR PERCENT OF THE GREENHOUSE MANAGERS INDICATED THAT THE FOLLOWING 15 COMPETENCIES, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, WERE ESSENTIAL FOR THE GREENHOUSE GROWER--WATERING, CONTROLLING PESTS, FERTILIZING, MIXING SOILS, POTTING, TRANSPLANTING, HANDLING CHEMICALS, CLEANING, PROPAGATING, STERILIZING SOIL, IDENTIFYING GROWTH CONTAINERS, APPLYING GROWTH SUBSTANCES, OPERATING BOILER, OPERATING EQUIPMENT, AND TESTING SOIL. THREE-FOURTHS OF THE GREENHOUSE MANAGERS REPORTED THE FOLLOWING 10 AREAS OF TRAINING UNDER CROP UNDERSTANDING, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, AS ESSENTIAL--TEMPERATURE, WATER REQUIREMENTS, PINCHING, DISBUDDING, CUTTING, SPECIAL CULTURAL PRACTICES, HUMIDITY, LIFE CYCLE OF PLANT, GRADING AND PACKAGING, AND PHOTO PERIOD. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION AND TRAINING BE PROVIDED FOR THE PROSPECTIVE GREENHOUSE GROWERS THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYERS ACCORDING TO THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY. THIS ED.D. THESIS, WHICH WAS SUBMITTED TO MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, IS AVAILABLE AS 66-14,162 FOR $3.00 ON MICROFILM AND FOR $6.40 AS XEROXED COPY FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, INC., 300 NORTH ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48106. (WB)