740 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



April 17. 1902. 



bined. There are other characters for its 

 separation from the species that have 

 been previously mentioned, but the above 

 will suffice. 



In addition to the food plant which has 

 been mentioned, Mr. Pcrgande has ob- 

 served this species on amaryllis, which 

 was so attacked on the leaves that the 

 entire surface became blistered and red 

 as if attacked by a fungus. Eichardia, 

 ficus, aralia, gardenia, phoenix, dracsena, 

 hydrangea, chr.ysanthenuim, grape, cot- 

 ton, and a number of weeds growing with 

 cultivated ones were also infested. 



It seems probable that this species may 

 ■ gradually become as troublesome in hot- 

 houses as the others that have been men- 

 tioned, as it has shown its capability of 

 feeding on such a variety of plants. It 

 appears to be unknown whether it is na- 

 tive or foreign, but it has ]irobably been 

 introduced from abroad. 



METHODS OF CONTROL. 



The habit of tlirips of living deeply 

 imbedded in the petals of delicate flow- 

 ers such as rose and carnation, and in 

 other concealed portions of plants, ren- 

 ders them verv difficult of treatment, as 



diluted with about ten times the volume 

 of water, although for some plants it 

 ma.y be necessary to use a weaker solu- 

 tion, sa.v with from one to iifteen or 

 twenty times as much water. To be pro- 

 ductive of the best effects the spray 

 should be applied before or immediately 

 after the blossoming of the plants, and 

 care should be taken that it is not used 

 later, as it is apt to taint the plants with 

 the flavor of kerosene. 



The resin wash has no advantage, so 

 far as known, to the kerosene emulsion, 

 and is more diflicult of application. 



Whale-oil and other soaps are also of 

 value, applied as sprays for these in- 

 sects, and may be used at the rate of 

 half a pound to a gallon of water. The 

 same precautions must be observed as 

 most of these soaps have an equally dis- 

 tasteful odor. 



Tobacco is of great value as a fumi- 

 gant, and the manner of its use in green- 

 houses is familiar to most florists. As 

 with the kerosene and soap solutions pre- 

 viously mentioned, it cannot be profit- 

 ably used when flowers are in bloom, ow- 

 ing to the permanency of its odor. It 

 may be applied, however, within a week 

 of the time that most flowers are to be 



Greenhouses of the C. C. Pollworth Co., Milwaukee. 



thev are not within the direct reach of 

 ordinarv poisons. 



The standard remedies for thrips are 

 kerosene emulsion, resin wash and to- 

 bacco. The first two kill by contact, and 

 are effective only in proportion as thev 

 can be made to reach the insects. In 

 case flowers are badiv iii.jured the best 

 method consists in cutting them oB: and 

 burning tliem with the contained insects, 

 thus reducing their number bv prevent- 

 ing further multiplication. 



Kerosene emulsion is best applied in 

 the form of a sprav, and the kerosene 

 soap emulsion, jire|)ared by the addition 

 of whale-oil or fish-oil soap, is most ef- 

 fective. It is made by combining two 

 gallons of kerosene, half a pound of the 

 soaps mentioned, or one quart of soft 

 soap, with one gallon of water. The 

 soap should be dissolved in boiling water 

 and then poureil while still boiling hot 

 (away from the fire) into the kerosene. 

 The mixture is then churned violentl.v 

 for about five minutes bv means of a 

 force-pump and direct-discharge nozzle 

 throwing a strong stream by pumping the 

 liquid back upcui itself. At the end of 

 tliis time the mixture will have become 

 of the consistency of thick cream. Prop- 

 erh prepared an emulsion will keep in- 

 definitely, and sh(ndd be diluted onlv as 

 needed for use. 



For most purposes the emulsion is then 



cut. Like the other remedies that have 

 been mentioned, it operates against plant- 

 lice which may be also present, and is 

 the standard remedy against that class 

 of insects. It is used in various forms, 

 but the nuist satisfactorv manner of aji- 

 plicatiou is fumigation by the use of or- 

 dinary tobacco stcns or waste from the 

 faclories. It is one of the simplest and 

 cheapest methods of controlling these 

 pests in greenhouses. It should be used 

 upon the first appearance of the insects, 

 since to kill them after they have accu- 

 mulated in great numbers it is necessary 

 to make the smoke so strong that in.iury 

 to plants in one form or another is very 

 apt to follow. Light fumigations at reg- 

 ular intervals will keep most kinils of 

 thrips anl plant-lice in subjection. 



In the fnnugation of tobacco several 

 methods are in use. In the ordinary pro- 

 cess the stems should not be over drv, but 

 a little moist, so that they will smolder 

 and generate a larger volume of smoke. 

 The best time to fumigate is late in the 

 afternoon toward dark, on a still day, to 

 avoid wind which would drive the smoke, 

 to some extent, outside of the buildings 

 to be treated. The fumes are left in the 

 houses over night that the best effects 

 can be secured. A convenient wa.v of 

 fumigating is to place a few live coals 

 u|)on a shovel or on sheets of iron or any 

 similar receptacles, preferably of metal. 



and to lay the tobacco upon these; or, if 

 tobacco ciust can be secured cheapl.y, a 

 few live lumps of hard coal can be placed 

 on the dust, or a very hot brick or stone 

 will answer the same purpose. 



The amount to be used depends upon 

 the strength of the tobacco, the plants to 

 be treated, and the size of the green- 

 house. Several forms of tobacco are for 

 sale under different proprietary names, 

 and one of the best of these is "Niko- 

 teen." It has been used with great suc- 

 cess by Messrs. Fernald and Hinds in 

 greenhouses, in Massachusetts, vaporized 

 at'the rate of 20 cc. or five and one-half 

 teaspoonfuls of Nikoteen to 750 cc, or 

 a little more than one and a half pints 

 of water, to 5,000 eu. ft. of greenhouse 

 space. Used thus experimentally on cu- 

 cumbers at nig!!t it did not injure the 

 plants, while nearly all of the thrips were 

 killed. The houses treated should always 

 be aired early in the morning. 



In vaporization of tobacco, a practice 

 which has been in use during the last 

 eight or nine years, and which has largely 

 superseded fumigation in some sections, 

 tobacco stems are placed in a kettle, 

 metal pail or similar receptacle, the hose 

 is connected with a steam pipe, and tEo 

 nozzle is inserted in the kettle or other 

 receptacle, and soon the house to be 

 treated is saturated w'ith the vapor of 

 tobacco, with resulting destruction of 

 thrips, plant-lice an<l other soft-bodied 

 insects that may be at work. In this pro- 

 cess the treatment is given in the early 

 morning on a bright day, and after its 

 completion the plants are carefull.v sy- 

 ringed and the licnise ventilated. A sur- 

 plus of moisture is to be avoided, as it 

 induces "spot," mildew and similar fun- 

 gous diseases. 



A MILWAUKEE ESTABLISHMENT , 



We present in this issue views of the 

 greenhouses of the C. C. Pollworth Co., 

 Milwaukee, one showing the older range 

 and the other the six houses recently 

 ;idded to the establishment. We also 

 ))rint portraits of the officers of the com- 

 jiany, which are C. C. Pollworth, Presi- 

 dent ; Joseph E. Pollworth, Secretary and 

 Treasurer; W. A. Kennedy, Vice-Presi- 

 dent. The president of the companv 

 needs but little introduction to the trade, 

 as he can always be found at anv gather- 

 ing of general interest to the trade. 

 Vice-President W. A. Kennedy, who looks 

 after the greenhouse interests of the 

 company, comes of a familv of gardeners, 

 and was at one time a large contributor 

 of roses to the New York market. Later 

 he took charge (}f the JlcCormick green- 

 houses at Lake Forest, 111., which under 

 his ilirection became the principal rose- 

 growing concern around Chicago at that 

 time. 



The company purchased the Deuster 

 greenhouses, and last season made a 

 large addition, the new plant being a 

 model of its kind. The.v are now pre- 

 paring for further additions. The grow- 

 ing of palms and other decorative plants 

 is the principal feature, though much of 

 the new addition is devoted to roses. Al- 

 bert Hoge, for many years with C. I?. 

 Whitnall, is in charge of the palm de- 

 partment, and the appearance of the 

 stock is proof of his ability in this line. 



The company receutlv added a nur- 

 sery department, and will devote several 

 acres to ornamental shrubs and vines. 

 In addition their import anil supply busi- 

 ness cover a wide range. They are repre- 

 sented on the road by W. B. Schucht. 

 W, F. Hcdiday manages the cut-flower de- 



