MARCH 10, 1S9S. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



611 



^ ^--' 1 ^ — ' I s 



Plan for Heating Two Three-quarter Span Houses. 



at different lieiglits, witli tlie foliage 

 in tlie same manner, tlirougli and 

 around tlie bunch. This allows the 

 individual flowers to show up for all 

 that they are worth, as they cannot 

 when leveled off, and improves the 

 appearance in every way, even though 

 it may not measure as much in dia- 

 meter as the old flat bunch. As fast 

 as bunched wrap a strip of tissue pa- 

 per about the stems, and let the bunch 

 stand in water till the stems are well 

 flUed, taking care not to get the flow- 

 er wet at any time. After they are 

 filled drain them for a few minutes to 

 rid them of the surplus water, pack 

 closely in layers, with the stems point- 

 ing in to the center, with oil waxed 

 paper between each layer, but do not 

 make more than three layers if possi- 

 ble. Always take care that they are 

 packed tight, as they carry much bet- 

 ter so. Of course due care must be 

 exercised in wrapping the package, as 

 they freeze readily. When the box is 

 large enough, line heavily, as it is bet- 

 ter inside than on the outside. 



R. E. S. 



VIOLET QUERIES. 



"With a frame of Lady Campbell vio- 

 lets and a few California violets which 

 have been grown outside for spring 

 use, how shall I make ready to fill a 

 small house in the fall? I would prefer 

 not to use pots if I can have the same 

 success without." 



We would immediately take all the 

 cuttings possible and place in the pro- 

 pagating bed, following this plan for 



several weeks yet. and then if in this 

 way we did not secure enough stock 

 the clumps could be lifted and divided 

 for the balance, then follow previous 

 notes in Review for treatment after 

 this. Personally I would buy new 

 stock rather than use the clumps, still 

 many good growers do use them with 

 success, and you might be able to do so. 



"Can violets be grown successfully 

 in a house with immovable g ass 

 through the summer?" 



This depends entirely on heavy 

 shading, ample ventilation and an ad- 

 equate water supply; that is. if the 

 house has side and top ventilators and 

 stands alone so that the heated air can 

 freely pass out. and the water supply 

 does not fail in the dry spells. I should 

 try it. 



"What are the characteristics of dif- 

 ferent varieties in time of blooming, 

 keeping qualities, fragrance, depend- 

 I ence on most sun and ventilation?" 



Good ventilation is an absolute ne- 

 cessity to all kinds. Lady Hume Camp- 

 bell is the most fragrant of all, not 

 keeping quite so long late in the sea- 

 son as Marie Louise, at least, not hold- 

 ing its color as well. This and Swan- 

 ley white flower more freely the latter 

 half of the winter than the first, and 

 want several degrees more heat at al; 

 times than Marie Louise. The Far- 

 quhar and Marie Louise are the best 

 violets to grow, if one can grow them, 

 until March; after that your best vio- 

 lets will come from the Lady Hum? 

 Campbell, especially if kept c'.osely 

 picked. 



"Which are the easier to grow, most 

 fragrant, and best keepers, single or 

 double?" 



The single will grow the best with 

 careless treatment. The best keepers 

 and most fragrant are the double sorts. 



"What varieties are preferred near 

 Boston?" 



Marie Loui.se. 



"Our soil is light and gravelly. How 

 shall I prepare a soil for greenhouse 

 violets?" 



Remove about six inches of the bor- 

 der, then spade as deep as possible, 

 then cover with about four inches of 

 well rotted sods; if these can be pro- 

 ! cured from a field where the soil is 

 somewhat heavier, it is better. Spade 

 this in well, then cover with about two 

 inches of well rotted cow manure, dust 

 this all over heavily with air slacked 

 lime, say one quart to one hundred sq. 

 ft. of surface, and spade again. If 

 there is time, water heavily, and spad> 

 again as soon as dry enough not to 

 hurt the soil, repeating this several 

 times if possible. R. E. S. 



GREENHOUSE HEATING. 



We propose to erect two greenhouses, 

 each 20x125 feet, three-quarter span. 14 

 feet to ridge pole, running east and 

 west, for growing cut flowers, roses, 

 carnations, etc. Please tell us the best 

 wav to heat these houses. 



Ohio. E. T. F. 



The two three-quarter span green- 

 houses, having glass on the roof, verti- 

 cal east end and two feet of glass on 

 the south side, assuming a temperature 

 of 60 degrees is desired, would be best 

 heated by means of fourteen lines of 

 two-inch wrought iron pipes, arranged 

 as shown on accompanying plan, suit- 

 ably connected to a boiler having a 

 capacity of not less than 2.500 square 

 feet of" radiation. The mains should 

 be of 3%-inch pipes, and should have a 

 grade of not less than one inch in ten 

 feet (better one inch in five feet) up- 

 wards from the boiler. The running 

 pipes must have an upward grade from 

 the boiler end of the house of not less 

 than one inch in twenty feet, but it is 

 well to give all the grade the height 

 of benches and grade of land will al- 

 low, as increased grade means quicker 

 circulation and more perfect and eco- 

 nomical results. 



At the east end of the center runs 

 two additional pipes are laid for a dis- 

 tance of about sixteen feet, this is in 

 order to take care of the additional 

 glass exposure at this end, while at the 

 west end, which is protected by the 

 potting shed, the coils commence about 

 eight feet away from the end, in order 

 to avoid overheating this protected 

 space. 



An expansion tank should be con- 

 nected to the return main, and placed 

 as high as convenient in the potting 

 shed, in all cases higher than the 

 pipes at the far end of the houses, and 

 air vents must be placed at the ex- 

 treme end of all coils. 



In case one of the houses Is desiredi 



