OCTOBIB 30, 1919. 



The Florists^ Review 



19 



least possible degree to outside changes 

 of temperature. While the buildings 

 are not insulated, they are provided with 

 paper between the studding and sheet- 

 mg, between the sheeting and the clap- 

 bowrding, and on the inside under the 

 sheeting. In the more exposed situa- 

 tions, either back plaster or a strip of 

 paper is used between the studding in 

 addition to the construction above not- 

 ed. The floors as well as the ceilings are 

 made as nearly frost-proof as possible 

 and to add still greater safety the roots 

 are not placed on the main floor of the 

 building itself, but upon slat floors 

 raised at least two inches off the main 

 floor. Besides adding a factor of safety 

 against frost, these slat floors serve an- 

 other important function, that of facili- 

 tating the distribution of heat through- 

 out the heap of roots during the curing 

 process. The partitions between the 

 bins should also be double-slatted par- 

 titions, in order to act as ventilators or 

 chimneys so that the ventilation of the 

 material in the storage may be insured, 

 as well as more rapid and more uniform 

 curing. 



The curing of sweet potatoes at har- 

 vest time is of equal importance with a 

 proper storage room, good ventilation 

 and the maintenance of a proper storage 

 temperature subsequently. As the sweet 

 potatoes come from the field, they should 

 be placed in the bins in layers distrib- 

 uted evenly over the surface, and, dur- 

 ing the time the house is being filled and 

 for a period of ten days or more there- 

 after, the temperature of the storage 

 house should be maintained at 85 to 90 

 degrees Fahrenheit both night and day. 

 After this drying or curing period, the 

 temperature should be gradually reduced, 

 but at no time during the storage period 

 should it fall below 45 degrees. The 

 temperature which has proved most sat- 

 isfactory for holding the roots after the 

 curing period is 50 degrees. While sweet 

 potatoes can be successfully stored in 

 hampers or crates, most commercial stor- 

 ages depend on the use of bins with slat 

 floors separated by hollow slat parti- 

 tions. 



MONSTEBA DXTBIA IN BLOOM. . 



Still a Botanical Puzzle. 



According to the Latin, the plant 

 shown in the illustration on this page 

 has been called both paradoxical and 

 doubtful; it has well earned both titles. 



Its trade name and scientific name was 

 originally Marcgravia paradoxa, though 

 it was also called M. dubia by Kunth. 

 When it was introduced by Bull, it was 

 shown growing on a board apparently 

 in parasitic fashion, emitting aerial 

 roots. It then seemed most like a marc- 

 gravia, but when it flowered and fruited, 

 the first name was found to be incorrect, 

 since marcgravia is a dicotyledon, while 

 monstera is a monocotyledon. So it was 

 named Monstera acuminata or M. tenuis 

 by C. Koch. Finally, Engler and Krause 

 have called it Monstera dubia. Yet 

 another botanist may sometime remove 

 from its name that stain of uncertainty. 



Shows Leaf Dimoiphlsm. 



One of the claims of Monstera dubia, 

 or shingle plant, as it is called, to the 

 term paradoxa is the striking dimor- 

 phism of its leaves. The leaves of the 

 young plant are a few inches long, waxy, 

 entire and heart-shapvd. The mature 

 leaves are much longer and usually pin- 

 natifid, though sometimes perforated 



Have You a Bioomiog Moostera in Your Greenhouse? 



like those of the more common M. deli- 

 ciosa. 



First Bloom In Twenty-six Years. 



In its young stage Monstera dubia is 

 a handsome greenhouse climber, being 

 generally allowed to clamber over a dead 

 log or tree-fern trunk, in the manner of 

 philodendron. The monster leaves be- 

 gin to develop when it has reached about 

 fifteen feet. In the illustration, the ma- 

 ture perforated leaves can easily be 

 seen, but evidently the wandering pro- 

 clivities of the monstera have been re- 

 strained. 



The prime novelty, however, of this 

 particular plant, which is on exhibition 

 at the greenhouses of M. Froehlich, 5527 

 West Walton street, Chicago, is the 

 bloom, said by Mr. Froehlich to be the 

 first one that it has produced in the 

 twenty-six years of his firm's existence. 

 The densely flowered spadix and the 

 flower-like spathe of this distinctive 

 species are both clearly shown. 



Its Culture Like Philodendron. 



Monstera is easily propagated by di- 

 vision of the growing stems, which can 

 be cut up into lengths so as to include 

 two or three joints and placed in a prop- 

 agating bed with bottom heat of 75 to 

 80 degrees. In general method of cul- 

 ture, the monstera resembles the philo- 

 dendron. During the summer time it 

 should be given plenty of water to keep 

 up its vigorous growth, also much liquid 

 feeding if it is wanted to ramble over a 

 large area, but during the winter months 

 the plant is in a dormant condition and 

 the water supply should be lessened. 

 These plants are little troubled by in- 

 sects and the leaves are of such a tex- 

 ture as to stand syringing enough to 

 dislodge any pests that may appear. 



They should have plenty of ventilation 

 and during the hottest part of the sum- 

 mer a little shade to hold the foliage in 

 good color. Such a plant attracts a 

 great deal of attention in greenhouses 

 where it is grown. 



CALIFOBinA FUCHSIA. 



In The Eeview of October 16 I note 

 that a correspondent asks for the botan- 

 ical name of the California fuchsia. The 

 plant in question is Zauschneria califor- 

 nica and is a half-hardy perennial from 

 the state for which it is named. It is 

 quite probable that stock of this plant 

 may be obtained from some of the grow- 

 ers on the Pacific coast. W. H. T. 



BRIEF ANSWEBS. 



W. B., Mich. — It is impossible to diag- 

 nose plant ills without information as to 

 culture gfiven. Yellow foliage usually 

 indicates too much or too little water, 

 but it might come from a number of 

 other conditions. 



F. A. P., Cal. — Ampelopsis quinque- 

 folia var. Engelmannii. 



WUmette, 111.— John Weiland will 

 open his new store, at 1161 Wilmette 

 avenue, November 6. Together with the 

 invitations he has sent out to his pa- 

 trons he has mailed a slip calling atten- 

 tion to F. T. D. service and inviting its 

 use. 



Dothan, Ala. — The Green Bay Gardens 

 have been organized with the follow- 

 ing officers: President, Miss Sara Craw- 

 ford; vice-president, Mrs. B. L. Craw- 

 ford, and secretary-treasurer, J. H. 

 Crawford. They will handle cut flowers, 

 plants and vegetables. 



