20 



The Rorists^ Review 



Mabch 31. 1921. 



USE NICOTINE OLEATE. 



1 am sending you specimens of my 

 fjjeraniums, which have spotted leaves. 

 This trouble is spreading through all 

 my geraniums. Can you tell me what 

 the trouble is and what would be a good 

 remedy? It seems as though some kind 

 of insect lays eggs on these geraniums 

 and deforms the leaves. 



F. J. J.— Wis. 



Those light spots on your geranium 

 loaves are caused by the cyclamen mite, 

 Tarsonemus pallidus. To get rid of 

 it, use nicotine oleate and spray 

 thoroughly on the under side of the 

 leaves, repeating at least once" each 

 week until the plants are clean. Get 

 from your druggist what is known as 

 oleic acid and use it in connection with 

 a forty per cent nicotine product. Mix 

 two and one-half parts of the nicotine 

 with one and three-quarter parts of the 

 oleic acid. Then use these four and 

 one-fourth parts in 900 parts of water. 

 It is said to be si^fe for the plants at 

 double this strength, but you will prob- 

 ably find the strength as recommended 

 Huftieient to control this insect. If you 

 find that you need a stronger solution, 

 trv it out on a small scale first. 



A. F. J. Baur. 



GERANIUMS IN KANSAS. 



Under separate cover we have sent 

 you samples of geranium leaves pecu- 

 liarly affected. What treatment should 

 be administered? Is it the work of in- 

 sects or disease? L. G. — Kan. 



There seems to be a disease that is 

 affecting geraniums in your section of 

 the country. We have had a number of 

 inquiries of the same trouble from flo- 

 rists of your state, but have not met 

 with it elsewhere. Not having had any 

 experience with the trouble, we are at 

 a loss to advise vou as to the treatment 

 for it. ' . M. P. 



BUDDING GERANIUMS. 



I have left some 4-inch geraniums 

 which are eight to ten inches high and 

 are now in bud and bloom. These I 

 did not disi)ose of at Easter. How long 

 should I keep the flower buds ]iicked 

 off so as to have them in flower for Deco- 

 ration day? I have one house of 

 geraniums which I have lately shifted 

 from 2y2-inch to 4-inch pots. IIow long 

 should I keep the flower buds picked off 

 so as to have them come into full bloom 

 from May 20 to 30? R. E. C— 111. 



The geranium plants now in 4-inch 

 pots which are eight to ten inches high 

 and are now in bud and bloom arc 

 rather big stock to be classed as ordi- 

 nary bedding geranium plants. These 

 plants are now larger than the average 

 geranium is at Decoration day. If they 

 are varieties with large trusses of 



bloom and sturdy foliage they may be 

 sold as pot plants. Those that are 

 not disposed of would better be shifted 

 into 5-inch pots and grown as larger 

 plants than 4-inch stock. Before pot- 

 ting remove the flower buds, but after 

 that allow them to bud and bloom as 

 they make their growth, removing the 

 flower trusses as they become old. The 

 plants which have lately been shiftcel 

 from 2%-inch to 4-inch pots can have 

 the flower buds picked off at this time, 

 but no topping of the growths should 

 be done. 



4 inch pots. Use a compost of two- 

 thirds loam and one-third old, well de- 

 cayed and pulverized manure; be sure, 

 liowever, that it is well rotted. Do 

 not use fresh manure in any form. To 

 each bushel of soil add a 5-inch pot of 

 fine bone and mix thoroughly. Bone is 

 good for geraniums. It helps to build 

 a short, stocky growth which will flower 

 well, while an overdose of manjure, 

 either in the soil or in liquid form, will 

 produce a soft, flabby growth which will 

 bloom unsatisfactorily. Grow your 

 plants in a temperature of not over 50 

 degrees at night. Give all possible sun- 

 shine; they never need any shade. Do 

 not spray them overhead or keep a 

 humid, close atmosphere, as this will 

 encourage leaf disease. Air abundantly 

 and keep the plants on the dry side in 

 dark, gloomy weather. C. W. 



IVY GERANIUM. 



GERANIUMS FOR SPRING. 



I have been growing geraniums for 

 several years and never have been able 

 to get them in bloom early enough. I 

 liave some nice plants in 2i,{>-ineh ])()ts 

 ready to shift into 4-inch and should 

 like to know how to mix the soil and 

 what fertilizer to use to get them to 

 bloom bv May. The plants were propa 

 gated in October. W. S.— III. 



I am sending you some affected ivy 

 geranium plants. Please examine them 

 and tell me the trouble. They have 

 been kept in a temperature of 50 to 56 

 degrees at night. F. D. — Mo. 



The trouble with these plants is that 

 they are growing in soil that is too rich 

 for them and they are receiving an 

 overabundance of water at the roots. 

 Make the compost lighter and add a 

 liberal amount of sharp sand to it. 



M. P. 



Probably you have grown your ge 

 raniiims too rich and warm. Your 

 jjlants should now go into 3i/^-inch ami 



Vernon, Tex. — A new shop, opened re- 

 cently, is that of Mrs. W. N. Sphindler. 



Huntington, W. Va. — James Field is 

 opening a retail store, where he will sell 

 both flowers and birds. 



^m 



SCALE ON BOSTON FERNS. 



I have mailed you a specimen of 

 our ferns. We have a full house 

 just like it. The disease with which 

 they are affected is not known to us 

 ;ind we know of no cause for such a 

 trouble. We should be glad to hear 

 your opinion regarding what it is and 

 also what might cure or prevent it. 



S. F. C— Md. 



tobacco extract, one teaspoonful; water, 

 one gallon. It is preferable to do the 

 dipping on a cloudy day and the dose 

 should be repeated each week for a 

 time. W. H. T. 



The Boston fern in question did not 

 show any particular sign of disease, 

 hut was badly infested with fern scale, 

 that destructive insect which is, unfor- 

 tunately, so common on plants of this 

 family and the nepliroleijis in ])articu- 

 lar. The first thing to do in this case 

 would be to cut out all of the worst 

 fronds and then start a dipping or 

 spraying campaign, the dipping being 

 the most effective, from the fact that 

 this method will apply the insecticide 

 more thoroughly than can be done with 

 spraying. The dipping solution should 

 be composed of whale oil soap, tobacco 

 extract and water in the following 

 proportions: Soap, one-half ounce; 



NOT FERN RUST. 



Can you give me information on the 

 subject of fern rust, its cause and cure? 

 We have a bench of Boston ferns 

 which seem to be attacked by rust. 

 The trouble spreads quite rapidly along 

 the leaves soon causing all the foliage 

 to drop off and leave the stem bare. 

 T. L. C— Minn. 



Rust on Boston ferns is something 

 with which the writer has had no expe- 

 rience, nor has he ever heard of it. It 

 seems most likely, from the description 

 given, that there is some other cause 

 for this trouble, and among the possi- 

 bilities are the escape of gas, either 

 from the furnace or from the illumi- 

 nating apparatus, or an overdose of 

 fresh manure. The application of dried 

 blood as a fertilizer will also cause 

 such trouble if carried to excess. 



W. H. T. 



