160 



The Florists' Review 



April 7, 1921 



TO COBBECT S0X7B LAND. 



Could you give advice as to how to 

 prevent ground outdoors from getting 

 sourt This ground is heavy loam and I 

 have to keep the cultivator going in 

 order to keep it from getting a green 

 crust on top. Would you advise a top- 

 dressing of lime and, if so, what kind 

 of lime and how much to an acre and 

 when? Would lime be beneficial in an 

 orchard, lawn and alfalfa field? 



N. T.— Wis. 



The presence of green slime is a sure 

 sign of acidity in the soil. Lime is the 

 best correcting agency known. Fall 

 is the best time to use it, lightly 

 scratching it in after it is broadcasted. 

 For your case, use it in early spring 

 and harrow it in. Do not use manure 

 at the same time, as the lime releases 

 too much of the nitrogen into the at- 

 mosphere. An application of 4,000 

 pounds of ground lime per acre is rec- 

 ommended, or if you use air-slaked lime 

 one-half of that weight will sufftce. A 

 liberal surface dressing of fine gravel, 

 coarse sand or fine coal cinders would 

 improve your land and help to make it 

 more porous. Also, are you sure it does 

 not need draining? Lime is excellent 

 in an orchard. On a lawn it is spe- 

 cially good where moss and such weeds 

 as sorrel are appearing. For alfalfa 

 lime is quite necessary. Use it prefer- 

 ably in fall. Before applying it plow 

 your land. Then let it lie rough over 

 winter. This in itself will help to 

 sweeten it and partly correct acidity. 

 C. W. 



TREATING RED SPIDER. 



I should like some information about 

 using salt water on carnations for red 

 spider. After advertised insecticides 

 failed, I started to use salt water as di- 

 rected in The Review — one 3-inch pot of 

 salt to one gallon of water. This seemed 

 to do good. I spray them with this mix- 

 ture once a week. Is that often enough? 

 Also, are the salt crystals left on the 

 leaves injurious to the plants? Should 

 they be washed off! A. L. — Mo. 



Spraying with salt water once a week 

 should keep your plants free from red 

 spider, provided they are clean to start 

 with. If they are badly infested, 1 

 should suggest that you spray with salt 

 water once a week and then syringe with 

 clear water and all the force at your 

 command, about midway between the 

 salt sprayings. Keep this up until the 

 plants are clean. The salt crystals will 

 not injure your plants in the least. 



A. F. J. B. 



SOWING PRIMULAS. 



"What is considered the best method 

 of sowing seed of Primula malacoides 

 and obonica and when is the best time? 



N. R.— Del. 



Use well drained pans of light, sandy 

 soil for primulas. Leaf-mold should 

 form the bulk of the compost. Finely 

 screen tlic upper soil and barely cover 

 the seed with sand, gently pressing it 

 after sowing. Cover the pans with 

 sheets of glass and use paper over this 

 until the seedlings appear. Then re- 

 move the glass; water carefully through 

 a fine rose, and never allow the soil to 

 become dry. Sow Primula obconica 

 now if you want the plants for Christ- 

 mas and later. P. malacoides is a rapid 



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