Jdne 11, 1914. 



The Florists' Review 



17 



principally of plants, shrubs and 

 trees." In construing this mortgage, 

 the court said: 



"By virtue of his mortgage, Spar- 

 row acquired title to the property 

 mortgaged. The plants and trees 

 were included in it. The cuttings are 

 from the plants. The portions sev- 

 ered, before severance, were subject to 

 the mortgage. They are none the less 

 so after severance. The mortgagee 

 loses no rights, because after sever- 

 ance they remained in the same green- 

 house in a condition for further 

 growth and development." S. 



WHEN TO GATHER PANSY SEED. 



Enclosed you will find a few pods of 

 pansy seed. Would it be advisable to 

 gather the seed at this stage of devel- 

 opment, or should I let it ripen a little 

 more? I notice that when the pods 

 open, a great deal of the seed is lost. 



E. W. C. 



The pansy seed you sent was in excel- 

 lent condition. You are picking the 

 pods all right. Lay the pods on sheets 

 of paper to dry. It is best to pick the 

 pods just before they start cracking. 

 C. W. . 



FIRST AIDS FOR IVY POISON. 



It has been ascertained by those of 

 the medical profession that the poison 

 from the three-leaved ivy, which is so 

 painful to those who are not for some 

 mysterious reason immune from its ef- 

 fects, is primarily an irritating oil pro- 

 duced by the poisonous species of rhus. 

 Bacteria may make the results worse 

 if they happen to attack the skin after 

 the rhus poison has destroyed its in- 

 tegrity, but the oil is the primary cause 

 of the poisoning, and the cure is the 

 removal of the oil before it has gone 

 far with its work. 



First aids for ivy poisoning, with this 

 object, are given in the May 2 issue of 

 the Country Gentleman, by Charles H. 

 Lerrigo, M. D. A simple but quite ef- 

 fective remedy if applied at once after 

 poisoning is scrubbing the affected parts 

 with hot soap-suds and a brush. Laun- 

 dry soap is preferred, as its alkaline 

 qualities seem better to dislodge the oil, 

 and the use of the words "scrubbing" 

 and "brush" means that the action 

 must be vigorous as well as prompt. 

 The ivy poison is an oil or tar, and it 

 takes more than merely bathing to re- 

 move it. If the exposed surfaces — hands, 

 wrists, forearms, face and neck — are 

 thus treated at the first opportunity 

 after exposure, the poisoning will in all 

 likelihood be prevented. 



If, however, in spite of, or for lack 

 of, this precaution, the poison has 

 gained so much ground that one feels 

 the burning of the skin, there is still 

 time for "first aids." The scrubbing 

 with soap-suds and brush is to be con- 

 tinued, but with further treatment. A 

 mixture of equal parts of alcohol and 

 water should be used to sponge the af- 

 fected parts. This mixture should be 

 used not merely enough to dissolve the 

 poison and spread it over new places, 

 but liberally enough both to dissolve 

 it and wash it away. 



There is also the further treatment 

 of the potassium permanganate solution. 

 The affected parts should be liberally 

 bathed in a hot solution. If the skin is 

 broken, a one-per-cent solution should 

 be used; if the skin is not broken, the 

 strength of the solution may be greater. 



William A. Peterson. 



(Principal Prize-winner at the 1914 Exhibition of the American Peony Society.) 



A one-per-cent solution is about a scant 

 level teaspoonful of the crystals to a 

 pint of hot water. Potassium perman- 

 ganate is, it should be remembered, it- 

 self a poison, and repeated applications 

 should only be made with a physician's 

 advice. It should also be noted that the 

 potassium permanganate solution will 

 stain the skin, but the stain is not per- 

 manent and not nearly so disfiguring as 

 the poison eruption. Those who are too 

 late for these first aids, or who have 

 taken the poison into the system, 

 through a cut or otherwise, have the 

 physician to look to. 



They grow well outdoors in summer un- 

 der the shade of trees, if mulched and 

 kept moist at the roots. C. W. 



REX BEGONIAS. 



What kind of soil and care must I 

 give to Kex begonias to get the best 



results? 



G. W. 



These plants succeed particularly well 

 in a light but moderately rich soil. One 

 consisting of two parts fibrous loam, 

 one part leaf-mold and one part well 

 decayed cow or horse manure, with 

 some sand added, will suit them to a 

 nicety, although they will grow in al- 

 most any good soil. These begonias 

 must have a shaded position; the leaves 

 will scorch in the full sun. They enjoy 

 spraying overhead in warm weather, 

 and, when well established in pots, can 

 be fed once a week with liquid manure. 



SLIME ON SOIL IN POTS. 



What brings on the oily substance 

 that forms on the soil around cyclamens 

 and other house plants? How can I 

 prevent it? G. W. 



This may be due to the nature of 

 either the water or the soil. Use a 

 pointed stick and keep the soil stirred 

 up. If your soil is the cause, some lime 

 added to the compost will help to cor- 

 rect it, but do not add manure at the 

 same time, as the lime will release 

 much of the ammonia into the atmos- 

 phere. It is necessary to remove this 

 slime from the surface of the soil, as 

 the plants will not thrive with it. 



C. W. 



Johnston, R. I. — Hitchings & Co. have 

 the contract for the two greenhouses 

 at Olney Williams' range, each 110 feet 

 long, which will replace two old houses. 



Baltimore, Md. — A fire in the green- 

 house of the Broadway Florist's Shop, 

 at 231 South Broadway, caused a loss 

 of about $500 May 27 before it was 

 discovered by John F. Krauss, one of 

 the owners, and quickly extinguished 

 by members of the fire department. 



