Febbuary 4. 1915. 



The Florists^ Review 



\j 



13 



No. 916, Flesh Pink. Alice Coombs, UgM Pink. 



Two of the Albert Roper Varieties that will make their Debuts Next Year and the Year After. 



period for most of these plants. But 

 by the middle of March, or from that 

 date to April 1, the palms will begin 

 to get active again, and measures may 

 be taken to start them along. 



The first thing to do is to repot 

 them, removing as much of the old 

 soil as possible without breaking the 

 roots. Pot firmly in as small pots as 

 the roots will allow. Place the plants 

 in a shaded greenhouse having a night 

 temperature of 65 to 68 degrees; wa- 

 ter thoroughly to settle the soil in 

 the pots; syringe well every bright 

 day and do not allow the plants to' get 

 dry at the root, and with such care 

 the plants ought to make growth 

 fcnough to form useful stock for decora- 

 tions next winter, A good carnation 

 soil will answer for the compost; or, 

 if your soil is heavy, add a little sand 

 to it and use well rotted manure as 

 a fertilizer. Do not apply any liquid 

 manure at this time, for the plants 

 will not be in condition to utilize it 



W, H. T. 



now. 



PLANTS FOR PORCH BOXES. 



Can you tell me what vines and flow- 

 ering plants can be used in porch boxes 

 ana will stand full exposure to the sun? 

 F. W. H. 



A few suitable vines are: Vinca ma- 

 jor, both green and variegated; Senecio 

 scandens, or German Ivy; English ivy, 

 Asparagus Sprengeri, tall nasturtiums, 

 Tradeseantia zebrina, Ficus repens, 

 Abutilon megapotamicum and thunber- 

 gias. Some of the best flowering plants 

 are: Zonale geraniums, which are the 

 best of all flowering plants for boxes; 

 verbenas, petunias, Vinca rosea, Ian- 

 tanas; such begonias as gracilis, Vesu- 

 vius and Erfordii; ageratums and abu- 

 tilons. Blue lobelia makes a useful 

 hanging plant also. C, W, 



FUMiaANT FOR VIOLETS. 



In an endeavor to oust the fly from 

 our violet houses we have been using 

 tobacco stems. Although the weather 

 has been sunny and moderate, the 

 smoke seems to cling to the violets in 

 such a way as to render them almost 

 unsalable. As there is a good demand 

 for the stock, we are wondering 

 whether you could inform us of any 

 quicker method of exterminating the 

 fly, so that the violets themselves will 

 not take so long a time to recuperate 

 after treatment. D. E. 



Tobacco stems make the worst pos- 

 sible fumigant for violets. In addi- 

 tion to making the flowers practically 

 unsalable, there is much danger of 

 scorching the foliage. Try nicotine pa- 

 pers. They are effective and cleanly, 

 and leave no disagreeable odor behind 

 them. The liquid can also be evapo- 

 rated. Tobacco dust is far preferable 

 to stems and does not leave any dis- 

 agreeable smell on the flowers. Many 

 violet specialists now use hydrocyanic 

 acid gas exclusively; a weak dose once 

 a week keeps the plants healthy and, 

 once used, it is always used. Where 



an all-night exposure is given, a 

 weaker dose proves inore effective than 

 when a 20-minute exposure is given. 

 After the exposure, the ventilators 

 should be opened from outdoors, 



C. W, 



A START IN VIOLET GROWING. . 



As you have always helped me out of 

 my difliculties, I am bringing them to 

 you again, I have a small house in 

 which I intend to plant violets next 

 season, and, as I have never handled 

 them, I wish you would give me a little 

 information. I should like to grow the 

 double varieties, and also a few of the 

 singles if there is a good single variety 

 that will do well with the doubles. Is 

 Marie Louise the ^%^st double variety 

 to grow? What kind of soil is most 

 suitable and about what percentage of 

 clay should it contain? The soils in 

 this vicinity are a light clayey loam 

 and a heavy, black loam, almost muck. 

 Which is preferable for the violets? 

 If I pile sods and manure this spring, 

 can I use the compost in the fall? How 

 deep should the beds" be made and is 

 it advisable to use drainage in the 

 bottom? How closely should the plants 

 be set in the beds? Would it be advis- 

 able to plant a row of sweet peas along 

 each 5-foot bed in January for a late 

 spring crop? At what temperature 

 should they be kept at night? 



P. E. M. 



Single violets succeed best in winter 

 in a night temperature as near 40 de- 

 grees as possible. They cannot be 

 housed early, as the plants must have 

 one or two moderate freezings to check 

 the leaf growth; otherwise they make 

 a rank growth of leaves at the expense 

 of flowers. The best variety is Princess 

 of Wales, Double violets will not bring 

 the same prices as the singles and are 



