March 1, 1006. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



993 



A Typical Rhinebeck Violet House> Showing Arrangement of Beds and Pipes. 



(Jars, bags and strings in i)lace for fumigating with liydrocyunic acid gas.) 



expressed, with some warmth, the same 

 opinion. 



The stock of Countess Spencer distri- 

 buted by Mr. Sydenham, owing, possibly, 

 to the fact that almost all known arti- 

 fices had been resorted to to increase it 

 rapidly, was very much inclined to sport, 

 so much so that in 1904 only a small 

 percentage came true, the remainder be- 

 ing in some cases valuable varieties hav- 

 ing the beautiful Countess Spencer form, 

 but different colors, and in others, and 

 perhaps the majority of cases, varieties 

 of little value. 



Some growers seem to regret that 

 Countess Spencer has proved to be so 

 sportive, but I cannot see that much 

 other than good can accrue from this 

 fact; for, instead of one excellent va- 

 riety, we now have a number, all having 

 the magnificent Countess Spencer form, 

 but giving many varied shades of color. 

 This feeling of satisfaction is accentu- 

 ated by the fact that in 1905 non-sport- 

 ing stocks of Countess Spencer were dis- 

 tributed, thus showing that with some 

 growers at least the variety had been 

 fixed. 



THE READERS' CORNER. 



Another Dose for Rats. 



I will give you my scheme for getting 

 rid of rats in greenhouses. I was both- 

 ered several weeks with them eating to- 

 matoes, before tryiqg this very simple 

 and effective remedy. Take three parts 

 corn meal and one part plaster of Paris, 

 mix thoroughly and place where the rats 

 can get at it in places frequented by 

 them. Two doses cleaned them out for 

 me and no bad after-results, as they 

 seem to have gone outside the houses 

 in quest of a final resting place. I 



tried eats but they would not tackle the 

 large rats; besides, it is hard for a cat 

 to get at them where there are so many 

 places to hide. This remedy is worth 

 trying, as it is inexpensive and simple. 



C. D. G. 



T am having trouble with one of my 

 neighbors in regard to the smoke and 

 gas from my furnace entering his house. 

 Have any other florists who read the 

 Eeview had a like experience? If so, 

 I would like to have them tell their ex- 

 perience in the Review. Would espe- 

 cially like to hear from New York state 

 growers, as the laws of this state may 

 be different from others. I am using 

 soft coal. C. L. W. 



CONCRETE FLOORS. 



In making boiler room floors of con- 

 crete, the concrete should be deposited in 

 layers of from four to six inches and 

 thoroughly tamped before it begins to 

 harden. The tamping required will de- 

 pend upon the consistency of the mix- 

 ture. If mixed very dry, it must be 

 vigorously rammed to produce a dense 

 mass, but as the proportion of water 

 increases less tamping will be found 

 necessary. Concrete should not be 

 dumped in place from a height of more 

 than four feet, unless it is again mixed 

 at the bottom. A wooden incline may 

 be used for greater heights. Rammers 

 for ordinary concrete work should weigh 

 from twenty to thirty pounds and have 

 a face not exceeding six inches square. 

 A smaller face than this is often desir- 

 able, but a larger one will be less ef- 

 fective in consolidating the mass. When 

 a thickness of more than one layer is 

 required, as in foundation work, two or 

 more layers may be worked at tiie same 



time, each layer slightly in advance of 

 the one next above it and all being al- 

 lowed to set together. ' For a boiler room 

 floor there should be a slight incline to a 

 well where water may be pumped out. 



To give a neat appearance to the fin- 

 ished work, a dressing of cement mor- 

 tar is spread over the concrete, well 

 worked in, and brought to a perfectly 

 smooth surface with straight edge and 

 float. This mortar should be mixed in 

 the proportion one part cement to two 

 parts sand. 



For general use the following mix- 

 tures are recommended: One part 

 cement, two parts sand, four aggregate, 

 for very strong and impervious work; 

 one part cement, two and one-half parts 

 sand, five aggregate, for ordinary work 

 requiring moderate strength; one part 

 cement, three parts sand, six aggregate, 

 for work where strength is of minor im- 

 portance. 



WHITE VINCA. 



i desire to know if there is anything 

 of a plant known as a white vinea and 

 if it is possible to get it. I have seen 

 wliite foliage on Vinca variegata; that 

 is the ro.TSon I am asking your opinion. 



D. F. S. 



The variegated form of Vinca major 

 or trailing spiecies will sometimes send 

 out a fijrowth that is entirely white or 

 pale yellow. This could not be perpetu- 

 ated, as the plant would not have the 

 vitality to grow. Vinca rosea is of erect 

 habit and is tender and useful only as 

 a summer bedding. Its flower is vari- 

 able, mostly rosy purple and often pure 

 white. Any particular variety of Vinca 

 rosea can only be perpetuated by cut- 

 tings. ' W. S. 



