DECBMBEn 5, 1907. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



Novel Dinner-table Decoration by Adolph Brix, St. Louis. 



gating most varieties. However, if you 

 have some which you wish to work up 

 all you can, there is no need to throw 

 away the one or two good cuttings you 

 will cut with each bloom. Take them 

 off and root them, and if you will keep 

 them growing they will make fine plants. 

 Take only good, strong cuttings if you 

 wish to keep up the vitality of the stock. 

 Weak cuttings will never make strong 

 plants, even though they have twice as 

 long to grow. Of course you have your 

 supply of sand, enough for the whole sea- 

 son. Do not cover it with boards, but use 

 sash instead. The sunlight will be better 

 for it. A. F. J. Baur. 



BREAKING OFF THE BLOOMS. 



Should carnation blooms be broken off 

 at a joint or cut with a knife! C- U. 



Carnation blooms should be broken off 

 at the lower joint of the flower stem, and 

 if this is done early in the morning they 

 snap off readily. KiSes. 



CUTWORM AND RED SPIDER. 



Enclosed you will find some carnation 

 leaves. "Will you please tell us what the 

 trouble is and how to remedy it? 



R. H. L. 



The specimens you sent were so badly 

 frozen that I could tell but little about 

 them. Your inquiry does not give any 

 description, either. I could see that some 

 of the leaves had been chewed by some 

 form of cutworm or larva, and for these 

 I would suggest that you use the flour, 

 sugar and Paris green mixture, as rec- 

 ommended in the Review of October 

 24, page 11. 



There are also traces of red spiders, 

 which cause the foliage to take on a 

 rusty appearance. For these the best 

 remedy is a sharp spray from the 

 hydrant, applied with as much force as 

 possible on every bright day, until they 

 have been eradicated. Cut the foliage 

 with the spray from the side; in fact 

 It should be done from both sides, in 

 order to hit the under side of each 



blade, as that is where they lodge usu- 

 ally. Whenever a leaf is cupped or 

 furled you will always find them in th^ 

 cupped side. Do not spray too many 

 days in succession at this time of the 

 year,^ ev^n though the days may be 

 bright. If the plants are thoroughly 

 syringed they will be wet through and 

 through, and one day's sun will not dry 

 them out fully, and if the drenching is 

 repeated several days in succession the 

 dense part of the plant is likely to be- 

 gin decaying. By spraying two days 

 in succession and then skipping one or 

 two days, you will avoid any such con- 

 dition. A. F. J. B. 



SPOT ON VIOLETS. 



Please inform me what to do for white 

 spot on violet leaves in field and house. 

 Is there any means of eradicating it! 

 If so, detail the plan. R. L. 



The spot on violets (Alternaria violae) 

 is dreaded by all cultivators of this 

 flower. The single varieties seem almost 

 immune from its attacks, or, if they have 

 it, usually grow out of it quickly. It is 

 otherwise with the doubles, as once it ap- 

 pears it will speedily run over a house. 

 No spraying antidotes are really effect- 

 ive. Picking off affected dead and de- 

 caying foliage, keeping the soil stirred 

 and everything as clean and sweet as pos- 

 sible is the best way to combat it. Select 

 the best plants to propagate from for 

 another season. Grow your stock under 

 glass through the summer or plant in 



very early. Use care in watering, venti- 

 lating and other details and this is about 

 as much as you can do to keep clean 

 stock. Even with these precautions many 

 fail; still others succeed, and there is no 

 reason why you should not be one of the 

 latter. W. N. C. 



VIOLET GOVERNOR HERRICK. 



la the Governor Herrick a true violet 

 or is it one of the pansy- violet hybrids? 

 My Herricks have practically no odor; 

 neither do they send out any runners, but 

 grow in dense clumps. I should be 

 pleased to know if they take with the 

 trade. W. D. 



Not knowing anything of the parent- 

 age of this violet, I am unable to answer 

 the first part of your query. Governor 

 Herrick has not with us proved a satis- 

 factory single violet. It gives few flow- 

 ers in winter, when flowers are most 

 needed. And when they do come they 

 are neither in size, color nor odor equal 

 to Princess of Wales, The color is not 

 popular in the large flower markets of 

 the east and it looks as though Princess 

 of Wales had the field pretty much to 

 itself among single violets. C. W. 



OUTDOOR PROTECTION. 



While no severe weather has yet come 

 our way, we can never tell how soon an 

 arctic visitation may arrive, and it be- 

 hooves us to be ready for it when it does 

 arrive, Roses of the perpetual class, as 

 well as hybrid teas, should be protected 

 at once in the more northern states. 

 Farther south a few days later will be 

 early enough. Perennials of doubtful 

 hardiness, which have not been lifted and 

 stored in frames, should be given a good 

 covering of forest leaves, pine needles or 

 strawy manure. All herbaceous peren- 

 nials are benefited by a winter mulching, 

 either of leaves or coarse manure. If 

 leaves are used, and they make the most 

 ideal covering, they must be held in place 

 with spruce or pine boughs or the wind 

 will whisk them in all directions. Rho- 



