Max 28, 1Q08. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



most successful. We know to produce 

 good crops, potash, phosphoric acid and 

 nitrogen is a necessity. This should be 

 applied to the soil in some shape or 

 form. I am confident whoever has 

 given this question study and deep 

 thought will stand by his own good judg- 

 ment; self-taught experience one never 

 forgets. ' ' 



GREENHOUSE MATERIALS. 



Experiments in Prevention of Decay. 



During the coming year the govem- 

 ■ment will extend its experiments in wood 

 preservation to cover an entirely new 

 field — the work of treating greenhouse 

 timbers. 



Decay takes place very rapidly under 

 the conditions of high humidity always 



found in greenhouses and horticultural 

 buildings. The timber at present em- 

 ployed in the construction of such 

 buildings consists for the most part of 

 the naturally durable and relatively ex- 

 pensive kinds, such as select cypress and 

 white pine. By a preservation treat- 

 ment other cheaper and less durable spe- 

 cies can probably be successfully substi- 

 tuted for them, and this can be done at 

 a low cost. 



In the treatment of greenhouse tim- 

 bers several problems must be solved. 

 For instance, it is desirable that the 

 wood used in greenhouse construction be 

 painted white, in order that it will re- 

 fleet as much light as possible. Conse- 

 quently, a preservative must be use* 

 which will allow the treated timbers to 

 hold a coat of white paint. Again, no 

 preservative can be used which will in 



any degree affect the growing plants. 

 It is probable, however, that these diffi- 

 culties can be overcome, and the com- 

 pletion of the investigation will be 

 watched with interest. 



The investigations in wood preserva- 

 tion by the use of creosote, which la 

 nothing more than the dead oil of coal 

 tar and of zinc chloride, is considered 

 of such importance by the government 

 that one branch of a bureau in the 

 United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture — the Office of Wood Preservation 

 in the Forest Service — is given over en- 

 tirely to the work of experiments in co- 

 operation with railroad companies, min- 

 ing corporations and individuals who de- 

 sire to prolong the life of the timber 

 which they use. Advice and practical 

 assistance are furnished to all who re- 

 quest it of the forester at Washington. 



Finishing a Batch of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. 



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