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20 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



August 10, 1911. 



and incorporate it thoroughly when dig- 

 ging. You can apply top-dressings of 

 the sheep manure or fine bone later on, 



when the plants require some stimulant, 

 lightly pointing over the surface after 

 applying it. C. W. 



CATEBFILLABS ON FERNS. 



There are green caterpillars on our 

 Whitmani ferns. They look the same 

 as those that attack mignonette. Can 

 you suggest a remedy? G'. F. 



Try dusting the plants with Slug Shot 

 or with powdered hellebore. If this 

 does not give results, a weak solution 

 of Paris green or arsenate of lead will 

 do the work, but there is some danger 

 of injury to the young foliage if the 

 arsenic preparations are used too 

 strong. W. H. T. 



SOIL FOB BOSTON FEBNS. 



We are thinking of growing some 

 specimen ferns for decorative pur- 

 poses and should like to get some in- 

 formation on the subject. What kind 

 of soil and what kind of fertilizers are 

 best and how should they be used? Is 

 it advisable to pinch oflf the runners or 

 should they be potted as roots? I am 

 speaking of the Boston fern and its 

 sports. S. & S. 



Almost any good top soil will answer 

 for Boston ferns, with the addition of 

 a moderate quantity of well rotted 

 stable manure. A good soil for the 

 purpose is composed of rotted sod to 

 which is added one-fourth of manure. 



Pot firmly and keep the runners 

 clipped off. A slight shade on the glass 

 is beneficial during midsummer, but is 

 not needed after September 15. When 



the plants get heavily rooted, an occa- 

 sional feeding with manure water is 

 helpful in keeping up the color of the 

 foliage. W. H. T. 



APHIS ON FEBNS. 



What can I do to get rid of small 

 black insects on sword ferns? They 

 are the most troublesome on the new 

 fronds. I do not find them in the 

 greenhouse, but my customers are* 

 troubled with them occasionally. 



E. A. C. 



From the description it seems most 

 probable that the insects in question 

 are aphis, and in that case spraying 

 with a weak solution of nicotine ex- 

 tract would be the best remedy. A 

 solution consisting of one part of the 

 extract to 300 parts of water would 

 answer for this purpose, provided the 

 ])lanta are not exposed to the sun while 

 wet with the solution. W. H. T. 



PLATE GLASS CONSEBVATOBY. 



Alfred B. Burk, of Philadelphia, has 

 built a conservatory that is unique. 

 The accompanying illustration serves 

 to show the exterior appearance of the 

 structure. It is built like an enclosed 

 pergola, with plate glass walls and 

 roof. The architects were Simon & 

 Bassett and they describe the archi 

 tecture of the conservatory as "in the 

 order of the Italian Benaissance; a 

 style suited to the intended purpose. 



affording a design at once picturesque 

 and dignified. This design has for its 

 notable feature a row of white granite 

 monolithic columns, extending along 

 the entire facade, giving the place a 

 really noble perspective. The simplic- 

 ity of construction may be understood 

 from the f acf that each space between 

 these columns is filled with a single 

 plate of glass. The introduction of plate 

 glass as the main material in the con- 

 struction of this modern plant house 

 was a bold departure from established 

 standards recognized by builders, and 

 it was accordingly viewed with general 

 disfavor. It required a departure from 

 the old style of structural work in a 

 great many respects, the plans for 

 which were carefully worked out by 

 the designers, in conjunction with the 

 builders." 



The structure is 30x100 and stands at 

 the top of a succession of terraces, 

 beautifully laid out* The house is prac- 

 tically everlasting, being made exclu- 

 sively of stone, plate glass and steel, 

 but it is of interest more because of its 

 unique than for its practical features. 



The illustrations are supplied by Pat- 

 ton's Monthly, published by the Pitts- 

 burg Plate Glass Co. 



WESTEBN OBOWEBS OBOANIZE. 



A call for a meeting of western grow- 

 ers of gladioli and dahlias recently was 

 sent out over the signatures of E. T. 

 Barnes, Spencer, Ind.; W. K. Fletcher, 

 Des Moines, la.; H. W. Koerner, Mil- 

 waukee, Wis.; N. L. Crawford, La 

 Grange, 0.; E. S. Thompson, Benton 

 Harbor, Mich., and W. W. Woollen, 

 Indianapolis, Ind. Pursuant to this 

 call, a number of the growers of these 

 flowers met at the Sherman house, Chi- 

 cago, August 5, and organized under 

 the name of the Western Dahlia and 

 Gladiolus Association. The resolutions 

 under which the association was or- 

 ganized state the objects as follows: 

 To disseminate knowledge of the va- 

 rieties and culture of the dahlia and 

 gladiolus among the people, and for the 

 pleasure and profit of the growers. 

 There are two classes of membership, 

 active and associate. The associate 

 members enjoy all the privileges, ex- 



Cofuenratory Built at Philadelphia, Quite Distinct from the Usual Style. 



