APJi»< 1> 1900. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



37 



cpllent fertilizers. In case the plants 

 have a starved appearance, try the eflfects 

 .)f an occasional watering with weak 

 nitrate of soda water or either of the 

 aforementioned chemicals. Cow manure 

 water promotes the growth of leaves at 

 I ho expense of flowers. C. W. 



TREATMENT FOR PLANTS. 



I am enclosing some geranium leaves, 

 >\ liich appear upon an apparently healthy 

 plant, and I have been unable to find 

 the cause. Will you kindly tell me what 

 it is, also the remedy? C. W. A. 



This trouble appears to be fairly com- 

 mon at present, as numerous inquiries 

 similar to yours are being received. The 

 cause of the trouble I cannot give with- 

 out knowing somewhat of cultural condi- 

 tions. Give your plants a light, sunny 

 house. Let them dry out well between 

 waterings and watering them overhead, 

 also keep the atmosphere on the dry side. 

 Keep them in a temperature not exceed- 

 ing 50 degrees at night. Keep the 

 plants spread out to let light and sun 

 get in among them, and remove all dead 

 or diseased foliage. I have not found 

 spraying of any benefit for this leaf 

 blight, but care in watering, cleanliness 

 above and below the benches, and the 

 avoiding of anything approaching a 

 close, stagnant atmosphere, should pre- 

 vent its spread. Carefully pick over af- 

 fected plants; if only a few are badly 

 affected, throw them out. C. W. 



KILLING WEEDS. 



Theodore Wirth uses a preparation of 

 his own manufacture for killing weeds 

 in roads and walks. In the bulletin of 

 the American Association of Park Super- 

 intendents he gives the formula, as fol- 

 lows: 



"Take three gallons of water and 

 place in kettle over fire and when warm 

 put in two pounds of soda. Let it come 

 to the boiling point and then cool off to 

 about 180 degrees; then add one pound 

 white arsenic; boil twenty minutes, stir- 

 ring with a long stick frequently; when 

 cool add seven gallons of water to the 

 above quantities. The utensils must not 

 he used for any other purpose, on ac- 

 count of the arsenic. Be careful not to 

 inhale fumes while boiling. The cost of 

 material is about one cent per gallon. 



"I use one of our regular sprinkling 

 carts holding 500 gallons, on which I 

 •lave mounted a small double action 

 pump, using %-inch hose and a Seneca 

 nozzle. "With this fine spray we save a 

 large amount of material and are enabled 

 to direct the spray where wanted, cover- 

 ing the ground thoroughly and forcing 

 the liquid into the ground. It is best 

 to apply after a rain, or if the ground is 

 dry, to sprinkle two or three hours be- 

 fore applying, as the killer enters more 

 easily and deeper than in dry ground. 

 1 protect the grass borders, it is well to 

 |iave one man pull a board ten to twelve 

 "iches wide and ten or more feet long 

 along the border as the man with the 

 "ozzle advances, in order to keep the fine 

 ^pray off the grass. 



ti I^ *^^^ work is done thoroughly in 

 "le first part of the season there will be 

 "^ weeds seen all the rest of the season. 

 ^' properly handled one gallon will cover 

 "■ix to -eight square yards. 



„ , \ ^^ writing this to induce others 

 ^'10 have not tried weed killers to make 

 '* TTial and benefit by it." 



Gloriosa Rothschildiana at the Boston Sprios Show. 



VIOLETS LIGHT COLORED. 



Kindly tell the cause of so many dou- 

 ble violets with white centers, which have 

 to be thrown away? The variety is Camp- 

 bell. I was never troubled this way be- 

 fore. W. C. P. 



Quito a number of growers are com- 

 plaining of this same trouble with Camp 

 bell violets this season. The real reason 

 is diflScult to explain. It may be caused 

 by some inherent weakness in your stock. 

 If this shows any signs of running out, 

 I would advise an infusion of new blood 

 from a reliable source. Have you used 

 hydrocyanic acid gas for fumigating pur- 

 poses? I have had several complaints 

 that this, while effective in controlling 

 aphis and other pests, has taken color 

 from the flowers. After the early part 

 of March a light shade on the glass will 

 help to keep color in your flowers. Strong 

 feeding will ruin the color of violets and 

 other flowers. Sheep manure and soot 



makes a safe stimulant, either in liquid 

 form or as a topdressing. C. W. 



PRINCESS OF WALES. 



Will you kindly inform me if I can 

 grow the Princess of Wales violet from 

 cuttings started in flats and set out in 

 the house, the same as the double violet 

 is grown, or is it necessary to grow them 

 in the field? Any information will be 

 gladly received. F. M. B. 



Unlike the doubles, the singles will not 

 give satisfaction if kept under glass. 

 They will grow and make immense plants, 

 but* flowers are practically nil. Plftnt 

 them in the field in rows two feet apart. 

 Keep well cultivated all summer. Cut off 

 runners, and do not house before Octo- 

 ber. If the plants have a little frost on 

 two or three occasions before housing, 

 to check their leaf growth, they will do 

 all the better. C. W. 



WORCESTER, MASS. 



The Aitken Co., conducting a flower 

 business in Worcester and Springfield, 

 the local store being at 424 Main street, 

 has been incorporated under Massachu- 

 setts laws with a capitalization of $5,000, 

 the par value of the stock being $100. 



The officers are Carl S. Meacban, pres- 

 ident, and Mark Aitken, treasurer. 



The capital stock has been paid for in 

 $2,000 cash and $3,000 worth of mer- 

 chandise. 



