Febbuaby 16, 1911. 



The Weekly Florists' Review^ 



9 



NEPHEOLEPIS ROOSEVELT. 



There seems no end to the nephrol- 

 epis sports, and the producer of each 

 always is able to show us several spe- 

 cial points of merit not possessed by 

 others. The latest, soon to be tested 

 by public opinion, is Nephrolepis 

 Eoosevelt. This plant was found in 

 November, 1908, by the American Eose 

 & Plant Co., of Springfield, O., and 

 while it has not been given a great 

 deal of publicity up to the present time, 

 it is being favorably mentioned by 

 those who have seen it and some grow- 

 ers are making strong predictions for 

 its future. 



The producers are showing single 

 plants grown in 6-inch pots measuring 

 over three feet across. These are cer- 

 tainly specimens, almost perfectly sym- 

 metrical, with full, finished centers and 

 wide, tapering fronds, which completely 

 hide the pot and show grace in droop- 

 ing habit. The rib of the frond is 

 strong but not stiff and, while the 

 pinnffi are of heavy texture, they do 

 not appear coarse. The wavy effect of 

 undulated pinnae is distinct and adds 

 materially to the attractiveness of this 

 fern. 



The Eoosevelt is a sport from Bos- 

 ton, and, the discoverers think, a de- 

 cided improvement over this variety. 

 They claim it will produce a larger and 

 more finished fern in small pots than 

 the Boston and that it is a stronger 

 maker of young plants. Their records 

 show two plants found November, 1908, 

 with 70,000 runners potted to October 

 1, 1910. This would indicate it has 

 the propagating qualities, which is an 

 important feature, but growers of fin- 

 ished specimen plants appreciate that 

 the value of Eoosevelt lies in the dis- 

 tinct, undulated pinnae and great quan- 

 tity of wide drooping fronds produced 

 in small pots. After careful inspection 

 of the growers' stock, one firm has 

 placed its order for overx 30,000 plants 

 of Nephrolepis Eoosevelt and makes 

 the assertion it will soon be considered 

 the leading commercial fern. 



Lodema Moore. 



SCALE ON FERNS. 



Enclosed you will find two pieces of 

 fern leaves with some sort of white 

 scale on them. What is this and what 

 shall I do to get rid of it? M. L. 



The fern fronds are infested quite 

 badly with scale, the white dots being 

 the young insects. This scale is quite 

 prevalent among the nephrolepis varie- 

 ties and is not an easy subject to dis- 

 pose of. Try dipping the plants in a 

 solution of nicotine extract, following 

 the directions which you will find on the 

 can. Shade the plants from the sun 

 after the dipping, until the foliage is 

 flry, and repeat the treatment in a week 

 or ten davs. W. H. T. 



TEMPERATURE FOR ADIANTUMS. 



I should like to know the proper 

 night and day temperatures in which to 

 grow the following varieties of adian- 

 tum: Cuneatum, Croweanum and Far- 

 leyense. E. H. 



in the liquid form for carnations, mums, 

 fuchsias, etc., one pound to twelve gal- 

 lons of water is plenty. Nitrate of 

 soda destroys slugs. Eibes. 



Adiantum cuneatum and A. Crowea- 

 num require a night temperature of 58 

 to 60 degrees, and in bright weather 

 70 to 75 degrees in the daytime, A. 

 Farleyense requires more heat; a night 

 temperature of 65 degrees, with a ris§ 

 of 10 to 15 degrees during the day, 

 usually gives good results. W. H. T. 



NITRATE OF SODA. 



How shall I use nitrate of soda? I 

 wish to use it in my house, on roses, 

 carnations, calla lilies and sweet peas 

 in the benches, and on all my pot 

 plants, such as ferns, palms, Sprengeri, 

 plumosus and soft-wooded bedding 

 plants. I also want to use it in the 

 field, on rose plants, carnation plants, 

 chrysanthemums, vegetables, etc. Please 

 tell me how to use it and the amount. 

 J. W. M. 



Nitrate of soda can be used with 

 great benefit to both outside and green- 

 house crops. It is necessary to be care- 

 ful, however, not to use too much, and 

 also to be sure not to use it on the 

 benches when the soil is in a dry state. 

 For use on vegetable ground, one pound 

 to the square rod is sufficient. For use 



THE GODFREY CALLA. 



Will someone please advise us how to 

 handle the Godfrey calla after the 

 blooming season is over? T. N. 



After flowering, if in pots, stand 

 them outdoors and gradually dry them 

 off. This should be early in June. If 

 in benches, gradually withhold water. 

 When the foliage has yellowed con- 

 siderably, lay the pots on their sides 

 and keep quite dry until time comes 

 to shake the plants out and repot, which 

 should be early in August. If you want 

 to strengthen small plants, put them 

 out in the field in well enriched ground, 

 or offsets can be similarly treated. Keep 

 them well cultivated and pot them up 

 about the last of August, when they 

 will be found to have increased sur- 

 prisingly. This calla is a splendid 

 variety and will soon largely supersede 

 the old C. ^thiopica. C. W. 



COAL SOOT AS FERTILIZER. 



Of what use as a fertilizer are the 

 cleanings from the flues of a boiler in 

 which good soft coal is used as fuel? 

 Is the soot good as a top-dressing for 

 carnations and chrysanthemums and to 

 mix in soil for flowering plants? 



M. B. 



Coal soot is the volatilized, uncon- 

 sumed portion of the fuel. It is thus 

 constituted: Charcoal, 371 parts; salts 

 of ammonia, 426; salts of potash and 

 soda, 24; oxide of iron, 50; silica, 65; 

 alumina, 31; sulphate of lime, 31; car- 

 bonate of magnesia, 2. It is an excel- 

 lent manure for nearly all kinds of 

 crops. Used as a liquid, one tablespoon- 

 ful to each quart of water brings good 

 results. It must never be applied to 

 plants that are in a state of rest. 



Eibes. 



Nephrolepis Roosevelt. 



