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VA ik V ARV VV VV a Vii VV ll VV 
Streaked Flowers, Bud Blast—If{ accompanied 
by white spots which develop to larger blotches 
on leaf reverse, see Thrips. Sudden temperature 
changes cause white streaks which radiate from 
the center of the blossom to the edge, also some 
deformity of flowers. Remember to put the win- 
dows down on cool nights. If you want to start 
a good brawl at your Violet Club meeting, ask 
what causes bud blast. Contending theories: stale 
alr, excessive nitrogen in the soil, low humidity, 
leaking gas, atomic radiations. 
Ol Man River—If you have a plant that’s 
“tired o’ livin’ and scared o’ dyin’ ”—won’t bloom, 
won't grow, won’t die—do this: saw the whole 
thing off at the soil level. If multiple-crown, 
separate. Place each crown in a pot or saucer of 
vermiculite or sterile sand (pour boiling water 
over it). Keep moist. When (and if) roots be- 
gin to form, feed mild nutrient solution. Shift to 
soil when roots are an inch or so long. 
Now, a propos of this last, I should say that 
plants that fit the description of a disease called 
“Stunt” have reacted favorably to this treatment. 
Either what we had wasn’t Stunt (supposed to be 
incurable) at all, or Stunt is caused by soil troubles 
of some sort and can be overcome. Would appre- 
eg the opinion of some of you violet experts on 
this. 
POTENTIAL PANIC TROUBLES 
(Can kill your plants if neglected) 
Mealybugs—Easily recognized by cottony mass 
(in which eggs are laid) down in the plant or on 
leaf reverse Bugs white, flattish, very slow-mov- 
ing. Young bugs pinkish, pin-head size. Easy to 
clean up if you only have a few. Swab off with 
cotton-tipped toothpick dipped in alcohol. Dip 
badly infested plants in NNOR spray solution. 
Droopy Foliage—lIf plant is limp all over and 
stays that way even after watering, (1) the roots 
are rotting, or (2) the crown is rotting, or (3) you 
have root nematodes. Slicing the crown off at soil 
level, scraping out all trace of brown matter, and 
re-rooting on sand, water, or vermiculite will foil 
the first two but will only delay the action of the 
last. See below for advanced cases of each. Rots 
thrive in soggy dirt. Roots don’t. Water care- 
fully. Remember that the weather can foul you 
up on this. Be niggardly about watering during 
damp days or seasons. 
Aphids—Not very likely to get these. Pale 
green varety sometimes attacks violets. Pin-head 
size slow-moving sucking insects. Tend to cluster 
together. Nicotine sulphate (Black Leaf 40) for 
these. 
he 
PANIC TROUBLES ae 
(Call out the squad) A (7 Pa } 
Advanced Crown Rot—Leaves de- ( tials 
compose one by one up the crown. \e 
If the violet is a very flat, one- i 
crown job, it can be laid low in 24 hours. Not 
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