OG 
CR) POSES) DE) A ES-ES () CEE 
To treat crown rot, slice off the plant at the 
soil level, scrape out all trace of the rot, and re- 
Sa in a saucer or cup of sterile sand or vermi- 
culite. 
Q. I water my plants every five to seven 
days. Have been wondering if it would prevent 
the possibility of crown rot if they were watered 
oftener but with less water. Mrs. E.C., Iowa. 
A. Best idea is to water your plant by the 
way the soil feels rather than by the calendar. 
Water enough to keep the soil just barely moist 
at all times. Watering is not the only cause of 
crown rot, either. Burning of roots by excessive 
use of fertilizers is a frequent cause. Dipping or 
spraying plants on damp days when they cannot 
dry out properly is often fatal. 
@. What causes young Pe to develop 
loose crowns and get wobbly? Mrs. E.N.H., 
Pennsylvania. 
A. Lots of things. A wobbly plant, like a 
wobbly lady, is not necessarily sick. You just 
have to engineer a little bit to get it to hold still 
in the right places. In the case of violets, if you 
pack the soil pretty tight up right under the 
leaves, and then water carefully from the top for 
a month or so, you will encourage root growth at 
the top of the pot rather than all at the base. 
Q. On my Ruffles I had one double flower, 
which has formed a seed pot. If this seed ripens, 
would it be of any value to sow it? Mrs. K.S., 
Michigan. 
A. Heck yeah. The results should be in- 
teresting! 
Q. I want a double white violet. Will you 
put my name on your waiting list to be sent one 
as soon as you get one? 
A. Must respectfully decline. We are not 
set up to book orders months ahead (much less 
years!) and such arrangements usually wind up 
with strained relations on all sides. 
Q@. How must I take care of a variegated 
violet? Do they need more fertilizing than others? 
Mrs. F.J.P., Illinois. 
A. Well, for one thing, Mae baby it. They’re 
kind of a pain in the neck. The more variegation 
there is on them, the more sickly 
they are. They waste away and 
fre V2 die of you N’T fertilize ’em, 
Q Q and their roots are so tender that 
c \ you often kill ’em if you DO fer- 
tilize, so choose your poison. If 
by any chance you take such good 
care of them that they flourish, 
a like as not the things will start to 
: grow all green, with no variega- 
tion at all. In other words, lady, enjoy it while 
you can. 
So long for now, 
BI i Cy RE ARI. TERRES: ine Rie SERED | CREB | SRB 7 Ly < 
