P. S. We have just received word that we shall have the following. These are not 
included in above collections. Limit one to a customer on all. We shall have very few. 
Cattleya. Orchid lavender with white throat. 35c. 
Escheriana. No description. 35c. 
Master Ingrami. Crimson red fls. 35c. 
Masterpiece. Rich medium purple. Bronze-green leaves, red stems. 50c. 
Nessida. Amethyst violet, cadmium center. Another “most beautiful of all.” 50c. 
AFRICAN VIOLETS — Saintpaulias 
The latter is the correct botanical name. They are the most popular of all house plants 
at the present time and they are likely to retain this eminent position in popular favor 
indefinitely, as they deserve it. 
Saintpaulias were discovered by Baron von Saint Paul who sent seed to Europe where 
they first flowered in 1893. They are natives of the Usambara district of Tanganyika, 
equatorial east Africa. Tanganyika includes Lake Victoria, source of the Nile, on the 
north and extends 12° south. It is entirely in the tropical zone. It is always summer, with 
almost no variation or seasonal changes in the climate. Due to the hot Indian Ocean on 
the east, the humidity is high. 
They were discovered by the Baron in two places, both in tree covered areas: In 
one at an elevation under 150 ft., they were found both in rich soil full of humus and 
in the fissures of limestone rocks. In the second place, they were growing on granite 
rock at an elevation of 2,500 feet. 3 
The mean average temperature at lower elevations is 80° with little variation on 
either side. It is a “mean” temperature for the white races and few live there. At higher 
elevations the mean average is about 70°, which is not uncomfortable, but monotonous. 
The Saintpaulias soon spread from Europe to most countries where house plants are 
grown. Their popularity was instant and always growing in intensity. Mrs. Wilson, in her 
book, “The African Violet’ records the first real test of their popularity. In the fall of 
1946, an Atlanta, Ga., nursery sponsored the first African Violet Show. The thousands 
who attended from everywhere created a traffic problem which extra police could scarcely 
handle. Later, someone in Manheim, Pa., grew a plant with an off-white flower. It was 
advertised as a yellow, and created a furor. Collectors from many states visited Manheim 
to see it, to buy plants or leaves. Local citizens were besieged by questions to the point 
of much discomfort. The myth of a yellow Saintpaulia still lives and we get inquiries 
for them nearly every day. We would like to answer this question once for all. But it will 
not be for always. It will crop up for many years. 
There is, there never has been and there probably never will be a yellow Saintpaulia. 
Culture of Saintpaulias. Climate and soil conditions in the habitat of a plant supply 
a good starting point for the discovery of their proper cultivation. Plants possess a variable 
degree of tolerance and adaptability. Often a plant or an animal, transplanted to new 
conditions do better in the wild or under culture in the new situation. For example, rab- 
bits in Australia, the English Sparrow in America and Cactus in Africa appear to have 
gained by transplantation. 
African Violets under the hand of man have been vastly improved and many new 
colors and forms have been produced. Grotei, the climbing African violet, and other new 
species have been discovered. They have also adapted themselves to somewhat different 
conditions. They are strictly house plants only. 
The advised range of temperatures for winter is 60° at night and 70° daytime. They 
might do a little better at 10° higher but that is uncomfortable for people in winter 
clothing and summer brings about 10° increase. 
The plants do not like sudden changes nor great changes. A nearly even temperature, 
within a limit of 12° between high and low is better. They are bound to have a greater 
range sometimes and if not more than about 15°, they are unlikely to lose their flowers. 
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