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. 
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, 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 fron: 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, 
rabbits 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. 
Loss of flowers is the first evidence of something wrong. This may result from sudden 
changes, drafts, too high a temperature in summer and in winter it may result if 
temperature goes much under 60° for more than an hour or two. 
African Violets grown at a congenial temperature are usually killed if subjected to 
lower than 40°. It may be that if kept at 50° for some time they might then survive a 
lower temperature. But they neither grow nor flower at 50°. Therefore it is impossible 
for us to send you plants by mail in winter, to a cold climate. In favorable weather we 
can usually send to warmer sections of the south. Express is safer. Nor do we ship on 
very hot days in summer. We plan to ship so that they do not arrive to you on a week end 
and thus remain in a carton a day or two longer. 
As growers seeking to sell plants to amateurs, we are interested in your success and 
for that reason we plan our shipping dates as explained and tell you how to grow them 
when you receive them. It is not enough that you receive nice plants in bud or bloom. 
They must continue to grow and bloom for you. Some growers overlook one factor. Mrs. 
Rector in her fine book on African Violets relates the practice of one grower who keeps 
his greenhouses heated to 80°. The plants grow more rapidly and flower much younger 
at this temperature but when transferred to living rooms, most of the old top dies off 
and the plants do not flower again for from 6 mo. to one year. Our Saintpaulia Green- 
house is heated and air conditioned. The thermostats are set to regulate the temperature 
range to that which is usually found in living rooms. Thus there is no great shock to set 
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