atmosphere penetrated at noon in the summer when the sun is directly above or at 
“high declination.” Very little shading is needed on the greenhouse in winter. Treated 
thus, our plants bloom profusely all winter. Very likely, plants in a south window, 
anywhere in the north temperate zone, in winters, will be sufficiently shaded on the 
brightest days by a thin muslin curtain. It may not even be needed at all and on days 
of less than maximum intensity remove the shade. 
But summer sun is much stronger. One must give more shade. It should not, 
however, be too heavy. The color of the foliage will tell you what they can endure. 
When healthy plants have light, yellowish foliage they probably receive too much sun. 
Medium green is about right. Very dark green foliage indicates insufficient light and 
lack of flowers corroborates it. For checking, select a plant having green foliage, under 
normal conditions, not a dark foliage plant like Holly or Pink Delight nor one like 
Frosty having ivory or white areas. 
If your Saintpaulias do not flower altho they grow well and appear to be healthy, 
you need to check on all points we have mentioned. Light intensity and duration are 
important. In the far north we have customers near the Arctic Circle where there is 
full daylight only in summer. Here the only possibility of winter flowers is the use of 
artificial light. They express interest in fluorescent lighting. Mrs. Rector, in How To 
Grow African Violets (which you should have,—see our book list), says that an 80 watt 
fixture, 18” above the soil, has been found to give good growth and free flowering. 
Greenhouse growers who force lilies for Easter are able to advance the blooming date 
by the use of electric light. Any kind of light will do provided the plants receive 15 to 
30 foot candles (as measured by a photographic light meter) for 12 hours duration, 
daily. This should be tried in the northern states where winter days are short and dull. 
Humidity. The humidity of our houses is likely to be not much over 25%. One can 
increase the humidity around the plants sufficiently by setting the plants in saucers or 
in a long tray that will hold several pots. A chick feeder with guards removed makes a 
good tray. These may be partly filled with small gravel. Set pots on top of gravel and 
pour in water until it does not quite touch pots. 
Pests. Be sure to keep your plants free of insect pests. One of the most common on 
house plants is the mealy bug. Examine plants frequently for pests. Mealy bugs look 
like tiny specks of cotton. One way to remove and kill them is to use a bit of cotton on 
the end of a toothpick. Dip the cotton in alcohol and pick off the bugs. Do not touch 
foliage with the alcohol. Wonder Garden Spray, used as a spray is effective. A badly 
infested plant should be discarded or at least removed from vicinity of all other house 
plants. All effective insecticides are poisonous. You must not breathe the fumes. You 
must avoid skin contact. See our listing. 
Cyclamen mites are most destructive. The center of an infected plant takes on an 
abnormal appearance and changes to a different color, usually grey. It becomes rough 
in appearance and young foliage is misshaped. Mite spreads to all the plants and effective 
measures must be at once applied. We have found the most effective remedy is to spray 
with Wonder Garden Spray, which is listed under “Supplies.” Immediately remove 
infected plants into quarantine. Do not handle infected plants, then healthy plants. 
Customers are invited to visit our nursery when in Los Angeles area. Drive east 
on Garvey, N. on Azusa, E. on Arrow Hwy. to Esther St., S. one block, or take 
La Verne bus. Get off 2nd street east of Bonita High School. 
Distant states, Hawaii, Alaska, Cuba, Europe, etc., should include enough for 
delivery by Air Parcel Post. We have shipped as far as Denmark, nearly 6,000 miles, 
this way and plants arrived in almost perfect condition. They did not quit blooming. 
We ship every week to Hawaii, frequently to Cen. America, Mex., Bermuda, Cuba and 
other West Indies, Alaska and even to the Philippines. These must go by air mail. We 
charge the customer the excess of Air Parcel Post above the cost to our 8th postal zone. 
Please state in your order that you will pay the difference promptly if your estimate is 
too low. But send your estimated amount with order. 
We usually succeed in delivering plants in excellent to perfect condition. We 
guarantee our plants to arrive in a living condition. 
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