GREENHOUSE 
GROWING PALMS FROM SEED. 
Seed may be sown any time during the 
year, early spring being preferred. The 
seed should be covered about their own 
depth in soil. A good loamy soil, 2 parts, 
and 1 of sharp sand, for the strong growing, 
kinds and for the small and slender species 
add a small portion of peat. 
The seed pans or trays should be kept 
moist and over a good bottom heat. Moss 
is best in the bottom of the pans; use no. 
broken crocks Pot up in the smallest 
sized pots as soon as one leaf has formed and 
place in a good warm house. 
The seed germinates in 2-3 months and 
usually are ready to pot up in 6-8 months. 
The supply of seed of nearly all the Palms 
is very uncertain and therefore orders should 
be placed well in advance. 
MALABAR MELONS. 
Mrs. Davlin of Mass. writes: 
Last spring I planted Malabar Melons 
that you were able to get for me. My 
harvest is 2 smallish melons but beautiful. 
There were many blossoms but they shriveled 
up and dropped off the vine. 
Could you tell me why? Could you alsa 
tell me if the seed will be all right to plant 
next spring? 
REPLY: I would be inclined to think that 
your plants lacked sufficient water during 
the summer months. It is a tropical vine 
from French Africa and no doubt requires 
a similiar treatment as is told in the article 
in this issue on the New Guinea Bean. 
Another point may be a cold spell when 
it was in flower which would tend to blast 
the flowers. The seed you grew, if well 
formed, should grow and I suggest that you 
try them in a protected sunny position, give 
plenty of water when growing and try hand 
pollinazing a few flowers; of course, the soil 
should be reasonably rich. 
THE NEW GUINEA BUTTER BEAN. 
One of our readers from Pennslyvania, 
asked about the New Guinea Butter Bean 
and Mr. Wheeler of New Zealand kindly 
sends us seed and description. 
It is called the Guada Bean there and is 
a popular vegetable of tropical climates. 
While it is described as a bean, it really is a 
vigorous climbing Gourd, producing a long 
fruit similiar in quality to the Vegetable 
Marrow but often attains a length of about 
_ 4 feet. 
Pick it when about 12-16 inches long 
and cook the same as one would the Mar- 
rows. 
It grows best in a well drained, friable soil 
in a sunny place, giving it a strong support 
6 feet high. Here in the North, probably it 
should be started indoors in pots but in the 
South it can be planted up to mid-summer. 
It stands no frost and is very tender. 
Plant 2-3 seeds to the hill and thin to one 
when they get started. Space hills 6-8 feet 
apart. Plenty of water .when growing ig 
beneficial. (We will have seed of this to 
offer this spring; packets are 25¢ each). 
When setting out plants it is very Import- 
ant that the proper spacing is necessary for 
their beauty at maturity. 
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 12 ISSUES 
ALBIZZIA LEBBEK 
Oh! the joy of the magical Southland 
With it’s tropical Jinnglebell trees 
That waft their sweet mellow music 
With each gentle evening breeeze. 
To lull you to sweet restful dreams 
Of some quiet and lazy lagoon 
Festooned with mimosas and orchids 
‘Neath a silvery Florida moon. 
Oh! the glory of tropical waters 
Phosphorescent with soft glowing light 
Rippling with staccato cadence 
Ali through the Florida night. 
Myriads of dancing reflections 
Palms silhouetted above 
Glorious Florida moonlight 
The tropical life that we love. 
W. A. Pool, Florida. 
WHO CAN HELP HERE? 
Mrs Given from Alaska writes, “I am 
ordering more of the Japanese Morning 
Glories of which I am very fond. However, 
we have one trouble — some little black bug 
arrives from nowhere and eats off the outer 
epidermis of the leaves so that they look 
like albinis. Must work at night as we very 
rarely see them. We have used various 
sprays but they do not seem to deter them. 
The Morning Glory plants are now near 
our African Violets, which are completely 
unaffected by any bugs. Plants are some- 
times in the house, othertimes in the green- 
house, but same trouble prevails. 
SEEDS WANTED. 
One of Australian customers wants seed 
of the following. Any of our readers able 
to supply them, please advise. 
Kalmia_ latifolia. 
Befaia racemosa. (Tar Flower) 
Vaccinium arboreum. 
Pieris floribunda. 
Zenobia pulverulenta. 
Also the following species of Rhododend- 
rons: 
R. alabamense, arborescens, atlantieum, 
austrinum, Bakeri, calendulaceum, canad- 
ense, canascens, cumberlandense, fastigifol- 
eum, furbishii, nudiflorum, oblongifolium, 
occidentale, prunifolium, roseum,  serrulat- 
um,speciosum, vaseyi and viscosum. 
ALASKIAN COTTON. 
The Alaskian Cotton in the species angust- 
ifolium, the heads are raggedy and hang 
downwards; Scheuchzeri is equivalent to 
chamissonis, the bronze species, except the 
large, single heads are pure white. 
Other species of Cotton listed in The 
Alaska Wild Flower, are alpinum — tiny 
many stems springing from one crown; 
gracile — similiar to angustifolium but small- 
er and found only in the interior; opacum — 
heads silky and close, not fluffy, very tall 
and found in the swamps of the interior; 
polystachion — tall, heavy stem with several 
heads; vaginatum — immense ‘niggerheads’ 2 
feet or more above wet ground, all from the 
interior. 
Alice M. Given, Alaska. 
MAXLITE. 
We would like to hear from any reader 
who is using this material as a substitute for 
glass on their greenhouses. 
Other plastic screen as ‘‘Vim-Lite” and 
“Screen-Glass’” would also be of interest. 
Your experiences would be of interest 
to other readers. 
Fertilizing indoor plants during the winter 
months can often do harm; it is best to wait 
till growth starts in the spring, 
357 
DO YOU OWN A GREENHOUSE? 
If you are one of those fortunate garden- 
ers who own a small greenhouse, want you 
write us some of your experiences and sug- 
gestions? 
The following are suggested topics. Thea 
size and type of your house and what 
changes you would make if rebuilding. How 
have you solved the heating problem. What 
type of flowers do you find best to grow? 
Have you any pictures, especially on 
attractive arrangements for the bench plant- 
ings? 
What is your idea for an ideal amateur 
greenhouse, especially where the owner is 
occupied at other work during the day? 
For the best article that we print on this 
subject, we will give a copy of, ‘“The Amat- 
eur’s Greenhouse”, by Macself and for the 
second best, a copy of “A. B. C. of the 
Greenhouse”’ by Sherwell-Cooper. and third 
best, a copy of, “Simple Greenhouse Man- 
agement” by Dakers. 
Pictures will add to the value of the article. 
VEGETABLE 
SEEDS 
The following seeds will be of special 
interest to those growing fiat plants in the 
greenhouse. Prices are based on purchas- 
es not less than a total quantity per order 
of one pound accepted at these prices; 4 oz. 
of a variety at the pound rate. 
CABBAGE: per tb. 
Early Jersey Wakefield...............0.00.. $1.70 
Stein’s Early Flat Dutch... “ee Le O 
Tate: -Flat | Dutch. vec cance 1.70 
Danish, | Ballheadijaeenwen ee eee BO 
OTHER VEGETABLE SEEDS: 
MUSTARD: Southern Giant Curled... 85 
KALE: Siberian Improved............00...00... 90 
TURNIP: Purple Top White Globe... . .50 
SPINACH: Bloomsdale...............ccccccceceees 45 
Hollandial > .0)....Geac acai tipi eae -50 
Kina OL: Den marke fn. cc. sadesritedoesctpy avec 50 
ING WO ZCALAT icc ccestsncssnes eeesescrteceapehet= ioe .50 
Virginia Blight Resistant... 50 
TOMATO: Greaier Baltimore................ 2.50 
Marg lobe teiccccecccte ss ccgsverseretn ances tecmnetteacateaseas 2.50 
RATE OTS We cvesovsasa ses Chenchoh waungeiveraterneeere teres 2.50 
New Stone... peaeoU 
Bonny BeSi e ccccveeewssvaloneteatereneenancere vcd 2.75 
PEPPER: California Wonde................... 4.00 
FRU DY RING ites os trereceneooees niostiere cased tucmtedpagsdce 4.00 
BEET: Early Blood Turnip..................00 1.00 
CUCUMBER: Chicago Pickling................ 1.99 
Bionind Gr@eri ies eae ret ceeeen ete teeor canes 1.50 
ALL PRICES POSTPAID and SUBJECT 
TO BEING UNSOLD ON RECEIPT OF 
YOUR ORDER ORDER NOW 
HARRY E. SATER Dimondale Michigan 
DEC. CUTTING IN THE GREENHOUSE. 
The following cuttings should be made 
during the month of December if their 
growth are to be timed right. 
Acacia: Half ripened wood; 60-70 degrees F. 
Acalypha: 60-70 degrees. 
Agathaea: 55 degrees Far. 
Akebia: Hard wood; 45-50 degrees. 
Allamanda. Ripe or soft wood; 50-60 with 
a little bottom heat. 
Begonia: Leaf cuttings 65-70; Lorraine Type. 
Coleus: 60-65 degrees. 
Erica: Use short cuttings from strong plants; 
cover wiih bell-jar; not over 60 degrees. 
Gardenia: Soft wood; keep closed; bottom 
heat; 65-70 degrees. 
Jasminum. Ripe wood; 50-65. 
Lobelia: Take cuttings all winter from. sel- 
lected potted plants. 
Moonvine: Keep cool. 
Pelargonium: Geraniums; 55-60. 
