THE GESNERIA FAMILY — Gesneriaceae 
This family includes the following genera: Gloxinia, Saintpaulia, Espicis, Achimenes, 
Smithiantha, Streptocarpus, Aeschyanthes, etc. Some of these are listed in our spring cata- 
log. Our Achimenes are now blooming and it appears that we will again have a large 
crop. See our Spring Cat., out in Jan. 
I am pleased to tell you that the Gesneria Society has recently received new impetus 
under the leadership of E. F. Smith, sometimes known as Plantsmith, as temporary 
President. You are invited to join for the rest of this year for $1.50. You will receive two 
news letters and later you will receive the year book. Send to Mrs. John F. Darsow, 3749 
Linders Dr., Palo Alto, Calif. 
Gloxinias. We have no tubers for sale this fall but we advise that you plant seed as 
they flower in five months from seed. 
Gloxinia Culture. The soil may be one part by volume of sharp, coarse sand and 2 
parts peat or peat and leaf mould. Add 1 tablespoon bone meal and | teaspoon blood 
meal for a 6” pot. Mix thoroly. Set tuber a little under soil surface and mulch with 4” 
wet sphagnum. Last of all water until a little runs thru at bottom. These are tropical 
plants. The best starting temperature is at least 80°. They will start, but a little more 
slowly at 70°, with 60° or over at night. Keep the pots moist and they can be in full 
sun until foliage appears, then slightly shaded. The plants need good light and more 
sun than most Gesneriaceae. Leggy plants result from insufficient light. Fertilize with 
Spoonit or liquid manure about every 3 or 4 weeks. Sun must not touch wet foliage. 
Gloxinia Seed, Houdyshels, saved from our named varieties, assorted. This contains 
the largest number of seed. Antonelli hybrids, from their best new varieties, assorted. 10 
or more seed. Beacon. Rich dark red flowers. This and the following named varieties 
come true to name. Crimson Glow. Name describes color. Free blooming. Rose Sensation. 
Brilliant carmine rose. Swiss Emblem. Brilliant scarlet red, white margin. Your choice 
of packets 50c ea. The 6 packets for $2.75. The number of seed in each packet is in pro- 
portion to their unit value and from 10 to 50. Tho tiny every seed grows. Send stamped, 
addressed envelope for all seed packets. Also 3% sales tax for California. 
Culture. Place fine grained vermiculite or terralite in the bottom of a plastic refriger- 
ator dish 3” to 4” deep and moisten well. Plant seed very thinly over surface. Keep 
covered with lid until plants are ready to pick out. One must make sure that moisture 
does not escape and add water if it does. They may be picked out and transplanted into 
2” pots after second pair of leaves develop. We also plant seed in 9” pans, half filled with 
peat and milled sphagnum. When planted cover pot with glass. We grow many rare seeds 
by either method, including African Violets. Gloxinias flower at about 5 months. 
Streptocarpus are fibrous rooted evergreen and can only be moved as growing plants. 
The culture is much the same as for Gloxinias except as to temperature. They thrive in 
a cool house and are easily grown in a lath house in summer. The color range is similar. 
The flowers are smaller and freely produced. They are followed by long twisted seed 
pods, hence their name. Blooming size, $1.00. Double plants, $1.50. 
Streptocarpus seed. Assorted colors from fine strains. Handle as advised for Gloxinia 
seed. $1.00/pkt. and self addressed stamped envelope. 
S. Wiesmoor Hybds. These are claimed to be entirely new and superior to any 
others. Fls. resemble orchids and are on wiry stems, useful for cut flowers. These are 
Dutch import and expensive. You therefore get fewer seed for $1.00. (Stamped, addressed 
envelope.) 
Episcias resemble African Violets in form and other ways, yet are entirely distinct. 
African violets flower profusely. Episcias are very showy foliage plants but have brilliant, 
usually red, flowers, not so freely produced. They are natives of the American tropics, 
not African. Their flowers are solitary or clustered, not in cymes as in African Violets. 
The resemblance is casual, not botanical. But their red flowers and general contour of the 
plants have resulted in promotion of E. fulgida (often sold as E. coccinea) as a Red Violet. 
They are very tender tropicals and should not be colder than 60°. At about 50° they are 
Nes 
