The Florida agriculturist., 1905-12-27

Gdl DdEIleS IcpOII thCll NlOiCtS
budded as though to bloom but never
opened Latt the supposed buds
burst open and were full of seed.
Two parties ask if there are barren
violets that never produce flowers but
make seed. The trouble with these
newly set vioIets was that they were
not strong enough at first to set buds
in the regular violet blooming period.
Later in the season they became
strong enough to follow out nature
in setting cleistogamOus buds. This
long word means ''fertiliZed in the
bud" Violets wind up their blooming
season with buds that never open, but
that fill out with an immense quantity
of seed Our friend need not worry.
There are no barren of7fowers viOlets.
When they become strong enough they
will any of them bloom.
HOya or Wax Plant.-There is a
tradition among flower growers that
it takes seven years for a HOya to
bloom. 1t does nothing of the sort.
n small plant purchased one spring
will bloom the next if treated rightly.
Nearly all hOusekeepers water their
HOyas too much through the winter,
when the plant needs semi-reSt.
Plants that need a let-up now and
then, so that they can stop growing
and rest for a time, rarely bloom well
the season after if this rest is denied
them. Give little water, and that at
long intervals, until mid-winter.
After that the HOya wakes up refresh
ed and is ready to grow and bloom.
Ornamental Pillar Vine.-There are
no handsOmer vines than the large
fOwered Clematis, Jackmanni, Hen
ryi, Md. Edward Andre, etc. They
are just tall enough without being too
Over-SrOwn, and have the dainty fes-
looming habit that Il pillar vine needs
first of all. More than that they are
the shOwiest vines we have, their
large, striking flowers almost hiding
the foliage in their prOfusiOn. | con-
slider them ahead of any vine for this
purpose.
Unthrifty and Ill-Shaped POinsettias
One lady says her POinsettia is a
thin, struggling plant; ungainly in
appearance. Another lady fails to get
"fiOwerS, as she calls the SNOWY
bractS of flaming red leaves that sur
round the insignificant true blossoms.
If POinSettiaS are ill-shaped. the spring
is the time to overcome this. Cut the
long, switchy branches into within
two or three inches of the main STEM
Give good, rich earth, and make sure
that the drainage is particularly deep
and good. Give abundance of water
all summer long. This is the first
stage of treatment. Bring to the
house in September or October. Now
we must work for flowers. which are
naturally produced about the holidays
Its tropical blood shows very plainly
at this time. 1t must have heat. or
it will not set flowers. Increase the
heat to about 40 degrees by day, which
Is the temperature of a warm ROOM
The gay bracts herald the appearance
of the flowers. Once out, the plant
may be kept at a much lower temper
ature, if this is wished. A good many
growers think they last longer in
brilliant display if kept at tempera-
ture of 60 or 65 degrees after the
bracts are once developed Water
with sparing hand after bringing in
door. A semi-rest should follow the
blooming period until spring.
Ja.smines.-A HOosier girl is puzzled
over the many 'JasmineS'' of the
different catalogues. 1t is a case of
common names again, i'm place of the
botanical ones. 1t seems as if almost
every shrubby or vining plant that