Evening star., 1946-08-02
Readers Clearing House

window and the pot broke in dozens
of pieces. My sister picked up the
sad remains with the roots showing
through the soil and put the, whole
thing, together with a few bits ref
pot, into a little enamel pan and
kept water in it. When I returned
I thought my violet was doomed,
but in few days it began to bloom
for the first time. Encouraged, on
the week end I walked down to some
woods and filled new pot with sou
4 got there. The violet took to the
new pot but quit blooming. Last
year in the summer it opened up and
bloomed beautifully for few
months. This year it began bloom
ing in May and has had many
blooms ever since Once I counted
21 blooms on it. Now it has about Is
I keep the plant In a south win
dow where it gets no sun but lots
Of light in the summer, I keep the
pot standing in dish of water In
the winter l have to- put the violet
in north window because hot radi-
ators are under the other windows
can use
From Mrs. J. M. S., Brentwood, Md
To the reader who wanted to
know about her African violet that
doesn't bloom: Is it pot-bound? 1t
will not bloom until the roots are
pot bound. 1t should be placed at
a window but protected against the
direct rays of the sun. 1t needs plenty
Of moisture but should not have
water poured on the leaves. I keep
mine in round vegetable bowl and
keep water in the bowl at all times.
I have a rather deep bowl which Is
reflled two or three times week in
summer. My plant blooms from
about four to six weeks every three
or four months. Last week at the
height of its blooming season it
had 10 flowers at once and was
beautiful. 1t still has some flowers
and more buds are coming out. A
word of warning-dont get a tiny
pot so it will be pot-bound quicker.
It needs soil for food.
Three cheers for those who are
trying to do something about soap
operas" l think they insult the
intelligence of the average house.
wife
/ From L. A. L.. Cheuy ChaseJ
Mrs. G. w l.. of Chevy Chase in
quired about tole trays and how to
decorate them. The two following
books contain full information with
clear directions and many illustra
tions:
Early American Decoration" by
Esther Stevens Brazer, published by
the Pond Ekberg Co., Springfield
Mass.
Early American Stencils on Walls
and Furniture" by Janet Waring
published by William r. Scott, NY
The books may be obtained at the
Library Of Congress.
Mrs. r. r. of Warrenton, Va, in
quires about mealy bugs on African
vioiets. The most successful treat
ment for this is to make a fine sWah
by twisting very small piece of alb
sorbent cotton on toothpick or fine
knitting needle. Dip the swab in
denatured alcohol and touch the
mealy bug. This will instantly kill
the bug and dissolve the frothy Sc
cretion. A few days careful treat
ment will completely rid the violet
of this trouble.
| Use caution in not having the
sWab too wet so as to drop alcohol
on the leaves and stems.
AS to how much water should be
used: An African violet must al
ways be watered from the bottom
Set the pot in bowl of water ane
allow it to stand for IL to "a hours
Then remove from the water ane
wait until the outside leaves star
to droop little before giving i
more. Frequency of watering de.
pends upon climate and humidity.
From Mrs. c. j., Arlinaton.)
Mrs. r. r. Warrenton: If some
/ one in your family smokes, and will
| take very short time to blow smoke
directly on your plant once a da,
for two days, these bugs will disap.
pear.