Evening star., 1950-12-22
Readers Clearing House
Conducted by BETSY CAsWELL
VIOLETS.
From Mrs. r. p. H.,
Harpers Ferry, w. Va

From Mrs. r. P. H.,
Harpers Ferry, w. Va
Daring once again to beard the
wrath of the RICH readers who are
bored with African violet chit
chat, I hasten to the aid of Mrs.
c. H. NJ, Deal.
She asks why the leaves of her
purple violet just droop. If they
just droop and are not limp and
jelly like. they can be helped by
supporting the leaves in a hori-
zontal position next time you
water. I have a kettle just a
couple of inches smaller in diam
eter than many of my plants. 1t
is also just about as deep as a
flower pot. I put about three
inches of water into this kettle and
prop the leaves on the side and
leave it in that position until the
soil is damp on top.
If your plant is turning jelly
like starting at the outer leaves
you probably have root rot, or
crown rot. My advice in such case
would be to take a few good stiff
leaves from the center and grow
another plant. I have tried many
ways of combating this rot but
found none successful. 1t is
thought to be caused by over.
watering and I believe that is
true.
Do not worry about your pink
violet which has stopped blooming
after heavy period of bloom. It
is resting and will do so for about
three months. Do not water quite
as much as usual, do not fertilize
until you see signs of buds. You
might loosen the soil little with
A fork, gently.
From Mrs. B.K.M., Washington
To Mrs. C. H. M: First of all
if M. F. NJ, Washington, or any
others don't care to read about
the care of African violets just
skip it, that is what I do when
there are so many articles about
keeping babies covered up and
thumb sucking. I am now a
grandmother and interested in
violets or any other house plant
that can be raised in a small
apartment.
Mrs. c. H. M: If your pink violet
has stopped blooming that is al
right as the plant has to have
rest period. it will bloom again,
just keep the plant healthy. AS
to your purple plant whose leaves
just droop. have two that are in
bloom and have SO many leaves
that they hang over the pot. I
have just put folded strips of
aluminium wrap under the leaves
to hold them up. If your plants
are wilted and have limp leaves
I am afraid they have root rot
and for that I take the plant out
of the pot. wash off all of the
dirt. from the roots and break off
the wilted leaves, then put the
plant in a glass of water and
watch it.
Make new roots and it then
can be replanted in the earth.
I have a pink one that is now
blooming while growing in the
water with all new roots. I don't
replant it in the earth until it
stops blooming. I have had sew
eral that have bloomed while be-
ing in the water.
I do enjoy the RICH and am so
glad it is open to all who care to
exchange their recipes and daily
experiences.
SILVER FISH?
From Mrs. FIR, Washington
I have read in the RCH of a
treatment for silver fish. Not hav-
ing them at that time, and think
ing I never would, I did not keep
the clipping. I have discovered
recently that my home on the
shore has them and I am quite
worried. We have sprayed very
faithfully with DDT but it does
no good. Would some one please
send me information as to where
l can get materials TO kill them.
X y
RECIPE WANTED?
From Mrs. J. B., Wdshingt0nJ
Can any one give me recipe
for Italian cannoli cream filling?
I would appreciate it very much
For Mrs. j. O.. Riverdale: The
following is an excellent Harvard
beet recipe.
One-fourth cup sugar, / table
spoon cornstarch. "a cup water. "a
cup vinegar. No. 2 can or 212
cups cooked beets, l tablespoon
butter or margarine, salt and
pepper.
Mix sugar and cornstarch, add
u,o for a,,d v,ipooor Roll < y,,i,,,,toc