Commercial violet culture; a treatise on the growing and marketing of violets for profit - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt: ...In cleaning, we never use anything but a knife, as pulling the leaves off is a bad practice, for it is apt to tear the bark and open the way for attacks of fungi. Toward the middle of August the runners will begin to come, and they must be cut off as soon as possible. Many abortive flowers will appear, too, and they must not be allowed to stay on the plant. In cleaning, we have made it an invariable practice to throw all dead leaves, runners, etc., into a box or basket, emptying these into a barrel or box outside at suitable intervals. We do not believe it wise to throw the material into the walks, for no matter how soon the latter may be swept, some of the decaying material is trampled upon, and in this way the first steps toward the beginning of disease may be taken. The only safe rule to follow is never to allow a leaf of any kind to lie around and decay in the houses or frames. We have time and time again seen growers cleaning their plants, especially where they are in frames, and throwing the dead leaves, runners and weeds out under their feet, to be trampled into the mud. Such growers have fair success for a season or two, then wonder why it is that diseases and insect pests steadily increase until they finally get the upper hand. Cleanliness at all times, and a thorough destruction of all diseased leaves, cuttings and plants are matters that should never be neglected. Watering, to the ordinary man, may really seem like a simple matter, but it is one of the most important factors in the growth of this or any other crop. No hard and fast rules can be laid down on this subject. Water when the plants need it, which can only be determined by experience. We never water over head, but use the end of a three-quarter-inch hose, held in such a way that the wat...