| History - A few pages of the discovery of Saintpaulia in East Africa and its hybridization in the USA and throughout the world. Classification - Types and sizes of plants with illustrations of flower and leaf types. African Violet Hybrids - 23 pages of Hybrid descriptions with comments. For Example: "Frosted Whisper - Single, stick-tight star of white. Quilted, wavy, medium green leaves variegated with cream. Large, Scott, USA, AVSA Reg. No. 7198. Grown under good conditions, this plant has a mass of glistening white flowers that stand up well above the crisp foliage." Cultivation - Lighting, Watering, Wicking, Potting Mix, Temperature, Humidity & Fertilizing. Propagation - Includes Water Rooting, Rooting in Potting Medium, Rooting Suckers, Propagating Chimera Flower Stalks, Propagating from Seed, Tissue Culture. Rejuvenation of Old Plants - Dividing plants, Repotting, Root pruning, Decapitation. Hybridization - Explains the genetics involved in hybridizing. Pests, Disease & Disorders - Symptoms and treatments for all your plant problems. Increasing a Collection - 2 pages only, trading, importing or joining a club. Exhibiting African Violets - Selecting, Growing & Grooming a show plant. A Show Day itinerary. In my opinion this is a good book for novice growers. The experienced grower would find it a little light. It goes into a bit of everything but not in great detail. For a small book, it tells you everything you need to know to grow, show, and propagate African Violets successfully. This book is nicely laid out and easy to read, but the print is quite small so you need your reading glasses if you are "at that age". It is interesting to note that Joan Hill is the Hybridizer of the "Chiffon" series of African Violets -- some are listed in First Class 2.  Chiffon Masquerade, photo by Gary/Rhona Thurman, AVSA site.
Review by Alana Back to Members Page | 
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