I EARN $20 AN HOUR...RAISING VIOLETS

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The best time to give your African violets a drink is just after the lights over the plants are turned on. (If you take care of this chore when the lights are on, the plants seem better able to resist the harmful effectstem rotof too much water.) Thoroughly moisten the soil in each little container without actually flooding It.

Large commercial growers sometimes use overhead sprinklers on their violets and while the water from such sprinklers may spot the plants' leaves, it doesn't really hurt them. A watering can or a hose with a fine nozzle is all you'll need for your tabletop operation. Don't worry about an occasional splash onto the leaves of the plants. Do, however, take care to keep the water away from all electrical outlets, cords, and fixtures ... do use warm water ... and do guard against overwatering.

And yes: When you water your plants some of the liquid will run through the pots onto your table. This shouldn't hurt anything but, if you want to keep the water off the bench, you can set the containers into metal trays, cookie sheets, old dishpans, or any other scrounged-up "water catchers" you can find. Bear in mind, however, that African violets do better when they're allowed to drain freely. The plants don't like to stand in water (but then, outside of ducks, who does enjoy wet feet?). So. for best results, just expect a little water to drain onto the table and drip off onto the floor whenever you give your violets a drink. Figure that it'll help raise the humidity in your African violet nursery ... which will be good for both you and the plants.

THAT'S THE "HARD" PART ... HERE'S THE PAYOFF!

After following the above instructions for eight weeks, you should see your growing plants sprouting well-defined and easily recognized buds from their crowns. And no more than four weeks after that, the African violets should be in glorious bloom and ready to sell. It's time to cash in on your work!

You'll realize the highest possible price if you sell the violets direct to the public. So spread the word around. Tell friends and neighbors that you have blooming African violets for sale. Tack up some notices on supermarket and laundromat bulletin boards. Put a sign in your yard or on the front door. I've found that I can sell most of the violets I raisedirect to the final consumer at about $3.00 a potmerely by "getting the word out".

Leftovers from these direct selling effortsor larger quantities of the plants raised specifically for resale through florists, seed stores, supermarkets, variety stores, and other outletsalways seem to sell quite well wholesale (currently at a price of $1.35 to $1.50 per plant).

Folks who purchase African violets directly from you one or two at a time are generally happy to carry them home "as is". For mass wholesale deliveries, though, you'll want to wrap each plant in a sleeve of clear plastic or a taped or stapled cone of paper (to keep their leaves from breaking off in transit) before packing the pots of violets as securely as possible in cardboard boxes. The plastic sleeves (if you decide to go for "professional" packaging) are available from florist supply companies for about two cents each.

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