TREATMENT OF VIOLETS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 January 1928, Page 3

TREATMENT OF VIOLETS

The measure of mures* witli these depends largely on the treatment the plants receive during the heat and drought of summer. If allowed to suffer through hick of moisture, red spider will assuredly appear and Hie plants become slunied through their vitality being undermined by. this prevalent pest. In light, soils, copious supplies ol water will be. needed,- though the labour of watering may be much' reduced by mulching with litter or lawn mowings or whatever else of a suitable nature may be at hand. In the absence of a mulch, hoeing will do much to preserve moisture in the soil and promote growth. Endeavour to keep the surface soil in a. loose, friable condition. Weak liquid manure or a sprinkling of compound fertiliser at intervals of a fortnight will further assist in the same, direction. The removal of runners as* they appear should be persevered with, so that the energy of the plants may bo-devoted solely to building up strong crowns for t'utlu'C (lower production. 11l the enjoyment of the beauty and fragrance of summer flowering plants there is the danger of forgetting to attend to practical details which make, it possible to enjoy thoso qualities when the pageant'of summer has become a memory. _ ; "