BEAUTY OF VIOLETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22226, 28 September 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

BEAUTY OF VIOLETS

PLANTS FROM DIVISIONS It is usual to sot out young plants of violets in tlio open ground for tho summer to grow 011 to provide flowers for next season. An adequate supply of plants can bo obtained by dividing up tho older roots that have just finished flowering. Most growers adopt this as their chief method of increase. It should bo noted, however, that it is useless to keep old plants or portions of plants. Young growth is essential for quality, and the aim should bo to retain nothing more than one year old if the best blooms are desired. Single Varieties A start should be made with tho single varieties, leaving the doubles until last. The plants are lifted with a fork and the soil shaken from tho roots. Careful handling is necessary in order to avoid breaking any portion of the plant until it is possible to see what to select for propagation. Some single varieties throw up white, underground stems, which end in a growing point with a few leaves at ground level. These runners should be gently pulled away, with any roots attached, to form new plants. Other varieties,

PLANTING VIOLETS (a) Good type of runner to plant. (b) Type to avoid.

including the doubles, which show a more compact habit of growth, can be increased by merely dividing off the outer portions and throwing away the centre, which will be exhausted. No plant of doubtful health should ever be used for propagating purposes. This is a general maxim, known and followed by every good grower, but a special word of warning seem 3 to bo needed this season when one considers tho adverse conditions which have been experienced. The hot, dry conditions which favoured the red spider continued until late in the summer. The wintei has been wetter than usual and this has not only encouraged mildew but also another winter disease, leaf spot. Planting out should be finished by the middlo of October to give the plants time to become established before hot weather sets in. After making the soil firm about the roots give a good watering. This will help to rsettle the plants. Tho crowns should be level with tho surface of the ground. Distance ol Planting Large varieties will need to be 12in. apart in rows, with the rows 15in. apart. Kight or nine inches will be sufficient for the smaller varieties. Hows less than 12in. apart do not allow a hoe to be worked with any degree of easo. As the only other alternative is tho laborious method of hand-weoding, it is best to allow a little more distance at planting. If a large quantity is to be dealt with it will be found to be convenient to divide the ground into beds of five rows so that the work may bo carried on from each side without treading 011 the soil. The importance of the summer treatment is not always recognised by the inexperienced grower. Tho number and quality of tho flowers that a plant will produce next season depends on the strength it can build up between November and March, so much care is needed to keep the plants sturdy and healthy. Violets are best left undisturbed for three or four weeks after planting, frequent hoeing is then tho best means >f keeping the beds free from weeds, and ensuring moisture at the roots. The removal of runners as they appear will prevent tho plants froru expending unnecessary energy. Tho crowns need plenty of sun to ripen them, but cool conditions at the root aro necessary. Mulching in hot, dry summers with old manure is most helpful. It will provide food, keep the soil from drying out and yet leave the crowns exposed to the sun. Tho enemy most to ho feared in tho summer is the red spider. Spraying the plants overhead with soot water, or even with water alone will go far to reduce the danger from this pest. The object of such spraying is to moisten the leaves and tho surface of the ground, and is distinct from watering at the roots, which should bo done thoroughly, if at all. When once started it should be continued until rain comes.

THE SIBERIAN CRAB APPLE The Siberian Crnb (I'yrus bnceata) deserves moro close attention from fruit growers n ml hybridists for two reasons—it vegetates ver'.v early in tho spring, and is singularly hardy in con* stitution. Indeed, so marked is its resistance to spring frosts that its blossoms rarely suffer, and a profuse crop of fruit is invariably produced. There are two well-marked forms, one bearing golden yellow fruit, while tho other bears bright scarlet fruits, and is popularly known as tho Cherry Apple. For ornninontal purposes, nnd especially for planting on tho borders of shrubberies or woodland walks, these trees are singularly beautiful in spring with a mass of rosy white flowors, and m autumn whon laden with their fruits.