VIOLETS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7, 14 August 1912, Page 39

VIOLETS.

The violet is not very fastidious as to soil, when grown out of doors, although this needs to be well dug, and if it is enriched with manure the Howers will be all the finer. The wild violet is often found on moist, shady banks, in anything but an ideal position for flowering plants. Many inexperienced growers thus conclude that any position and any soil a re good enough for the violet when grown in the garden. It is true that violets may be naturalised in odd corners, in shady places, on the edge of paths; but, while the plant will grow there, they will produce only comparatively poor blossoms. To obtain good violets it is necessary to give them good cultivation, and for cutting for home use the stems should be of fair length. Most cultivators find that, although the violet grows chiefly in the shade, an open, sunny position is best for it jn the garden. The best time to make a plantation of violets is October or November. The violet increases itself, like the strawberry, from runners, and if these are pegged down in September they will be rooted and ready for planting out separately in October. Put them out 12 to 15 inches apart in a border previously prepared for them. The only attention needed during*the summer months is to keep down all weeds and the surface soil loose by constant hoeing; to cut off all rimers that appear, and to water the plants frequently in hot, dry weather. Another method commonly practised is to divide the roots; this should be car-

ried out in September, choosing only the best and youngest crowns, as the divisions are called, and planting these separately, as for the rooted runners. It •is necessary to pinch off all runners that make their appearance during the summer so that the plants may grow as vigorously as possible. Violets during the summer are very subject to the attacks of that pernicious little insert called red spider, and the best way to combat that is to see the plants are well supplied with water and to syringe them every evening in hot weather, using weak soot water for this purpose, say, once a week. Varieties to be recommended for outdoor cultivation are: —Single—Princess of Wales, purple blue, large (Princess Beatrice, The Czar, and California are very similar) ; Admiral Avellan, reddish mauve; White Czar, white; La France, violet blue; double—Comte de Brazza, ■white; Marie Louise, pale mauve blue; Neapolitan, lavender blue. The single varieties thrive best out of doors. Some of the best for growing in frames to supply winter blossom are Marie Louise, Comte de Brazza. Neapolitan, Princess of Wales, Lady Hume Campbell, and Airs. Astor.

so many specimens raised from cuttings. If well treated, the seedlings grow exceptionally strong, and ln-ar line flowers profusely. They retain their massive leaves right down to the base of each plant, and so they form a splendid setting for the flowers. There are no plants more suitable for growing near the back part of a wide herbaceous border, or in ( lumps in any kind of border. The deadly fungus which attacked the plants some years ago caused dismay amongst growers, many of whom quite gave up the task —for task it became of cultivating the hollyhock, as all their efforts met with failure. Then the wink of raising seedlings livgan in earnest, and a very large measure of success followed, so much so that to-day one may, from a packet of seeds, raise plants and secure a glorious display of blossom almost as if by magic. To ensure success, it is necessary to have a certain amount of heat, and this may be obtained from a hotbed under an ordinary frame in the open garden. In all cases the young seedlings must be kept safe from frost, as whereas frost does not kill old plants—unless it be very severe—it soon causes the death of seedlings, so that a moderate amount of heat is necessary throughout the early part of spring to hasten forward the growth, and obtain extra strong plants for pul ting out early in the spring. Knowing how to treat the young seedlings is a very important matter, and now you should prepare to raise them by sowing seeds in pans, which should b? well drained and three parts filled with rich loam, a small quantity of sweet leaf soil being mixed with it, and some coarse sand, but no