1873.] violets: their varieties and culture. 267 



amateur, but not so the taking-away of tiie runners, &c. ; and as they are often 

 severely attacked by red-spider, this is best done at the end of July or the 

 beginning of August, and in tolerably dry weather, or the soot, which should be 

 supplied liberally immediately after the operation, will not remain sufficiently 

 long to destroy the spider. I always set one of my most handy men to do this, as 

 it requires some care, that is, it should be done thoroughly ; every leaf should be 

 cut off and cleared away, as well as all the runners that are out of bounds. The 

 soot not only destroys the spider, but also acts as a stimulant. If the plants are 

 not attacked by spider, it will still be necessary to pick off the old leaves some two 

 or three times during the months of August, September, and October, or they will 

 be liable to become mouldy in wet weather, and thus destroy the young growth 

 and flowers. 



I have not, I think, omitted anything of importance, but should I not have 

 made myself understood, I shall be happy to reply to any inquiries, addressed to 

 me through this journal. Some may think I have been too minute, to which I 

 reply, that what I have recommended I have learned by frequent failures. Some 

 years since, when I began growing Violets on a large scale, I would have given 

 much for the experience of some practical person, but could not find it ; and I 

 went on as best I could, often disappointed in results, sometimes getting but few 

 flowers, while at other times the stems were so short that they were of little use. 

 I know nothing of growing Violets in pots. 



I must now refer to some of the varieties. The old Russian is one that has 

 not its equal in every particular ; to get it early and with good stalks, one must 

 have frequent plantations, and on good soil. Emsiaii Superb is a valuable 

 variety for early use, beginning to flower at the end of August ; but this, too, has 

 very short stalks, unless frequent plantations are made in good soil. London 

 and Crimean are much alike, of the colour of the old Russian^ but with very 

 long stalks, often 6 in. long, but they do not flower much till February and March. 

 Dcconiensis is of a much deeper colour, with a stalk equally long, but is smaller, 

 and like the two last named, it does not bloom much till February and 

 March, except on newly-made beds ; on beds made at the end of February 

 or March, you get a good supply of flowers through the September and 

 October following, but few again till February. The three last named are 

 very strong-growing sorts. Then we have The Czar, and Giant, two very 

 strong growers, but free bloomers in February and March ; thej begin earlier, 

 but will not bear the frost very well, so that February and March may be said to 

 be their season ; some blooms may, however, be got in September and October on 

 new plantations. The White Russian does not bloom much till March, except on 

 newly-made beds, and is a very small, poor flower ; the White Violet of the 

 woods and hedges is far superior to it in shape and size, and if cultivated like the 

 others — that is, by making frecj^uent plantations — you get a few blooms all the 

 winter, and a profusion at their season. Mr. Boothby, of Louth, has a white, 

 which he calls Giantess, which we may hope will prove superior to the old White 

 Russian. There are two other sorts which might have a very small spot allotted 

 to them. The one is a dull red, I should think, a mere variety of the hedge 

 Violet, as it only differs in colour, and most persons prefer the old white to it. 

 The other, I think, is altogether distinct from the ordinary white, being much 

 smaller, of a very pure white, with a deep purple spur, the footstalks both of the 

 flower and of the leaf downy ; this always comes true from seed, and under ordi- 



N 2 



