268 THE GARDENER. [June 



its gayest late in March or early in April. This is none of your modest 

 Violets retiring and hiding in the shade, and the sun shines on no 

 brighter or richer blue than that of the corolla of this plant. Out in 

 the meadows, amongst the pure green young leaves of Poa pratensis, 

 this has no peer at this time of year. In my efforts after the applica- 

 tion of generalisations, I remember how I used to spoil this lovely plant 

 when I had charge of it at Kew. Along with many more requiring the 

 same sort of treatment as this, I put it beneath the dark shadow of an 

 ugly screen, and indulged in a lot of other foolishnesses, such as putting 

 many little stones about its roots. This last, however, was performed at 

 the bidding of another. I am going to be very candid and tell my mis- 

 takes, feeling certain that this is the best way to put others on their guard. 



Martinsla virginica. — It is now early in April, and this plant is at 

 the zenith of its beauty. Often, as I wander along through the woods 

 in which it is found, I wish that some of my friends in Britain— any 

 lover of herbaceous plants, like Mr Niven of Hull, or Mr Sutherland 

 — could be with me to enjoy so rich a treat as that which is afforded 

 by a quantity of this in full flower. I have referred to it as a forest 

 plant, but I may add that it stands exposure well. I got ample proof 

 of this the other day. In a little garden in the vicinity of Lexington 

 I saw a bed of it in full bloom, as healthy as could be, and quite open 

 to the sun during the whole day. And this is not by any means a 

 small plant. It rises 2 feet above the ground, and is therefore, when 

 other things are taken into account, admirably adapted for a mixed 

 border, and would look glorious anywhere. I am not certain that it 

 would care about much shifting — a practice I have heard lauded with- 

 out stint. The leaves have all the delicacy of tint of Funkia grandi- 

 flora, and they are quite as large as those of that plant. The stem, 

 bearing at its summit the raceme of flowers, has foliage all the way up. 

 I feel certain that I cannot do anything like justice to the corolla. It 

 is about 1 inch long, and comparatively narrow for the greater part of 

 its length ; it widens towards the mouth, and ultimately becomes a 

 quarter of an inch across, and cup -shaped, whilst throughout it is 

 almost transparent, and of an exquisite blue or pink colour. In con- 

 clusion, I believe that this must be a scarce plant in England, and it was 

 not in Kew Gardens in 1870. I need hardly add that, being a native 

 of Kentucky, it is certain to be quite hardy in any part of Great Britain. 



When Viola cucullata begins to decline, Viola striata starts to ex- 

 pand its cream-coloured blossoms. The stem of the former species 

 never rises above the ground, but it is otherwise with the stem of this 

 one. Though not so gay, nor yet so capable of i3roducing a large 

 quantity of flowers as the earlier kind already referred to, still it well 

 deserves attention wherever a pleasing variety is maintained by means 



