404 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



late in being stirred into growth, and weakly throughout the season, 

 and flowered unsatisfactorily. There is no doubt but that it would 

 be much more comfortable and successful left out in some of the more 

 southern and western parts of England, and the more favoured locali- 

 ties of Ireland ; but there is little hope for its safety if left out in 

 Scotland. It has quite the habit and appearance of some of the 

 smaller alpine Violets, extends itself by weak trailing branches rooting 

 as they advance, has small bright-green kidney-shaped leaves, and the 

 flower-stalks only 2 or 3 inches high, bearing the small delicate blue- 

 and-white flowers in moderate profusion and long continuance. It is 

 a charming little pot plant cultivated in the same way as pot alpine 

 plants, and may be used with good effect in light airy greenhouses ; 

 but its best use will be found in edging and carpeting small beds in 

 warm positions in the flower-garden. In the north it may not succeed 

 so well in this way as in the south, but in warm terrace-gardens it 

 may succeed in any part of the country; and it is so easily propagated 

 by division and cuttings that it should be tried out of doors every- 

 where, for though not very striking, it is sure to arrest the attention 

 of all who may pass it who are fond of simple beauty and freshness. 

 In cold localities the plants would be best plunged in their pots 

 instead of planted out. Native of Australia. 



Viola calcarata — Spurred Violet. — This is a low-growing species 

 with many underground creeping stems, by which it extends itself 

 and forms carpet-like masses of a lively green. The stems are angular, 

 and clothed with acutely egg-shaped leaves toothed on the margin. 

 The flowers, produced in great profusion, are large, pale purple, and 

 furnished with a conspicuous awl-shaped spur. Adapted to either the 

 rockwork or mixed border, preferring a little shade and ample supplies 

 of moisture during the growing season. The yellow-flowered V. Zoysii 

 of some catalogues is regarded by some botanists as a variety of calca- 

 rata under the name V. c. flava. Flowers from early spring throughout 

 the summer in moist situations. Native of the Alps of Switzerland. 



V. cornuta — Horned Violet. — This is very near in character to the 

 last, but is a more vigorous plant, and further distinguished by its 

 broader and less deeply toothed leaves, and the more upright tendency 

 of the stems. It is now a well-known plant in flower-gardens, having 

 been extensively tried for some years as a dwarf bedding plant, and 

 most conflicting reports have been made regarding it. When it is 

 successful, there can be but one opinion as to its merits ; it is very 

 beautiful, but it is successful as a massing or edging plant only in 

 moist soil and seasons. There are several varieties of greater or less 

 pretensions for being improvements on the normal form, but chiefly 

 marked by different shades of the purplish colour of the original. The 



