336 



FOREIGN NOTICES. 



from runners, well watered daring summer, and 

 potted with balls in the end of September. 



The Double White requires similar treatment; 

 but altogether it is much more tender, and is gen- 

 erally a great favorite, among the ladies. The 

 soil should be drier and of a lighter texture than 

 for the blue variety, and, if exposed in a cold situ- 

 ation, a few laurel boughs stuck round it in winter 

 will do good service. 



The Tree Voilet is also a double blue. The 

 flower is somewhat rounded and conical, while the 

 common blue is flattish ; this forms a distinctive 

 feature. The flowers are seldom so large as the 

 double common one, but its leaves are also gener- 

 ally smaller. Its chief recommendation is, that it 

 flowers as freely and as early as the Russian ; it 

 will bloom out of doors, protected from storms, in 

 frames and in pots during the winter. A few in pots 

 placed in a window or in a greenhouse, will bloom 

 profusely. It will also admit of being slightly forced 

 and prefers a lighter soil than the common blue. 

 All the violets may be grown in the tree form, and 

 some years ago we amused ourselves with experi- 

 ments in this direction, though we never could see 

 much beauty in them when obtained. This will 

 account for the common blue, &c, having been 

 sent out under the name of the tree violet, and 

 thus cause disappointment because they did not 

 bloom early. The one under discussion seems, 

 however, to take the tree form most easily. This 

 is effected by cutting off the side shoots, and train- 

 ing to one shoot, with its crown, or tuft of leaves 

 on its summit. By repeating the process for 

 years, you may get plants with stems from six 

 inches to two feet in length; but to approach the 

 latter height, few or no laterals, or runners, must 

 be allowed to grow until the desired height is at- 

 tained, and then you will have something like 

 mops, in miniature to look upon. When the stem 

 has grown from six to eighteen inches in height, 

 and the runners are then encouraged to grow, so 

 as to hang in festoons from the crown at the top, 

 and all are furnished with bloom, the plants pre- 

 sent a very interesting appearance. Without this 

 is done, the mere tree system had better be avoid- 

 ed. The plants will bloom as well, and look more 

 natural, when covering the surface of the soil. 

 Propagation is easily effected by planting out the 

 runners in a shady place in summer, or inserting 

 them under a hand-light in spring. 



The Neapolitan Violet is deservedly a general 

 favourite. The flower is large and double, lilac 

 blue, and beautifully scented. It delights in a 

 rich loam, with an addition of either peat or leaf 

 mould. Unless in warm sheltered places it does 

 little good out of doors, and even then will only 

 generally produce its flowers late in the spring. 

 Its great recommendation is, that it will bloom 

 all the winter in frames or pits, and in pots in the 

 conservatory, while it will stand a little artificial 

 heat, without injury either to the size or the odour 

 of the flowers. It may be forwarded in anyplace 

 that would suit strawberries before they come into 



bloom ; in other words where there is an average 

 temperature of from 55° to 60°. In growing it 

 in pits or in pots, young plants only should be 

 used. A distinctive feature in its management 

 arises from the fact, that the runners produced in 

 summer will not bloom the following winter ami 

 spring. In preparing and growing plants for 

 blooming, therefore, the runners should be care- 

 fully removed, that more strength may be thrown 

 into the crown of the plant, and that the juices 

 there collected, may be more perfectly organised 

 by the removal of all shading and encumbering 

 adjuncts. As the flowering season approaches its 

 termination, runners may be allowed to grow for 

 propagating, for the next season's supply. These 

 may be taken off and inserted as cuttings, under 

 a hand-light, upon a slight hot-bed, in April or 

 May; when struck the hand-light should be re-- 

 moved, and by-and-by the plants should be trans- 

 ferred to a bed six inches apart ; there to grow 

 during the summer, in lightish rich loamy soih 

 well supplied with water, the ground frequently 

 stirred, and not a runner allowed to grovj. Where 

 hand-lights are not come-at-able, the same object 

 may almost as securely be gained by dividing 

 the old plants into little pieces, planting them out 

 like those raised from cuttings, and attending to 

 them in a similar way. They may be lifted witfe 

 balls, either for potting or planting under glass in- 

 September; in either case, drainage must be care- 

 fully attended to. In planting in abed, lay down. 

 first of all, a foot of faggots, &c., upon this place 

 another foot of hot dung not much decomposed, and 

 then a requsite layer of soil rather dry. The faggots 

 will ensure you drainage, and enable you to 

 throw a little heat into the bed, when necessary 7 

 by linings; the dung will encourage by its heat, 

 the fresh rooting of the plants in the soil. 



Place the plants in rows across the bed, just so 

 thick that they do not touch each other ; water 

 each row thoroughly as you proceed, and then co- 

 ver the surface with the dry soil, which will both 

 prevent the evaporation of moisture from the roots,, 

 and keep the atmosphere of the frame or pit dry ; 

 to ensure which more effectually, and also prevent 

 the ravages of slugs, &c., strew over the surface 

 of the bed, when cleaning it, several times during 

 the winter, with dry charcoal dust, quick-lime, 

 and burnt earth, or even dry sand — an application 

 that will be useful to all others, whether in the 

 open air or under glass; and by attending to their 

 wants, in protecting, air giving, and watering 7 

 you will be well rewarded. R. Fish, in the Cot- 

 tage Gardener. .... 



The Fall of Leaves. — The articulations are 

 those parts of a plant where, at a certain period 

 of their growth, solutions of continuity are made 

 so naturally and regularly as to preclude the sup- 

 position that the dislocation is produced by acci- 

 dent. If we examine them when the shoots are 

 young and vigorous, in the early spring, we shall 

 find that there is a faint line externally that marks 

 the position of the future joint, but that internally 



