VIOLACE.^. 59 



essential gem that it should be included in every collection of 

 any pretensions, where a dry cold frame can be afforded it 

 when it wants protection. I have seen it survive mild winters 

 in the neighbourhood of London ; but it was 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 localities 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 eftect in light airy 

 greenhouses ; but its best use will be found in edging and car- 

 peting 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 everywhere ; 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 conspi- 

 cuous 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 calcarata 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 ver}^ near in character 

 to the last, but is a more vigorous plant, and further distin- 

 guished 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 



