62 VIOLACE.E. 



May. It is bad practice to leave them undisturbed for several 

 years in the same place ; the ground becomes exhausted, and 

 the plants too ; and it is always difficult, often impossible, to 

 get a vigorous stock from plants so treated. The Neapolitan, 

 a more tender variety of the Sweet-Violet, is best adapted for 

 culture in pots, to be sheltered in cold frames, in a sunny airy 

 place in winter, or forced according to requirements. These 

 may be grown planted out in rich ground in the same way as 

 the others till September, when they may be lifted and potted 

 or planted in frames closely, and afterwards merely protected 

 from severe frost, and kept well aired in all open weather. Of 

 course, if they are intended to be placed about rooms, they 

 must be put in pots at the time they are removed from the open 

 air, and they may be forced in mild bottom-heat with much 

 more convenience if the plants are in pots than if they are 

 planted out in frames. AH the varieties are easily increased 

 by cuttings made of the stout short runners, rejecting all that 

 are wiry and hard ; and they should not be taken off plants 

 that have been forced, as these are deficien't in vigour. Plant 

 them in rich, fibrous, very sandy soil, in a frame facing north- 

 wards ; keep them close till they begin to grow, then give air, 

 a little at first, gradually increasing it till the lights may be dis- 

 pensed with wholly till the return of winter, when they will 

 require to be put on, and the plants protected during frost. In 

 the beginning of April they must be planted out, and everything 

 possible done to encourage vigorous growth, on which depend 

 the quality and quantity of bloom more than anything else. 

 Some raise their stock from seeds sown annually ; and it is a 

 good plan, but more troublesome in the matter of attention, 

 and requiring more labour, than either division or cuttings, 

 while the result in bloom is nothing superior. Among the 

 varieties of Sweet-Violets, the Czar, the King, and Giant are 

 the largest flowers and stoutest stalks, and are consequently 

 best for cutting ; but I have not found either superior to the 

 common Russia, in single or double flowers, for continuous 

 and sustained bloom, while nothing surpasses the Neapolitan 

 for forcing. 



V. palmata (Palmate-leaved Violet), — This is a very rare plant 

 in gardens, and a very distinct species. It grows about 6 

 inches high, in rather tufted fashion, with palmated or five- 

 lobed coarsely-toothed hairy leaves, and rather large purple 

 flowers on stout short stalks. Native of North America. Best 

 adapted for culture on rockwork, in deep rich gritty loam, in 

 shade. Flowers in late spring and early summer. 



V. pedata {Birdfoot Violet). — This is related to the last, but 



