255 
parts good loam, two parts well decomposed manure, 
and one part peat. Thisis where they are grown in pots 
or boxes; for out door cultivation in the South they do 
remarkably well in any good rich garden soil. They are 
easily propagated from cuttings, the chief point being to 
give them plenty of moisture. Mostamateurs root them 
in bottles of water, a very good plan, the only trouble 
being that in transferring them to the soil after forming 
roots in the water the roots sometimes rot or dry away. 
The best plan is to put the cuttings in saucers or some 
vessels that will hold water, and fill with sand; as they 
are being continually sprinkled, the vessel will hold all 
the water, and soon it will be a moving pulp of sand and 
water, in which they root very freely and do not rot after 
being planted in good rich soil as quick as if rooted in 
water alone. A judicious cutting back after they are 
done flowering will greatly heJp the appearance of the 
plants. 
—_— 
VIOLETS. 
FIOLETS, considered by some as typical of modesty, 
by others are deemed emblematic of faithfulness ; 
and the latter have the support of one of Shakespeare’s 
contemporary poets: 
Ml thin) im 
Violet is for faithfulness, 
Which in me shall abide; 
Hoping likewise that from your heart 
You will not let it slide. 
The Violet was as proud a device of the Ionic Athenians 
as the Rose of England and the Lily of France. In all 
seasons it was to be seen exposed for sale in the market- 
place at Athens, the citizens being successful in rearing 
it in their gardens even when the ground was covered 
