736 THE DICTIONARY mo3 GARDENING, 
VILLARSIA. ‘See also Limnanthemum. 
VILMORINIA. This genus is monotypic. 
VINCA. Ineluding Lochnera. V. difformis is the 
correct name of V. media. V. major alba is a garden 
variety with white flowers; V. m. elegantissima has blue 
flowers, and the foliage is blotched with creamy-white ; and 
V. m. reticulata has the leaves golden-reticulated. Of the 
many uses to which the hardier kinds may be put none is 
more deserying of note than planting them under trees. 
Fic. 762. ViIBURNUM TINUS. 
VINE. To the varieties on pp. 172-6, Vol. IV., the 
following should be added: 
Appley Towers. Fruit quite black, covered with a deep 
bloom, large, roundish-oval; flesh firm, very juicy, and with 
a distinct and very agreeable flavour. Bunches large, broad, 
and of good shape, setting freely. A new variety of much 
promise. A mid-season or late Grape. 
Lady Hastings. 
the same rich flavour, 
to set freely. 
A sport from Muscat Hamburgh, 
with a stronger constitution, 
possessing 
and stated 
Lady Hutt. Fruit greenish-yellow, with a firm, delicate bloom, 
round, medium to large; flesh melting, very juicy, and of 
rich flavour; skin thin. Bunches medium-sized, with broad 
shoulders, setting freely. An excellent new late variety. 
Primavis Frontignan. Fruit amber, small, round; flesh 
very firm, juicy, and highly flavoured. Bunches medium, long, 
well-set. A mid-season Grape. 
VINE BOWER. See Clematis Viticella. 
VIOLA. The beautiful garden-plants cultivated under 
the name of Violas may be said to be quite modern. 
They had their origin something like forty years ago, 
at a time when the bedding-out of greenhonse-plants was 
the leading feature of most of the gardens in England. 
At that time the popularity of any new plant was 
assured if it was adapted for beddimg-out. Amongst 
other plants bronght into prominence for that purpose 
was Viola cornuta (Horned Violet). This pretty plant 
had been grown in gardens for nearly a century. It was 
figured in “the “ Botanical Magazine*’ in 1805, Tab. 791, 
and Dr, Sims, the then editor, stated that the plant 
"‘Viola—o Pikh we aif 
introduced to the Royal Gardens, Kew, by Dr. 
Ortega, in 1776. It is stated to be a native of Spain and 
Mount Atlas. The flowers are pale blue in colour. The 
specific name is in allusion to the peculiar formation of 
the sepals; while the common name of “Tufted”? has 
reference to the habit of the plants. This plant was 
grown by thousands as a bedding-plant, and it subsequently 
became cross-fertilised with the Show Pansies. The 
produce of this cross were grown as Violas. The hardier, 
more wiry constitution of Viola cornuta was transferred 
to the offspring of this cfoss, and although the form of 
the so-called Violas has been vastly improved, the 
constitutional vigour of V. cornuta is still there, and the 
plants resist winter’s cold and summer's heat better than 
the Show or Fancy varieties of Pansies. 
Another species used was Viola lutea (Yellow Mountain 
Violet). The flowers are bright yellow, and the plant is 
found on the higher mountain pastures of Britain. This 
plant never resisted the dronght so well as the Horned 
Violet (V. cornuta), but it was used a good deal for 
bedding-out, and is probably the parent of the yellow 
forms of the Tufted Pansy. 
was 
4 
ie 
Fic. 763. RayveED VIOLA. 
The culture of Violas and Pansies does not differ 
materially, except that better results are obtained with 
the Viola, and with considerably less trouble. This does 
not imply that it is not desirable to take pains with the 
culture of this charming, hardy, border flower. In good, 
deep garden loam, well-enriched with decayed manure, 
the Viola will give a vigorous and sustained display of 
its beautiful blossoms from early spring until the fall of 
the leaf in autumn, when frosty nights check the growth 
of the plants. Of course, during the period between ez urly 
spring and late autumn, the plants require the careful 
hand of the gardener to keep up a good display of 
blossoms. There is nothing to do during the early months 
of the year, except to keep the plants free from weeds, 
and stir up the surface of the soil occasionally, as it is 
apt to become caked by rains, and therefore not in a con- 
dition to promote a vigorous growth. The Viola, as well 
as the Pansy, must be kept moist at the roots. Few 
plants have such an immense mass of rootlets, spreading 
in all directions, and if dry weather sets in they soon 
extract the moisture from the surrounding soil. It is 
therefore very desirable, as soon as hot, dry weather sets 
in, to place a oni layer of decayed manure all over the 
surface of the beds, and to water freely. A good soaking 
is necessary, so that the water will go down to the 
rootlets. It will earry the fertilising properties of the 
manure with it, and will aid greatly in keeping up the 
blossom in fulness and quality all through the season; 
but it is not well to allow the plants to become over- 
crowded with growth and blossom. If, as sometimes 
