26 ON THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 



wards July they will be getting strong, and of course producing 

 abundance of strong runners: as soon as these become thick 

 they must be thinned with the knife, once or twice ; in doing which, 

 let all those that appear long-jointed be cut entirely away, and all 

 such as appear short-jointed and stiff, be retained : leaving finally 

 from three to six, not more, of these stiff and staunch adherents. In 

 the first week of September, if the cultivation has been done justice 

 to, they will be fit to remove into their winter quarters, for what is 

 termed forcing. As to the making up of the frame, fancy must dic- 

 tate that, as there are so many modes, and each good of its kind : 

 [ will, however, just observe by the way, that they are very impatient 

 of heat and moisture, and are full as likely to be " killed by kind- 

 ness ' as lost by neglect. In this, as in most of our gardening oper- 

 ations, nature must be our principal guide. I have tried a small 

 bottom heat of leaves, and have found it to answer well; but this of 

 course requires great caution to watering and giving air, as they are 

 liable to damp off in winter : however, I am conviuced that if the 

 runners be obtained and cultivated early they will be best on 

 a cool bottom, say an old melon bed that stood high enough to receive 

 a good body of lining through the winter : in which case the old bed 

 may be pierced through with abundance of holes, both for the escape 

 of superfluous moisture, and for the sake of the heat of the linings 

 penetrating the bed. The soil they are to be planted in should be 

 prepared as follows : — about three inches thick for the bottom, of the 

 surface of an old cucumber bed, taking as much rotten dung, as 

 loam or soil : on this place about three or four inches more of the 

 compost before directed, only adding a good sprinkling of sharp 

 sand, and a little very rotten dung to it. The plants may now be 

 removed, in doing which, take care to obtain as large balls of earth 

 as is possible, the less check they receive the better; and when the 

 frame is planted give the whole a good watering. All that can be 

 done hereafter, is to keep on the lights in all rainy and inclement 

 weather ; never suffering them to have a drop of rain, and giving 

 them all the air possible without starving them. As the early frosts 

 begin, let. the plants be regularly matted up at nights ; as the cold in- 

 creases, add more mats towards December and through severe 

 weather plenty r of hay or litter : I need scarcely add, be sure to keep 

 the frost out. Let it be well remembered that they are very impatient 

 of confined damp, and also of heat: — from 50 to 58 degrees is plenty 

 for them. The slugs are mortal enemies to the blossoms ; therefore 

 be sure to keep a few cabbage leaves in the frame, and pick them 

 over regularly every evening or morning. By these ' means this 

 lovely winter flower may be obtained in the very highest perfection 

 from October to May. 



