SWEET VIOLETS 95 



Violets will do well in ground prepared as advised for 

 growing Pansies and Violas, providing no rank manure 

 be used ; and that method of preparation will be found 

 to answer splendidly. The soil between the plants 

 should be constantly stirred by the use of the hoe, and 

 a good mulching given the plants in June. 



To obtain the best results, Violets should not be 

 grown in the same soil for more than one season, but 

 should be given fresh quarters every year. The 

 cultivated Violet is one of the first flowers to suffer if 

 in any way neglected, and it is only by a careful and 

 consistent system of cultivation that the best results may 

 be expected to accrue. If left to grow on of their own 

 accord, Violets quickly deteriorate, the foliage becoming 

 matted together and weakly, in consequence of which the 

 plant produces flowers of poor quality, and of these but 

 few. 



POSITION 



Having regard to the fact that the Violet by nature is 

 fond of the shade, a position in which this may be 

 obtained should be afforded the plants where possible. 

 By shade, it is not meant that the plants should be placed 

 in a position where they get no sunshine at all. Rather 

 is it intended to apply to a position where they obtain 

 filtered sunshine such as the shady side of a hedge, rows 

 of peas, etc., or any such semi-shaded position. If 

 planted in quarters where they are likely to obtain a 

 very great amounfof sun, and therefore in all probability 

 a dry position, Violets almost invariably become in- 

 vested with red spider, to which pest these plants are 

 in so great a degree subject. 



They may be left in the quarters where they are 

 planted out throughout the winter, evolving their flowers 

 freely far into the Autumn and again during the succeed- 

 ing Spring ; but with comparatively little trouble a 



