136 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



VIOLETS. 



The demand for Yiolet flowers, during the winter 

 months in all our large cities is yearly increasing in a 

 wonderful degree. For the New York market alone it is 

 estimated that two acres, or nearly 100,000 square feet, of 

 glass is now used for growing Violets alone ; some grow- 

 ers make it an exclusive business and grow nothing 

 else. It is not always a success with every one attempt- 

 ing it ; hence the price has kept steadily up to the highest 

 rates of past years. To those who are successful, the busi- 

 ness is always a profitable one. The following brief but prac- 

 tical notes are from Messrs. Norton Bros., of Dorchester, 

 Mass., who have been among the most successful of any in 

 the trade in forcing Violets during the winter months. 



" The variety used is the double blue Neapolitan. We 

 separate the plants to one good crown, with roots, and 

 plant out in the open ground about the 20th of April, at 

 distances of about one foot each way. Nothing is done 

 to them until the first week in September, except to keep 

 them well hoed and clear of weeds. They are then 

 thinned out to six or eight crowns, selecting such as are 

 the strongest and taking off all the runners and weak 

 shoots, the principle being exactly the same as in preparing 

 good stools of strawberries for fruit. About the last week 

 in September the plants are dug up with balls and planted 

 on the shelves of the green-house in six or eight inches of 

 well-enriched, fresh loam. 



Shading and watering are necessary if the weather is 

 clear and dry, and, until the end of October, air should be 

 given freely. The temperature at night should average 

 not more than 50 degrees. As the plants begin to 

 grow,, all yellow leaves, weeds, and runners, should be 

 carefully removed, so as to admit air and light to the 

 flowers. From a green-house 75 feet long with a table or 



