DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 389 



been known to measure two and one-half inches in length, 

 and two inches across the upper petals ; the colors, vari- 

 egation and penciling, are then more uniform and regular 

 than they are in the summer season. Flowers, having 

 only one color, are called selfs ; these are not so common 

 as the varieties in which two, three, or more colors are 

 combined and distinctly marked in the same flower. The 

 first fine imported variety of Viola grandiflora which I 

 beheld, was a self; color a deep-purple, with a very small 

 yellow eye, and soon after a plain white or cream-colored 

 variety. This was about 40 years since, probably among 

 the first of the kind imported from England. I obtained 

 very small plants of each sort from my old friend Win. E. 

 Carter, from the Cambridge Botanic Garden, and consid- 

 ered myself rich. They like a cool moist situation in the 

 garden, particularly in hot summers, and ought, therefore, 

 to be planted, not on raised beds, but in such as are upon 

 a level with the alleys. They produce seed freely, which 

 may be sowed early in spring, in cold frames to forward ; 

 and where the young plants are sheltered from the cold 

 wind and storms, until the weather gets settled, when they 

 may be planted in the open ground. Seed collected dur- 

 ing the summer months, may be sown early in September. 

 The plants will then have sufficient time to be firmly 

 rooted before winter, and not be liable to be cast out by 

 frost, nor to damp off. The seed should be sown in a 

 shady situation, upon a bed of light finely sifted soil. 

 After sowing the seed, sift a little mould over, so as to 

 cover it and no more ; then gently press the surface with 

 a flat board, to bring the seed and soil together, by which 

 means they will more certainly vegetate. The plants 

 will generally appear in a week or ten days. When an 

 inch high, transplant to where they are to flower, four 

 or five inches apart. Choose an open sheltered situation. 

 The plants will flower the following spring. 



