APRIL 37 



grown for the adornment of the greenhouse in early 

 summer, and it is wonderful that they are not more 

 seen, although no doubt the reason lies in the 

 trouble' that has to be taken to ensure stocky growth. 

 Another important provision for future needs is 

 the planting out of violets for autumn blooming. 

 We generally try to use for this purpose only the 

 tufts which have lived out of doors all the winter, 

 as they are hardier and healthier than those which 

 have been in frames. Each separate runner is 

 taken from the old plants and put out in a well- 

 prepared bed. If there are not runners enough 

 single crowns are used, and the plants are placed 

 a foot apart. They should not be in a shady spot, 

 though the partial shade of thin fruit trees will not 

 hurt them, and will save some watering in dry 

 weather. But the labour of watering must not 

 in any case be grudged them, for on this will de- 

 pend their value next winter. They should have 

 a good soaking whenever they seem to be getting 

 dry, and a certain amount of weak manure water 

 when they are approaching maturity will also help 

 them. All young runners are removed as they 

 appear, and at the end of August we go round 

 the roots with the spade at a distance of several 

 inches from the plants. This leads them to throw 

 out new fibres, which, when the plants are trans- 

 ferred to the frames about the third week in 

 September, will the more easily accommodate 

 themselves to their new soil and prevent any 

 check being felt from lifting. At the time of their 

 removal they will be bristling with buds, and unless 

 they suffer from too much kindness directly after- 



