SEPTEMBER 185 



most essential. Under no conceivable circum- 

 stances should the lights be put on not even at 

 night until the end of November. If the weather 

 is very cold they may then be shut, or nearly shut, 

 at night, but not otherwise. Violets will not do 

 well late if they are coddled early in the winter ; the 

 cooler their treatment is, short of being subjected to 

 severe frost, the better they will thrive. About 

 Christmas time some good old manure may be 

 pricked in about the roots, and if the flowers have 

 become small and sparse they will speedily improve. 

 At mid-winter, in a long spell of sharp frost, a few 

 handfuls of dead fern may be strewed among the 

 plants, inside the frames, and as much protection 

 may be given outside as is convenient, to protect 

 from damage the dormant buds. 



