306 HARDY HERBACEOUS FLOWERS. 



the American violets cultivated in gardens, save in the children's 

 garden ; their appreciative love for the friends of their woodland 

 rambles leading them to transplant them to their own flower 

 l>ed8. 



The English Violet. — Both single and double, is one of the 

 £rst of our spring flowers, the blossoms often hidden by snow 

 when winter lingers in the lap of spring. The flowers are most 

 delightfully fragrant, a small bed filling the garden with per- 

 fume, and a flower or two scenting the whole room. Nor is 

 there anything pungent or cloying in the odor ; we can never 

 get it in too great abundance. Its bahny sweetness seems wafted 

 in gentle undulations, just breaking with sufficient force upon 

 the senses to fill them with delight. 



This species dehghts in a deep, rich, moist soil, sheltered, if 

 possible, from bleak winds, but more especially sheltered from 

 the hot scorching suns of summer. In a dry and sandy soil it 

 will not flourish. Sometimes, when the winter is open, they 

 sufier much from the sudden changes of weather, many plants 

 perishing ; but when they have once become weU established, 

 some survive or new ones are produced from seed, so that they 

 are not wholly lost. When there is a covering of snow through 

 the winter, be it ever so slight, they come out in fine condition. 



We cannot understand how any old-countryman can afibrd to 

 te without this lovely reminder of home, and are sure that no 

 Canadian who has once enjoyed its sweetness and beauty wiU 

 'willingly be without it. 



There are varieties known as the Giant, Czar, King, Queen, 

 somewhat larger than the EngUsh, but not more sweet, and some 

 not as abundant bloomers. 



The Neapolitan is not sufficiently hardy for our climate. 



The Cornuta has light mauve flowers, which are fragrant. 

 It has been lately used for bedding purposes in England, but 

 here it would not bloom in summer, though hardy enough to 

 bear the winters. 



Viola Tricolor. — The Pansy. — This beautiful and univer- 



