Hardy and Hait-hardy Plants 115 



oides, H ft., porcelain blue, with a white-flowered variety (alba), and 

 one with variegated leaves; incana (or Candida), dark blue or purple, 

 with silvery leaves, often used for carpet bedding; longvfolia, 2-4 ft., 

 lilac, white, rose, or purple, often confused with spicata^ a British plant, 

 6-18 in. high, with spikes of bright-blue flowers (fig. 252). There are 

 several varieties of spicata, such as alba, white; nana, 6-9 in. high; rosea, 

 pink; and a form with variegated leaves. V. Teucrium, 9-12 in., decum- 

 bent, pale or deep blue; the variety prostrata or rupestris is a very useful 

 edging plant with masses of deep-blue flowers or white in the form alba', 

 V. pectinata and K repens are also trailing species with bright-green 

 leaves 'and pale-blue flowers. V. virginica (Culver's Physic) is a noble plant, 

 2-6 ft. high, with long spikes of blue flowers white in the variety allxi. 



Viola. Apart from the florist's Violas and the Sweet Violet there are 

 several natural species grown for rock gardening and borders, among them 

 being the following: biflora, 3 in., yellow, May to June; calcarata, 3 in., 

 pale mauve, May to June, with a few forms; cornuta, 6 in., deep blue, with 

 a white variety, April to August; cucculata, 6 in., pale to deep violet, 

 with a white variety; gracilis, 3-6 in., deep violet blue, April to August; 

 Munbyana, 6 in., violet, with a yellow form (lutea), spring to autumn; 

 pedata,, 3 in., bright blue, but mauve and violet in the variety bicolor 

 and white in alba, April to July. They like a deep loamy soil with 

 plenty of sand and leaf mould, and are increased by division and seeds. 



Violas and Pansies. The name " Tufted Pansy " has been given 

 to a popular race of plants formerly recognized in catalogues and books 

 as " Bedding Violas ", and which had their origin in Viola cornuta and 

 one of the older types of so-called bedding Pansies. But by whatever 

 name we call them there is no getting away from the fact that they are 

 among the indispensables of the flower garden, as much because of their 

 great variety and charm as for a flowering which closely approximates 

 to perpetual. Massed in the garden, there is a freshness about their 

 spreading carpets of green, and a coolness even in the height of summer- 

 time which cannot be denied, and which, in conjunction with perfect hardi- 

 ness and simple cultural requirements, have rendered them immensely 

 popular with all those who engage in outdoor gardening (fig. 253). 



CULTURE. The Tufted Pansy may be grown to perfection in almost 

 all classes of soils save those abounding in chalk or much sand, and while 

 delighting in cool soils and a cool rooting meeting abhor those of opposite 

 extremes. Hence any good well-cultivated garden soil that will grow a 

 cabbage or potato to perfection is well suited to them; albeit, generally 

 speaking, they are far happier in northern than in southern districts. 



PROPAGATION. Grown on a large commercial scale for the disposal 

 of the plants, the only rational method of increase is by means of cuttings, 

 while the only rational cuttings are youthful ones. Old flowering stems 

 are valueless. 



To secure cuttings of the right stamp, the old plants should be cut 

 over with knife or shears about the middle of June, when the first flush 



