us Commercial Gardening 



25 making a total expense of 42 per acre, thus leaving 52 per acre 

 for the grower. It would be well, however, to deduct 25 per cent from 

 this for commission and contingencies, leaving a net profit of 39 per 

 acre. So far as cultural details are concerned, the most important is to 

 use the hoe as frequently as possible during the season, especially during 

 a very hot and dry one, to keep the Red Spider at bay. This is also 

 probably the best preventive against attacks of Violet Rust, caused by 

 the fungus Puccinia violce. 



Besides the varieties mentioned above, the following are also worth 

 noting: Marie Louise, rich lavender blue; Lady Hume Campbell, later 

 and deeper in colour; Neapolitan, lavender with a white eye, among the 

 doubles; and La France and the Czar among the single-flowered kinds. 



Where frames, lights, and cloches are in use, in conjunction with hot- 

 beds arranged as for the French system of intensive cultivation (see 

 Vol. IV), there is no doubt that Violet growing could be made a more 

 remunerative industry than at present in many parts of the kingdom. 



Violets are grown in Worcestershire by the advanced type of commer- 

 cial gardener. They are grown on narrow beds and borders, and the 

 writer has seen the ladies bunching them at home in the evening. When 

 they realize Sd. per dozen bunches and upward they are very satisfactory. 

 Violets should be divided and replanted every spring, and the border 

 should not be a dry one, either through adjacent trees or naturally, 

 because Red Spider is sure to attack and spoil the plants during summer 

 under those conditions. [j. u.] 



Wahlenbergia saxicola (NEW ZEALAND BLUEBELL). A pretty rock 

 plant, 6 in. high, with creeping habit, tufts of spoon-shaped leaves, and 

 drooping white flowers veined with blue from June to September. Other 

 species are dalmatica, graminifolia, Pumilio, serpyllifolia, &c., with 

 violet or purple flowers, and all about 3 or 4 in. high. Increased by seeds. 



Waitzia aurea. A pretty Australian annual "everlasting", 1-1 J ft. 

 high, with rosettes of narrow leaves, and loose clusters of shining golden- 

 yellow flower heads in summer. It is raised from seeds sown in heat in 

 spring, and may be planted out in early summer. See " Everlastings ", 

 p. 41. 



Wallflowers (Cheiranthus Ckeiri). The Wallflower, like good wine, 

 needs no bush, and is esteemed for simplicity of culture, though most of 

 all because of its fragrance and adaptability to British gardens. In short, 

 it is one of the oldest and sweetest of garden flowers. 



Its cultural requirements are simple enough, the plant delighting in 

 poor and stony soils as opposed to those of much better quality. Hence 

 the cheapest land available is suited to this crop; and because of the ease 

 with which the plant is raised, and the cheap rate at which both plants 

 and flowers are sold, this important fact should be kept in view by the 

 commercial gardener. 



Sow the seeds out-of-doors in April, transplant the seedlings, as soon 

 as lai'ge enough, to nursery beds, and finally, in September, transfer them 



