VIOLET, NEAPOLITAN. 



545 



VIOLET, NEAPOLITAN, 



its numerous varieties, is a species of 

 viola. 



Violets may be grown in pots, by placing 

 two or three runners or offsets in a pot in 

 May, and keeping them in the frame 

 slightly shaded from the hot sun in sum- 

 mer. Loam and leaf mould suit them 



COMMON VIOLET. 



admirably. Russian violets, and sometimes 

 the Neapolitan, will flower all the winter. 

 True violets flower in March and April. 

 There are many varieties, but it will be 

 sufficient to describe the culture of one or 

 two sorts, as from this the treatment of the 

 rest may be readily gathered. 



Violet, Neapolitan. 



Summer Culture. The Neapolitan violet 

 may be propagated with advantage in June. 

 When the plants have flowered for the 

 season, remove them from the soil in which 

 they have been grown, divide them into 

 single crowns, cutting off all runners and 

 selecting the finest only ; then plant them 

 out with the trowel 9 inches apart each 

 way, pressing the ground firmly round the 

 roots, selecting for the purpose a rich and 

 well-prepared piece of ground with an east 

 aspect, where they can receive the beams 

 of the morning sun. In such a situation 

 they are said to escape the ravages of the 



red spider and other pests, and to produce 

 larger and brighter flowers. When the 

 plants show signs of growth, stir the soil 

 about their roots with a small hoe, and 

 syringe them in the evenings of dry, hot days 

 with pure water, pinching off all runners 

 as they appear, and keeping the bed free 

 from weeds ; nothing more is required for 

 their culture during the summer months. 



Forcing for Winter Supply in Hotbed. 

 When the time arrives for forcing them, 

 prepare the material for a hotbed in the 

 manner adopted for making a cucumber 

 bed, either by building it up or by sink- 

 ing it in the ground 2 feet, and treading 

 down the dung to prevent an over-violent 

 heat at first. Over this place the frame, 

 and cover the bed a foot thick with pre- 

 pared soil, consisting of the remains of an 

 old cucumber bed with a little leaf mould 

 added. The plants are then carefully 

 removed, with as large a ball of earth 

 round the roots as possible, and planted 

 in rows close together, but not touching 

 each other, and so arranged that the foliage 

 may be close to the glass without touching 



NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 



it, as it will settle an inch or two after the 

 lights are put on. When planted, give 

 them a copious watering, even to satura- 

 tion, and in warm showery weather take 

 the lights off and give them the benefit of 



