General Notices. 227 



proportion of three to one more than any of its contemporaries. There is 

 no doubt that the sweeping winds, the bed of stones, and the entire absence 

 of sun for several months have all proved favorable to it. — {Gard. Chron., 

 1849, p. 181.) 



Culture of Neapolitan Violets. — We extract the following passages from 

 a communication we received a week since from Mr. Allan, of Dumfries- 

 shire, deeming it more than possible that some of our readers might feel 

 interested in the method of their cultivation — the more particularly as the 

 directions given are clear and distinct. The violet is, at all times, a favor- 

 ite flower for the bouquet, a distinction it richly merits, from its color — the 

 rarest in floriculture — and, still more so, by the delightful fragrance it yields, 

 which, unlike many other perfumes, is agreeable to every one, or, at least, 

 we never knew any party who objected to the scent of violets. We pro- 

 ceed with Mr. Allan's observations : — " Having been very successful, this 

 winter, in growing the Neapolitan violet, I think it only right^to make my 

 treatment of it known for the benefit of others. In the spring of 1848, I 

 had the old plants properly dressed, by taking off all the dead leaves, fork- 

 ing up the soil round about the plants. The first week in April, I top- 

 dressed the old plants with fresh soil, to encourage runners. These young 

 shoots will become well rooted little plants about the latter end of May. 

 Having prepared a bed for the plants, by mixing a compost of two parts 

 loam and one of vegetable mould, just colored with fine sand, remember- 

 ing that the soil requires to be porous, with the usual garden soil, I pro- 

 ceeded to mark my bed in rows, about 16 inches apart, placing the plants 

 at 10 inches distance from each other. I was very particular in lifting the 

 young plants with as compact balls of earth as possible, removing them 

 carefully with a trowel. I then gently watered them with a fine rose wa- 

 tering pot, shading them from intense sun. All they now required was 

 attention to weeding, occasionally running the Dutch hoe among them. In 

 the first week of September, I prepared to pot them in large size 32. I 

 took great care to have the drainage well attended to. The compost with 

 which I filled my pots is three parts sandy loam and one part charcoal. In 

 this I placed one plant in each pot. Having a three light frame ready, 

 placed on four bricks, I put about 10 inches of gravel over the surface of 

 the ground under it, and on this I placed my pots, 10 inches apart. They 

 require careful watering, or they are certain to suffer from the effects of 

 over-watering or stagnation. I gave them air on all occasions, by tilting 

 the lights back and front at night, and drawing them off entirely in the day. 

 I was very particular in removing all decayed leaves every day, stirring the 

 soil in the pots. In November, I endeavored to keep the plants as free 

 from damp as possible, using little or no water in dull weather. About the 

 first week in December, I removed part of my stock into the greenhouse, 

 and placed them on a front shelf, near the glass, where it is warm and 

 airy. By this mode of treatment, I have been able to ensure an abundance 

 of flowers since Christmas, and shall continue to have an excellent supply 

 for the next six weeks to come. I have cut 60 flowers from one pot at a 

 time." We feel assured these few hints will not be lost on many of our 



