OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 303 



appearance; those of the unproductive stems are larger, and 

 arranged sparingly in rigid rosette form, such unproductive 

 stems being few. 



The neat and erect habit of the plant renders it most suitable 

 for rockwork or edgings, and otherwise, from its long con- 

 tinued flowering, which will exceed a month in moderate 

 weather, it is one of the most useful spring flowers ; whilst, for 

 cutting purposes, it cannot but rank with the more choice, as, 

 combined with extra bightness of colour, it exhales a rich haw- 

 thorn perfume. To all who have a garden, big or little, I would 

 say, grow this sweet little shrub. It has never failed to do well 

 with me in any situation that was fully exposed; it flowers 

 freely in a light dry bed, but on rockwork it is most at home. 

 The quickest way to prepare plants of flowering strength is to 

 divide strong pieces ; but this interferes with the larger speci- 

 mens, which are by far the best forms in which to grow and 

 retain it. Another mode is to cut off all the flowers nearly down 

 to the old wood ; side shoots will thus be induced to grow earlier 

 than otherwise, so that in late summer they may be taken off as 

 slips, and there will still be plenty of time to strike them like 

 wallflower slips, and get plenty of roots to them before the cold 

 weather sets in. The plant also produces seed freely in its 

 inflated pods, which affords another, but more tedious, way of 

 increasing it. 



Flowering period, April to June. 



Viola Pedata. 



PEDATE-LEAVED or BIRD'S-FOOT YIOLET; 

 Nat. Ord. YIOLACE^. 



OVER a hundred years ago this hardy herbaceous violet was 

 introduced from North America ; still, it is not largely grown, 

 though it is now becoming quite a favourite. As may be seen 

 by the illustration (Fig. 110), it is distinct in general appear- 

 ance, more especially in the foliage, which in its young state is 

 bird - foot - shaped, whence the appropriateness of its specific 

 name ; it should perhaps be explained that the leaves are very 

 small compared with the flowers when the plant first begins 

 to bloom, but later they increase very much in size. There are 

 several characteristics about this species which render it desir- 

 able, and no choice collection should be without either this (the 

 typical form) or some of its varieties. Deep cut, shining, dark 

 green foliage, very bright blue flowers, and pleasing habit are 

 its most prominent features ; its blooming period is prolonged, 

 and it has a robust constitution, which further commends it to 

 lovers of choice flowers, and if once planted in proper quarters it 

 gives no further trouble in the way of treatment. 



