304 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



The flowers are nearly an inch across, bright purple-blue, 

 produced on stalks of varying lengths, but mostly long; the 

 leaves are many parted, segments long, narrow and lance-shaped, 

 some being cut or toothed near the tips ; the crown of the root 

 is rather bulky ; the roots are long and fleshy. 



The following are varieties; all are handsome and worth 

 growing : V. p. alba, new ; flowers white, not so robust as the 

 type. F. p. Mcolor, new ; flowers two colours. F. p. flabellata 

 (syn. F. digitata) ; flowers light purple. F. p. ranunculifolia 

 (syn. F. ranunculifolid) ; flowers nearly white. 



As this plant requires a moist and partially shaded situation, 

 it is not eligible for doing duty indiscriminately in any part of 



FIG. 110. VIOLA PEDATA. 

 (Two-thirds natural size.) 



the garden ; still, it will thrive under any conditions such as the 

 well-known violets are seen to encounter. On the north or west 

 side of rockwork, in dips or moist parts, it will be found to do 

 well and prove attractive. 



The propagation of all the kinds may be carried out by 

 allowing the seed to scatter itself, and, before the winter sets 

 in, a light top-dressing of half rotted leaves and sand will not 

 only be a natural way of protecting it until germination takes 

 place, but will also be of much benefit to the parent plants. 

 Another mode of increase is to divide the roots of strong and 



