84 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



make roots, but no longer. This little proviso is insisted 

 upon, for Violets must have fresh air or perish. There- 

 fore, so soon as they have become re-established, admit 

 air to the frame whenever the state of the weather will 

 permit of this being done, and continue this practice all 

 through the winter, removing the sash lights altogether 

 during fine, warm days. Keep the glass as clean as pos- 

 sible, for dirty glass is an obstruction to light. During 

 exceptional frost a few garden mats may be thrown 

 over the frames early in the afternoon, removing them 

 again the next morning. Fog is the greatest deterrent 

 to Violet culture in frames. It causes the leaves to damp 

 off, and in severe cases suffices to kill the plants out- 

 right. This is one reason why Violets cannot be forced 

 successfully in the neighbourhood of large towns, the 

 other reason being that the amount of light is insufficient 

 to meet the requirements of the plants. In crowded 

 manufacturing districts it is not worth the effort to 

 attempt their cultivation. There are plenty of places, 

 however, where they will succeed well ; but although it 

 is not desired to discourage the beginner, it has to be 

 pointed out that careful attention to details is necessary 

 to preserve the plants from Red Spider and the various 

 fungus diseases to which they are subject. These pests 

 will be referred to presently ; for the moment the cul- 

 tivator should further note that the chief requirements 



