230 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



therefore, a good general rule to plant them not less than a foot, 

 or at the least ten inches apart in straight rows, each of which 

 should also be a foot apart. 



Choose, if possible, a moist, dull day for planting, since it is 

 essential to prevent the young plants from flagging. If the weather 

 be dry, suitable precautions must be taken. It is, for example, a 

 good plan to " puddle hi " the roots. This consists in making a 

 hole with the trowel for each plant, filling the hole with water and 

 placing the roots in the liquid before it percolates through the 

 subsoil. Ere this happens the hole should be filled with fine soil, 

 and the plant be made firm with the fingers. Another method of 

 preventing flagging immediately after planting may be adopted. 

 If an inverted flower-pot be placed over each young violet during 

 dry, hot sunshine, and if the pots be lifted off during periods of 

 rain, and at night, the plants will become established with much 

 greater ease than would be the case if the ground were allowed to 

 become baked by the sun. 



Thus far all is plain sailing, and now comes the important sub- 

 ject of watering. Violets will never thrive unless they be supplied 

 with a sufficient quantity of moisture. In dry weather water must 

 be given in copious draughts. Mere sprinkling of the surface 

 soil will only result in producing a hard crust, through which the 

 dew will fail to penetrate. It is a good plan to keep the surface 

 lightly forked up. This should be done after a heavy watering, 

 by which the roots have been thoroughly soaked. In this way 

 the necessity for daily watering in hot weather can be avoided. 

 The plants will also be benefited at such times, if a mulching or 

 top-dressing of leaf mould or decayed manure be supplied. 



The chief insect pest against which violets have to contend is 

 red spider. It often makes its appearance in periods of dry, hot 

 weather. No better method of warding off attacks can be 

 suggested than careful cultivation that is, the provision of a 

 good bed of soil and the prevention of a hard, caked surface in 

 the manner I have suggested But when the enemy has made its 

 appearance no tune must be lost in stamping it out. A useful and 

 easy method is that depicted in Figure 4 of the diagram. This 



