PANSIES, VIOLAS, SWEET VIOLETS 277 



valuable plants in many ways. They grow freely, and 

 flower abundantly for several months. 



It is mainly owing to its profusion of bloom and 

 dense, tufty habit that the Viola has got ahead of the 

 Pansy as a garden plant. It has not the rich colouring 

 of the latter, and could not be shown individually on a 

 board like the Pansy. When exhibited it is set up in 

 bunches like single Dahlias, most of the flowers being 

 arranged so as to face the spectator. A series of such 

 bunches, set up on green boards, forms a beautiful 

 exhibit, far more striking and attractive to most flower- 

 lovers than a board of Pansies, the blooms of which lie 

 singly and flat on the show-board, however appealing 

 the latter maybe to the specialists. Viola exhibits are 

 made at many of the principal shows both in England 

 and Scotland. If there are not classes for them they 

 may still be found, because trade florists set up non- 

 competitive stands in the hope of arresting the attention 

 of visitors, and so gaining orders for plants or seeds. 



As Town Flowers. Speaking broadly, the Viola 

 thrives best with the same soil and general culture as 

 the Pansy, and enjoys similar conditions. But owing 

 to its greater vigour it can make a better fight against ad- 

 verse conditions. Those who see the beautiful bands and 

 beds of Violas in the London parks will appreciate this 

 advantage fully. These displays bring home to them the 

 fact that in spite of the reputation which members of 

 the Viola family enjoy of being bad town plants, they 

 can be made to succeed in town gardens. If the soil is 

 well prepared, if planting is done by mid-May, if water- 

 ing is attended to in hot, dry weather throughout June, 

 if the flowers are picked, and if the plants are given a 

 mulching of fresh soil and decayed manure in July, they 

 will succeed. Let the suburbanist bed them among his 



