278 POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS 



standard Roses, or band them along the front of his 

 Sweet Pea border. Nor Roses, nor Violas, nor Sweet 

 Peas are nominally the right plants for him, yet if he 

 has the root of floriculture in him he may make a toler- 

 able success of all of them. 



The Sweet Violet. We cannot think of the Viola 

 genus without thoughts of the sweet Violet, Viola 

 odorata, coming into our minds. Who does not love 

 this delicious denizen of the hedgerows ? Who does 

 not long to have it naturalised in his garden, and likewise 

 giving him winter flowers from a snug frame? That 

 time of the year 



" When Daisies pied and Violets blue, 

 And Ladysmocks all silver white, 

 And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue 



Do paint the meadows with delight," 



is one of enjoyment to every Nature-lover. 



The Sweet Violet comes with the Dog Violet, Violet 

 canina, in March. The latter, paler in hue and not 

 scented, sometimes deceives the inexperienced eye, and 

 surprise and disappointment blend after an eager spring 

 forward to gather the flowers. Both have five petals of 

 unequal size, of which the lowest has a spur. 



The Sweet Violet was one of the prime favourites of 

 Shakespeare. Note how he refers to it again and again, 

 and always in language that breathes freshness and 

 fragrance. 



" Who when he lived, his breath and beauty set 

 Gloss on the Rose, smell to the Violet." 



Venus and Adonis. 



" The forward Violet thus did I chide : 

 1 Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells 

 If not from love's breath ? The purple pride 

 Which on thy soft cheek for complexion dwells 



