PANSIES, VIOLAS, SWEET VIOLETS 281 



They must have protection, of course, and this is 

 generally provided in the form of a glass frame, set up 

 on a mild hot bed of manure and leaves. The plants 

 are taken from the ground in September or October, 

 and planted in a bed of good soil, made up about 

 nine inches deep on the top of the hot bed. The addi- 

 tion of an equal quantity of leaves to the manure insures 

 a mild, steady heat, which is what is wanted. With 

 fermenting manure alone there would be a fierce heat 

 at first and coldness soon afterwards. The plants are 

 put about a foot apart. Any dead or diseased leaves, 

 and any side shoots, are removed. The lights are kept 

 open in fine weather. Watering is done when the soil 

 becomes dry, and a little special manure is watered 

 in once a week. With this treatment the plants grow 

 and bloom throughout the winter and spring. They 

 will not yield many flowers in very severe weather, but 

 there will not be many days on which a few flowers 

 cannot be picked ; while in mild spells there will be 

 abundance of fragrant blossoms. Frame Violets are 

 sometimes a failure through an attack of red spider, 

 which may be suspected at once if the foliage becomes 

 thin and rusty ; but this enemy rarely puts in an appear- 

 ance when plenty of water is given and ventilation is 

 sufficient. The plants remain healthy, the leaves are 

 abundant, substantial, and dark in colour. The side 

 shoots and suckers which form may be removed regu- 

 larly until the end of March, so that the plants may 

 concentrate their energies on flowering ; but after that 

 time the plants may be allowed to grow naturally, in 

 order that they may produce material for propagation. 



Species and Varieties. It would probably be impos- 

 sible to trace the exact parentage of modern Pansies, 

 Violas, and Sweet Violets, although we know that most 



