60 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



begin to grow at once in their new quarters. Such young 

 stock would probably show flower buds, but these should 

 be pinched out, as the established beds would furnish the 

 supply. If, after planting, a slight mulch of decayed manure 

 could be spread about the plants so much the better, as 

 subsequent rains would carry the manurial properties down 

 to the roots, and the residue on the surface would greatly 

 assist to keep the ground cool and moist during a hot and dry 

 summer. During the summer encourage leaf growth free 

 from red spider. Keep the runners picked off and the ground 

 between the plants free from weeds. Treated in this way 

 the plants will not fail to give a wealth of bloom in due 

 season. 



Violets in Frames. However good the summer treatment 

 may have been, or how strong the plants may be by autumn, 

 a continuous supply of bloom throughout the winter cannot 

 be maintained without some protection. 



Violets in Winter. Temporary frames may be placed 

 over the beds, but then the shady position the plants oc- 

 cupied during the summer would be against free-flowering 

 throughout a season of dull short days. Therefore, the plants 

 should be removed to a more sunny one and planted in 

 shallow frames an ordinary portable frame, such as is 

 generally used for growing cucumbers in during the summer ; 

 indeed a bed that has been used for this purpose requires little 

 alteration to receive the Violet plants. The hillocks need only 

 be levelled down, and the soil trodden somewhat firmly and 

 the Violet plants put out say one foot apart. Of course, we 

 are supposing that the soil in the frame will not be more 

 than eighteen inches from the glass. The nearer the plants 

 can be brought up to the glass the better, so that every ray 

 of sunshine shines on them. The frame, too, should have a 

 sharp pitch and face south. This will allow of rain or snow 

 passing off quickly, and then there is less fear of the foliage 

 suffering from damp or mildew. The Violet is hardy, and 

 resents fire heat, protection is all that is needed ; and when 

 severe weather is anticipated, pack leaves, bracken, straw, or 

 stable litter round the sides of the frame, and the cover lights 

 with double mats to keep out frost, and the plants are more 

 likely to succeed in such quarters than in heated brick pits. 



The plants should be exposed fully whenever the weather 

 permits. Even in wet weather tilt the lights well at the back, 

 harsh winds, frost, and heavy rains being guarded against, 

 and ventilation afforded accordingly. These are the simple 

 lines upon which to work, and by getting the plants placed 

 in the frames the first or second week in September, flowers 



