THE VIOLET. 



7? 



destroyed by the same remedies as are used for the 

 others, but they are harder to keep in check. Fre- 

 quently, when plants are grown in pots, the lower leaves 

 ire lost. This may be due to a variety of causes, such 

 crowding and lack of air, too much water, lack of 

 frequent syringing, exposure to drying winds, etc.; and 

 a remedy can be found by avoiding each and all of these 

 things. We also find that the foliage often takes on an 

 unhealthy color, which may be due from the plant being 

 in too small a pot, lack of food, too much or too little 

 water, crowding, or exposure to the wind. Having 

 found the cause, the remedy will be apparent. 



Whatever method of growing the plants is prac- 

 ticed, the best results can only be obtained when strong 

 cuttings are used, and when the plants are kept growing 

 without a check from the time they are potted till they 

 are through blooming. For the "Leaf Spot" and other 

 fungous diseases, the plants should be sprayed with cop- 

 per sulphate solution. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE VIOLET. 



Few of our greenhouse plants have so steadily 

 maintained their hold upon public favor as has the mod- 

 est violet. It is easily grown and is so generally useful 

 that no florist can do without it. For the winter flow- 

 ering of this plant, a greenhouse in which the night 

 temperature will not be above forty-five degrees is desir- 

 able, but they are often wintered in cold frames, and 

 give an abundance of blooms as the warm weather of 

 >ring comos on. If a greenhouse is not at one's dis- 

 posal, the plants may be covered with a narrow frame, 



