STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



of a deeper golden color. This variety is found in drier, 

 more open soil the black veining more distinctly marked 

 than in the downy Yellow Violet, and the seed-vessels 

 smooth. They both improve under culture, having two 

 sets of flowers during the season. 



Among the white Violets none is so beautiful as the 



BRANCHING WHITE WOOD VIOLET Viola Canadensis (L.). 



This, our Canada Violet, is worthy of a place in our 

 gardens. Not only is it a lovely flower, but it takes kindly 

 to garden culture, preferring a shady place to the open 

 sunshine. In its native haunts the rich black vegetable 

 mould of beech and maple woods it rises to the height of 

 from nine inches to a foot, throwing out slender leafy- 

 bracted branches, with many buds and pure milk-white 

 flowers. The petals are slightly clouded on the outside 

 with purple; the buds are also dark, while the petals of 

 the flower are veined with purple, and in some cases there 

 is a shade of yellow in the centre of the flowers, though 

 this is not seen so distinctly when under cultivation. 



The plant continues to send forth blossoms all through 

 the summer, and even late in the month of September when 

 undisturbed. The seeds, ripening early, form new plants, 

 which, sheltered by the parent stem, continue to increase, 

 forming a compact ball of snow-white flowers. This has 

 been the case in my own garden. If well watered and in 

 suitable soil, this pretty branching violet may be taken 

 from the woods even in full bloom, and will grow and con- 

 tinue to blossom freely, but must have shade and moisture 

 and leaf-mould to ensure success to its healthy growth. 

 The leaves are large, broad at the base, narrowing to a very 

 slender point, and coarsely toothed. 



6 



