April Making Ready for Summer 



are planted now. Some plants greatly dislike being 

 disturbed, and show their resentment by refusing to flower 

 for a year or two ; Irises, Paeonies, Oriental Poppies, 

 Japanese Anemones, climbing Roses and Christmas Roses 

 are some of those especially liable to take offence. 



Among the Hardy Flowers 



Increasing the Violet. April is the month in which 

 to prepare for another Violet season. The method of 

 propagation most commonly practised is by division of 

 the old clumps ; only " crowns " or young pieces that 

 are well rooted should be chosen for replanting, the old 

 portions that have become hard being discarded ; the 

 former are set out at about 10 inches apart on a prepared 

 bed of soil. Violets have an especial liking for leaf soil, 

 and this should be dug in freely, together with decayed 

 manure, if the land is light. There are many opinions 

 as to the best position for a bed of Violets, but every- 

 one agrees that too much warmth, as provided, for instance, 

 by a border at the foot of a wall facing south, is detri- 

 mental. They are often grown in the open garden, but 

 more frequently on a partially-shaded border facing west. 

 During the summer months the chief details of manage- 

 ment are to remove all runners, to hoe frequently between 

 the plants, to supply water as becomes necessary, and, 

 last, but most important of all, to syringe the Violets 

 freely and frequently* during hot weather to prevent 

 attacks by that injurious little insect, the red spider. 

 If unfortunately this pest appears, a remedy that has 

 proved reliable is to syringe the leaves, and particularly 

 the lower surface, with salt water, a tablespoonful of 

 salt dissolved in a gallon of water. 



As to varieties they are numerous in both double 

 and single flowers. Favourites among the larger blossomed 

 single kinds are Princess of Wales, La France and Cali- 

 fornia, and among the smaller ones Amiral Avellan, of 

 reddish shade; Rose Perle, rose with white centre; and 



