SWEET VIOLETS AND THEIR 

 CULTIVATION 



Outdoor Violets. Sweet Violets will grow and flower freely 

 in almost any good garden soil, and that which will pro- 

 duce good vegetables will be found equally suitable for the 

 growth of Violets. In preparing the bed or border to receive 

 the plants do not charge the soil with a mass of rank manure, 

 as this in all probability would lead to much leaf growth and 

 few flowers, the latter being in small proportion to the foliage. 

 Those who have a light; hungry soil to deal with might im- 

 prove by digging in some thoroughly decayed cow manure. 

 This while feeding the roots would also tend to keep the 

 ground cool and moist during summer, no small feature in 

 successful Violet culture. The Violet does not grow naturally 

 in a place where rank manure prevails ; the plants require 

 rather shade and moisture, and a soil rich in humus, viz. the 

 accumulation of decaying leaves for many years. A free 

 addition of leaf-mould is an advantage, especially to heavy 

 soils that are inclined to bake and then crack under the influ- 

 ence of the sun. The presence of decayed leaves in the 

 ground would prevent this, while the roots would revel in 

 what is naturally their chief rooting medium. 



Some growers are so situated that they find it is difficult 

 to secure either cow manure or leaf-mould, but the Violet is 

 not particular, thriving almost as well when the site is dressed 

 with what we may term a mixed compost. The ordinary 

 rubbish heap contains more valuable plant food than many 

 imagine, especially after all the nondescript material has gone 

 through a process of decay, the germinating power of the seed 

 of weeds destroyed, and the whole turned and well mixed. A 

 good heap of such compost may be used with advantage for 

 most flowers, and none would appreciate it better than Violets. 

 Of other suitable dressing mention might be made of spent 

 mushroom dung or the remains of an old hot-bed. Lime, 

 wood ashes, or fresh horse droppings should be avoided, as 

 these are not moisture-holding agencies, therefore they are 



