DESCRIPTIVE AND SELECTIVE. 271 



kinds are easily raised from seed sown under glass early 

 in spring, and most of them can be propagated by 

 cuttings put in gritty soil in a cool frame in Autumn. 

 The following are the most important and beautiful of 

 the Violas : Biflora is a true Alpine, bearing its pretty 

 yellow flowers in pairs (hence the specific name) in 

 late spring ; it loves a cool, moist, partially shaded 

 spot ; may be propagated by division ; as it is a small 

 plant, care must be taken that it is not overgrown 

 by rampant neighbours. Calcarata, which is shown 

 in one of the coloured plates, is also an Alpine, and 

 bears blue flowers in May ; there are several forms of 

 it, including a white (alhida) ; a double lavender {pallida 

 plena) \ and a yellow (flava). Cornuta is the horned 

 Pansy, a Pyrenean plant, flowering from spring to 

 summer in gardens, and bearing blue fragrant flowers ; 

 there is a white variety (alba). It is to cornuta, crossed 

 as the female parent with selected garden Pansies, 

 that we owe the florists' Violas or tufted Pansies, 

 which are now among the most precious of dwarf 

 garden plants ; when grown in cool, moist soil, dressed 

 over and mulched occasionally, and kept well picked, 

 they form beautiful edgings and carpets to beds. 

 Cucullata is an American species, and bears its purplish 

 blue flowers in spring. Gracilis is a beautiful kind, 

 the flowers having the rich plum blue colour with 

 which we are familiar in that grand tufted Pansy 

 Archie Grant ; it grows three or four inches high and 

 blooms in June. Munbyana is an Algerian species, 

 and an extremely pretty one, with violet flowers in 

 late winter and spring. Odor at a is the common sweet 



