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AN EXPERT'S VIEWS 



ON VIOLET GROWING 



To think of Rhineheck is to think of the violet; the town and the flower 

 are inseparably associated in the mind of the florist. They arc closely asso- 

 ciated, also, in this article, for it was written by a Rhineheck fjrower — 

 one of the most successful growers of double violets. 



:mm. 



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NE HUNDRED miles north 

 of Now York city, nearly 

 opposite the majestic Cat- 

 skills, lies the town of 

 Rhineheck. For over thir- 

 ty years the home of the 

 double violet has been 

 here — the only place in 

 the United States where 

 this modest little flower 

 can be grown with any marked degree 

 of success. Seemingly the nature of 

 the soil is not the chief essential to the 

 growth of violets, as good ones are pro- 

 duced in all kinds of soil, varying from 

 a coarse, gravel-like material to heavy 

 loam. Even black muck grows violets 

 to perfection. But 

 the requisite seems 

 to be atmospheric 

 conditions such as 

 prevail here, and no 

 doubt the Marie 

 Louise, which is the 

 leading variety 

 grown in Rhine- 

 beck, can be grown 

 successfully e 1 s e- 

 where if the same 

 conditions exist. 



Suitable Houses. 



Suitable houses 

 are necessary for 

 the culture of vio- 

 lets. Those used 

 here — and they are 

 probably the most 

 practical ones — are 

 20x150 or 20x200 

 feet, with three 

 solid beds and two 

 walks. 



Each year, at the 

 close of the bloom- 

 ing season, the soil 

 is removed to the 

 depth of eight 

 inches. It is re- 

 placed with soil 

 well mixed with 

 about one ton of 

 stable manure for a 

 space to be occu- 

 pied by 500 plants. 

 After the new soil 

 is in the beds, it is 

 spaded and raked 

 to make the beds 

 level. 



During the month 

 of April runners 

 should be taken 

 from the healthiest 

 stock, trimmed 



By ETHAN A. COON. 



down to one crown leaf and two inches 

 of stem and then placed in the sand 

 to root. 



Care of the Cuttings. . 

 Now the most important work for the 

 grower begins; namely, care of the cut- 

 tings. Watering must be done only on 

 bright days. The cuttings must not be 

 allowed too much water; neither must 

 they become too dry. After the roots 

 have started, the lower part of the cut- 

 ting bed must never bo allowed to be- 

 come dry. Great care must be exer- 

 cised at this time, for a violet cutting 



Ethan A. Coon. 



properly rooted is half grown I By the 

 middle of .June, usually, the roots of 

 the cuttings should bo two or two and 

 one-half inches long. Then they are 

 ready to be set nine inches apart each 

 way in the beds where they are to re- 

 main. Next comes the problem of shad- 

 ing. The writer uses lime in such a 

 way as to let in as much light as possi- 

 ble, still keeping out the direct sun- 

 light. 



After the plants are set, the soil must 

 be kept wet — not muddy. If the 

 weather is intensely hot, more water is 

 needed than in cool weather, when 

 evaporation is slow. The surface of the 

 soil should be kept mellow by stirring 

 it occasionally with 

 a five-finger. 



In four or five 

 weeks buds and 

 runners will appear. 

 These must be kept 

 off. Never allow the 

 runners to grow 

 longer than four or 

 five inches, as they 

 reduce the vitality 

 of the plants. 



Temperature. 



About the end of 

 August or the first 

 part of September, 

 a mulch of coarse 

 stable manure to 

 the depth of one- 

 half inch is highly 

 beneficial. 



No artificial heat 

 is necessary until 

 the first frost ap- 

 pears. However, 

 the temperature of 

 the houses should 

 not drop below 45 

 degrees Fahrenheit, 

 as such a drop 

 would cause too sud- 

 den a check of 

 growth. Buds may 

 be left on as soon 

 as the weather be- 

 comes cool enough 

 to develop them — 

 usually in the last 

 part of September. 

 To secure the best 

 blooms, the day 

 temperature should 

 be about 56 degrees 

 and the night tem- 

 perature 45 degrees. 



In conclusion I 

 wish to emphasize 



