406 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



In working out design patterns, the utmost care should be used 

 to have the lines and curves uniform, which is only to be secured by 

 marking out the design, and careful planting. Formal planting is, 

 however, by no means necessary for pleasing effects. Borders, lines, 

 and masses of single colors, or groups of mixed colors which harmonize, 

 are always in order and pleasing. Clear colors are preferable to neu- 

 tral tints. As varieties vary in height and season of blooming, only 

 named varieties should be ordered if uniform bedding effects are de- 

 sired. See pp. 286 and 345 ; Fig. 255. 



Violet. — While the culture of violets as house-plants rarely proves 

 successful, there is no reason why a good supply may not be had else- 

 where through the greater part of the winter and the spring months. 



A sheltered location being selected, young plants from runners may 

 be set in August or September. Have the ground fertile and well 

 drained. These plants will make fine crowns by December, and often 

 will bloom before weather sufficiently cold to freeze them. 



To have flowers through the winter, it will be necessary to afford 

 some protection. This may best be accomplished by building a frame 

 of boards large enough to cover the plants, making the frame in the 

 same way as for a hotbed, 4 to 6 inches higher at the back than 

 the front. Cover the frame with sash or boards, and as the weather 

 becomes severe, mats or straw should be placed over and around the 

 frame to protect the plants from freezing. Whenever the weather 

 will permit, the covering should be removed and air admitted, but 

 no harm will come if the frames are not disturbed for several weeks. 

 Much sunlight and a high temperature through the middle of winter 

 are to be avoided, for if the plants are stimulated, a shorter period of 

 bloom will result. In April the frame may be removed, the plants 

 yielding the later part of the crop without protection. 



Violets belong with the " cool" plants of florists. When well hard- 

 ened off, considerable frost does not harm them. They should always 

 be kept stocky. Start a new lot from runner-plants each year. They 

 thrive in a temperature of 55° to 65°. Pages 190, 206. 



Wax-plant. — The wax-plant, or hoya, is one of the commonest of 

 window-garden plants, and yet it is one that house-gardeners usually 



