550 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



and in bloom by the middle of May, you should sow seed in De- 

 cember or early January. Make use of bottom heat and carry the 

 young stock in a house of no less than 55 deg. 



VIOLA CORNUTA (TUFTED PANSIES) 



These Violas, to which group the Pansies belong, while of not 

 as great importance as the latter, are nevertheless desirable bedding 

 plants and worthy of more attention on the part of the florists. 



They are especially desirable when a mass effect is wanted, 

 and they can be planted in partial shade. I have seen them a mass 

 of bloom all Summer and the varieties, Blue and White Perfection 

 are among the best for solid bedding and for use in connection 

 with late yeUow or red Tulips as a border or in between the plants 

 themselves. Viola cornuta lutea splendens with its sweet-scented, 

 yellow flowers, makes a great showing. Again, you can use these 

 Violas for groups along the hardy border or in places a little too 

 shady for the large-flowering Pansies. 



In cultural needs, they don't differ much from your other Pan- 

 sies. Sow during Summer outdoors, transplant, and if you overwinter 

 them in the open, give just a little protection. 



VIOLETS 



In order to grow Violets for the wholesale market, you must, 

 first of all, be located in a section where they will do well. The next 

 thing is to do nothing else but grow them. And, last, but not least, 

 you must make them pay. The writer at one time grew many 

 thousands of the still popular Marie Louise in frames for the New 

 York market. That was in the '80's, and there was at that time as 

 much money in growing them as in almost anything else in the flower 

 line — and less expense. We fought leaf spot then, as we do today 

 and made money one year and none the next — also the same as 

 we do today. To my mind, the retail grower wiU hardly find time to 

 grow Marie Louise successfully if he has just a bench of plants. 

 He may do it for a year or two, but there are very few who make it 

 pay in the long run. What will pay him, however, as long as he 

 has to have Violets, is to grow Princess of Wales, the single, deep 

 blue variety of delightful fragrance. While in cultural treatment 

 this Violet doesn't differ a great deal from Marie Louise, it will do 

 and pay with half as much care. 



If you plant small stock out in the field, keep the plants cul- 

 tivated during the Summer months and the runners cut off. From 

 September on up to the end of October you can move the plants in- 

 doors to a cool house and either plant them on a solid bed or, what 

 is even better, on a bench. You don't want plants as big as a bushel 

 basket. I rather prefer those of medium size, allowing about one 

 foot of space between them in the rows. The plants should start 



