1944 



VIOLET 



re iiiueb better than from 

 The 



a rule the results ol)tained 

 anv other method. 



Frame culture with or without artilicial heat 

 young plants are placed either directly in the frames, 



2689. Neapolitan (XI). 



2688. Violet. Marie Louise (a 1). 



where they are to grow and flower, 

 or else in beds, where they are cul- 

 tivated during the summer and tlie 

 frames placed over them in the fall, 

 or as soon as they require protection ; 

 or they are grown in the field as 

 in the case of field and house cul- 

 ture, and transplanted to the frames 

 some time in September or October. 

 This method is still used to consider- 

 able extent by commercial growers, 



especially in regions where the temperature seldom if 

 ever falls below zero for any length of time. Amateur 

 growers usually ado])t this method because of its sim- 

 plicity and inexpensiveness. 



Pot culture: The young rooted cuttings are planted 

 in thumV»-pots and gradually shifted to larger sizes as 

 growtli demands until they are in 7-in. pots. Here they 

 are kept and flowered, or the plants are taken up from 

 the fiei'l in the fall and put into 7- or 9-in. pots, accord- 

 ing to the size and vigor of the plants. This methocl is 

 seldom used in commercial growing, being expensive, 

 inconvenient and usually unsatisfactor5^ 



Time of ]ilanting: Tiiis varies somewhat with <lill'er- 

 ent growers and in different sections. Generally, how- 

 ever, the best results are obtaiTied where planting is 

 done in early spring. Plants set out at this time get 

 "well estaldished, and as a rule are stronger, healthier 

 and 'more vigorous than those si.'t fjut later, when the 

 weather is usually Imt and dry. 



Proper distance in planting: As a rule, the double 

 Violets are planted 8 or in. apart in rows iO in. apart, 

 and th'' single ones 12 in. apart in rows TJ to 18 in. 

 apart. Till- distance dej'cnding some^vhat ou conditions 

 and varji-ties. Planting too rinse is liable to induce 

 disease, ;ind too far ai^nrt is unprofitable. 



Care and nmnagement; The plants should lie kept 

 free from all weeds, i-unners and old decaying leaves, 

 and the oartli should In- t'tTijuenth" stirred, care being 



VIOLET 



taken not to injure the routs of the plants. During the 

 summer the temperature should be kept as low as pos- 

 sible and in the winter as nearly as possible at 45° to 50° 

 F. at night and 50° to 60° in the daytime. The ventila- 

 tion of the houses should receive careful attention at 

 all times, so that an abundance of fresh air can be sup- 

 plied to the plants when needed. Watering is a diflicult 

 problem, usually taxing to the utmost the best judg- 

 ment of the grower. No fixed rules can be laid down 

 as to the proper amount to apply or when to apply it, 

 this depending upon a number of factors, such as the 

 character of the soil, temperature and moisture of the 

 atmosphere, amount of light, etc. As a rule, however, 

 the soil should be kept moist at all times, and the wa- 

 tering should be thorough, but never to such au extent 

 as to cause the soil to remain saturated for any consid- 

 erable length of time. 



\'io/>.'f Houses (171(1 Frames (Fig. 2692). — There is 

 probalily little choice between any of the standard 

 styles of greenhouses, provided certain features are 

 observed in their construction. Provision should be 

 made for supplying an abundance of fresh air, either 

 from the sides or top, whenever it is needed, the venti- 

 lators ijeing so arranged as to be easily operated either 

 from within the house or from the outside, the inside 

 arrangement to be used in general ventilation of the 

 houses, the outside whenever fumigation with hydro- 

 cyanic acid gas is necessary. The arrangement and 

 location of the house should be such 

 as to secure the maximum amount 

 of sunshine during December and 

 January, and the minimum amount 

 during the growing season, when it 

 is necessary to maintain as low a 

 temperature as possible so as to in- 

 sure good, vigorous, healthy-grow- 

 ing plants. The location of the 

 house and the direction in which it 

 should run depend largely on the 



New York (X 1) 



section of the country, the character of the ground 

 on which it is to be erected, and tlie style of house 

 selected. Generally speaking, the even - span house 

 should run north and south, tlie three-quarter span and 

 tho lean-b> east and west. The best site for the house 

 is a level pirce of land or one sloping gently to the 

 south. Three kinds of greenhouse frammvork are in 

 comniou use in this country ; viz. , wood, wood and 

 iron, and iron. On account of its comparative cheap- 

 ness and durability the wood and iron tramework is 

 coming into gimei'al use. 



