STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 
of a deeper golden color. This variety is found in drier, 
more open soil—the black veining more distinctly marked 
than in the downy Yellow Violet, and the seed-vessels 
smooth. They both improve under culture, having two 
sets of flowers during the season. 
Among the white Violets none is so beautiful as the 
BRANCHING WHITE Woop VI0LET—Viola Canadensis (L.). 
This, our Canada Violet, is worthy of a place in our 
gardens. Not only is it a lovely flower, but it takes kindly 
to garden culture, preferring a shady place to the open 
sunshine. In its native haunts—the rich black vegetable 
mould of beech and maple woods—it rises to the height of 
from nine inches to a foot, throwing out slender leafy- 
bracted branches, with many buds and pure milk-white 
flowers. The petals are slightly clouded on the outside 
with purple; the buds are also dark, while the petals of 
the flower are veined with purple, and in some cases there 
is a shade of yellow in the centre of the flowers, though 
this is not seen so distinctly when under cultivation. 
The plant continues to send forth blossoms all through 
the summer, and even late in the month of September when 
undisturbed. The seeds, ripening early, form new plants, 
which, sheltered by the parent stem, continue to increase, 
forming a compact ball of snow-white flowers. This has 
been the case in my own garden. If well watered and in 
suitable soil, this pretty branching violet may be taken 
from the woods even in full bloom, and will grow and con- 
tinue to blossom freely, but must have shade and moisture 
‘and leaf-mould to ensure success to its healthy growth. 
The leaves are large, broad at the base, narrowing to a very 
slender point, and coarsely toothed. 
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