26 The Violet. 



tween two towns covered with Violets, principally white. The 

 soil was a kind of chalky loam, and on some of the banks he found 

 a considerable quantity of sweet Violets, of a murrey or pale 

 mulberry color, and others of a dingy flesh color not much un- 

 like common blotting paper. Near these he uniformly discovered 

 patches of white Violets on one side, and the purple variety on 

 the other, which evinced the change to be owing to the accidental 

 mixture of the farina of the two varieties, as he observed some 

 of the white Violets had the edges of their petals tinged with 

 purple, and the spurs of the greater part were tinged with that 

 color with a reddish cast. He came to the conclusion that the 

 soil in some degree assisted in contributing to this unusual color 

 of the sweet Violet, as on a grass-plot where the soil was a mix- 

 ture of cold clay and chalk, Violets grew spontaneously of a rich 

 plum red color, and as odorous as the White or Purple Vio- 

 lets. Double Violets are easily increased by parting the roots 

 in the autumn. The seeds of the Pansy may be sown at any 

 time. We must remember that ripening seeds always injures 

 the plant ; it destroys this one, in nearly all cases ; which can be 

 prevented by cutting off the branches when the beauty of the 

 blossom is past. They will then send out fresh branches and con- 

 tinue in bloom during the year. Transplanting adds to the 

 beauty of all the Violet species. The prizes of the Floral Games 

 of the Ancients consisted of a Golden Violet. 



And in that golden vase was set 



The Prize — the purple violet. l. e. l. 



By nature urged, by instinct led, 



The bosom of a flower he sought, 

 Where streams mourned round a mossy bed, 



And Violets all the banks enwrought. 



Of kindred race but brighter dyes 



On that fair bank a Pansy grew, 

 That borrowed from the indulgent skies, 



A velvet shade and purple hue. 



The tints that streamed with glossy gold, 



The velvet shade and purple hue, 

 The stranger wondered to behold, 



And to its beauteous bosom flew. 



But wounded to the Violet flew, 



That boasts no depths of glowing dyes, 



Arrayed in unbespangled blue, 



The simple clothing of the skies. Langhorne. 



