ON florists' flowers. 



73 



something like forty years ago, at a time when the bedding-out 

 of greenhouse-plants was the leading feature of most of the 

 gardens in England. At that time the popularity of any new plant 

 was assured if it was adapted for "bedding-out." Amongst other 



plants brought into promi- 

 nence for that purpose was 

 Viola cormita (Horned Violet) 

 (Fig. 39). This pretty plant 

 had been grown in gardens 

 for nearly a century. It was 

 figured in the Botanical Maga- 

 zi7ie in 1805, Tab. 791, and 

 Dr. Sims, the then editor, 

 stated that the plant was in- 

 troduced to the Royal Gardens, Kew, by Dr. 

 Ortega, in 1776. It is stated to be a native of 

 Spain and Mount Atlas. The flowers are pale 

 blue in colour. The specific name is in allusion 

 to the peculiar formation of the sepals ; while 

 the common name of "Tufted" has reference 

 to the habit of the plants. This plant was 

 grown by thousands as a bedding-plant, and 

 it subsequently became cross-fertilised with the Show Tansies. 

 The produce of this cross were grown as Violas. The hardier, 

 more wiry constitution of Viola cornuta was transferred to the 

 offspring of this cross, and although the form of the so-called 

 Violas has been vastly improved, the constitutional vigour of 

 V. cornuta is still there, and the plants resist winter's cold and 

 summer's heat better than the Show or Fancy varieties of 

 Tansies. 



Another species used was Viola lutea (Yellow Mountain Violet). 

 The flowers are bright yellow, and the plant is found on the 

 higher mountain pastures of Britain. This plant never resisted 

 the drought so well as the Horned Violet ( V. cormita), but it 

 was used a good deal for bedding-out, and is probably the 

 parent of the yellow forms of the Tufted Pansy. 



Cultivation. — The culture of Violas and Pansies does not 

 differ materially, except that better results are obtained with the 

 Viola, and with considerably less trouble. This does not imply 

 that it is not desirable to take pains with the culture of this 

 charming, hardy, border flower. In good, deep garden loam, 

 well-enriched with decayed manure, the Viola will give a 



Fig. 39. — Viola 



CORNUTA. 



