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XVIII. On the Treatment of the Neapolitan Violets, so as to 

 make them produce a Succession of Flowers through the 

 Winter. By Mr. Isaac Oldaker, F. H. S. Gardener to 

 His Majesty the Emperor of Russia. 



Read March 21st, 1820. 



The Neapolitan Violet, which is called in Prance the Violet 

 of Parma, is sufficiently distinguished from all the other va- 

 rieties of the Viola odorata of Linneus, by its pale blue 

 flowers, which are rather semi- double than full double. The 

 flowers have the peculiarity of growing on longer footstalks 

 than any of the other kinds, which makes them much more 

 useful in forming nosegays. The plants when sheltered or 

 protected from severe weather are disposed to produce 

 their blossoms through the whole winter. The treatment re- 

 quired, to enable them to do this in perfection, is the object 

 of the present communication. 



A compost, formed one half of fresh turf loam that has 

 been turned over two or three times during the summer, and 

 one half rotten dung, must be well mixed together, and be 

 ready by the end of September ; at which time the Violet 

 plants must be raised from the bed in which they have grown 

 during the summer, with as much earth to their roots as 

 possible. They are then to be divested of all their side 

 branches, or what are commonly called Runners by the gar- 

 deners. The proper sized pots for the purpose are those 

 which are seven inches wide at top and six inches deep, be- 



