1 1 2 On the Treatment of the Neapolitan Violets. 



has become dry ; but particular care must be taken, i 

 depth of the winter months, to wet the plants as little at 

 sible, moisture being very injurious to them in that f 

 the year. In March and April, when the weather is 

 and a free admission of air is given, a plentiful supply of v 

 is necessary, as the plants, in those months, will be in ; 

 gorous state of growth, and if well managed, they will 1 

 produce an abundance of flowers, and consequently require 

 more moisture than in the former months. 



By the end of April the plants will have ceased to pro- 

 duce flowers for the season ; they are then to be turned out 

 of the pots and divided, some into five or six, others into two 

 or three, and some not at all ; for if the parts are made very 

 small they will not become sufficiently strong by the time 

 they are wanted for potting in the autumn. 



As soon as the plants are divided, they are to be planted, 

 with a dibble, a foot apart, in the manner of Strawberries, 

 in rich ground, under a north wall. In the spring of 1819 I 

 put a strong coat of ground bones upon the border when I 

 planted the Violets ; they grew unusually strong, and are 

 now the finest I have ever had, notwithstanding the severe 

 winter which we have experienced. The plants must be 

 kept clear from weeds during the summer, and watered only 

 in very dry weather. It is necessary that more than double 

 the number of plants which may be wanted in autumn should 

 be planted in the spring, to allow of a selection of the best 

 for potting ; the number potted at Spring Grove for the sea- 

 son being from three to four hundred, 1 put out in the spring 

 from eight to nine hundred plants, which give me an abun- 

 dant choice. 



