320 JOUENAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



intervening winters without the shghtest protection of any kind, [ 

 and have grown into splendid clumps twelve to eighteen inches in 

 diameter. I consider the survival satisfactory if 75 per cent, or more 

 have lived. The following varieties have stood that test : — 



Whites. — ' Peace,' ' Seagull,' ' Pencaitland, ' ' Christiana ' (fig. 112) 

 (' White Beauty ' very late). I 



Cream. — ' Sylvia.' 



Yellows. — 'Klondyke,' ' Grievei,' 'Mrs. E. A. Cade.' 

 Shades of Blue. — ' Eoyal Scot,' 'Blue Duchess,' ' Lilacina,' ' 

 ' Florizel,' ' Wm. Neil.' | 

 Purple. — ' Jubilee ' (* Edina,' very late). 

 Fancy. — * Blue Cloud,' ' Mrs. Chichester.' 



Fifty to seventy-five per cent, of some remarkably fine sorts have 

 survived, and these include favourites such as ' Snowflake,' ' Eedbraes 

 Yellow,' 'Walter Welsh,' * Wm. Lockwood,' 'Iliffe,' 'Primrose 

 Dame,' ' Archbald Grant,' 'Mauve Queen,' 'Maggie Mott,' 'Blue 

 Eock,' ' Lady Marjorie,' * Bridal Morn,' * Councillor Watters.' 



So much for our experience in Essex. In the North, at Edinburgh, j: 

 Mr. McHattie, the well-known Superintendent of the City Gardens, ' 

 finds the following most satisfactory: 'Blue Bell,' ' Eoyal Scot,' 

 ' Saughton Blue,' 'Maggie Mott,' 'Bullion,' 'Eedbraes Yellow, 

 ' Alexandra ' (white). 



I can testify to the marvellously fine effect Mr. McHattie obtains 

 with his new blue planted in conjunction with whites and yellows, 

 and allowed to stand for two or three years. ' Saughton Blue ' I 

 should not term a Viola, because it has, like * Lilacina,' a blotch on i 

 the under petal. Mr. Grieve said the battle between Violas and Bedding 

 Pansies was still going on and I might have something to say about 

 it. All I have to say is, that in catalogues varieties which are rayed, 

 rayless, or blotched should be stated as such. For some reason or ! 

 other the blotched varieties are hardiest. I 



Here I might say a word about a class of Violas called ' Violetta ' or i 

 * Miniature.' Its origin was a variety named ' Violetta,' raised by Dr. | 

 Stuart of Chirnside. The habit is remarkably close and compact and 

 almost truly perennial in character. The blossoms are small and 

 sweetly scented. For edgings and rockwork they are most valuable. 

 In " The Garden " of June 1910 there is a beautiful coloured plate 

 of Violettas, most of which have been raised by Mr. D. B. Crane of 

 High gate — one of the best friends the Viola has in the South. i 



I regret that the Eoyal Horticultural Society has not recently held \ 

 a trial of Violas, but I can quite well understand that the soil conditions | 

 at Wisley are unsuitable. Much, however, may be done to make very ' 

 light soils suitable if the ground be cultivated in August and thoroughly 

 enriched with a very heavy dressing of cow manure and the plants put 

 out in October. 



At Chiswick in the old days very fine trials were held, and time 

 has proved that the majority of the awards then made were right. 



In conclusion I think it would be better to .anticipate a quesiion 



