THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 
91 
accordingly covered with garden-mats ; a fall of snow presently succeeding, with a 
continuation of severe weather, the covering was allowed to remain over them 
several days ; eventually, however, they were uncovered, and to our great surprise 
were bearing a number of fine healthy flowers. The degree of warmth afforded by 
linings at the time, was such as to be just perceptible. The plants were not by 
any means so healthy as in the first instance, where success was so extraordinary, 
but nevertheless produced fine flowers during the time they were in comparative 
darkness. 
Viewing the conclusion the facts adduced in the foregoing paragraph lead to 
scientifically, so far as science teaches that success in the cultivation of any plants is 
proportionately great or otherwise, as we succeed in subjecting them to similar con- 
ditions to those nature affords, or depart from doing so, there is nothing irrelevant to 
the known principles upon which plants are treated under cultivation. In the case 
of the Violet, we scarcely need allude to the extent to which its flowers enjoy shade, 
as they are naturally produced : every one knows that in endeavouring to pluck a 
handful of those gems from their lowly retreat, we have often to dislodge a mass of 
Nettles, or other rude herbage, or thrust ourselves to the bottom of a thorny hedge, 
or as often to plunge among the ranker vegetation of a shady wood, if we would 
possess the little modest flower ; and, as if not sufficiently shaded and hid from view 
under these circumstances, it is still further shielded by the leaves of the plant 
which bears it. There is nothing in the habit of the Neapolitan Violet to indicate 
that it would not, under cultivation, equally enjoy as great a degree of shade and 
exclusion as the species of our native woods ; the circumstances under which it has 
flourished in so gratifying a manner, go to prove that it would. 
The general culture of the Neapolitan Violet is so simple, that in addition to 
what we have previously given respecting its management, we have little to notice. 
We cannot, however, omit impressing upon those propagating it, that they should 
endeavour to raise really healthy plants, keeping them free from that pest, the Red 
Spider, rather than luxuriant gross-growing ones. Usually at the time it is wished 
to have flowers, the plants are not only placed where they can receive all the light 
possible, but also are subjected to a higher temperature than is congenial to their 
nature, and which, we are satisfied, is very unfavourable to the production of flowers. 
In the instance described, where flowers so fine and in such numbers were produced, 
no artificial heat was applied, nor any means of protection, further than was neces- 
sary to screen the plants from frost. 
With these brief suggestions, and the facts adduced, we will leave our readers to 
be guided by their own discretion as to how far, or in what way they act upon them. 
