140 
ADAPTATION OF THE TREE VIOLET, ETC. 
garden, and a bed, whose autumnal beauty had already departed beneath the blighting 
influence of early nocturnal frosts, was prepared, by trenching down the blackened remains 
of former beauty, top-dressing with leaf-mould or a little rotten dung, which was lightly 
forked into the surface, and the bed levelled for the reception of the plants ; they were 
then carefully lifted, with good “ balls ” containing almost every rootlet, and immediately i 
inserted so closely as almost to touch each other when planted. They were placed rather 
deep in the bed, the soil being loosely drawn around each plant, and the bed surfaced with 
a mixture of dry soil, wood-ashes, lime or charcoal dust, to preserve them from the depre- 
dations of slugs and other vermin, as also to prevent the immediate action of frost upon 
the young and tender roots, and for the latter purpose the dry top-dressing was occasionally 
renewed throughout the winter. 
The plants rooted freely in the bed ; and, on the return of spring, they very soon 
became a compact mass, and in the latter part of February commenced blooming, as we 
have already described. 
Their after-treatment this season, we were informed, would be precisely a repetition of 
what was adopted last year, with the exception, however, of thinning a sufficient number 
of the plants at once (after flowering), so as to enable the usual top-dressing to be given, 
and thus obtain strong plants for transplantation to a border in the kitchen- garden, &c., 
and receive the rationale of last year’s treatment. 
The Tree Violet is also admirably adapted for forcing in the herbaceous, as well as in 
the arboreal state, in the same way that is usually adopted for the Neapolitan, either in 
48 or 32-sized pots, or planted on a very gentle hot-bed under the protection of a frame. 
Besides possessing the tendency to bloom more freely than the Neapolitan, it is 
decidedly superior both in point of hardiness, beauty, duration, and fragrance. An old 
pine-pit or melon-frame, with an exhausted bottom-heat, would be all the forcing the 
plants would require ; or, if these were not at command, a slight hot-bed formed of spent 
fermenting materials, about 2 or 3 feet in thickness, and covered with a compost 
of stiff loam — leaf-mould and sharp sand, would answer well for them. They may be 
taken up and planted when the others are disposed for flower-garden decoration, or if ten 
days earlier, perhaps, they would the sooner be induced to bloom. During winter, they 
must experience a free circulation of air at all times ; and in mild weather the lights may 
be altogether drawn off ; but they must be carefully protected from rain and frost by lights 
and mats, or they will not flower at the desired time — mid-winter. 
Should “ rot ” or “ damp ” affect them — which in this situation, during the “ dark days 
before Christmas,” is not improbable- — sharp sand, quick-lime, wood-ashes, or fine charcoal 
dust, will require to be freely disseminated over and amongst them at intervals ; and this 
will likewise suffice to prevent the depredations of snails, &c. 
Very little, if any water, should be given during whiter ; but if it is found requisite 
to moisten them a little, advantage must be taken of a bright windy morning to perform 
it, with the water in a warm state, conveyed from the spout of a waterpot introduced 
between the plants, so as not to wet the foliage ; and, if a nice comfortable warmth and 
dry atmosphere be kept up about them, they will flower freely enough by Christmas time. 
As Tree Violets are preferable in that form for adorning the drawing-room vase or 
flower-stand of a lady’s boudoir, a few remarks on their management may not be out 
of place: — 
The stoutest young plants in the open ground plantation should be encouraged to 
develope their prostrate stems as vigorously as possible by the middle of July, when, if a 
single stem is preferred, the strongest must be selected for training upright, and the 
others cut away close to the base, in order that all the vigour of the plant may be 
concentrated in the remaining one. 
They must now be potted into 32 or 48-sized pots, care being taken to preserve all 
the roots in lifting them out of the ground. A compost of equal parts fibrous peat, turfy 
loam, and leaf-mould, with the addition of a little sharp sand to preserve porosity, they 
delight in ; and secure drainage may be obtained by placing an inverted “ thumb ” or 
80-sized pot over the aperture, and over this flakes of leaf-mould or lumps of green turf. 
