'4fl| S34 A NOTE ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. W 
For small beds I recommend the rare and beautiful Scillas : sibii'iea, blue ; bifolia, lilac, bifolia alba, tS 
pure white, carnea, piak ; prsecox dark blue ; these all requu-e a light soil and careful treatment, and, 
str-ictly speaking, are better adapted for edging other beds, than for planting in a mass, as then- flo-weiing 
season is not very long, but their extreme beauty renders them very desii-able. The bulbs should be 
planted in November, and treated as before. 
Lastly, as it is desirable that some of the largest beds should be planted ■with dwarf evergreens and 
other plants from pots, I would recommend the spaces amongst them to be planted with CVocus, many 
varieties ; the beautiful snow-flake, or Leucojum vernum ; the infinite variety of Narcissus, so beautiful 
and so easily cultivated, that I cannot but wonder that we so seldom see justice done to them ; FritUlaria 
several dwarf species ; Adonis vernalis ; Fumarias, several species ; Sanguinaria canadensis, and 
grandiflora ; Trillium gi'andiiiorum ; Orobus vernus ; Arabis prtecox : and vaiiegata ; SUene saxifraga ; 
Muscari botryoides. Pansies may also be introduced, and the whole cleared off by the end of May, 
ready for bedding plants. 
Since writing the above I perceive a suggestion on the subject brought forward, and I shall feel 
very much gratified if my paper prove but the forerunner of other and more valuable articles. 
A NOTE ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 
By Mr. "W. TATLOH, Gardener to J. Costeb, Esq., Streatham. 
ITJIHIS being an acknowledged favourite in every establishment, it ought to be in every garden of any 
Iv pretensions in the country. This being the time of year best suited for its propagation and cul- 
tivation, I have thought a few simple directions for the guidance of your numerous amateur readers 
would not be unacceptable. As early in the month of April as the plants are out of bloom they are 
taken out of the soil they have grown in, and are di^■ided into single crowns, divesting them of all 
i-unners, and choosing only the most healthy plants They are then carefully planted with a trowel on 
a piece of rich well prepared ground nine inches apart each way, pressing the soil firm round the roots. 
The situation I find them do best in, is an east aspect, where they only receive the morning sun, 
by which means I am able to keep them fi-ee from that pest, the red spider, and by so doing the flowers 
are of a larger and brighter colour. After the plants show signs of growth the surface soil is slightly 
loosened with a small hoe, and in hot di-y weather I frequently syringe the plants with clean water in 
the afternoon. All runners are pinched off as they appear, and the plants are kept free fi-om weeds. 
If it is desnable to have violets early in autumn, runners should be laid, either in pots or the soil 
they are growing in, in February. By selecting a few of the strongest runners and pegging them 
down with a little soil over the stem, and keeping them moist, they will be ready to plant out singly 
with a ball of earth attached to their roots early in April, and by treating them as above they will 
come into flower a month earlier than the divided plants ; but they must be placed in their winter 
quarters by the fiirst week in September. 
It is immaterial whether they are potted in six inch pots or planted in a bed of soil in a frame or 
pit. I plant most of my plants in a bed as they are less hable to suffer for want of water ; and as the 
object is for cut flowers only, they require less attention. Otherwise they will grow equally well in 
pots, and are, when well bloomed, convenient to take into the hall or di-awingroom. 
When the time arrives for placing them in their quarters, I have some well prepared dung ready as 
if for making a cucumber bed, and either build a bed or sink it into the ground two feet thick, well tread- 
ing the dung doAvn to prevent a very violent heat, over which I place a foot tliickof soil (old cucumber 
soil) 'nith a little leaf mould added. The plants are then carefully removed with a large ball of earth 
adhering, and are planted in rows rather close together, but not to touch each other. The foliage 
should he close to the glass so that they do not touch it, as there is sure to be a sUght settlement in 
the dung. When the planting is completed, they should have a good watering to well satm-ate the 
entire mass of soil, and dm'ing mild weather in the month of October I expose them fi-equently to a 
good soaking rain, by which means I keep them more clean and healthy than by niu'sing them in a 
dry atmosphere. On all fine mild nights I take the lights entii-ely off, which they appear to enjoy ; 
but on no account allow them to become frozen, as that retards their blooming. If any yellow or de- 
caying leaves appear in the months of November or December they are immediately removed, as they 
are very injm-ious as well as unsightly. 
By the above treatment I am enabled to gather a supply of violets fi'om November till April. 
m 
