PARK AND CEMETERY 
71 
reaches up ioo, 150 or sometimes even to 250 in 
height, with trunk diameters above the buttresses of 
10 or 1 2 feet. It has been greatly confused with Libo- 
cedrus decurrens, and it is not easy to fix upon 
characters which will clearly differentiate young plants 
without cones. The leaves are microscopically glandu- 
lar and marked with whitish spots on their under sides, 
which gives them a glaucous appearance. Those of 
Libocedrus are without such characters. The cones 
are but about half the size of Libocedrus, and while the 
two uppermost pairs of scales are fertile, only one 
pair of the slightly spiny Libocedrus scales are so. 
The seeds, too, are smaller and their wings less un- 
equal. Thuja gigantea is tender at Ottawa, but the 
variety plicata is returned as hardy ; it has had only a 
short trial, however. I should think the best results 
would be had East with seed from the drier regions. 
James MacPherson. 
Among the Violets. 
By Bessie L. Putnam. 
It needed not a revival of Napoleonic literature to 
bring an appreciation for the flower which was the tal- 
isman of the great general and the watchword at one 
time of his followers. Proverbial for its modesty, in- 
heriting the cheerfulness of its aristocratic kinsman, 
the pansy, thriving under a great variety of conditions, 
and ever preserving marks of family so clearly defined 
that even a novice would not be deceived, the violet is 
a general favorite wherever known. 
Dr. Britton enumerates 29 species as indigenous in 
the Eastern and Middle United States, almost as many 
more being found in the far West and South, while the 
widespread distribution throughout the world swells 
the list to about 150 species. Dry bank and swamp 
have each their representatives, and from early spring 
until late summer some floral treasures may be found. 
One of the very earliest of spring blossoms is the 
dainty little V. blanda, readily recognized by its white 
petals and faint perfume. Similar to the above and 
almost contemporaneous in blooming, is the Primrose- 
leaved Violet, V. primulae folia. The leaves are in- 
clined to be ovate rather than heart-shaped, and the 
lateral petals are slightly bearded. Both species are 
stemless. 
A large white species is V. striata , leafy stemmed, 
and producing its large flowers delicately penciled with 
purple from May until frosts come. It increases rap- 
idly from self-sown seed and is in everv wav a de- 
sirable plant for cultivation. V. Canadensis is a close- 
ly allied species with the under side of the petals richly 
tinged with violet. It is much larger than V. blanda 
— larger than V. striata, and delightfully fragrant. 
Though not a continuous bloomer like V. striata, its 
blossoms may be found more or less frequent from 
May until August. 
The diminutive yellow violet, V. rotundifolia, read- 
ily identified by its leafless scope and rounded leaves, 
ail ascending from an underground rootstock, is a fit 
companion for V. blanda. V. hastata, characterized 
by its halberd-shaped leaves, is another early bloom- 
ing yellow species, mentioned by Gray as rare, but 
now known frequently in hilly and mountainous dis- 
tricts. A peculiarity of the species so far as I have 
observed it is that the foliage is beautifully shaded in 
light and dark green — -a characteristic which becomes 
more marked as the leaves mature, until in mid-sum- 
mer it is silvered somewhat after the fashion of a fancy 
foliaged begonia. I have never seen this fact noted 
in any manual, but it seems in itself sufficient to call 
the attention of those unfamiliar with it. 
V . pnbescens, the Downy Yellow violet, is well 
known and one of the most free to bloom in culti- 
vation. A smaller form classed by some authors as 
a variety of the latter, by others as a separate species. 
V. scabriitscula is a little earlier, with smooth leaves, 
and preferring damp nooks. 
But blue in its multitude of variations is the color 
in which the violet excels. And whether slightly 
tinged, with darker pencilings, or of the most intense 
violet it is invariably clear. 
Two of the most common early species, both leafy 
stemmed, are V. canina, Dog Violet, and V. rostrata. 
Both are pale violet, but the former has a short, 
rounded spur, while that of the latter ,'s very long and 
pointed. 
Among stemless species none are cf clearer blue, 
larger size or more perfect form than pededa, Bird- 
foot violet. A white form of this species is not in- 
frequent. V . cucullata is the most common of the 
genus, and blossoms in profusion during the entire 
season. In the early summer it is a perfect mat of 
blue ; later the flowers are apetalous, but produce quan- 
tities of seed. It may be transplanted when in full 
bloom, and increases rapidly both from subterranean 
rootstocks and from seed. In its many different forms 
it has a wide range, both geographically and in hab- 
itat. 
All in all, this beautiful native genus offers grand 
possibilities to those interested in perpetuating our 
native flora. There are few locations in which one 
or more violets might not be induced to thrive. And 
several of them, notably those cleistogamous, when 
once established have little difficulty in maintaining a 
footing. 
