408 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 3, 1881. 
an hour before it was washed off, but the work was done and the 
tree died early the following summer. 
I would also caution young gardeners not to use Gishurst 
compound too strong—in fact, only half the strength recom¬ 
mended, and be sure to keep it from the buds, or they will be 
much injured. I once lost the whole of the bloom buds by 
applying it only half the strength recommended. It was applied 
with a syringe in January, and the whole of the trees were 
covered with a thin spray.—ft. Owen, Yemden. 
VIOLETS IN LATE SUMMER AND AUTUMN. 
The flowering of Violets in autumn and winter depends quite 
as much on the weather or the temperature to which they are 
subjected as on the varieties blooming naturally at that season. 
None will flower freely in a temperature below 40°. To secure 
blooms continuously through the late autumn and winter months 
a temperature of 40° to 45° at night and 50° by day are essential, 
accompanied with a circulation of air whenever the external tem¬ 
perature is above 32°. Many Violets that flower in autumn cease 
to do so on the approach of cold weather, and again flower freely 
in February, March, and April, would keep on flowering through 
the winter were they treated so as to favour the development of 
the flowers. 
Violet Argentmflora (Lee) produced its first blooms on the 18th 
July, was in flower generally on August 1st, and was as regards 
the late summer and autumn at its best on September 1st, bloom¬ 
ing profusely up to the 15th of October, when the flowering re¬ 
ceived a check by frost. This variety is decidedly a summer, au¬ 
tumn, winter, and spring bloomer, but to secure this the runners 
must not be removed, as from every joint of the runners proceeds 
a flower, and the runners themselves commence flowering directly 
their leaves attain full size ; the old plants as a rule not producing 
flowers until September is well advanced, and this season their 
blooms were scarce even in October, whilst the flowers were being 
borne freely by the runners. 
I am not by any means certain that the removal of the runners 
of Violets during summer is contributory to the maximum pro¬ 
duction of flowers. I have proved that plants placed 18 inches 
apart in spring, and the runners layered as formed, give more 
flowers than a number of old plants occupying a similar space. 
The parent makes much finer crowns with its progeny around, 
the runners not impairing the vigour of the parent, but are a 
source of strength from the increased leaf-development. It is 
only when the connection between the parent and progeny is 
severed that the former shows any symptoms of enfeeblemcnt, 
and then only from a score or more of separate plants seeking 
support from space that in the previous season was devoted to 
one. The removal of runners only increases the production of 
others, and this certainly is not invigorating to the plant. The 
runners may be allowed to remain on the plants through the 
summer, and being layered they will root and bloom as freely, 
if not more freely, than the old plant, also will yield quite as fine 
flowers as plants that have had the runners removed. I mention 
this in order that those who have few plants may raise a stock 
quickly. In the case of Argentieflora it is absolutely necessary 
to encourage the runners so as to secure flowers at a time when 
no other kind affords them so profusely— i.c ., in summer. The 
silver-grey flowers with their purple spurs are very elegant, and 
the fragrance delightful. Unlike most single Violets it does not 
produce seed, or very rarely. I have only noticed one seed pod, 
which accounts for its prolonged flowering. 
Victoria Regina commenced flowering on the 2nd September, 
and was very free in late September and up to October 15th, 
when after the frosty weather the flowers made little progress. 
This, notwithstanding what was stated last spring in the Journal 
in favour of odoratissima, is the grandest of all single purple 
Violets, and has never failed to flower freely with me in Septem¬ 
ber since it was first sent out by Mr. Lee. Its flowering in autumn 
may be in a measure due to the plants placed out each spring 
being taken from those wintered in frames, which would tend 
to promote an early-flowering habit. This I think can, however, 
hardly be the case, as their runners exhibit the same tendency, 
and plants left out flower in autumn. Czar is often confounded 
with Victoria Regina, but is not so good in any respect. 
Prince Consort is the finest in appearance of all single Violets. 
It may differ from odoratissima and elegantissima, but I cannot 
mark the difference. I had it under the name of Prince Consort, 
and shall keep it until I am proved to be in error. It yields 
flowers moderately in autumn—the first blooms expanded on Sep¬ 
tember 6th. The foliage is larger, rounder, and the plant more 
stately than Victoria Regina ; the flowers larger, light purple, 
petals well rounded, and the footstalks longer, and is very fra¬ 
grant ; but for profusion and continuity of flowering over a 
lengthened period it is not equal to Victoria Regina. 
Princess of Prussia (Lee) has a deep purple glossy flower, 
showing thick-textured leaves, the plant being dwarf and not free 
in growth, producing runners sparingly. It bore its first blooms 
on the 6th September, and is a good autumn flowerer, but is not 
so free as Victoria Regina. 
Devoniensis produced the first blooms on October 10th, and 
promises abundantly. The flowers are deep purple and very 
sweet. The only other that has flowered to this date (October 
21 st) of the single varieties being V. odorata, the common Sweet 
Violet; bright blue, the bluest of all, and very sweet. Russian, 
which is the same as London ; Russian Superb, a little larger 
than Russian ; suavis, the true Russian, and type of London ; 
with White Czar are as yet only in bud, and so are obliqua striata 
and odorata alba. White Czar I may mention as the purest of 
any white and very free, but is not good until late autumn. 
Rubra simplex is decidedly a spring bloomer. 
The doubles that flower in autumn and onwards are confined to 
the Neapolitan forms. Blandyana may give a few blooms, also 
Parmceensis plena, Belle de Chatenay, and double Russian, along 
with King and Queen, but they have no claim to be classed as 
autumn bloomers. Of the Neapolitans I still give first place to De 
Parme. It has produced twice as many flowers as any of the 
others, and the plant is hardier than any of the others, and not 
so prone to lose the crown and break into many crowns or 
runners. Its first blooms were gathered August 21st, and were 
abundant through September, and still are numerous, keeping on 
until May, occasionally into June. In Marguerite de Savoie we 
have a fine robust plant, a large flower streaked with red in the 
centre, with a good footstalk. This variety as often seen is only 
the old Neapolitan. It commenced flowering October 1st free 
and good. 
New York, or odorata pendula, commenced flowering on the 10th 
of August, were generally in flower on the 10th of October, having 
flowered freely in September. The blooms of this and Marguerite 
de Savoie are very similar, but it does not appear so hardy, and 
becomes blind quite as much as the old Neaoolitan. It is, how¬ 
ever, a tine Violet, having large double flowers, very fragrant, 
freely produced, especially in early spring, and has longer foot¬ 
stalks than most double Violets. 
Marie Louise is, perhaps, the freest flowering of the Neapoli¬ 
tans, and certainly is the nearest in colour to the old one of any, 
being deep lavender with a white eye. It does not flower until 
October, and then very freely. The start Violets of this class 
make in autumn is soon ended by the cold ; hence to have flowers 
in winter a temperature of 40° to 45° at night, and 50° in the 
daytime must be secured to them, with plenty of light, and venti¬ 
lation on all favourable occasions. 
Duchess of Edinburgh shows none as yet of its alleged per¬ 
petual-blooming character, and appears to be a very indifferent 
grower. Its Neapolitan origin is manifest in the foliage, as well 
as in the flowers and fragrance. 
Venice may be classed as very like New York. It flowered 
well through September. It appears to have a tendency to 
become blind, and this is a serious drawback as regards the 
production of flowers. 
Neapolitan, pale lavender with a white eye, does not commence 
flowering until late autumn, and to bloom in winter must have 
the protection of glass and heat. Ia March and April in frames 
it is very free, and for delicateness and fragrance is unsurpassed. 
Nice is very similar, but the plant is more hardy, with flowers 
deeper in colour. 
Patrie is one of the forms of Neapolitan, and one of the finest 
for winter flowering, it being very similar to De Parme, but with 
a little red in the centre of the flower, which De Parme occasion¬ 
ally exhibits. Princess Louise, another of the Neapolitans, is very 
Soriferous, deep lavender, white eye, with a dash of red ; flower 
large, highly fragrant, and footstalks as long and nearly as stout 
as those of Victoria Regina. It blooms from August right through 
to May. 
What a promise there is of Queen, Belle de Chatenay and its 
variety cmrulea ! indeed the spring bloomers have abundance of 
buds already. This single Neapolitan, 1 am told, is the sweetest 
of all, and blooms in Italy all the winter. How does it thrive in 
this country ?—G. Abbey. 
Wire Netting for Peas.— I purpose next summer supporting 
my Peas with zinc wire netting, about 2-inch mesh, instead of the 
usual Pea rods. Have any of your readers adopted wire netting ? 
with what sized mesh ? and how many rows—one or two ? and how 
were the Peas kept against the netting ? Any other suggestion 
