October 2, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
299 
COMING EVENTS 
2 
Th 
S 
4 
P 
S 
Essex Field Club Cryptogamic Meeting (two days). 
5 
SUN 
l/TH Sunday after trinity. 
6 
M 
7 
TU 
Crystal Palace Hardy Fruit Show (five days). 
8 
w 
International Potato Show, Crystal Palace (three days). 
BEDDING VIOLA.S. 
OTIIING is more distasteful to a true gardener 
than to see flower beds devoid of vegetation ; 
therefore it should be the aim of all to avoid 
this. With the waning months of the year we 
see that the summer occupants of the beds in 
the flower garden are waning too. Their bright 
appearance will soon be past, and we must seek 
for some other plants to occupy the vacant 
places. For making a good display no plants 
seem more really useful than these Violas; indeed, none 
can boast of a more extended flowering season than these, 
commencing in the earliest springtime and continuing until 
quite late in autumn. There is no reason why Violas should 
not be in extensive use in almost every garden, since they 
adapt themselves to a great variety of circumstances, which 
renders them welcome additions to summer bedding opera¬ 
tions as well as in spring. To the latter, however, I wish 
now to draw attention; and I trust my remarks, besides 
being seasonable, may prove serviceable. There are numbers 
of varieties of bedding Violas which far eclipse older and 
more straggling growers, and of which it is impossible to 
write or say one word of praise too much. They are, how¬ 
ever, often taken in hand in such a manner as to bring them 
into disrepute. Not unfrequently do we hear that “ they are 
no use to me—they flower too late for us ” from gardeners 
who either do not recognise their requirements or have 
employed the wrong material. Those who use bedding 
Violas do not require a host of varieties in many shades of 
colour, but rather a few really good free-flowering and distinct 
sorts calculated to produce a good effect. The first thing to 
decide is. What are the earliestand best ? These I will give 
in the course of my remarks, for many grave errors are 
comL ted by selecting wrong varieties, and which may be 
just in their prime when you require the beds for summer 
occupants. Thus the spring effect is marred and, to say the 
least, disappointing, which by judicious selection might be 
avoided. 
To ensure good strong plants and plenty of early blooms 
in spring early autumn planting is essential, and no better 
time can be selected than the first or second week in October. 
The earlier the plants are in their respective places the 
sooner wull they become established, which is a sure 
guarantee of early bloom. Cuttings which were inserted 
during July will be now well rooted and fit for removal, 
planting them rather deep and firm. The frequent use of 
the hoe is of great help to them throughout the autumn 
months, and cannot be too strongly recommended. Another 
important item is mulching or earthing the stems as they 
grow. The best material for this purpose is leaf soil well 
decayed, macadam grit, and the burnt ashes from garden 
refuse, which latter must be kept dry till fit for use, so as to 
preserve the ammonia it contains. I have long proved the 
efficacy of this mulching during the autumn, and it is also 
adopted by my friend Mr. Wm. Dean of Walsall, an ardent 
florist of the old school, who by his extensive experience in 
No. 223.—VoL. IX., Thikd Skkies. 
such matters is oae of the best and most reliable authorities 
of the present day. By these continued mulchings the young 
shoots are preserved from frost; and not only this, for as the 
shoots are abundantly formed below they speedily emit roots, 
and are thereby materially strengthened. This is one of 
the great points in favour of early planting. Violas prefer 
a generous though not too rich soil, and a position not too 
exposed is conducive to their well-being. 
For the convenience of those who may be desirous of 
making these a feature in spring beds, I have arranged them 
in groups according to colour. Commencing with white- 
flowered varieties, Mrs. Gray may be said to hold a leading 
place. It is of compact habit, a free and continuous bloomer, 
pure white, fragrant, markings very few and faint. Jeffrey- 
ana is of good compact growth, free-flowering, and very 
early. Lady Polworth is an excellent variety, free from 
markings, very early and continuous bloomer, and a most 
useful white. Pilrig Park is a i older variety whose merits 
are well known. Countess of Ilopetown is a very superior 
Viola in every respect, and holds a position second to none 
amongst whites. It is a most compact grower, very sturdy, 
early, and remarkable for its free and profuse-flowering 
qualities. This must come to the front before long. With¬ 
out making the list too long I may say that Purity is an 
excellent variety, producing abundance of flowers early, but 
they are smaller than others. Beyond these are Vestal, white 
self, and Champion, the last-named best suited for summer 
beds. 
Amongst purple flowered varieties Queen of Purples ranks 
Al. It is a grand variety, of compact habit, and a wonderful 
bloomer. The colour is rich and telling, and it is an early 
and continuous bloomer. Next comes Cliveden Purple 
compacta, which is a seedling from the old favourite Cliveden 
Purple, but so remarkably distinct and compact, its richer 
colour, larger flow'er, and general excellence being all that 
could be desired. Mrs. Charles Turner is also an excellent 
variety. The colour is rich blue-purple, very distinct and 
beautiful, very early and continuous bloomer. Other good 
varieties in this group are Le Grand, Paragon, Queen of 
Violets, and Crimson Gem. The last name is a misnomer, 
the colour being purple with a shade of brighter colour in it. 
The lilac-flowered varieties are not so numerous as might 
be wished, still w^e have some very good and distinct sorts, 
all of which are very pleasing and effective, their soft deli¬ 
cate shades of colour making a most desirable change. 
Elegans is a remarkably acceptable early-flowering kind, 
with pale lavender lilac flowers, very early, free, and a good 
grower. This makes an excellent bed. Then we have 
Duchess of Sutherland, which is a first-class all-round 
variety, which shoiild find a place everywhere in gardens, 
the colour bright lilac, and very pleasing; good vigorous 
habit, free, early, and a continuous bloomer. Princess Teck 
is a pleasing soft lavender, and a first-rate variety. Fairy 
Queen resembles the Duchess in habit, flowers a shade 
lighter, an excellent variety ; and the last I shall mention 
of this section is Queen of Lilacs, which is the most profuse 
bloomer of all, with a good constitution, and very early kind, 
and when seen en vi.asse is grand. 
Yellow-flowered varieties form an extensive group ; many 
of the older sorts are now seldom seen, they having given 
place, and justly, to highly improved forms. These modern 
productions are remarkable for their dwarf compact growth 
—so dwarf, in fact, in some cases as to render them 
fit companions for blue Lobelias. The best are Queen of 
Spring, clear light canary yellow, very early and profuse 
bloomer ; Golden Queen of Spring, which possesses all the 
qualities of the former, but of a deeper colour. Yellow 
Dwarf is a good name for a variety which is the dwarfest and 
most floriferous of all yellows, very early, clear bright 
yellow, and free from marking. This is an excellent kind ; 
beside which we have excellent varieties of first-class merit 
in Ardwell Gem and Brilliant, both telling varieties as well 
No. 1879.—Von. LXXI., Old Series. 
