August 16, 18S8. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
139 
most satisfactory during the present season. So far as we have 
-seen Violas have been in the ascendant, and it is a little surprising 
that these hardy dwarf-growing flowers are not more extensively 
grown. They are represented in the purest as well as the richest 
of colours. A row of the white Mis. Gray, margined with 
a dwarf very dark Lobelia, at Swanmore, produced an admir¬ 
able effect. Ardwell Gem has been a sheet of soft yellow 
throughout the rainy period, Dean’s True Blue has not failed to 
-assert its power over the elements, and the lustrous richness of 
Archie Grant has impelled almost everyone to ask for cuttings who 
has seen it. These are not mentioned as superior to all others, for 
it is possible there are varieties still better, and it is certain there 
.are many not less beautiful but differing in colour. 
Violas are grown more extensively in the north than the south) 
the northern climate no doubt suiting them ; but is there not some¬ 
thing in culture and management ? Very satisfactory displays have 
been produced in the southern and midland counties, not this year 
alone, but every year, though it is equally true there have been many 
failures. These could be traced to two causes—natural unsuit¬ 
ability of soil, such as that of a thin, poor, gravelly nature, or 
errors in propagation and planting. The method of preparing and 
planting tender bedding plants seems to have become so firmly im¬ 
pressed on the mind as to suggest that in the estimation of not a 
few' cultivators all plants intended for flowering in lines or masses 
during the summer must be prepared much in the same way, and 
planted at the same time. liaising Violas from cuttings in spring 
-and planting them in May, as has been the case with thousands, is 
..not the way to succeed, but to fail. 
It should not be forgotten that Violas are hardy plants, and 
that they should be treated as such ; although, like some others, 
Carnations for example, young plants are often the better for a 
little protection from inclement weather, but cold frames suffice, 
and thousands pass the winter without their sheltering aid. We 
have seen an acre of cuttings inserted in.the autumn at Swanley, or, 
to be more exact, cuttings inserted a few inches apart in depressed 
rows 9 or 10 inches asunder over an acre of ground, and the fol¬ 
lowing year the plants covered with flowers throughout the summer. 
The soil is of a heavy nature, which is what Violas like ; but if 
the same plants had been planted with tenier bedding plants after 
the middle of May they would have practically ceased flowering 
before half the summer were over, if the weather were by any 
means hot and the ground dry. 
But Violas also grow with great freedom and flower con¬ 
tinuously in comparatively light soil, provided it is deeply worked 
and enriched with cool manure, that from cow stables preferably, 
•and stout young plants are inserted in March or as soon as the 
ground is in good condition for planting and the weather favourable 
for steady growth. Old plants are unreliable. They flower early, 
but not over a long period ; and young plants that have been 
u nursed and coddled ” in boxes, then divided and planted as if they 
were so many Lobelias at midsummer, will similarly fail, except in 
seasons like the present, which we cannot always expect, neither do 
we want. Plants raised from cuttings in September, and in March 
hardy and sturdy, bristling with suckers, will flower all the summer 
if a fair chance is afforded them. The great point is to have the 
roots actively working in deep fertile soil before the hot weather of 
early summer sets in, and then in dry districts to mulch the ground 
between and around the plants with cocoa-nut fibre refuse, leaf 
mould, or short decayed manure, giving them a heavy soaking of 
water occasionally ; then they will be like Calceolarias, flower the 
more freely the hotter the weather becomes. No amount of sun 
will hurt either provided the roots are cool and moist, and this can 
usually be secured by working the ground deeply, manuring it well, 
planting early, and mulching early too, also freely. 
There was never a better season than the present for com¬ 
mencing the culture of Violas. The plants are in full free growth 
and the ground moist. A dozen or two planted now in a suitable 
position, moist and cool, and well tended, would afford cuttings by 
ihe autumn, and a good stock could soon be raised. The best 
growths for striking and making the most satisfactory plants are 
those that spring from the base of the plants, or just within the 
surface of the ground, the stems solid and the growths flowerless, 
resembling Watercresses. Larger growths with hollow stems are 
not nearly so good, yet we have observed those chosen by men 
who have been told to “ help themselves ” to a few cuttings. They 
may strike them or they may not. They will fail if not inserted 
deeply, and then will not make compact, healthy, free and long 
flowering plants. As a rule the inexperienced do not insert Viola 
cuttings deep enough ; an inch above ground is ample, and 2 or 
3 inches, or even more, within not too much, as young growths that 
are wanted start from the parts in the soil. These are the mere 
outlines of culture of a beautiful and too much neglected class of 
plants, and perhaps some successful grower will fill in such details 
that he thinks may be serviceable. There is no doubt of the 
attractive force of Violas. It was difficult to get near some well 
arranged stands from Mr. Debbie at the Crystal Palace Rose Show, 
so keen were the visitors to inspect the flowers.— Experientia 
DOCET. 
For some years I have grown Violas, and have also endeavoured 
from time to time to call attention to their value in gardens 
generally, no matter on how great or how small a scale. I am 
pleased to see my friend, Mr. Dean, still as enthusiastic as ever 
among these favourite flowers, for there are few men who have striven 
in so many ways to bring the Viola to its present popularity as he 
has done. It is with much interest that I read the remarks con¬ 
cerning these flowers at page 113, and it is with even greater 
pleasure that I fully endorse what is there said of them. While 
we have our Begonias in a miserable plight, and Carnations and 
Picotees decaying ere they have had an opportunity of expanding 
their welcome blooms, and Roses in many cases as bad, the bidding 
Violas have never been finer. Particularly effective has been a 
favourite of mine, Ardwell Gem ; it is the best of the light yellows, 
and fully illustrates the value of Violas when they reach the age of 
twelve months. The plants in question occupy what I regard as my 
front garden, devoted principally to White Tobacco, Gaillardias, 
Geums, Iceland Poppies, Tuberous Begonias, dwarf Rose3, Alstro- 
merias, and Lilium candidum, growing much in their own way, 
and affording very pleasing results. Ardwell Gem was planted in 
this mixed assembly in June, 1887, and the patches of it are now 
2 feet across, and have carried many hundreds of blossoms from the 
time they began flowering this year, which was in the latter part of 
February last, apart from what they did last season. As though 
they realised that they were doing better than the Roses they have 
clambered among the thorny branches, and thus produced a most 
natural and charming picture. Not only, then, as bedding plants 
by themselves may these Violas be grown and seen to advantage, 
but as carpets for other plants, and Roses in parcicular. Un¬ 
hesitatingly do I reiterate the sentence contained in the last issue 
of the Journal, “ Why do we so seldom see them in our public 
parks and gardens ? ” Are the managers of these gardens ever 
going to rest content with those of the cornuta section, while we 
have so many grand bedders possessed of equally grand con¬ 
stitutions, and, so to speak, almost incessant bloomers '! Take for 
example a bed of standard Roses, what could be a more appro¬ 
priate carpet for them than Violas ? Can any other plant be 
mentioned as likely to prove more floriferous or more generally 
attractive and lasting, and withal so hardy and enduring, as these 
Violas ? If additional effect in early spring was considered neces¬ 
sary, this could easily be supplied to Hyacinths or Tulips dotted 
over the bed. Take a bed of dwarf Roses planted thinly, and 
with such Violas as Ardwell Gem or Countess of Ivintore amongst 
them, we have a permanent bed quite unique. Violas planted in this 
way as carpets need not be planted annually, since plants of 
twelve or eighteen months form a perfect sheet of blossom early 
in the year. All that is needed is to cut the old plants over 
closely in autumn, point the ground between them, and mulch with 
decayed leaves and manure. Violas generally look best after a good 
shower of rain ; such being the case they have this year been ex¬ 
ceptionally fine, and it is impossible to over-rate their good qualities. 
For long ribbon borders many varieties arc especially well 
suited, and of these Mrs. Gray, Ardwell Gem, Queen of Lilacs, 
and Cliveden Purple compacta are among the best. Some of the 
more compact growers are True Blue, quite a gem in its way, 
admirably suited as an edging to silver-leaved Pelargoniums, so 
dwarf is it, a fine blue withal, and possessing a good constitution, 
renders it among the most useful in the shades of blue. One of 
the prettiest effects I have seen this year was brought about by 
planting Violas between rows of Pyrethrums in beds ; the rich and 
varied colours of both groups formed collectively one of the most 
beiutiful pictures I have seen. Both were in grand condition in 
June, and the Violas still continue to do service. For a b.Jd, rich, 
deep violet blue we have none to compare with Archie Grant; it is 
a handsome flower, well formed, wonderfully robust and free, and 
produces its flowers on stems 6. inches long. Such an one as this 
may be brought into excellent use in mixed arrangements of plants, 
and is also highly effective in the foreground of well-kept shrub¬ 
bery borders; ] ■ 
To the list of whites given on page 113 I would add Jefferyanum 
and Champion. The first is a medium-sized flower, very free and 
continuous, while the latter is the largest white known to the 
writer. It is excellent for early work, and partakes of the style 
of Pilrig Park, but has not so much blotch as that variety. There 
is another white which has been certified this year, and is named 
Snowflake, I do not see any improvement in it. It possesses the 
habit somewhat of Pilrig Park, though dwarfer, whilst its flowers 
