376 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 18, 1886. 
rooting medium and the refreshing influences of rain and air. Clear 
away the rubbish, and remove the roots of any coarse weeds such as 
Docks, Hemlock, Nettles, &c. Lift the plants carefully, preserving as 
much root as possible, and divide into as many parts as there are crowns 
with roots. Set the plants 9 to 12 inches apart, or wider, as plants are 
available, only in increasing the space, the labour of clearing for planting, 
and the after attention, as well as gathering the flowers, is proportionately 
increased with the area. Press the soil gently about the roots, and the 
autumnal rains will settle it about them perfectly. By spring they will 
be established—rooted and rooting—prepared to take and keep their place 
amongst the inevitable accompaniment of vegetation. Never plant 
Violets in the woodland in spring. It answers to do so in the garden, 
hut not here. Summer is upon the plants before they have well got root- 
hold ; the most they can do is to maintain existence among the contending 
vegetation ; the plants grow hut little, flowers are sought in vain—a year 
is lost. 
As the weeds will to some extent be subdued by clearing and loosening 
the soil for, and at planting, little if anything will be required the first 
season. The plants are the better for some protecting or fostering vegeta¬ 
tion, albeit a coarse rank growlh of weeds should be kept under by 
pulling up some of it, and repeated a few times through the summer, 
particularly the early part, will be all the attention required. During 
the summer accompanying vegetation is of value in screening the plants 
from scorching sun. In September enough of the ranker weeds should 
he cleared away to admit light and air. A slight top-dressing of refuse, 
as the debris of the potting bench, rubbish heaps, leaf soil, or well-rotted 
manure, is beneficial. In this way Violets continue for years little 
lessened in vigour or floriferousness. Spare plants, when fresh beds are 
made in gardens, can have fresh places looked out for them, by which 
means there will always be abundance of Violets in spring. 
VARIETIES FOR SEMI-WILDNESSES. 
Viola odorata. —Wild Sweet Violet, inhabitant of our hedgerows, 
known to everyone. 
Viola odorata , var. —Flowers grey. Local in distribution ; prevailing 
most on the oolitic formations. 
Viola odorata , var. alba. —Flowers white. Though common in some 
localities its distribution is not nearly so wide or general as the species, 
and though found plentifully in some parts, it is more likely they are 
acclimatised than natural. In the north, wild white Violets are rare, and 
many places, even in the south, where they are found, is eminently 
suggestive of their being introduced. Albiflora and some others are only 
forms of this. 
Viola odorata rubra. —Flowers red or pink ; free and distinct. 
Viola odorata suavis (Russian).—Leaves more glaucous or less hairy 
than V. odorata, more erect, and stouter in texture ; runners plentiful, 
soon becoming thickly interwoven. Flowers blue, one-third larger than 
the wild Violet. Crimean, Scotch, London, floribunda, are only slightly 
varied forms of this remarkably free-growing, profuse flowering, and 
very sweet Violet. 
Viola odorata suavis superb a (Russian Superb).—Larger in all its 
parts than the type. Flowers purple, occasionally rosy purple. 
Viola odorata suavis alba (White Russian).—Differing little from the 
type, except that the plant is less free in growth and not quite so hardy, 
and in the flowers being white. 
Viola odorata argentecsflora. —A distinct variety, raised by Mr. G. 
Lee, evidently a cross between the English and Russian forms of Violet. 
Foliage like the wild Violet, larger, and quite as hairy; flowers nearly 
twice the size of the common Violet, white or grey, suffused with rosy 
purple ; spurs purple ; footstalks long and wiry ; produced over a longer 
period than any other Violet, but most abundantly in spring, very 
beautiful, and deliciously fragrant. Remarkably free in growth, hardy 
in constitution, and giving its flowers nearly all the year round, it is a 
valuable acquisition. Through the resemblance of the flowers to the 
wild Violet in form it is much appreciated by the aesthetic.— Viola. 
GARDENERS AND PREMIUMS. 
Your correspondent “ Observer,” at page 353, is inclined to find fault 
with me for not mentioning names in my communication on the above. 
Such a step I considered would have been extremely indiscreet, and I 
think I acted as ninety-nine out of every hundred would have done, and 
exactly as “Observer” does in his narrative of a similar case, which is 
such that no one need be ashamed to have his name associated with. I, 
on the other hand, had only what appeared to me a series of complaints 
to present to your readers as related to me by an aggrieved person, and 
whose statements might be exaggerated. I thought the mention of 
the ca-e in your columns would test the truth or falsity of the matter. 
The gardener in question can give the other side, as your correspondent 
“Thinker” remarks, and by whose counsel copies of the Journal have 
been forwarded. If he can, and thinks fit, prove the rumours to be un¬ 
founded, no one will be better pleased than the writer. This will be a 
more agreeable proceeding than giving his name in the first instance, 
as suggested by “ Observer” without previous intimation. 
Referring to “ Observer’s ” letter, I notice that in the “ charitable ’’ 
case ho alludes to there are one or two rather curious features. After his 
friend received the letter from the young man anent flowers and hours of 
labour, he engaged him, yet there are always plenty of young men to 
select from, though perhaps not with £5 in their pockets. It is also 
stated by •* Observer” that the young man was incapable of performing 
the duties he was engaged for, Here one is curious to know what efforts 
were made by his paid teacher to instruct him ? And if he was supposed 
to be compet< nt what was the premium for ? I also note that he was 
kept on after his incapacity had been discovered, and considerable forbear¬ 
ance seems to have been exhibited towards him by his chief, but whether 
actuated by philanthropic motives solely it does not appear clear. There 
is something peculiar about the £5 having to be paid the first year. 
Will “ Observer ” tell us how many young gardeners that enter pass the 
second year in that establishment ?—W. P. R. 
After reading the article brought before us by “ W. P. R.” on page 
342, and again by “ Observer ” on page 353, I was struck with a 
resemblance to a similar case, and have taken a little trouble in sifting 
out a few facts connected with the same, and I hope you will not close 
your columns upon this case until it has had a fair hearing. Since the 
last issue of the Journal, I have had an interview with a young man, who 
is, I assume, the same as referred toby 11 Observer,”'and from what I 
have gleaned of both sides of the question—namely, from “Observer” 
on the one hand and the young man on the other, I am satisfied there is 
at least good reason for disquietude and inquiry. Like “ Thinker,” I do 
not agree to found a charge on something that is “ understood but 
let us examine the case. A young man was engaged, and did enter upon 
his duties upon terms pretty much the same as stated by “ Observer.” 
But the order of dismissal was different. The young man was employed 
in the earl’s garden ten weeks (not several months), the wages 15s. per 
week, bothy, &c. During the first week’s service the young man was 
asked if he was prepared to pay the £5 premium, and he replied he was not 
at present. Nothing more was said about the premium ; but on the third 
week, and fortnightly after that, various sums were deducted from his 
wages to the amount of 27s. during the ten weeks’ service. 
Now let us look for a moment at the rate of deduction as admitted on 
page 354 by “ Observer ”—24s. This for a period taken from the young 
man’s diary, and proved by the dates of entering and leaving, is ten 
weeks and four days. The custom, not the agreement, being for the £5 
to be paid during the first year the amount deducted is at the rate of £6 ; 
but the actual amount deducted was 27s., making the sum of something 
over £7 for a year if taken at the same rate throughout. I am thankful to 
be able to sny to the credit of head gardeners and the comfort of young 
gardeners that I know of no other similar cases. 
“ Observer’s ” defence of too much dress may he passed. The charge 
of not “ turning out ” and ignoring the foreman’s authority is disputed, 
and the foreman knows whether it is true or not. As to using gloves in a 
stokehole, in three excellent gardening establishments where I have lived 
gloves have been, and are, provided for the young men to stoke in if they 
chose to put them on, and in many other places known to me. I now 
content myself by saying if the earl’s gardener does not return the money 
deducted the noble owner of the estate will be strongly petitioned on the 
subjecL— Another Observer. 
[We think it right to say that this letter has been sent to us by ahead 
gardener of respectability personally known to us, as is “ Observer,” who 
is equally entitled to veracity. Both state what they believe to be true ; 
but that is not a sufficient justification for our publishing the name of the 
noble earl’s gardener referred to in the present stage of this discussion.] 
MIGNONETTE IN POTS. 
Few plants in flower give greater pleasure during the dull months of 
the year than Mignonette ; in fact, a succession of plants is indispensable 
in many establishments from the time they are cut off by frost in autumn 
until the flowers can be gathered outside in early summer. The supply, 
therefore, to meet this demand is, for the greater portion of the year, 
dependent upon plants grown in pots and others specially prepared in cold 
frames. 
Mignonette is easily cultivated if a few simple rules are observed, but 
well-grown examples in private establishments are the exception and not 
the rule. Generally, a few brown, woody, miserable examples are to be 
seen, instead of healthy luxuriant plants bearing large well-developed 
spikes. A supply of healthy plants for room-decoration from November 
until May, and for cutting until we can gather outside, is one of the re¬ 
quisites of thi3 establishment; therefore, the system of cultivation pur¬ 
sued may prove helpful to beginners. 
For flowering on standard and pyramidal trellises from November 
through the winter, seed should be sown at once and again in about a 
month for spring flowering. If cool greenhouse treatment throughout 
only can be given sow the seed now, for the plants will not grow so rapidly 
as those raised in heat. The best variody for this purpose is undoubtedly 
Miles’ Hybrid Spiral. The seed can be obtained moderately true, but 
some small-foliaged varieties are almost cer ain to appear, which should 
be thrown away directly they are observed, for they will never give 
atisfaction. It is, therefore, necessary, when bought seed has to be relied 
upon, to sow more than are required to be grown on for a time until the best 
can be distinguished. The most reliable plan is to select for seed-bearing 
from the first year’s plant a good strong grower, free brancher, and one that 
produces large fragrant spikes. Some are much more fragrant than others, 
and those possessing only a faint perfume in spring will be almost scentless 
during the winter. Pots 3 inches in diameter should be prepared by 
placing a few small crocks at the base, and then fill with a compost of 
loam, one-third leaf mould, one-seventh of decayed manure, and a little 
sand, the compost being pressed firmly into the pots, which must be 
perfectly clean and dry. The seeds, three or four in number, should be 
sown in the centre of each, and then lightly covered with the same 
