512 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ June 24, 1886, 
make and complete an early growth and flower at an earlier season by 
previous treatment. 
Plant in rows 18 inches apart for the strong-growing kinds, and 
15 inches asunder in the rows ; medium growers 15 inches asunder, and 
12 inches apart in the rows ; small growers 12 inches apart one way, 
and 9 inches the other. In prepared beds the plants need not be put on 
ridges ; but the crown should be kept well up to allow for mulching, 
occupying a kind of knoll. To set plants on the flat and afterwards 
mulch, so as to bury the crown, is only courting disaster in destroyed 
centres and multiplicity of side growths and suckers. Firm the soil well 
about the plants and water at once. The time to plant is from the 
middle of April to the middle of May, according to the season, but it is 
better to be a little too late than too early. The chief thing, however, is 
to have sturdy, well rooted, and hardy plants. Shade for a few days if 
the weather be sunny until established. 
Summer Treatment. —Water in dry weather once a week thoroughly, 
and syringe each evening in hot weather. Mulch with thoroughly 
decayed manure or leaf soil, and repeat as it becomes reduced. Keep 
free of weeds and runners, and feed with liquid manure from May. 
Season of Bloom.— Towards the close of August flowers will appear, 
and by the middle of September they will be plentiful. From this they 
will flower right away into spring, or until all the buds in embryo have 
developed into flowers. Our climate, however, is so variable that a con¬ 
tinuous supply cannot be depended on unless steps are taken to exclude 
frost, excessive moisture, and promote a genial atmosphere. This is 
effected by lifting the plants and transferring them to frames or pits, or by 
covering the plants with frames where grown. The latter is much the 
better, though the other is more general through being more in accordance 
with our view of the uses to which the frames can be put when not 
occupied with Violets. It is, indeed, a practice that is convenient, but is 
bad, as it is performed when the plants have commenced to develope their 
flowers ; and however carefully the lifting is performed there is a great 
loss of active feeders, and some time must elapse before they are again 
present in such force as to meet the requirements of the developing 
blooms. They receive a check, and the rooting powers have not recupe¬ 
rated soon enough to maintain a succession of blooms through the autumn 
and winter, though it may do so early enough to insure a capital supply 
of flowers in favourable weather soon after the turn of the days, or in 
February onward. In that respect lifting has its advantages, albeit the 
flowers are never so fine as when the plants are allowed to flower with 
their unimpaired root-action where grown. 
Period of Covering with Frames. —This must be determined by the 
weather, but they should be in position by the end of September, so that 
the lights can be used upon the first setting-in of frost and continued cold 
and wet weather, as to have bloom in autumn and winter the plants must 
be kept in steady progressive growth, and this can only be effected by frames 
that admit of a free circulation of air, full exposure by ready removal of 
the lights, and means of heating so as to secure in the severest weather a 
temperature of 45° fo 50° by day and to exclude frost at night. The 
frames will be needed in ordinary seasons from the end of September 
until the flowering is over in spring. 
Ventilating and Heating. —Whenever the temperature outside is over 
35° air should be admitted. When the outside temperature is 50° the 
lights should be raised to their fullest extent or removed ; but if rain 
prevail the lights should only be raised so as to admit of a free circula¬ 
tion of air. Heat should be afforded so as to maintain a temperature of 
50° by day in mild weather, and 45° in dull and cold weather ; at night 
the temperature may fall to 40° in cold weather. A little warmth in the 
pipes is of great benefit, even in dull wet weather, in inducing a circula¬ 
tion of air. In very severe weather merely employ fire heat to exclude 
frost at night, and maintain 40° to 45° in the daytime. 
Winter Treatment. —In addition to ventilating it will be necessary to 
look over the plants occasionally for decayed foliage, every particle of 
which must be removed so soon as it appears, and every defective and 
small flower, as well as spent ones, should be carefully removed. The 
mulching should be renewed in autumn, putting on some sweet thoroughly 
decayed manure or leaf soil after a thorough cleansing of the plant 
prior to putting on the frames, and if the ground be dry a thorough soak¬ 
ing of water should be given through the mulching, employing a rose 
watering pot. Whenever the plants become in the least dry a good 
watering should be given over the foliage, but liquid manure should be 
poured between the rows, and kept clear of the foliage and flowers. 
Duration of the Plants.-— After flowering the plants should be de¬ 
stroyed and fresh plantations made annually, it being advisable to give 
a change of soil each year, and occasionally a change of plants will be 
found beneficial, the changes being best when made from heavy soil to 
light, and vice versa. 
SELECTION OF VIOLETS FOE FLOWERING IN AUTUMN, WINTER, 
AND EARLY SPRING. 
I. Strong growers. 
Victoria Regina. —Purple, single; the best autumn and winter 
bloomer. 
White Czar. —White, single; best white autumn and winter 
bloomer. 
Odoratissima. —Bluish violet, single ; very fine in early spring. 
I II. Medium growers. 
A eapolitan. —Double ; lavender, white eye ; best in spring. 
White Neapolitan. —Swanley White, Count Brazzi’s, &c., double, or 
semi-double, white ; best in early spring. 
New York. —Double, deep mauve streaked red, with white eye; best 
autumn and winter bloomer. 
De Panne. —Double, deep lavender, white eye; best in early spring. 
Marie Louise. —Double, lavender blue, white eye ; best in autumn and 
winter. This kind is very liable to develope under cultivation into New 
York— i.e., become deeper coloured, and have red streaks. It is much 
confounded with that variety. 
III. Small growers. 
Patrie. —Double, purple-violet, streaked red ; best dark double A iolet 
in cultivation. Very old and very good, blooming from September to 
April. It is the colour for the “ Dark Blues.” 
Double Pink .—Very fine, best in spring; somewhat stronger growing 
than Patrie. 
All have long flower stems, large flowers, and great fragrance.— Viola. 
CHERTSEY AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 17th. 
This being a “ district ” Society, the shows are moveable, being held firs t 
in one then in another of the chief centres of population in the locality. 
This population is not only considerable, but consists of many wealthy 
families, London merchants and others, who have excellent gardens 
managed by excellent men. The Exhibition was held this year in Woburn 
Park, Addlestone, an admirable site kindly placed at the disposal of the 
Committee by the President of the St. (George’s College. It was the 
twenty-first annual Show, and to cite from the “ report,” “ During the 
twenty-one years of the Society’s existence the Committee are encouraged 
to believe it has done good service for the-advancement of floriculture and 
horticulture in the neighbourhood.” There cannot be a doubt that it lias 
done great good, and a very commendable spirit of emulation exists 
amongst the gardeners of the district, who prove their ability by their work. 
The Exhibition, to be briefly noticed, was not the largest that has been 
held, but ranks among the best, not a few of the products being of a superior 
character. Among the successful competitors wire Mr. J. Reeves, gardener 
to W. Hewett, Esq., Templemere, Oatlands Park ; Mr. J. Reed, gardener to 
E. Petit. Esq., Broadwater ; Mr. J. Child, gardener to Mrs. Slade, Claygate, 
Esher ; Mr. J. Plowman, gardener to C. G-. Lavers Smith, Esq., Oakfield, 
Walton ; Mr. W. Sutton, gardener to J. S. Sassoon, Esq., Ashley Park, 
Walton; Mr. Millican, gardener to H, Corbett, Esq., Walton; Mr. Waite, 
gardener to Col. W. P. Talbot, G-lenhurst, Esher ; Mr. Sparrow, gardener to 
Rev. A. Bramwc-11, Barrow Hills, Cliertsey ; Mr. Carpenter, gardener to 
C. J. Abbot, Esq., Rydens, Walton ; Mr. Harvey, gardener to Capt. C. F. 
Terry, Hersliam ; and Mr. J. Thorne, gardener to A. E. Flood, Esq., Walton. 
In the class for six flowering plants Mr. J. Reeves secured the first posi¬ 
tion with fresh and bright examples of Clerodendron Balfourianum, a 
Kalosanthes, Tabernsemontana, Statice, Anthurium Schertzerianum, and a 
Rhyncospermum ; Mr. Reed following. Mr. Child was first in the class for 
four plants with well grown neat specimens—two varieties of Allamanda, 
an Anthurium and Statice. Mr. Plowman securing second honours. Mr. 
Child staged by far the best miscellaneous collection of stove and green¬ 
house plants, including a separate variety of Cattleya Mossise. Mr. Sutton 
was also awarded a first prize in this class. The prizewinners for fine- 
foliaged plants, which were very good, were Messrs. Reeves, Sutton, and 
Reed, the former staging Phoenix reclinata, Caladium Prince Albert 
Edward, very fine; Croton majesticus, Cycas revoluta, a Cocos and a 
Cyathea. Ferns were admirably represented, the prizes for six plants 
going to Messrs. Reed and Reeves; for four to Messrs. Millican and 
Sparrow. Mr. Millican was first with hardy Ferns, and well won Mr. 
Rooke’s special prize for British species. 
Fuchsias were excellently represented, Mr. Reeves being fiist with six 
plants, splendidly grown specimens 6 to 8 feet high, the flowering sprays 
almost hiding the pots. Messrs. Reeves, Plowman, Child, and Reed also 
showing most creditably. It was pleasing to observe the absence of close 
lacing in the preparation of these elegant plants, which not unfrequently 
amounts to distortion. Caladiums were wondertully well grown and very 
handsome, finer plants being seldom seen than those staged by Mr. Reeves, 
bicolor splendens, Houletti, Meyerbeer and Alfred Bleu being 4 to 5 feet 
high and the same in diameter. Mr. Child was worthily awarded the chief 
prize for beautiful fresh pans of Achimenes, and Mr. Waite for admirably 
grown G-loxinias, 18 inches in diameter, each with two dozen very large 
flowers. Messrs. Sparrow, Stedman, and Carpenter also competing well 
and successfully. 
Tuberous Begonias were of great excellence, not large but wonderfully 
vigorous and well flowered. Mr. Child’s first-prize plants were from 18 
inches to 2 feet in diameter and densely laden with biilliant blooms. 
Messrs. Thorne, Reeves, and Carpenter had smaller well grown plants in 
superior varieties. Messrs. Child, Reeves, and Millican were the prize- 
takers in the Pelargonium classes with fresh medium sized specimens; and 
Mr. Clay, Kingston-on-Thames, staged a number of seedlings of show 
varieties which were highly commended. Table plants were staged in 
large numbers, Messrs. Reeves, Waite, and Reed being the successful 
exhibitors, and Jacaranda mimosffifolia, perhaps the most elegant plant in 
the collections. 
Groups of plants arranged for effect invariably constitute a prominent 
feature at the Society’s Bhows. G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.H.S., gave the 
first and second prizes for arrangements in a space of 10 by 5 feet. Mr. 
Reeves was the premier exhibitor with one of the lightest and most tasteful 
groups we have seen, consisting of Humeas, Canadian and Japanese Lilies, 
Casuarinas, Cocoses, brightened with Tuberous Begonia*, a telling Ama¬ 
ryllis, and Campanulas, relieved with several plants of Saxifraga pyra- 
midalis, and edged with golden Selaginellas and Panicum. Mr. Plowman 
was placed second with plants of good quality but not devoid of “packing, ’ 
Mr. Millican closely following with a cheerful arrangemmt, but the front 
too close and smooth. This group was remarkable as containing Chrys¬ 
anthemums as fresh in foliage and flowers as in November; indeed, better 
blooms of Golden Mdlle. Marthe have perhaps never be n seen than on a 
plant in this creditable collection. Mr. Sutton was distinctly first in the 
*• large group ” class (14 by 7 feet) with a beautiful arrangement, the back 
