MAItCH. 
63 
Madame Vaucher. —White, large bold truss, and handsome horseshoe leaves. 
A good grower. 
Wonderful (Perkins).—The best Scarlet in cultivation as a pot plant; the 
trusses large, with semi-transparent footstalks, red and brown horseshoe leaves ; 
the new growth very handsome. A strong grower. 
Attraction. —Another Scarlet, with plain foliage ; not so robust as Wonderful. 
A good bloomer. 
Trentham Rose. —Cerise, with plain foliage. A rambling grower ; requires to 
be three or four years old, then it is fine. 
Christine. —Pink, with plain foliage. A dwarf grower, and free bloomer. 
Wellington Hero. —Bright scarlet, with large white eye, of excellent form, 
plain foliage. A strong grower. 
Among the variegated-foliaged varieties the following will please :— 
Bijou. —Foliage green and white, the white unusually pure, the blooms scarlet, 
of good quality, and good truss. A strong grower. 
Cloth of Gold. —Foliage green and yellow, deep scarlet flowers. 
Brilliant. —Foliage green, slightly edged with white ; scarlet flowers. An old 
but useful kind. 
Perfection. —An improvement on Brilliant, but a more robust grower. 
Alma. —Yery similar to Bijou, but the white not so pure. 
Golden Chain. —A well-known sort. A slow grower. 
It will be seen that I have purposely omitted giving the names of any of the 
newer kinds, as they have not yet been sufficiently long in the hands of the public 
for any correct idea to be given respecting their merits as exhibition varieties. . 
The Cedars , Castle Bromwich. Chas. Jas. Perry. 
SOMETHING ABOUT VIOLETS. 
Although several articles have been written, and experienced practical men’s 
opinions have been given in some of our gardening journals on the cultivation of 
Violets, still there are very often inquiries respecting their successful culture by 
ladies and amateurs, who possibly have not had the opportunity of seeing the 
practical remarks on this favourite early flower. 
Neapolitan Violets, supposing them to be in beds, as soon as they have done 
flowering in spring, which would be in April, should have some fine soil placed 
among them, in which to lay the runners ; and if the weather is dry, they should 
be kept watered, to induce the runners to root freely and quickly. In May, when 
well rooted, the runners should be forked-up, selecting the desired quantity of the 
strongest and best-rooted young plants. These should then be carefully planted 
on a well-prepared rich piece of ground, with a north aspect, or where well 
shaded, 12 inches apart. They must be kept cleaned from weeds, side shoots, or 
runners ; and the soil must be kept open, friable, and healthy till the end of 
September or beginning of October. By this time they will have become fine 
plants, coming into bloom and set full of bloom-buds. After this get them into 
a south aspect, placing them in ranges of turf pits, prepared with about 15 or 
18 inches of some kind of fermenting materials, such as the sweeping of leaves, 
and refuse of the walks and flower garden, short grass, &c., mixed in together, 
and trodden in firm, which affords a little gentle warmth, and commands a drainage. 
Those that have frames or a pit to spare, and stable litter, can make use of such 
instead of forming turf pits. In this slight bed is placed 6 or 8 inches of good 
garden soil, the plants removed with balls of earth, planted pretty thickly, the 
distance of which is regulated by the size of the plants. Some get covered with 
any lights there may be to spare, and the rest covered with thatched frames made 
the same size as the lights. Abundance of flowers is 'thus produced from the end 
of September till April, when the young plants are layered, as previously stated. 
Russian Violets we grow all from seed sown in the early part of the year, 
and the plants are transplanted in April and beginning of May, in any spare 
corners, borders, &c., as much in the shade as can be managed. By the end of 
September they are become fine healthy large plants, are lifted with good balls of 
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