DECEMEER. 
263 
amount of mischief is done to Vines by exposing them to the weather. 
“ To be forewarned is to be forearmed and as the season is at hand when 
Vines are generally exposed, I take this opportunity to impress upon any 
one who may be about to do so, the necessity of well protecting them whilst 
out of doors, either by mats, straw, or other material. By so doing, they 
will have the satisfaction of saving their Vines from injury, and of seeing 
them break freely and strongly; and with proper attention they will be 
rewarded with crops of fine Grapes. 
Stourton. M. Saul. 
VIOLA CORNUTA. 
Now that this popular bedding plant has been thoroughly tried in many 
places throughout the summer, a few remarks on the way it has behaved 
here may be of interest to the readers of the Florist and Pomologist. 
I have grown both the so-called varieties, Mauve Queen and Purple Queen, 
in immense quantities, and I have been unable to see any difference 
between them. It is said that one variety flowers more freely than the 
other; but this can only be the case when the plants are younger than the 
others, and in richer and damper soil. If both varieties are planted at the 
same time in the spring, and in the same soil, I think that little difference 
will be found throughout the summer as regards profnseness of bloom. 
I have thousands of seedlings, raised from Purple Queen, exactly of the 
same colour as Mauve Queen, and it would take a very keen eye to detect 
any difference in the foliage or style of growth. 
The Viola cornuta is by no means a continuous flowerer through the 
summer, especially on warm light soils. The best way to manage it is 
to have a stock of cuttings planted behind a north wall at two or three 
different periods; these can be taken up with balls of earth when well 
rooted, and planted to keep up a fine succession of flowers. In mixtures, 
when shaded with other plants, it will keep up a pleasing show of bloom 
all the summer, and autumn too, if the soil is rich. From its beautiful 
neutral tint of colour, it harmonises with many plants in mixtures, such as 
Mangles’ Variegated and Beaton’s Variegated Nosegay Pelargoniums. 
I have a variegated sport of Imperial Crimson Nosegay, which likewise 
makes a very fine small bed when mixed plant for plant with Viola 
cornuta, and edged with Viola lutea. 
I find it necessary to treat Viola cornuta like Lobelia speciosa—that is, 
to mark the best varieties, and only take cuttings from these. If the 
plants are raised from seeds there will be such a variety of colours amongst 
them as to spoil the effect, in masses or ribbon borders. Viola lutea pro¬ 
mises with me to be a great acquisition for small beds and dwarf edgings. 
Welbcck. William Tillery. 
AMARYLLIS ALBERTI. 
The gorgeous varieties of the Hippeastruin group of Amaryllis seem to 
be attracting more of the public attention they so well deserve, than has 
been the case for some years past. We see them more frequently at exhi¬ 
bitions ; we hear of more new varieties being brought out; and we have 
good reason to believe that their value as decorative plants, is fully appre¬ 
ciated in many private establishments. We have ourselves done what we 
could to help forward this current of opinion, by figuring in our present 
