372 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 15. i 
We are speaking, be it remembered, of tbe class who 
look to profitable returns for their poultry, and few, 
even of “fanciers,” will have any objection to be in¬ 
cluded in this number, however remote their apparent 
chance of being so. If poultry, however, be kept 
merely as an amusement, or for purposes of study in 
Natural History, the gratification will probably have to 
be paid for; but these are cases of exception not at 
present before us. 
Now, we have two facts generally admitted, viz., that 
many poultry-keepers are grumbling at losses, while, 
without their ranks, many tauntingly point their finger 
to what they would term the “natural termination of 
the Poultry mania.” Both these, we apprehend, are in 
error,—the premises and conclusion being on both sides 
disconnected. The disappointed poultry-keeper did not 
go the right way to work for his success; and the latter 
inconsiderately argues, from the former’s mistakes, to 
the whole body of those who have kept fowls under 
other conditions, and with far different results. With 
poultry purchasers, speculation was too often a powerful 
motive; capital was invested for which a return was 
attainable only through a continuance of “fancy” 
prices, whose permanency was neither probable nor 
desirable: when these fell, there was aggravation to the 
other causes of discontent:—sales were forced, and a 
panic ensued, in exact analogy with what is often else¬ 
where seen in matters of far greater import. 
This subject has now been very briefly touched upon, 
but there are points to which it may be desirable to 
refer on other occasions; at present, however, we must 
record our opinion, that poultry disappointments are 
far more frequently assignable to the poultry-keeper’s 
errors and want of judgment, than to any short-comings 
on the part of the birds themselves. W. 
The British Pomological Society is making good pro¬ 
gress. The Sub-Committee have prepared the Rules 
and Regulations which will be submitted to the 
members at a general meeting, to be held upon an 
early day. Very eligible rooms are offered to the 
Society, and it is in contemplation to have an Ex¬ 
hibition of Fruit in the course of next month. 
Now that tbe Society is formed, we hear one general 
expression of surprise that it was not established years 
since. Its strength is rapidly increasing, both by 
donations and subscriptions, and we believe that it 
will become one of the most useful of our associations 
; for promoting an improved knowledge of our soil’s 
produce. 
THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 
As the season is rapidly approaching in which the 
grave and dignified tints of autumn will remind us of 
the advance of King Frost, before whose austere aspect 
Flora, with her choice pets, will retire in haste; it will, 
perhaps, prove of service to turn our attention, betimes, 
to in-door matters, and instead of permitting the floral 
goddess to be completely scared away, to try and find \ 
her an asylum in our greenhouse, frames, &c. Amongst 
the lovelies of winter, tbe Violet holds a prominent 
situation. Who would despise a bouquet if only com¬ 
posed of a group of forced Lilies of the Valley in the 
centre, surrounded by fine double Violets, and these 
again by a fringe of Lycopods or Ferns? 
There are points in tbe annual culture of tbe Nea- , 
politan Violet which must be held as salient points; for 
on the time and manner of carrying these well out, 
depends much of the success in forcing them; if 
forcing it may be called. 
First, the obtaining good runners at a proper time; 
second, the constant removal during their out-door 
culture of the strings or secondary runners; third, the 
time and mode of their establishment in their winter 
quarters. I will remark on these according to the fore¬ 
going order. 
1 have forced the Neapolitan Violet for thirty-five 
years, and, I must aver that I obtain annually further 
insight into their habits. Indeed, the very first paper I 
ever contributed to a gardening periodical w r as one on 
the Neapolitan Violet, which is in “Loudon’s Magazine” 
for 1824. However, I must proceed. 
As to runners, some people prefer cuttings, thinking 
they make firmer plants; but I have not found any 
advantage in this practice; on the contrary, time is lost, 
and this is most important. My practice is, when 
tbe plants are somewhat exhausted with blooming, say 
in the second week in March, to remove them carefully 
from the frame to the open ground. Here they are 
planted with thin balls of earth, and receive a covering 
of hoops with mats. In the end of the month a little 
old tan or leaf-mould is introduced amongst them, two 
inches in depth, and they are, henceforth, watered 
occasionally. By the end of April, or beginning of 
May, they are full of well-rooted runners. 1 consider 
it quite essential to early forcing that the runners for 
the next year be planted out for a summer culture by 
the second week in May. A bed is now prepared for 
their reception, and summer culture in an open airy 
situation. They like a generous soil, rather light than 
otherwise; good kitchen-garden beds, rich with former 
manuring, will grow them fine; but they enjoy the 
addition of a little sound loam and heath-soil. ' The 
beds should be elevated about six inches above the 
ground level, and the surface pressed firmly before 
planting. The plants may be about eight inches apart, 
and care must be taken in planting to keep their crown 
above the earths’ surface, as in Strawberry planting. 
Henceforth they must be watered occasionally, kept 
clear of weeds, and every runner cut away. There is 
an old saying, that “ what is done any time is never 
done;” and this is applicable, in a variety of ways, to 
gardening operations. Indeed, one of the chief requi¬ 
sites in a modern gardener, to be worthy of the title, is 
an aptitude for administrative matters; which, of 
course, involves economy of labour and precision. 
With such things as our present subject, my practice 
is to tell Will or Tom to cut away every runner once 
every fortnight. And, to digress for a moment, the 
same with several things : thus, Have you—as you 
ought to have—“ traps ” to your grid-holes which carry 
away the surface-water of any given walk ? If so, tell 
your man to clean out those “traps” first, twice a-year, 
Midsummer and Christmas; or, indeed, any other set 
periods. Thus much as a digressive hint as to general 
business. Now i'or tbe Violets again. 
The runners having been thus bandied, watering ap¬ 
plied iu a timely w r ay, and a clean cultural process pur¬ 
sued, tve shall, with a little patience, produce a host 
of young Violet plants with “ crowns ” like well-grown 
young Keen’s Seedling Strawberries by the middle of 
September; at which period, my practice is to place 
them in their winter quarters. I lay the utmost stress I 
