176 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
For our illustration we are again indebted to Messrs. Rollisson, 
of Tooting. The plant from which our figure was taken last 
month had at that time four spikes, each bearing from eight to 
twelve flowers. Our draughtsman, Mr. Holden, who is perhaps 
without a rival in pourtraying orchideous flowers, has succeeded 
with this in his wonted manner. 
CULTIVATION OF THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 
Sir, _As I frequently derive much benefit from the perusal 
of your elegant and useful work, in return I offer you my little 
contribution. The Neapolitan violet is a universal favourite, 
but a difficulty is sometimes complained of in its cultivation. 
The subjoined is my manner of treating it. 
In May, after the flowering season is over, I sift some light soil 
over the plants to the depth of two inches ; by this means the 1 mi¬ 
ners very readily take root. I take care to keep as much of the 
foliage of the plants above the surface as possible. In this situation 
they remain exposed to the weather about six weeks, when I take 
up the old plants, from which a sufficient quantity of the best 
rooted runners are selected to make my flowering plants foi the 
ensuing season. I then choose some shady situation, and find 
they will do better under the shade of trees freely exposed on 
all sides to the air, than on a north border under a wall. I mark 
out the bed, and remove the soil four inches deep, filling it to the 
original level with decayed leaves, over which I put the soil pie- 
viously taken out. The runners are then planted in rows, seven 
inches distant, and four inches apart in the rows, and a good 
watering given them; which will require to'be freely supplied 
during the summer, otherwise the bed, being a little ele\ ated, 
will soon become dry. Let them remain in this situation until 
the middle of September, by which time they will have become 
strong plants. You can then take them up with good balls 
without any difficulty, as they will be well rooted in the leaf 
mould. Plant them in a frame, in rows, nine inches apart, and 
six inches in the row, and two inches from the glass; then veil 
water them and keep the lights on, and shade if the sun shines 
out, for about a week; by which time the plants will begin to 
root again, when they may be freely exposed to the aii. By 
