
THE HOME OF THE GIANT VIOLETS 
Happy Valley Violet Farm, where 
-our plants are grown, is situated on 
Branciforte Drive, a beautiful rural 
section about three miles north of the 
charming little seaside city of Santa 
Cruz, California, located on the north- 
ern shore of Monterey Bay, approxi- 
mately seventy miles south of San 
Francisco. The cool breezes watting 
in from the blue Pacific provide a de- 
lightful summer climate. Branciforte 
Creek, which flows through our farm, 
is a little mountain stream winding its 
way through tall groves of giant red- 
woods, oaks, madrones and sycamores. 
Here in our meadow, parily in shade 
and partly in sun, thousands of violet 
plants thrive and grow to perfection. 
VIOLET CULTURE 
Most violets accommodate them- 
selves and thrive in sunlight or shade. 
Their natural food is leaf mould, the 
mulch of which also protects them in 
their dormant period. 
Violet plants, once established in a 
garden are hardy plants, and grown 
under proper conditions, their verdant 
leaves and exquisite dainty blossoms 
are a source of delight during many 
months of the year to garden lovers 
throughout the world. 
When new plants are unpacked, 
gently remove wrappings, moss, and 
excelsior (so that no tender shoots 
will be broken) and immerse the 
whole plant—leaves and roots into 
deep water for several hours. While 
the new plants are absorbing water, 
dig holes in good mellow damp soil, 
working several large handfuls of rich 
leaf mould, preferably oak, into each 
hole. 
A handful of bone-meal and sulphur 
is excellent plant food. Dig the holes 
deep enough so that the longest roots 
can be spread out fanwise. Then cover 
and press the pulverized soil gently 
around the roots, keeping the crown 
of the plant level with the soil. If the 
soil is dry, fill holes with water and 
let settle; then cover as above, spread- 
ing leaf mould around plant to prevent 
the soil from drying out. 
In the large type of violet it is best 
to cut back the leaves to about four 
inches from the crown when newly 
planted. This will send the vitality 
down to the roots, and new little leaves 
will.soon appear. If new plants are 
set out in direct sunlight, they should 
be shaded for several days until they 
get a good start. Allow plenty of room, 
especially for the larger ones such as 
Royal Elk Giant and Royal Robe which. 
under good conditions should have a 
spread of one and one half square 
feet. The smaller type should be plant- 
ed eight inches apart. Crowding will 
result in stunted plants and much 
smaller plossoms as a result. 
Soil should be kept well cultivated 
and free from weeds and pests such as 
snails, cutworms, sowbugs, etc. (Wood 
ashes and soot good preventative). 
During the blooming period the more 
the blossoms are picked, the longer 
the plants will bloom. The more you 
give away the more will you be re- 
paid. 
Through the hot summer months the 
single violets should be covered with 
leaf mould, cultivated occasionally, 
and allowed to rest. Then in Sept-. 
ember water the plants well, cultivate 
deeply, and cut off all the old dried 
leaves. Feed again with good home- 
made compost or bone-meal and some 
sulphur added to neutralize the soil, 
conteract alkalinity, check fungous and 
disease. 
If you wish an abundance of 
blossoms, keep runners cut off; but if 
you wish new plants cover the hard- 
iest runners with pulverized soil till 
they root. Then cut them from the 
mother plant and root in well prepared 
mixture of leaf mould and pulverived 
loam, watering till well estabished. 
Violets can be transplanted any 
time if the leaves are cut back and 
the plants well shaded and watered. 
