HOME, PENNSYLVANIA 
Violet, Spurred; Long-Spurred Violet (Viola rostrata). 
Oddity and delicacy are the prime qualities of the 
Spurred Violet. The oddity is the spur, and the deli- 
cacy, the lilac of the petals. Rostrata means beaked, 
referring to rostrum or tip of a sailing ship’s prow, 
and applied freely to the rostra (now rostrum) or stage 
of the Roman theater, bedecked with the beaks of cap- 
tured ships. The flowers are multiple from the same 
roots, their stems rising from forked leaf stalks. Flowers 
reach 4 to 8 inches in height, above the leaves, re- 
clining as they mature, and with the small, dark green 
leaves, present a loose bouquet effect. The centers of 
the flowers are purple veined with orange pollen. The 
spur, beak or rostrum is slender, and a quarter-inch 
to a possible half-inch long. To ensure reproduction, 
self-fertilizing little buds appear later at the branch- 
ing of the upper leaves. Authorities ascribe occurrence 
from Quebec to Michigan and south to Georgia. Few 
authorities describe the Spurred Violet, and we wonder 
just how plentiful it may be. Rather precious in these 
parts and we have no record of dealer listing. 35¢ each; 
$3.50 for 12. 
Violet, Sweet White (Viola blanda). Small plant, with 
tiny white flowers, purple veined. Scent is uniformly 
sweet, elusive, and potent in mass. Blooms in April 
and May. Robust, prolific ground cover, fast spreading 
by seeds and runners. Best in swamps, bogs, wet 
meadows, moist woodlands, and low, damp, shady 
places. Often found in dry soil, too, and improves with 
cultivation. 30c each; $3.00 for’ 12. 
Violet, White; Striped Violet (Viola striata). Big violet, 
6 to 12 inches high when in flower, evergreen, with 
many large blossoms, white, off-white and cream col- 
ored, on very long stalks. The side petals are densely 
bearded and the wide lower petal is thickly striped 
with purple veins. The plant grows lavishly in large 
crowns, liking low shaded places, but it blooms in the 
hot sun, in baking backyards and sits happily under 
the apple tree. In difficult conditions it grows at some 
cost to size and length of leaves, but at no loss to its 
very prolific blossoms. The white mantle of bloom 
abounds through April and May, tapering off well into 
June. Flower structure prevents self-fertilization; it is 
cross-pollinated by little bees. 30c each; $3.00 for 12. 

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