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THE HOME OF THE GIANT VIOLETS 
THE HOME CORSHESGIAN TaVI@LEE Ts 
Happy Valley Violet Farm, largest 
commercial Violet planting in the 
United States, where our plants are 
grown, is situated on the old San Jose 
Road, a beautiful rural section about 
10 miles north east of the charming 
little seaside city of Santa Cruz, Cali- 
fornia, located on the northern shore 
of Monterey Bay, approximately 70 
miles south of San Francisco. The cool 
breezes wafting in from the blue 
Pacific provide a delightful summer 
climate. Soquel Creek, which flows 
through our farm is a little mountain 
stream winding its way through tall 
groves of giant redwoods, oaks, mad- 
rones and sycamores. Here in our 
meadow, partly in shade and partly 
in sun, thousands of violet plants 
thrive and grow to perfection. 
VASE UPS URE 
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 sulpur 
is excellent plant food. Dig the holes 
deep enough so that the longest roots 
can 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 
SOllyis wary, JI1ll 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 blossoms 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 neturalize the soil, 
conteract alkalinity, check fungus 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 pulverized 
loam, watering till well established. 
Violets can be transplanted any 
time if the leaves are cut back and 
the plants well shaded and watered. 
