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Batts: Si eS Brera Pete SE 
Violet Culture 
VIOLET MEADOWS 
A little spot in your garden given to 
violets pays big dividends in fragrance, 
color, and blossoms year after year. 

First, let the plant refresh it- 
self by resting in clear cool water 
for two hours or more before 
planting. Then at sundown tuck 
it in a fluffy bed of leaf mold 
(Oak leaf mold is their natural 
food) peat or good soil. 
Dig a hole deep enough for the 
longest roots and spread them out 
fanwise. Gently press the well- 
pulverized soil in, leaving the 
crown even with the level of the 
earth, If the soil is not damp, 
put water in and use plenty of 
leaf mold on top to keep the 
ground from drying; when you 
cultivate it is worked in and does 
double duty. 
Keep the ground damp and they 
grow in either sun or shade. Most 
violets like half time shade. When 
first planted be sure they are well 
shaded for several days if the sun 
is hot or if it is windy. 
Give them plenty of room to 
grow. If they are crowded they 
will be small. Keep the ground 
cultivated and they will bloom 
abundantly and cover the ground 
with a lovely robe. The more the 
blossoms are picked the more they 
will bloom. Give them plenty of 
water when blooming, 
In the hot summer cover the 
ground with leaf mold and let the 
plants rest, no water. In Septem- 
ber spade deeply around plants, 
cut off all old leaves and water 
well. Large plants should have 
their tops cut back to about 4 
inches from the crown. This sends 
the vitality down to the roots and 
new little leaves will come up 
quickly. 
A little bone meal and sulphur 
Spaded in twice a year is a treat. 
Sprinke wood ashes around the 
plants, it is good for them and 
discourages bugs and snails. 
If you want lots of blossoms, 
keep all runners picked off. 
Violets like acid soil. If the soil 
is poor, give them some commer- 
cial fertilizer, 6-9-6 or Gaviota are 
good, For sow bugs and pill bugs 
use Destrol. Be sure to keep ants 
out. 
Water sprinkled on leaves in fog 
will cause spot. 
Never plant violets under Pine, 
Acacia or Redwood; they take all 
the moisture. 
Violets can be moved any time 
and like it if kept wet, leaves cut 
back and plants shaded. 
