362 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  24,  1902. 
Notes  on  Violets. 
(  Concluded  from  page  291. ) 
When  I  first  thought  of  writing  these  notes  on  Violets  it  was 
not  my  intention  to  say  much  about  their  cultivation,  but  to 
confine  my  remarks  to-  some  of  the  difficulties  met  with  in  grow¬ 
ing  this  popular  flower.  As  there  has  not  much  appeared  on  this 
subject  lately  in  the  Journal,  perhaps  it  may  be  of  interest  to 
some  readers  if  a  few  cultural  hints  are  given.  The  present 
time  will  be  the  flowering  period.  Double  varieties  will  be 
accommodated  in  frames,  or  protected  by  lights  being  placed 
over  them  on  sunny  borders;  while  the  single  varieties,  being* 
more  hardy,  will  flower  v'cll  in  warm,  sunny  situations  in  the 
open,  under  walls,  and  in  such  like  situations. 
To  get  the  best  results,  however,  during  the  colder  part  of 
the  season,  frame  culture  is  best.  The  time  will  soon  arrive 
when  propagation  generally  takes  place — that  is,  directly  after 
flowering.  Some  perform  this  Avork  in  the  autumn,  and  one 
lover  of  these  flowers,  an  amateur,  knoAvn  to  the  writer,  avIio 
grows  only  single  varieties,  inserts  cuttings  at  several  different 
times,  and  considers  he  obtains  a  longer  floAvering  season. 
Autumn  propagation  is  effected  by  taking  cuttings  from  the 
plants  about  the  time  of  transplanting  them  to  frames.  They 
should  be  inserted  in  sandy  soil  in  a  frame,  and  kept  clo,se  until 
rooted.  Air  should  then  be  admitted  graduallj' ;  finally  the 
lights  may  be  removed  altogether,  excepting  in  very  wet  or 
frosty  weather.  During  suitable  Aveather  in  the  spring  they 
must  be  transferred  to  their  summer  quarters. 
Spring  propagation  may  be  carried  out  in  a  similar  Avay.  I 
am  aAvare  that  many  do  not  go  to  this  trouble  ;  and  Avhere  Violets 
flourish,  and  in  warm  localities,  it  may  not  be  necessary.  The 
plants  are  simply  diAnded  and  transferred  at  once  to  the  open 
ground.  In  some  districts  Violets  groAV  with  great  freedom,  and 
bloom  Avell  with  very  little  trouble  ;  but  in  other  cases  they  are 
Amry  difficult  to  deal  Avith.  Where  the  damping  di.sea.se  causes 
trouble,  it  is  much  the  best  to  propagate  from  single  croAvns  or 
cuttings.  If  the  plants  are  divided  in  rather  large  pieces,  they 
groAv  into  very  large  clumps  by  the  autumn,  and  the  disease  is 
more  difficult  to  deal  Avith  than  when  the  plants  are  smaller. 
I  find  it  much  the  best  to  in.sert  the  cuttings  or  divisions  in 
frames.  At  this  time  of  the  year  cold  dry  Avinds  are  frequent, 
and  numbers  succumb  Avben  they  are  planted  in  the  open  border. 
The  frame  should  be  in  a  semi-shaded  position,  and  should  be 
kept  rather  close  until  they  are  rooted. 
They  will  A^ery  soon  make  nice  plants  to 
transfer  to  their  summer  position.  If 
a  situation  can  be  afforded  where  the 
sun  will  be  off,  say,  about  tAvo  or  three 
o’clock  it  will  be  an  advantage.  Water 
can  be  given  more  conveniently  either 
at  the  roots  or  in  the  form  of  damping 
overhead.  A  north  border  is  faAmured 
by  some,  but  here  the  sun  shines  till 
late  in  the  afternoon  or  evening. 
Having  tried  both  situations,  I  prefer 
the  former,  not  only  for  Violets,  but 
other  things  as  well.  The  double 
varieties  may  be  planted  about  12in 
apart  from  each  other,  and  the  same 
distance  between  the  roAvs.  Most  of 
the  single  kinds  groAA-  stronger,  and 
should  be  allowed  more  room. 
The  summer  treatment  Avill  consist 
of  keeping  down  Aveeds,  Avhich  is  best 
done  by  the  Dutch  hoe.  Indeed,  the 
hoe  should  be  frequently  used,  as 
thereby  a  loose  surface  soil  is  obtained. 
Some  hold  the  opinion  that  this  is  more, 
important  than  watering.  But  both 
are  necessary.  It  is  much  better  to 
give  a  thorough  soaking  when  Avater  is 
applied  than  to  give  it  in  small  quan¬ 
tities  that  never  reach  the  roots.  A 
mulching  of  decayed  manure  or  leaf 
soil  will  greatly  benefit  the  plants,  and 
also  lessen  the  labour  in  Avatering. 
During  hot  dry  weather  a  damping 
overhead  in  the  evening  Avill  greatly 
freshen  up  the  plants,  and  Avill  also 
help  to  keep  at  bay  that  troublesome 
insect,  red  spider.  On  light  .soils  much 
injury  is  caused  by  this  pest.  Whei'e 
water  alone  will  not  keep  it  down,  re¬ 
course  must  be  had  to  spraying  Avith 
some  insecticide.  Soot  and  sulphur 
mixed,  and  dusted  over  the  plants  occa¬ 
sionally,  is_  also  a  good  thing  to  use. 
The  soot  will  also  improve  the  growth 
of  the  Violets. 
Runners  must  be  removed  during 
the  summer,  so  that  the  whole  energy 
of  the  plants  may  be  utilised  in  forming  good  plump  ci’OAvns  that 
Avill  produce  an  abundance  of  floAvers.  It  is  not  a  good  plan, 
hoAvever,  to  remoA'e  OAmiy  runner  that  is  formed.  If  one  or  t-Avo 
are  left  on  each  ])lant,  they  Avill  develop  into  suitable  pieces  for 
increasing  the  stock  the  f'olloAving  season.  The  best  time  for 
lifting  the  plants  and  putting  them  in  frames  is  from  the  middle 
of  September  to  the  same  time  in  October.  Some  prefer  this 
operation  done  later.  But  at  the  earlier  date  the  soil  is  Avarm 
and  the  plants  Avill  soon  push  new  roots,  Avhich  Avill  help  to 
fortify  them  for  the  Avinter.  Care  must  be  used  in  planting  not 
to  break  the  leaves  or  damage  the  roots  more  than  possible. 
Keep  the  croAvns  Avell  above  the  soil,  the  plants  just  clear  of  each 
other,  and  about  6in  from  the  glass.  Air  must  be  afforded  on  all 
favourable  occasions;  indeed,  the  lights  ma.v  be  removed  except 
during  very  Avet  or  frosty  Aveather.  All  decayed  leaves  should  be 
removed,  and  the  surface  soil  kept  loose. 
There  are  so  many  varieties  of  Violets  to-day  that  it  is  perhaps 
difficult  to  say  Avhich  are  the  best.  As  far  as  the  double  varieties 
are  concerned,  I  must  admit  that  if  confined  to  one  variety,  it 
Avould  be  the  old  Marie  Louise.  I  consider  it  the  best  all-round 
Violet  in  cultiAmtion.  Coolcronan  is  a  desirable  variety,  a  beauti¬ 
ful  blue  colour,  paler  than  Marie  Louise,  and  blooms  Avell  in  the 
spring.  Comte  Brazza  is  a  beautiful  double  Avhite,  but  in  many 
districts  it  is  found  difficult  to  groAv.  It  does  not  succeed  here. 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Astor  is  a  useful  variety,  but  its  colour  does  not  recom¬ 
mend  it — a  iiinkish  purple.  Amongst  single  Amrieties  some  of 
the  best  are  Princess  of  Wales,  La  France,  Califoimia,  the  old 
Victoria  Regina.  A  newer  one,  “Victoria,”  produces  abundance 
of  floAvers  in  spring  of  a  beautiful  blue,  but  they  have  not  the 
substance  of  mo.st  of  the  others.  Where  a  collection  is  desired, 
the  smaller-floAvered  kinds  may  be  added,  such  as  sulphurea,  the 
common  Avhite,  and  red.  All  these  produce  a  mass  of  floAvers, 
but  are  not  so  useful  as  the  larger  floAvering  varieties. — J.  S.  U. 
[That  the  Violet  flourishes  in  some  districts,  as  our  correspon¬ 
dent  points  out,  is  a  Avell-knoAvn  fact;  yet  in  localities  Avhere  the 
Avild  Violet  thriAms  A’igorously,  the  cultivated  plants  are  sometimes 
most  stubborn  and  unprolific.  Has  “Mr.  Raillem”  or  other 
groAvers  anything  to  contribute  on  the  point?  Exception  might 
be  taken  to  “J.  S.  U.’s  ”  .statement  regarding  the  colour  of 
J.  J.  Astor  Violet,  AAdiich  he  says  does  “not  reco-mmend  it.”  The 
neAv  sulphurea  is  appreciated  because  of  its  noAmlty,  but  we  fear 
it  is  very  delicate.  A  pink  Violet  is  reported  from  America.  Soon 
Are  may  expect  to  liaA'e  all  the  colours  of  the  rainboAv.] 
Violet,  Princess  of  Wales. 
