50 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  18,  1901. 
Culture  of  Violets. 
Much  has  been  written  about  Violet  treatment,  and  yet  it  is 
probably  quite  safe  to  suggest  that  there  are  still  more  failures  than 
successes  in  this  particular  branch  of  floriculture.  One  often  hears  the 
opinion  expressed  that  those  who  are  eminently  successful  with  these 
plants  must  possess  a  secret  which  they  studiously  hide  from  their 
unfortunate  brethren.  A  gentleman  called  upon  us  a  month  ago,  and 
saw  the  men  bundling  cowdung  into  our  light  and  hungry  soil. 
‘‘Now,”  said  he,  “I  know  how  to  succeed  with  Violets.”  Let  no  one 
suppose  for  a  moment  that  the  science  is  so  easily  acquired.  It  is  not 
by  becoming  the  proud  possessor  of  this  “wrinkle”  or  of  that  that 
you  will  triumph  over  the  many  difficulties  which  will  meet  you  at 
every  turn  in  handling  these  plants,  but  by  unceasing  attention  to  a 
multitude  of  details  throughout  the  whole  year.  And  every  successful 
cultivator  will  doubtless  reply  that  this  is  true  of  all  that  one  takes  in 
hand.  A  few  elementary  remarks  under  three  or  four  headings  is  all 
that  I  shall  attempt,  leaving  your  readers  to  fill  in  the  outline 
according  to  their  varied  circumstances  and  experiences. 
I  do  not  consider  that  Violets  will  thrive  for  any  length  of  time  on 
stiff  or  heavy  soils,  ncr  do  I  think  it  possible  that  the  best  results  can 
be  obtained  on  light,  dry,  or  sandy  soil.  Steps  must  be  taken  in  either 
case  to  avoid  the  extremes.  Heavy  soils,  which  lack  porosity,  will 
produce  unhealthy  growth,  and  the  plants  will  become  a  ready  prey  to 
the  attacks  of  fungoid  diseases  ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  difficult 
to  produce  growth  of  any  kind  in  dry,  sandy,  or  shallow  ground  ;  and 
here  it  is,  moreover,  that  the  red  spider  finds  its  happy  hunting  ground. 
If  the  character  of  your  garden  soil  approaches  either  of  these  extremes 
it  will  repay  you  to  make  a  plot  for  your  Violets.  From  10  to  20  per 
cent,  of  clay  may  he  mixed  with  light  and  gravelly  soils,  the  exact 
amount  being  determined  by  the  aspect  and  depth  of  the  Violet  plot. 
I  recommend  cowdung  as  the  best  manure  for  light  soils.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  your  soil  is  heavy,  ycu  may  add  sand,  w.ofl  ashes,  old 
potting  soil,  and  leaf  mould  to  almost  any  extent.  Every  gardenei 
knows  how  difficult  it  is  to  “  cure  ”  a  piece  of  stiff  land.  In  the  latter 
case,  use  stable  manure,  which  will  be  all  the  better  if  mixed  with 
sawdust.  The  compost  for  the  frames  or  pits  into  which  the  Violet^ 
will  be  lifted  in  autumn  should  be  sweet  and  fresh  and  not  too  rich ;  I 
would  rather  bring  in  rough  soil  from  a  Potato  plot  than  use  the  Bickly 
stuff  so  often  seen  in  Violet  frames. 
Propagation. 
With  new  and  scarce  varieties  one  is  compelled  to  employ  every 
possible  method  to  obtain  stock  ;  but  when  there  is  a  plentiful  supply, 
unquestionably  the  best  wTay  is  to  propagate  by  runners  rooted  in 
frames  during  the  late  autumn  months.  Where  Violets  flourish, 
runners  will  be  produced  in  great  abundance.  The  stoutest  and 
shortest-jointed  should  be  selected,  only  the  growing  ends  being  used, 
to  about  the  length  of  3  inches.  Stump  cuttings,  as  a  rule,  an 
unsatisfactory.  Dibble  the  cuttings  in  some  sandy  soil  in  a  pit,  as 
near  to  the  glass  as  possible.  They  will  root  rapidly,  and  when  once 
rooted  they  may  be  safely  exposed  to  almost  any  weather  except  the 
very  coldest  and  wettest.  In  very  early  spring — in  fact,  as  soon  as  the 
weather  will  allow — the  young  plants  should  be  lifted,  and  a  selection 
should  be  made.  The  long,  stringy  plants,  and  all  which  show  no 
disposition  to  form  a  crown,  should  he  rejected,  the  short,  stiff,  and 
stocky  plants  being  lined  in  again,  to  make  a  little  fresh  root  growth, 
and  to  receive  protection  from  the  bitter  east  wind  which  we  generally 
get  in  the  month  of  March. 
The  planting  out  may  be  done  as  early  as  the  middle  of  April. 
Your  ladies  will  probably  tell  you  that  Violets  deserve  the  best  place 
in  the  garden,  and  they  are  right.  A  cool  and  partially  shaded 
position  is  desirable.  We  have  grown  Violets  to  great  advantage 
between  rows  of  Sweet  Peas.  The  distance  from  plant  to  plant  will 
vary  from  8  inches  for  Lady  H.  Campbell  to  16  inches  for  Princess  ot 
Wales  and  Luxonne.  Plant  deeply  and  firmlv  (the  latter  adverb 
deserves  italics).  We  have  found  that  a  good  sprinkling  at  the  close 
of  a  hot  day  is  particularly  beneficial.  If  done  systematically  it  will 
also  induce  the  red  spider  to  reflect  that  life  is  hardly  worth  living  in 
a  well-kept  Violet  bed.  In  July  or  August  the  runners  will  jut  in  an 
appearance  ;  remove  them  as  promptly  as  possible  and  destroy  them. 
The  second  or  third  time  of  going  over  will  give  the  best  cuttings  for 
next  year’s  supply. 
Winter  Treatment. 
By  a  little  careful  calculation  at  the  time  of  planting  you  may 
arrange  to  make  your  Violet  btd  of  such  a  shape  and  size  that  any  pit 
lights  which  are  available  shall  nicely  cover  it.  Run  a  6  or  8-inch 
board  round  the  bed  to  support  the  lights,  and  you  have  thus  saved 
yourself  the  trouble  of  lifting  the  Violets  into  frames.  We  know  well 
enough  that  the  latter  is  the  time-honoured  plan,  but  give  the  new 
suggestion  one  trial,  and  we  think  it  is  sure  of  a  second.  The  framing 
of  Violets  may  be  done  in  September,  but  October,  or  even  November, 
is  not  too  late.  We  exhibited  Violets  largely  at  thirty  Chrysanthemum 
shows  last  November,  and  all  the  singles  were  gathered  from  the  open 
ground,  the  plants  only  receiving  on  the  coldest  nights  the  protection 
of  Russian  mats,  supported  by  a  lath  trellis.  On  the  old  lines  many 
frames,  and  much  care,  would  have  been  necessary  to  produce  a 
similar  lot.  Of  course  we  do  not  advise  that  the  old  plan  be  abandoned  ; 
on  the  contrary,  it  is  still  indispensable  where  a  regular  supply  of 
bloom  is  demanded  during  the  coldest  months.  But  in  frame  culture 
a  few  facts  must  be  borne  in  mind.  Do  not  lift  too  Boon,  do  not  feed 
too  highly,  do  not  nurse  too  tenderly.  If  the  Violets  are  grown  in 
pots,  for  the  embellishment  of  the  conservatory,  be  careful  to  stand 
them  in  a  cool  place,  and  never  allow  them  to  suffer  through  want  of 
light,  air,  or  moisture.  It  should  never  be  forgotten  that  Violets  are 
hardy  plants,  and  will  resent  unnatural  treatment.  Remove  all 
decaying  leaves,  and  through  every  stage  of  their  growth  see  that 
their  surroundings  are  sweet  and  clean.  If  these  directions  are  followed, 
we  thiuk  that  success  will  follow  in  most  casep. — James  G.  House, 
Westbury-  on-  Trym. 
- <-#♦> - 
Gadding  and  Gathering. 
“Here  aw  a’,  There  awa\” 
As  the  flush  of  the  Rose  shows  weakens,  the  short,  bright  little 
reign  of  the  Carnation  comes  in  substitution.  To-morrow  (Friday) 
will  be  the  great  southern  show  of  the  National  Carnation  Society, 
and  lesser  exhibitions,  largely  comprised  of  Carnations,  will  follow 
immediately  in  all  parts  of  the  oountry.  Now  that  Mr.  Martin  Smith 
has  yearly  such  splendid  advances  to  offer,  and  seeing  these  varieties 
of  Carnation  remain  at  their  higher  standard  of  excellence  compared 
against  past  novelties,  the  culture  and  regard  for  Carnations  may  well 
be  expected  to  progress.  We  are  not  a  sombre  dispositioned  people;  we 
appreciate  the  efforts  of  those  who  add  greater  beauty  to  our  world, 
and  are  easily  led  to  follow  them  in  their  endeavours 
Chelsea  Carnations. 
At  the  close  of  last  week  I  had  an  invitation  to  view  Messrs. 
J.  Veitoh  &  Sons’  collection  of  new  and  tested  varieties  in  the  Royal 
Exotic  Nursery  at  Chelsea.  The  plants  are  nearly  all  pluDged  in  ash- 
beds  in  the  open  air,  and  have  developed  in  very  good  condition  this 
year.  The  majority  of  them  are  making  robust  “  grass,”  which  will 
shortly  be  used  for  propagating  purposes.  They  are  all  clean  and 
healthy.  Mr.  Weeks,  the  grower,  favours  layers  when  propagating  his 
border  varieties  ;  and  “  pipes  ” — that  is,  cuttings— for  tree  Carnations. 
A  few  references  to  the  more  “taking”  herewith  follow  : — 
New  Border  Selfs  and  Fancies. — AmoDgst  the  varieties  of  1900  and 
1901  are  the  following  : — Lady  Jane  Grey,  with  large  and  handsome 
flowers,  of  a  beautiful  and  strikingly  distinct  lavender  colour;  Rosalind, 
with,  sweet  scented  deep  crimson  flowers ;  Don  Carlos,  a  distinct  Fancy, 
with  large  handsome  flowers,  yellow  ground,  striped  and  edged  with 
rose-pink  ;  and  Alcinoris,  a  heavy  purple-edged  yellow  ground.  There 
are  other  good  new  varieties,  such  as  Quintin  Durward,  vivid  scarlet; 
The  Naiad,  with  deep  yellow  blooms,  and  possesses  a  vigorous  habit. 
The  Khedive  is  a  very  pleasing  Carnation,  bright  yellow,  heavily 
marked  and  tinted  with  rose. 
New  Yellow-ground  Picotees. — Of  first-rate  vellow-ground  Picotees  we 
find  Daniel  Defoe  well  to  the  fore.  The  colour  is  bright,  and  broadly 
edged  with  rose-red,  the  form  being  good.  Caracci  has  also  a  rose  edge, 
and  is  very  vigorous  ;  while  Herodotus,  with  lemon  ground,  has  a  well- 
defined  and  very  narrow  reddish-crimson  margin.  Lady  St.  Oswald 
variety  is  really  very  handsome,  and  well  worthy  to  bear  the  title  of  the 
beautiful  lady  so  prominent  in  high  society.  Lastly  there  is  Langan, 
of  a  clear  yellow  colour  and  well-defined  purple  edge.  The  form  also  is 
superb. 
The  foregoing  are  all  noteworthy,  and  comparatively  new  ;  those 
now  to  be  mentioned  are  better  known.  Amongst  the  best  of  self 
varieties  is  Isinglass,  a  brilliant  scarlet,  introduced  about  three  years 
ago.  Dudley  Stuart  as  a  scat  let  self  stands  out  prominently ;  it  has 
large  blooms  on  long  footstalks.  Boadicea,  on  the  same  lines,  has 
rose-scarlet  blooms  ;  and  Comet  is  maroon-crimson,  possessing  smooth 
petals.  Endymion  is  very  distinct,  with  beautiful  salmon-pink  blooms. 
Again,  few  Carnations  are  more  brilliant  than  Francis  Wellesley,  with 
large,  full,  deep  carmine-rose  flowers  on  long  stalks;  it  is  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  attractive ;  Sweet  Brier,  with  large,  pale  scarlet  flowerp, 
was  much  appreciated  ;  while  from  amongst  other  good  yellows  we 
particularly  noted  Hidalgo,  Queen  of  Sheba,  Rizzio,  very  fine ;  Aglaia, 
and  Benbow,  which  are  also  very  superior.  Czarina  is  a  conspicuous 
y  ellow  ground  Fancy,  heavily  marked  with  bright  scarlet.  Picking  out 
a  really  good  white,  what  excels  George  Maquay  ?  None;  it  is 
floriferous,  of  good  form,  robust,  and  perfectly  white.  Muoh  the 
Miller  should  also  be  included  in  a  collection,  and  no  one  should  omit 
the  pure  white  Beauty  of  Exmouth,  a  superb  sort.  Goldylocks  and 
Zingara  are  two  prominently  good  Fancies. 
Older  Yellow-ground  Picotees. — The  Gift  is  one  of  the  best  yellow- 
ground  Picotees,  edged  scarlet;  and  with  it  we  may  include  Mrs. 
