VIOLET, a genus (Viola) of mostly per ennial herbs of the family Violacee. The spe cies, of which about 200 have been described, are natives of the northern and southern tem perate zones. In North America there are about 80 species distributed as far south as the mountains of Costa Rica. They are all of humble growth, rarely exceeding six inches in height; bear heart-shaped leaves upon usually long stetns, and irregular flowers either solitary or two together on axillary peduncles. The capsular fruits contain numerous globular seeds. In some species cleistogamous flowers are borne close to the ground or often beneath it. These flowers are close pollinated in the bud. Of the American species cultivated in gardens only two, V. palosata and V. pedata, are well known though several others are of fered for sale. Of the two mentioned the latter which is known as 'the bird's-foot violet, is apparently the most promising as a garden plant for improvement. The Australian violet (V. kederacee) is grown to a small extent in Cali fornia. The homed violet (V. comas), also called bedding pans:y, has long been popular in gardens for its variously colored brg-stemmed Mowers which appear in early spring. It is a native of southern Europe. The pansy or heart's-ease (V. tricolor) is another well-lmown European species which has long been popular in gardens. (See Pansy). The most import ant species, however, is the sweet violet (V. odorata). This is a native of western Asia and the Mediterranean region whence it was intro duced into cultivation and has given rise to nu. merous varieties having white and reddish pur pie as well as variously tinted blue flowers, both single and double. The species is the parent of the popular florists' flower which in the United States ranks third in the list of important com mercial flowem Its season under glass lasts about seven months; that of the rose and car nation, its principal rivals, about nine months. (See FLORICULTURE IN America).
When violets of ordinary quality will satisfy the needs of the grower the violet plants are not particularly exacting in their demands as to soil, cultivation, etc., but when really choice flowers are required the plants demand con siderable skill and attention. It has not inre euently happened that growers who after sev eral years' success with the crop considered themselves experts have been disappointed with their repeated failures to produce good blos soms. Hence he business of growing this plant is steadily gravitating into the hands of special ists. And certain sections of the country are
becoming noted for their violet industry. Prob ably the best known of these violet centres is the district near Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
The plants are propagated by division which may either necessitate their removal from the ground or not. In the former case the old parts are destroyed, in the latter the offshoots or young crowns are separated after becoming well rooted. In each case the little plants are set about four inches apart and transplanted to per manent quarters when well established. Cut tings are also widely used. They are either obtained from well-developed runners or from young unrooted crowns and treated like cuttings of geranium until well rooted and ready for transplanting in soil.
In general, the florists' violet will thrive well in any rich loamy soil, but best results are gen erally obtained with soil resulting from the de cay of thick sod pared from an old blue grass pasture upon sandy but rather heavy loam. This should be prepared the season previous with alternate layers of well-decayed cow manure, and after six or more months' exposure to the weather sliced, when about one and potmds of bone meal should be added to each cubic yard of soil. This soil is then spread on bendies or made into solid beds in the green houses or frames, the former preferred. The plants are set from 8 to 12 inches asunder in rows 10 to 18 inches apart, according to the size of the variety, the single flowered varieties usu ally demanding the maximum space. Most growers agree that plantng in early spring is preferable to other times because the plants be come well established, vigorous and strong, whereas if set in late spring or later they do not seem to thrive so well during the hot weather. At all times weeds must be kept out of the beds and except when needed for propagation the rurmers should be removed so as to divert growth toward flower production. The summer temperature should be kept as low a.s possible and the winter temperature between 45° and 50° at night with a maximum day temperature of t/J°. The beds should be kept moist but not wet at all times and the supply of fresh air abundant. Careful attention to these two details of management is one of the most important means of preventing the so-called plant diseases which sometimes destroy the crops of careless growers.