VIOLET (OF., Fr, riolette, diminutive of Lat. viola, violet ; conneeted with Gk. toe, ion, violet), Vioi.o. A genus of mostly perennial herbs of the order ViolarV;e. The widely dis tributed and numerous species are confined to temperate climates. Among the extensively cul tivated species are Viola tricolor and rata. Viola tricolor, a native of the Old World, is the wild species from which the common pansy or heart's-ease seems to have been developed. It has innumerable varieties and forms which sur pass the natural species in beauty and diversity of color, The pansy runs in strains rather than in varieties. and florists frequently group the varieties according to different :obit miry schemes. This species belongs to the leafy-stemmed violets. The name pansy is derived from the French word penst'e, thought. A strain of this species known as Viola tricolor arrcusis has become nat uralized in souu• places in the United States. The sweet violet (Viola (Amato, one of LIu• stem less species, is common in grassy places in Europe and Northern Asia. The flowers are either deep blue or more rarely white. Under cultivation many varieties have been obtained, including dwarf and double forms with a great diversity in the color of the flowers. The wild plants are not as fragrant as the improved garden varieties. Viola Canade»sis is an Ameri can species of which the cultivated varieties are frequently grown on sloping banks and rocker ies. The bird's-foot violet ( Viola pedalo). an other American species, is the parent of several handsome cultivated varieties. Viola altaica, a species native to Siberia, has been introduced into cultivation, and by itself, or by hybridiza tion with Viola tricolor, has become the parent of many garden violets. Viola bifloca is a pretty species widely distributed in the Northern Hemi sphere. It produces small yellow flowers usually in pairs from April to June. Dogtooth violet is the. common name of the genus Erythronium (q.v.), a genus unrelated to the violets proper.
Violets are of easy cultivation on various soils, but they prefer cool, shady positions, a rich, moist, sandy loam, with good drainage to keep the roots free from water. They are propagated chietly by cuttings or divisions. Cuttings are made from vigorous shoots in the spring and set in fine sandy soil in a cool greenhouse or frame, and the resulting plants are transplanted to their permanent quarters in the fall. Propagation by division consists in dividing the plants after the flowering period and replanting them immediate ly. Such plants flower the following spring.
There are several so-called diseases that attack violets. dust or spot (Cercospo•a. rioter) causes the formation of circular grayish spots with dark centres upon the leaves. Mismanagement seems to aid in the spread of this disease. Badly infested plants and affected leaves should be de stroyed to prevent the ripening of the spores. A spot disease attributed to Alternaria violie at tacks the parts above ground and is most troublesome upon rapidly growing plants. The spots have light-colored eentres surrounded by darker zones, beeome lighter in old spots. ('are in the selection of plants, careful culture, removal of all diseased leaves and plants, and propagation of stocky, vigorous plants are sug gested as preventive means. An anthraelmse (Ghcosporiant viola'), which is often quite de structive, begins at the edge of the leaf and eon t holes to spread until the whole plant is affected. Many of these diseases can he prevented by prop er management of the plants.. Fungieidisi may be used, but they usually discolor the leaves by the deposit of copper. Nematode (q.v.), which are sometimes troublesome, may be destroyed by steam sterilizing the soil before the plants are set.