PRODUCING EARLY WINTER BLOOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 282, 18 February 1928, Page 26

PRODUCING EARLY WINTER BLOOM

There can be no good violets in winter and spring unless the plants are properly cared for in the heat of the summer. The plants should now be growing away in stout clumps planted from to 9 to 15 inches apart, according to the size of the variety. The first necessity with them is to remove all runners as fast as they appear. This is a very easy business, for it is accomplished by merely grasping the runners, one or tw'o at a time, and pulling them from the plants. No attempt should be made, however, to pull away a handful at once or the plants may be injured or even pulled up. With any choice or scarce variety it would be good policy to dibble these runners into the ground in a shady corner to make stock plants, but in the ordinary way sufficient runners are produced in spring time to maintain the supply of plants. It is well to emphasise the fact that if good large violets are expected from border plants they must have their summer runners removed.

Watering Violets. —ln common with the rest of the viola family, the violets like a cool, deep and rich soil. If they have this, all will be well; if not, they must have extra attention now or the plants will be ruined. Copious waterings should be given at least once a week in dry weather and the plants are helped greatly by mild doses of liquid manure or a dusting of one of the artificial fertilisers. A sprinkling of soot, applied when the foliage is quite dry, is also very helpful, for it feeds the plants and also keeps at bay several pests that prey on the leaves. The soil between the plants should be hoed frequently; so doing helps to keep it more moist and cooler.

The Violet’s Enemies. —The chief enemy of the violet in summer is red spider and watch should be kept for it that it may be checked before the plants are utterly wrecked. When any part of the leaves begins to assume a pale green appearance it is a sign that the red spider is multiplying upon them. The steam rising from moist earth is against the pest, hence there is a double value to the watering; and even syringing regularly with pure water keeps the pest down. There are several good

specifics sold especially for the destruction of the red spider, or a bi-weekly spraying with the sulphide of potassium so frequently mentioned will be effective.