Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/112

104 for the conservatory as they should be. The double variety of the latter is very sweet-scented, highly ornamental, and useful for bouquets. To ensure a good supply of violets it is necessary to put out strong runners as early in the season as they can be had, in a bed of rich soil. They should be planted at a distance of nine inches apart one way and twelve inches the other, and if the weather happens to be dry, water liberally three or four times in the course of the summer. Beyond watering and keeping the bed free from weeds very little attention will be required throughout the growing season. Early in October lift them carefully, and put the clumps singly in pots, or two or three together in large pans. For supplying flowers for bouquets and vases they should be planted in a bed of light rich soil made up on a heap of warm leaves in a pit. It will be advantageous if those in pots are started with the assistance of a bed of leaves only, as the heat given off by them appears to suit them better than the heat from hot-water pipes or flues.