The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-13
VIOLET FARMS.
How Worn-Out Lands in Virginia
Are Being Made to Pay.

Are Being Made to Pay.
From the Baltimore Sun
THE WORKOUT farms of Virginia prin-
cipally in Albemarle and adjacent coun-
ties, of late have been turned 20 good ac-
count by their owners, who have directed
their attention to violet growing. The
violet industry is spreading rapidly in
that section, and the growers, the mos;
successful of whom are women employ
small negro boys TO carry on the work,
which, while not laborious. is tedious for
the violets require constant attention
The greater part of the yield IS taken by
Philadelphia dealers. Although they are
not making wealthy the growers are
receiving substantial returns and find
TINS new industry more profitable than
ordinary farming
me great violet-growng center is
Poughkeepsie, N. Y, says DR.. B. F.
Galloway. of the Department of AgricuI-
ture, who has had the violet hobby for
years He is the author of several books
on the subject of profit in violet raising
All voets from this district find a ready
market in New York City, and as the
demand for them is increasing yearly a
promising field is opened for the Young
energetic and intelligent men and women
of to-day
Answering a question as 20 whv the
violet mas always been a popular flower
Dr. Galloway said that for four or five
months IN the year the public has no VIC
lets at all. II is only from the middle of
october to the end of Easter time that
Vlolets are in season, and when they do
arrive they are in great demand On the
contrary. roses abound all the year round
mere is also a certain delicacy, a modes
", about the violet that makes it always
wanted, while its perfume is another i'm
portant point in its favor
only two of the double varieties of vim
lefs are grown-the Maria Louise and the
Lady Hume Campbell. There are MANY
kinds OF single flowers, which, while beau
uful and fragrant, are not popular This
is a matter of taste, however In Eurone
especially in Paris, the single violets are
In great demand. There is growing de-
mand for the single violet in this country
however. The old-fashioned way of grow
ing violets. borrowed from the English
twenty-five or thirty years ago. was in
cold frames These were cheap, box-like
arrangements put up and covered over in
winter with a glass sash. As the demand
increased 1t was seen that this method of
culture was not practical. Dealers in the
cities were unable TO secure the flowers at
times, as the frames would be covered
would be impossible for the growers 10 get
at them. American ingenuity took a hand
At this point and cellars were constructed
adjacent to the beds. and this difficulty
was obviated. From shis evolved the reg
ular violet houses of the present time
properly heated and ventilated and so CON
structed that they can be reached at all
times Still a great number of violets arc
grown in frames. and for the beginners
1t is che best plan to adopt on account
of its cheapness, as valuable experience
can thus be won al slight expense
'"Violets to be successful must be grown
entirely from cuttings. Young offshoots
taken early In the spring give the most
satisfactory results In some cases the old
plants are allowed to remain year after
year. but this is unsatisfactory, as each
years crop shows a decrease In thu num-
Der and the size of the flowers The best
results ere obtained by replanting every
year. A start should be made every sp in
with young offshoots-haby plants-plant-
ed in small boxes. As soon as they make
good roots they should be planted directly
to where they are to stand all summer 1t
is at this time that they should be care
fully watched. Dead leaves and runners
should be taken off and the plant made
to contract, each forming a bulgy crown.
BY the middle Of September If properly
treated. these plants should cover the en-
tire ground. BY the Isl OF October they
begin to blossom At first tho flowers are
small, and. consequt ntly, of little or no
value, and are thrown away. BY the mid
die of October they are sufficiently large.
however, TO send to market, and imme-
diately bring a good price.
"Violets generally ssll for not less than
a cent apiece. and when the average of a
single plant is 80 flowers a season, and
with good care, hundred, the profit can
he readily seen. In the vicinity of every
city violet raising cou'd be made prefita-
bic. Any land that will grow potatoes,
made rich by the addition of fertilizer,
proves excellent brt e1ing ground for vio-
let's. In starting a violet house care must
be taken 10 see that there are proper ia
Silities for shipping, although a person