The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-05-27
A LIVING IN VI0LETS
BY /. NJ. BENNINGTON.


Two thousand dollars was the
amount netted two young women last
year who raised violets for the New
York market The girls started in
four years ago with a capital Of less
than $50 and about as little experience
as girls who have lived in the country
all their lives could have about any
thing growing.
Their first investment was L I'M
glazed hOtbed sashes. by feet, at
20 cents a sash. They glazed them
themselves at a cost of sl9.
They started their experiment in
the fall and devoted their evenings
to studying up varieties. They de-
termined to choose the Marie Louise,
as it was of the double varieties most
popular in the New York market, and
beside the Lady Hume Campbell, the
only double variety suited for COM
mercial growing.
Early in March they invested $40 in
cuttings of the Marie Louise and be-
gan work in earnest.
Following the advice Of a success
full grower of violets they pOtted these
cuttings in Pinch pots in a mixture
OF one well-rotted manure to three
parts garden soil. Besides mixing
thoroughly. the soil was sifted to free
it from Jumps. The pots were then set
in a frame in the garden and covered
with four of the sashes. There were
about a thousand pots in all. but I'M
fortunately the cuttings were very
poor
While waiting for the cuttings to
root they built the frame into which
frame was only a rough box. 8 feet
+ wide by SO long. II inches deep in the
back and half as much in front.
The frame was placed in a fertile
spot in the garden. Over the surface
of the soil they spread well-rOtted
stable manure to the depth of
or inches. 1t required all of their
spare time for a month to get the soil
to their satisfaction. About the mid
die OF April they selected the largest
cuttings for planting first, leaving the
small plants for the last. Knocking
them carefully out of the pots, they
set them in the frame inches apart
in 6-inch rows. They soon discovered
that they had only room for about one
half the cuttings.
The young women built another
frame and set the last of their youns
plants.
The first summer there was the rec
spider to fight against. July and Au
gust found them very busy syringint
the plants. 1t was a difficult task, a
the stream must be kept down low
enough to strike the leaves under
meath and turn them completely over
About the middle of September tn
plants began to bloom, and although
they kept the blossoms closely picket
they did not attempt to sell them unit
the first week in October. They a
lowed the florist in their home tow
to have all their blossoms at the rat
of 40 cents a hundred in OctObe
and 50 cents a hundred m November
In October they built their frs
greenhouse. 1t was 90 by 20 feet, an
, helping with the work they manage
TO reduce the cost OF the first estimat
, Of $50 to s65.
Early in November the plants wer
! lifted from the frame and set in bed
in this greenhouse, and so well wa
the work done that none of the plant
stopped blooming. At Christina
! nearly 1000 blossoms were picked an
were sold for ninety cents a hundred
During May the young women b.
. gan preparations for their second Sc;
son by putting in second thousan
Young plants To save the trouble an