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T]ie Coiuitry Gaitleinmis Magazine 



the means of propagation, they should be 

 such as push forth around the base of the 

 older blooming stalks, such, in fact, as 

 may not have previously bloomed, or if 

 at all, but little. These strike very freely, 

 dibbled out into hand or bell glasses on 

 to a cool somewhat shady border. The 

 period chosen for this operation might 

 be any time between the months of May and 

 August, when, in fact, good thrifty young 

 shoots, such as I have described, are produced. 

 The nearer these cuttings are in size to the 

 possession of 3 or 4 joints, the better. Do not 

 permit too much of the cutting to appear 

 above ground, but dibble them in, so that 

 little only of the points appear. Cut the base 

 off each, cutting close to a joint When 

 the cuttings begin growing, pinch back their 

 points, to induce small bushy plants. In 

 the case of rare sorts, where no cuttings 

 form freely, a main shoot or two may be 

 layered. Be " very careful, in regard to 

 dividing any rare variety, not to do so, if it 

 can be avoided, at the advent of a dry season. 

 Many good stocks have been lost by so 

 doing, either thoughtlessly or unwittingly. 



Where the very interesting method of rais- 

 ing new plants by means of seeds is resorted 

 to, it is an excellent plan to sow the seeds 

 on a moist, moderately-shady border, imme- 

 diately they are ripened ; where this cannot 

 be done, and the grower has to depend on 

 the purchased packet of seed, I would always 

 recommend the seeds to be sown in pans, 

 and placed subsequently in gentle heat; 

 and for this reason, when the seeds are a 

 year old, or more, they will not germinate 

 nearly so readily, and if sown on an out- 

 door border, perhaps not until the season 

 has become so late that no time will be left 

 for the little seedling plants to establish them- 

 selves sufficiently ere the autumnal frosts 

 arrive. Seed may be sown, however, in the 

 open ground, as described, with fair prospect 

 of success, in the months of May to August 

 inclusive, but not later. Should the seed- 

 lings be, from such cause as I suggest, late in 

 autumn before they acquire the necessary 

 size, then they should receive some kind of 

 protection ; to say the least, indeed, they 



would succeed all the better potted off 

 and placed in a cold frame. In lieu of 

 this, the next best place for them is a 

 southern sunny aspect at the foot of a wall, 

 planted on moderately elevated borders, 

 yet with ample soil around them, so they do 

 not become unduly exposed at or near the 

 base. Slugs and worms often cause infinite 

 mischief to such young seedling plants; hence, 

 incessant watchfulness should be directed 

 against their depredations. If the worms 

 loosen then from the soil, they require 

 to be quickly pressed in place again. 



I may advantageously make a few remarks 

 regarding the most suitable situation wherein 

 to plant them. No place is better suited to 

 them than one whereon the sun does not 

 shine after 10 a.m. daily. Here, the plants 

 will attain to a vigour, and the blooms possess 

 a consistency equal to any. The markings 

 will be brought out to their best, and that 

 without the danger of being scorched up by a 

 mid-day sun, or the plants themselves being 

 hurried into premature bloomlessness ere the 

 early summer months are past. Like all 

 other plants, the Pansy delights in moderate 

 surface mulchings. These it will only be 

 necessary to give, however, after the plants 

 have made a goodly growth in the fresh soil. 

 They may have been planted in or during 

 very hot arid periods, and the only proper 

 mulching then is finely sifted leaf mould, 

 placed I inch or so in depth around their 

 base. The soil they thrive well in is one 

 part thoroughly decayed manure to about 

 four parts open fibrous loam. 



It should be unnecessary for me to add — 

 all decaying blooms and seed vessels should 

 be picked off immediately they cease to be 

 pleasing. Long rambling shoots should be 

 removed or relayed, otherwise the blooms 

 "run" or assume inferior colours and mark- 

 ings. 



I think it unnecessary for me to give a 

 list of names here, as all who grow collections 

 of named varieties may readily obtain such 

 of all vendors of Pansy plants. The more 

 perpetual blooming kinds, taking the com- 

 moner grown kinds, and readiest procurable, 

 ^re — Mrs Felton, Cleveland Blue, Yellow. 



