20 THE FLORIST. 



A PLEA FOR THE PANSY. 



Ox the eve of the Pansy season, we venture briefly to set forth the 

 claims which this innocent yet charming plant has on the notice of 

 those who are fond of early spring flowers, by specially pointing out 

 the advantages of growing a few plants in pots under glass. The 

 Horticultural Society has offered prizes for plants in 8-inch pots, 

 which no doubt will induce many to turn their attention to this 

 flower, and be the means of bringing its merits under this kind of 

 culture prominently before the public. But apart from growing for 

 exhibition, in the shape of cut blooms or in f)Ots, what plants are 

 there that will repay the labour exjoended on them more generously 

 than a few dozen Pansies grown in the manner we shall presently 

 point out } An ordinary-sized 3-light box or pit will hold about seventy 

 plants in 6-inch pots, which size is large enough when not required 

 for the purposes of exhibition in pots ; and they may nearly all con- 

 sist of different varieties, or two plants of some kinds that are espe- 

 cial favourites ma}^ be allowed, according to the taste of the cultivator, 

 and which we should recommend ; for there is much in the choice of 

 the plant, as we shall hereafter shew. 



Proper plants for the purpose we have just mentioned will now 

 be shewing their buds, and should the weather be favourable, they 

 will have a considerable number of blooms open by the middle of 

 February. At the present time (Jan. 15th), we have very fair blooms 

 of Iron Duke, Supreme, Duke of Norfolk, Elegant, Euphemia, Sir J. 

 Franklin, Leader, Constantine, and Caroline, With proper attention, 

 these same plants will flower in good character till the latter part of 

 May ; but we will date the commencement of a good head of bloom, 

 as a general rule, from the 1st of March to the 1st of June; thus, for 

 very little attention, giving a succession of good flowers for three 

 months, without the expense of heat, linings, or coverings. We 

 may, then, well ask what other plant will make the same display 

 and the same return for so little trouble, and scarcely any expense ? 

 Instead of naming a competitor, the universal answer will be, " We 

 cannot keep our Pansies through the summer ;" it will therefore be 

 our duty to instruct those who are unsuccessful in this respect. 



The trade generally manage the Pansy but little better than the 

 gardener or amateur. Although a hardy plant, that will grow and 

 bloom almost any where, yet, like every thing else, to produce fine 

 flowers, they must not be permitted to take care of themselves. If 

 the weather is open the last week in January, or the first week in 

 February, we begin to re-pot our plants generally;* those for the 

 Chiswick shows are placed in 8-inch pots, the remainder (plants that 

 are not so large) into 6-inch pots, using soil similar to that in which 

 they have been wintered, i. e. good decomposed turfy loam, rotten 

 manure, a little leaf-mould, and coarse sand, the latter in proportion 

 to the nature of the loam. When potting, loosen the outside of the 



* Plants that were potted up from the ground into large 60 's or 48 's in 

 October. 



