260 



CULTURE OF THE PANSY. 



THE CULTURE OF THE PANSY. 



FROM THE LONDON HORTICULTURAL MAGAZINE. 



[All our readers are familiar with the little 

 three-colored Violet, or Heartsease, Viola 

 tricolor, that hardy and bright little spring 

 blossom common in every garden. 



But {e\\ of them are, however, aware 

 how great a change the English florists 

 have effected in this plant within a few 

 years. The difference between the lit- 

 little ragged and meagre original species, 

 and the large and beautiful varieties that 

 now grace the florists' shows in England, is 

 indeed so great that any one, ignorant of 

 the changes that may be brought about by 

 the assiduous and patient skill of a thorough 

 cultivator, might well be pardoned for doubt- 

 ing if they were the same plant. 



There are very few good collections of 

 Pansies in America. Though a very hardy 

 plant, yet the softness of its stalk is such, 

 that it perishes on a long sea- voyage, and it 

 is therefore, extremely difl^cult to import 

 the finest English sorts. 



There is no difficulty, however, in obtain- 

 ing in the seed shops of our principal cities, 

 seed saved from the best English Pansies. 

 This germinates freely, and thus one may 

 soon be in possession of hundreds of seed- 

 lings. Among them will usually be found 

 many of large size and great beauty. These 

 should be preserved and propagated, and 

 thus, by perseverance, a good collection may 

 soon be formed. In the mean time, to as- 



