December 4, 1S73. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE G.iEDENEK. 



433 



PANSIES FOK BEDDING. 



UCH Las been -written about sprins bedding, 

 and particularly on Pansies and Violas ; as 

 I am a lover of these, and have made them 

 my study for upwards of twenty years, per- 

 haps to those interested in these beautiful 

 flowers a few practical hints may be ac- 

 ceptable. I have grown for years a bed of 

 nearly all the sorts worth growing — some- 

 thing over fifty beds, six dozen in a bed — 

 and after careful note I will give you a list 

 of what I consider the best varieties for bedding purposes. 



BLUE PANSIES. 



Cliveden XXX. OA'are). — This in an improvement on 

 all the Cliveden Pansies ; it is brighter in colour, better in 

 substance, quite as free in growth and bloom. It is the 

 showiest of all, and throws its flowers well above a fine 

 foliage. It is a very early bloomer, and will flower in April. 



Blue Kinrj. — A tine showy variety, but of rather 

 straggling habit. It will bloom well in May, but will 

 not stand the sun so well as many others. 



Old Cliveden Blue. — This is one of the earliest, but, as 

 everyone knows, it loses its colour as the hot weather 

 comes. It will flower nearly the whole year, and keeps 

 its colour well in spring, autumn, and winter. 



Imperial Blue Perfection (Henderson). — A violet blue, 

 a profuse bloomer, and vei-y distinct from all the rest. 

 It will flower well early in Slay, and lasts well, especially 

 in heavy loam. It is one of the most useful varieties, and 

 is very dwarf and of strong growth. 



Cliveden Blue Improved (Bragg). — This is very fine, 

 throwing its flowers well-up, and growing freely. It 

 flowers well in May, and is of far thicker substance than 

 any other Cliveden variety. 



■WHITE PANSIES. 



Wliitc Bedder (William Deans). — This is a very useful 

 variety ; it is a very showy grower, thriving where others 

 would die ; it is a free early bloomer, and is in good 

 bloom in April when planted in autumn. It is profuse- 

 flowering, the flowers rather small, but it makes a fine 

 display in a mass. 



Mrs. Fclfon (Hooper). — The largest and finest whito 

 in existence, having a very large quite peculiar bluish- 

 •\rilolet blotch. It is unequalled as a show variety of this 

 class, and as a bedder produces an effect which at onco 

 places it at the head of the bedding whites, while its 

 blotch renders it quite original and distinct. It is of very 

 vigorous habit. 



Foam (Ware). — This is one of the very best whites. I 

 have compared it for three years with all the rest, and 

 believe this statement correct. It is of compact habit, 

 has large, pale, showy, green foliage, and is a profuse 

 bloomer. The flowers are of good shape, pure white, 

 and of fine substance. It blooms well in May. This 

 flower I have lately seen snubbed, but anyone who likes 

 to view it hero in May may judge for himself. It has a 

 blotch of violet blue free from stars. 

 No. 662.— Vol. XXV„ New Series. 



Great Eastern. — This is one of the largest and best 

 whites, a free-bloomer, of great size, but rather flimsy, 

 and not a particularly strong grower; its elfect, how- 

 ever, is very fine. It flowers well in May, and is quite 

 distinct. 



Cliveden White. — This being a dwarf grower and very 

 early, is very useful for edging purposes. 



PURPLE. 



Theodore (Ware). — A very dark rich velvety purple, of 

 fine substance, and the plant a strong grower. It blooms 

 in May. The flowers are of large size. 



Queen of Sheha (Ware).— Dark velvety bluish purple, 

 perfect form, very dwarf, a late bloomer. A grand bedder 

 for late purposes, lasting into October. 



YELLOW. 



Cloth of Gold (William Deans).— This is the most use- 

 ful Pansy of any I have yet seen ; it is in full flower in 

 April, and I have now a splendid bed in full bloom (No- 

 vember 25th). It is a pale clear yellow, with a star for an 

 eye ; small, but it is the showiest grower, the earhest and 

 latest of all Pansies of any coloiu- 1 know, and in a mass 

 is very fine. 



Cloth of Gold (Ware).— This is a perfect show flower. 

 It is to be seen at every show ; it blooms froni April till 

 autumn. It is a splendid gold, with a dark blotch ; strong 

 grower ; beautifully scented. One of the most useful. 



Cliveden Yellow. — This is a useful variety, being a 

 strong grower, -with large foliage. The colour is not 

 first-rate, being blotched on the back of the petals with 

 a bluish colour. 



Golden Prince is a pm-e bright gold, bluish blotch, not 

 unhke Hooper's Sunset, not a good grower, but an early 

 bloomer. It will not stand the sun. 



Bufford Yellow. — In this I cannot see any improvement 

 upon' Cliveden Yellow, it seems to me to be the same. 

 Plants from thi'ee growers have all proved alike. 



BLACK. 



Pluto (Ware). — This took a first class certificate at the 

 Royal Horticultural and Eoyal Botanic Society's shows. 

 It is a strong grower and good bloomer, perfectly black, 

 with a small golden eye ; the flowers are of good size and 

 shape, and are well thrown above the dark-green foHage. 

 It has a fine effect bedded with white and yellow. When 

 planted in autumn it will flower in April. 



Black Prince. — This is a smaller flower than Pluto, 

 not BO strong a grower, but it is useful, and grows weU 

 with Cliveden White, being somewhat of the same height. 



Black Diamond is like rich black silk velvet, perfectly 

 round, and of fine substance ; the eye a small round gold 

 spot. This is a distinct flower. The habit is dwarf and 

 neat. It is a fine Pansy for bedding or exhibition flowers 

 in May, and stands the weather well. 



Cliveden Black.— Xery similar to Black Prince, rather 

 stronger in its gi'owth. 



PRIMROSE. 



Lueidum Cream.. — A largo flower very similar to Great 

 Eastern, colour clear primrose self, violet eye ; strong 

 grower. Flowers in April. 



No. 1311.— Vol. L., Old Sebieb. 



