496 Journal of Agriculture. [8 August, 1907. 



late years by English horticulturists. The tufted pansies partake more 

 of the character of the show .pansy than the fancy, but are hardier than 

 either, enduring a deal of summer heat without injury. 



The pansy thrives best in a fairly porous loam that has been deeply 

 worked and enriched. Heavy dense soils need an admixture of sand, grit, 

 or ashes, to make them sufficient! v friable and porous, while light and 

 sandv soils will be rendered more suitable by the addition of clay or 

 strong loam, and cow manure. Although a perennial plant the pansy 

 is usuallv treated in Victoria as an annual. 



The increase of specially fine varieties is effected by striking cuttings, 

 — produced in the centre of the plants after blooming — in sandy soil 

 in a cold frame, or by dividing the plants. Generally a fresh batch of 

 olnnts is raised from seeds .each season in most parts of the State. The 



PANSY, FANCY TVI'E. 



plants are nearly certain to be attacked by red spider during summer, and 

 it is considered more profitable to destroy the plants and raise a new 

 supply from seeds, than to attempt to cope with the pest. To raise 

 plants that will begin to flower early in winter, the seed should be sown 

 about the end of January in boxes of light soil placed in a sheltered 

 situation or cold frame. The seedlings may be transplanted into beds 

 and sheltered during very hot weather until the autumn, when they should 

 t>e planted in their flowering quarters. The position selected should be 

 open and sunny, the edge of an exposed border being suitable. Seeds 

 sown in the open ground during winter or spring will produce plants that 

 will bloom during summer and autumn if the position selected is sheltered 

 a-^d moist. Plants intended for late flowering should be mulched and 

 liberally watered during summer to promote growth and check the red 

 spider. Several strains of pansy seeds are offered for sale by local 

 seedsmen, one of the best being Bath's "Empress" a noted strain of 

 fancy pansies. 



