374 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



soil, preferring loam moderately rich. Increased by divis- 

 ion. Those which grow with stems, like the Heartsease, or 

 Pansy, should be frequently renewed from cuttings, which 

 should, moreover, be, as far as possible, the young shoots 

 from the root, in preference to the tips of the older shoots. 



Pansy ( Viola tricolor). — The numerous varieties of this 

 popular flower, frequently called Heartsease, originated from 

 the common three-colored Violet. Like the varieties of the 

 Pink, these require to be constantly renewed by striking cut- 

 tings ; for, as may have been observed by many who have 

 grown them, the blooms come smaller and out of character 

 as the plants get larger and older. It is true, there are more 

 flowers on the plants when they enlarge ; but there is a great 

 alteration for the worse in their colors and forms. The 

 ground in which they thrive most is good rich loam. They 

 should be grown in beds six inches apart every way. The 

 side-shoots make the best plants. They should be stripped 

 off when they are two inches long ; and may be put into 

 the ground half their length, and covered with a hand- 

 glass : if the place be shady, so much the less trouble, but^ 

 if not, the hand-glass must be covered so as to keep off the 

 hot sun ; the cuttings must be kept well watered till rooted. 

 To have the Heartsease in perfection, there should be a con- 

 stant supply of cuttings ; and when they are struck, which 

 will be seen by their beginning to grow, they should be very 

 carefully lifted, so as to break none of their fibres, and 

 planted out wherever they are to bloom, whether it be in the 

 borders or in beds. After they are planted out, they should 

 be well watered. When the plants get large, cut them down 

 close ; and all the shoots that come will make excellent cut- 

 tings. The Pansies, which are of all sorts of colors, should 

 be had in bloom all the year, except in winter, a succession 

 of young plants being raised for this purpose. 



