194 CCLTURE OF THE PANSY. 



Cabinet, that an elevated bed may be made of any shape or height, 

 in which this charming little plant may be grown, and, having 

 the flowers raised so near to view, is a desirable advantage. 



Occasional watering is necessary, but not near so much as persons 

 might judge would be required. 



Having said this much of the appropriateness of the Pansy to suit 

 almost any convenience, I shall now add a few observations on the 

 culture, &c. 



Choice of Sorts. — The properties of a superior flower consists in 

 the brilliancy of each colour, that is, of each colour being decidedly 

 strong; the form of the flower should be as near a circle as possible, 

 and the larger the better ; the edges of the petals not to be fringed 

 or undulated at all, but even and regular. In a flower, shaped as 

 above described, the small angles which are seen in many pansies 

 where the petals intersect each other, are wholly done away with ; the 

 eye should be rather small, and the stigma to fill the same. 



Propagation. — New varieties are readily obtained from seeds. 

 Some care is necessary in collecting the seeds, as the capsule (seed 

 vessel) undergoes but little change arteritis formed, very soon burst- 

 ing. When the seeds are ripe, however, the capsule, which before 

 was pendulous, now becomes erect, and in a few hours afterwards, if 

 the day be sunny, the seeds will be dispersed. 



If the seeds be gathered any time from May to September, it 

 should be sown immediately after being collected, but if after Sep- 

 tember it is better to defer the sowing till Spring. 



If the seed be sown in the open border, a shady situation is the 

 best, the soil not being so liable to become droughty. If in boxes 

 they can be placed in any situation desirable. Sow the seeds in rich 

 lio-ht soil, let the surface be made fine and smooth, cover with fine 

 sifted soil about one-eighth of an inch deep, and gently, with a flat 

 board, press the soil to the seed. Never allow the soil to become 

 dry till the plants are up. When the seedling plants are about an 

 inch high, they may be transplanted about four inches apart, into a 

 bed of light rich soil. If the situation be a little shady it will be 

 the better for the plants ; if the season be dry occasional watering 

 will be necessary. The plants will bloom the same season if sown 

 early in the year, and, if later, they will bloom the following spring ; 

 the best will easily remove to another situation. 



By Cuttings. — Cuttings will readily strike root at any time from the 

 first of April to the end September, if the cuttings be selected from 

 young shoots, the old shoots at the end of summer being hollow, and 

 such seldom push roots. The ends of the shoots, about two inches 



