ON THE PRACTICE OP THE POT-CULTURE OF PANSIES. 167 



deficiency of nourishment, whether of water or manure, and after- 

 wards excited to luxuriance hy a plentiful supply ; and the greater 

 the change, the greater the likelihood of success. Old seed, or seed 

 dried, gives a check ; we have had instances of old neglected seed, 

 which had been reckoned very inferior when the sei^ds were fresh and 

 new, come almost every plant double, when a little had been left over 

 and sold when old. The seed for raising double flowers of any sort 

 can hardly be too old, if it will grow at all ; and the weak plants, 

 first stunted and tben luxuriated, will be found most successful ; the 

 seed should be sown on heat, and the weak plants most cared for. 

 After flowers have once been produced double or full, the habit of 

 coming double will be retained, if kept so by rich cultivation. When 

 any variety has begun to sport, the plants should be raised off those 

 individuals which have not yet sported, as the sporting habit might 

 become fixed ; and this should be carefully guarded against, by pro- 

 pagating from those roots that show the fullest flowers. The double 

 China Asters, Feverfew, Rockets, Daisies, &c, come double in the 

 same way as Dahlias. The double Snapdragon is similar to the 

 Stock. Campanula, Cistus, the Thorn, and most other double 

 flowers, are similar to the Rose. Thus, by attention, have many of 

 our English plants been induced to produce double flowers, and so, 

 no doubt, would be the result with others, both domestic and foreign, 

 if attention was duly paid to the subject. 



ARTICLE X. 



ON THE PRACTICE OF THE POT-CULTURE OF PANSIES. 



BY THE SECRETARY OK THE BOXLEY HEARTSEASE FLORAL SOCIETY. 



In advocating the practice of growing, blooming, and showing Pansies 

 in pots, I by no means deny the propriety of common culture in the 

 onen ground, and showing cut flowers, but do insist upon the pro- 

 priety of both methods, as they are equally important. The latter 

 may insure more vigorous plants and a greater profusion of blooms, 

 with little care ; but I have seen equally fine and more perfect blooms 

 when grown in pots, receiving protection, &c. All Pansy growers 

 have not equal means at command ; arrangements should therefore 

 be made for showing, so as to give all an equal opportunity of com- 

 peting. I therefore advocate both methods of culture and exhibiting # 



