ON GROWING AND EXHIBITING THE PANSEV IN POTS. 233 



the term ' species.' It would unavoidably become arbitrary and con- 

 ventional ; with no more exactness or constancy of application, than we 

 can give to the terms ' genus' or ' order.' " 



THE HEARTSEASE. 



BY DAHL OF MANCHESTER. 



The first article. in your June publication, on this most admired flower, 

 I think is hardly so explicit as the subject demands. The Heartsease, 

 though a native of Britain, was never cultivated in order to render it 

 a florist's flower, till taken in hand by Mr. Thomson, of Iver, and 

 by him was brought into admiration, and from his original stock have 

 all the beautiful varieties in existence been produced ; he is called 

 in the west the Father of the Heartsease. At the time he was making 

 these improvements I lived about four miles from his place, and often 

 and great was the pleasure to go over his seed-beds, and watch his 

 colony putting forth their beauties for future fame. 



[In confirmation of these remarks, the reader may find extracts in 

 this Magazine, in tlie Ninth Volume, 1844, October Number, page 

 222. It is there recorded, that in 1813 or 1814, Lord Gambler 

 (whose gardener Mr. Thomson was) brought him a few plants col- 

 lected in the fields near the mansion at Iver ; they were the common 

 yellow and white ; and his lordship requested his gardener to cultivate 

 them. Having done so, it was soon discovered that a great improve- 

 ment was effected in the flowers ; and this led to as many other sorts 

 being collected as could be discovered in the neighbourhood. About 

 four years after this commencement I had raised many seedlings from 

 the originals ; and one which took Lord Gambler's fancy was named 

 Lady Gambier, another George the Fourth, a third was called Ajax. 

 The first good shaped flower was named Thomson's King. Eventually 

 the lovely Queen Victoria was produced, and from which, Mr. Thom- 

 son states, many more beautiful has proceeded— Conductor]. 



ON GROWING AND EXHIBITING THE PANSEY 



IN POTS. 



BY 3IR. ALEXANDER FYFE, OF CHARLOTTE SQUARE, EDINBURGH. 



I AM an ardent admirer and enthusiastic cultivator of that most in- 

 teresting and favourite flower the Pansey. Now I am extremely 

 desirous of seeing the time when premiums will be awarded for the 

 best grown Pansies in pots, and for tlie plants to be exiiibited for com- 

 petition too in pots. I liave examined the accounts of prizes, &c. at 

 most of the floral shows in England and Scotland, and amongst all 

 these I am sorry to have to say tiiat there was not a premium for 

 Pansies in pots. I do most earnestly entreat all tiiose who cultivate 

 this lovely plant, and whose intention is to exhibit, to use tiieir ex- 

 ertions to procure the sanction of the society or societies of which they 

 Vol. XV. No. O.—N.S. T 



