0>f THE CULTCRE OF PANSIES, 199 



ARTICLE \.—0n the Culture of Pansics, [Viola tri- 

 color.) By the Conductor 



Amongst the beautiful aud ornamental plants of the flower gar. 

 den to which the attention of Floriculturists has of late years been 

 directed, may be ranked as truly interesting and attractive, the 

 very striking, humble, and most lovely varieties of Pansies. There 

 can scarcely be any end to the vai'ieties that can be raised, as they 

 produce seeds so very abundantly. 



Within the last sLx years nearly two hundred very handsome 

 and distinct varieties have been raised. An extensive collection 

 of the most superb kinds are cultivated for sale by Mr. Hogg, 

 Florist, Paddington, neai" London. Doubtless each successive sea- 

 son there will be additional splendid varieties raised, and judging 

 from the past, we may unhesitatingly say, we are only in the dawn 

 of the Viola era, and that ere long they ^vill become a conspicuous 

 ornament to flower gardens in general. Pansies not only recom- 

 mend themselves to notice by the brilliancy and variety of colours, 

 and the profusion of flowers they produce, but also, by attention to 

 culture, they will exhibit a duration of blooming from May to No- 

 vember, which includes a period of at least seven months. The 

 facility with which all the kinds can be propagated, and the very 

 little attention they require aftenvards in culture, are additional 

 recommendations. 



Viola is from the greek. Ion : Nicander in his Geoponicks states, 

 that the Grecians called it Ion, because certain Nymphs of lonica 

 gave that flower first to Jupiter. Others say it was called Ion, 

 because when Jupiter had turned the young female whom he loved 

 into a cow, the earth brought forth this flower for her food, which 

 being made for her sake, received her name. Such is the incre- 

 dulous, fabulous account of its name. ViTKUVius, in his seventh 

 book on Architecture, states, " That the azure of Athens colour is 

 made from violets. The dyers, he says, when they would counter- 

 feit sile, or azure of Athens, put the dried violets into a vat, kettle, 

 or cauldron, and boil them with water, afterwards when it is tem- 

 pered, they pour it into a lint'n strainer, and \\ ringing it with their 

 hands, receive into a mortar the licpior coloured with the violets ; 

 and steeping earth of Erethria in it, and griiuling tlie same, they 

 make the azure colour of Athens. By adding milk to it, they make 

 ilic gallant i)urple." 



