PANSIES 9 



So beautiful and varied are the newer flowers of the 

 Fancy Pansy, --that they are beyond the imagination of 

 many people who only grow the commoner sorts, and 

 who are missing what may be aptly described as " a thing 

 of beauty and a joy for ever." 



Both Show and Fancy Pansies have many traits in 

 common as regards their shape and form. In both, the 

 bottom petal should be of about half the size of the 

 whole flower, and its top edge should be as near as 

 possible horizontal, with no sign of sloping. The two 

 petals immediately above it should be of a size sufficient 

 to meet above the eye. All the petals should be of a 

 good stout texture so as not to present a " floppy " appear- 

 ance. This, of course, applies more to the two top petals, 

 which, if of an insufficient strength in texture, have a 

 natural tendency to droop. Particularly may this be 

 noticed in exceedingly large flowers, the texture of 

 which is not strong enough to bear the extra weight put 

 upon them, owing to the fact of their being so large. 



The feature that gives to such a large degree that 

 finesse which should be so earnestly sought after, is the 

 eye and its setting. This should be of medium size, 

 neither too large or too small. If the eye is too small, 

 the flower loses that imposing appearance which is 

 a great desideratum, and if too large the bloom shows 

 want of refinement. 



The brows of the eye should be of a light shade of 

 colour, thus creating a good contrast. 



Of course, if all these rules were strictly and rigidly 

 adhered to, a great many of our prettier varieties would 

 consequently be excluded, which would be a great pity 

 indeed ; but the foregoing rules help to show the ideal 

 to which specialists and others are working. 



Many are the improvements which can still be made 

 in the Pansy, and a wide field is open to the earnest and 

 patient amateur (in the original sense of the word) in 



