14 PANSY, VIOLA AND VIOLET 



The question of rays or no rays, to a great extent, is 

 a matter for individual taste, some preferring the rayed 

 varieties, others the rayless. It must be admitted, how- 

 ever, that the absence of rays creates a charm and refine- 

 ment in the flower, which is totally absent if it be heavily 

 rayed. This is especially noticeable in blooms of light 

 shades, and selfs. There are so many beautiful rayless 

 varieties in commerce now, that it would seem invidious 

 to mention any particular one as being typical of the 

 rayless form of this flower. 



It is to the late Dr Chas. Stuart that we are indebted 

 for this wonderful improvement ; and for the present, 

 suffice it to say, the rayless varieties which we now grow, 

 and which so greatly add to the beauty and charm of our 

 gardens, probably owe their existence to a chance seedling 

 of Dr Stuart's, which he named " Violetta," of which 

 more hereafter. This "Violetta" was quite rayless, 

 and had a delightful almond perfume. Dr Stuart worked 

 on this variety, and crossed it with a white rayed self 

 then largely cultivated, and by this means obtained 

 "Sylvia," a variety which up to a few years ago was 

 seen in the garden of almost every Viola grower. 



Like the parent variety it possesses a beautiful tufted 

 habit, and a fine robust constitution, both of which are so 

 sadly lacking in some of the newer kinds. It bears 

 flowers in abundance, and owing to its tufted habit is 

 well adapted for withstanding the scorching effects of 

 hot, dry weather. Many varieties have been raised from 

 " Sylvia," and all possessing the same hardy characteristics 

 and tufted habit of growth. The creation of this flower 

 undoubtedly brought new blood into the Viola, and were 

 it not for this variety, many plants would lack the stamina 

 and tufted root growths which they now possess, and 

 which help to make the Viola the unqualified success it 

 is. For, owing to crossing and intercrossing, the 

 " Sylvia " characteristics have been incorporated in new 



