2 PANSY, VIOLA AND VIOLET 



Gambler brought me a few roots of the common yellow 

 and white Heart's-ease, which he had gathered in the 

 grounds at Iver, and requested that I would cultivate 

 them. Always eager to please my worthy and ever-to- 

 be-lamented master I did so, sowed the seed, and found 

 that they improved far beyond my most sanguine ex- 

 pectations. In consequence thereof, I collected all the 

 varieties that could be obtained. From Brown of Slough 

 I had the blue ; and from some other person, whose name 

 I do not now recollect, a darker sort, said to have been 

 imported from Russia. These additions wonderfully 

 improved my breeders. But still, though the varieties I 

 soon obtained were multitudinous, their size was almost 

 as diminutive as the originals. Nevertheless his lordship 

 was pleased, and thus I was amply rewarded. Up to 

 this period, which was about four years after my com- 

 mencement, I began imperceptibly to grow pleased with 

 the pursuit, for all who saw my collection declared 

 themselves delighted therewith. I then began to think 

 that some of my sorts were worthy of propagation ; and 

 this circumstance led me to give one, which took his 

 lordship's fancy, a name. This was entitled Lady 

 Gambier, and as I struck cuttings of it, they were given 

 as presents by my worthy employers to their numerous 

 friends and acquaintances. The character of this flower 

 was so very similar to that which was afterwards spread 

 about under the name of George the Fourth, that I have 

 no doubt but that variety was a seed therefrom. Who 

 raised it I could never ascertain. This, though in com- 

 parison with the worst flower now grown, and many 

 even of the named varieties are still bad enough, would 

 even beside them be reckoned little better than a weed. 

 Still, Lady Gambier was the beauty of her tribe, and 

 won golden opinions from every beholder. It was, 

 indeed, in shape little more symmetrical than a child's 

 windmill, but looked in size among the sisterhood like 



