CHAPTER X 



VIOLETTAS OR MINIATURE TUFTED PANSIES 



WITH the advent of a seedling raised by the late 

 Dr Charles Stuart, a new type of the Pansy has 

 sprung into existence. Unlike most raisers, Dr Stuart 

 worked on definite lines, and his seedlings were either 

 the results of direct crossings with Viola cornuta or with 

 other seedlings having cornuta " blood " in them. 

 From this it may be assumed that " Violetta " is a 

 descendant of Viola cornuta, and as such possesses 

 the characteristics of hardiness and tufted habit common 

 to Alpine plants. Curiously enough Dr Stuart was not 

 looking for any particular form of flower, but was 

 keeping a sharp look-out for a Viola which did not 

 possess rays. In " Violetta " he found his great improve- 

 ment, and at the same time brought into prominence 

 another new type. He was at once attracted by the 

 delicious perfume, and immediately had the plant pulled 

 to pieces and propagated, thus creating a good stock for 

 the ensuing year. This took place in 1887, and from 

 that time forth, he was always at work raising new 

 varieties. 



The raising of a plant with its flowers possessing no 

 rays was a great advance, and many years might have 

 elapsed before another chance such as this revealed itself, 

 for it is more than probable that the majority of Violas 

 in existence to-day which are rayless, owe it to the fact 

 that they are associated in some way, however remote, 

 with " Violetta" and other varieties the result of crosses 

 with Viola cornuta. 



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