92 PANSY, VIOLA AND VIOLET 



blue and white flowers. This, however, is not so 

 hardy as V. pedata and more than ordinary care has to 

 be taken in growing it. 



Another rare variety is V. P. alba bearing white 

 flowers. Viola pedata blossoms in the Summer. 



V. sylvestris (Wood Violet). Another British species 

 with flowers of purplish lilac. Very close growing, 

 with heart-shaped leaves ; in height about five inches. 

 Flowers from April to June. 



V. tricolor (Heart's-ease). This is the species around 

 which a very great interest centres, it being commonly 

 understood that from this species the present-day 

 garden Pansy obtained its origin. Apart from this 

 question, it is one of the most familiar of flowers, 

 growing wild throughout the United Kingdom and 

 varying greatly in colour and size. For years it has 

 been grown in the cottage gardens of the countryside, 

 and many and curious are the names which have been 

 bestowed on it by rural admirers. All betoken some 

 pretty fancy or tradition with which the Heart's-ease is 

 associated. Some of them are: Heart's-ease, Three- 

 Faces-under-a - Hood, Forget-me - Not, Herb - Trinity, 

 Love-and -Idleness, Love-in-idleness, Live-in-Idleness, 

 Call-me-to-you, Cuddle-me-to-you, Jump-up-and-kiss- 

 me, Kiss-me-ere-I-ri^e, Kiss-me-at-the-Garden-Gate, 

 Tittle-my-Fancy, Pink-of-my-John, Step-mother. 



Shakespeare, in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" 

 makes Oberon bid Puck to obtain, 



" A little western flower 



Before milk white, now purple with Love's wound," 

 And maidens call it love-in-idleness. 



He says, 



{< Fetch me that flower the herb I showed thee once ; 

 The juice of it, on sleeping eyelids laid 

 Will make a man or woman madly dote 

 Upon the next live creature that it sees." 



