238 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



of this plant by growing Viola Tricolor and 

 Viola Lutea together, and reserving seed 

 from the larger and handsomer flowers, and 

 by long culture and hybridizing with other 

 species brought these inconspicuous field 

 weeds and developed them into our innumer- 

 able garden varieties. The first great 

 change was the conversion of the dark lines 

 in the centre of the flower into a dark eye or 

 centre, which at that period had never been 

 seen, but is now considered one of the chief 

 requisites of a first-rate flower. 



This flower is rich in gentle names which 

 appeal to our hearts. Besides Hearts-ease 

 and Pansy, by which it is generally de- 

 scribed, it has been called Herb Trinity, 

 Love in Idleness, Kiss Behind the Garden 

 Gate» Three Faces Under a Hood, Pink of 

 my John, and many other names. The 

 French called it " Herb de la Pensee," and 

 Louis the XV. of France is said to have se- 

 lected it as an armorial bearing for his phy- 

 sician, Quesny, who was remarkable for his 

 thought fulness, and whom the king called 



his " thinker." The Italians call it " Little 

 Flame," "Winged Violet, "Butterfly Vio- 

 let," also " Mother and Daughter-in-law," 

 and this strange name accords with that 

 given by the Germans who call it " Step- 

 mother." I am not certain, but I think one 

 kind has entirely disappeared from cultiva- 

 tion. They were known as " Painted 

 Ladies," the under side of the petals being 

 white and the upper surface red or purple, 

 so laid on as if to appear really painted. 



Mignonette; (Reseda Odorata). — This 

 plant is a native of Africa, and was intro- 

 duced into England by Lord Bateman, who 

 brought it from the Royal Garden of Paris 

 in 1752. Mignonette is a French word 

 meaning " Little Darling," and is too appro- 

 priate for this sweet little flower to be ex- 

 changed for any other. A branch of the 

 Reseda was added to the armorial bearings 

 of an ancient Saxon family (Count of Walt- 

 sheim) , with the motto " Your qualities sur- 

 pass your charms." The romantic story 

 connected with it is too long for quotation. 



ROSE INSECTS. 



NO plant has more foes than the rose; 

 rose chafers, beetles, worms and 

 aphides attack it' and if not met with prompt 

 measures they soon ruin the prospect of a 

 rich rose hafvest. It is always wise to an- 

 ticipate their coming, and early in the sea- 

 son, before any are to be seen, dust the foli- 

 age, both above and below, with powdered 

 hellebore, using a bellows or powder gun for 

 the purpose, and applying it while foliage is 

 wet with dew. The early application is, in 

 every sense, " the ounce of prevention worth 

 a pound of cure." Tobacco tea or tobacco 



dust will free the bushes from green aphis 

 if applied thoroughly and in time. Cold 

 water turned on with force, by means of a 

 hose, thoroughly applied from all sides, 

 sweeps many of them from the bushes. The 

 rose slug, a slimy, worm^ike pest, some- 

 times infests the bushes, eating the green 

 substance from the foliage, and if not exter- 

 minated soon robs the bushes of their beau- 

 ty and the roses of their support. This pest 

 may be destroyed by tobacco dust, or, in 

 fact, any of the insectides, or anything ob- 

 noxious in dust form. — New York Tribune.. 



