140 HEARTSEASE, VIOLAS, AND VIOLETS [CH. 



convenient to consider it after the manner of preachers 

 under three heads the Pansy, the Viola, and the 

 Violet. 



It is correct in these days to speak of the Pansy and 

 the Viola as distinct flowers, but it is not always easy to 

 satisfy oneself as to the differences, nor is the pedigree of 

 the Heartsease or Garden Pansy by any means readily 

 traced. Florists are inclined to agree in thinking it 

 has come from the native British Viola Tricolor. 



There are two distinct types of the Pansy or Hearts- 

 ease, (a) There is the Show Pansy, the true old English 

 plant, which has been improved generation after generation 

 by careful culture. Of this type there are the White 

 Grounds, with the upper petals purple or maroon and 

 the lower white, with similar toned edgings. Then 

 there are the Yellow Grounds, with the same tints and 

 yellow ground ; and the Selfs, which are of three distinct 

 colours, white, yellow, and maroon, some being almost 

 black. The Selfs should have clear decided colours, 

 and should have a black, well-defined blotch under the 

 eye. 



(b) The other type of Pansy is the Belgian or 

 Fancy. This is now the more popular flower, and well 

 deserves its popularity. When first introduced, about 

 forty years ago, by William Dean, who is still devoted to 

 its culture, there was a great flutter and ill-concealed 

 contempt bestowed upon the garish novelties by the old 

 Scotch florists of the day. 



