PANSIES AND How TO GROW THEM 175 



varieties. Some are dwarf in habit, other tall and used as climbers, 

 and wonderful varieties have been developed in all these lines. 



Pansy. Pan si es are a great delight if well grown from choice 

 strains of seed of which a number of seedsmen are making a specialty 

 and a pansy specialist is coming to be regarded as a very high class 

 horticulturist, and his work is well worth attention. At the same 

 time the commonest pansies with the scantiest culture remain popu- 

 lar. Pansies can be grown from seed sown in the open ground during 

 the rainy season, for they are quite hardy; they also root readily 

 from cuttings of their soft substances. But the best way to grow 

 pansies is to start the plants in the late summer or early autumn, as 

 suggested in Chapter XII. Sow the seed thinly in flats or seed 

 boxes, described in Chapter VII. Use finely prepared, light soil, 

 at least one-third leaf mold or other good fiber. (See page 30). Firm 

 the soil on top by pressing down with a smooth board or brick. Sow 

 the seed broadcast, and after it is sown press the seeds into the soil 

 with a smooth board or pane of glass, then cover with ^-inch pure 

 leaf mold or finely chipped moss. Water with a fine spray, so as 

 not to waste the seeds. Put the box in a cool,, shady place, free from 

 wind, and water with a fine spray whenever the surface gets dry; 

 but do not water towards night, or a large percentage of the young 

 plants will damp off. After they are well up that is, showing two 

 leaves besides the seed leaves, they should be given full sun. After 

 they have made four leaves, they should be planted in the beds where 

 they are to bloom, or should be transplanted into similar boxes, 

 using similar soil. Plant them two inches apart in the boxes. The 

 more a pansy is transplanted the better it seems to do, if it is done 

 while they are small. Some growers give pansies three shifts and 

 the extra fine ones four. 



To bring large, fine blossoms, pansies require a rich soil, but 

 should have nothing but thoroughly decayed manure (cow manure is 

 best) and plenty of it. And the ground should be manured in the 

 fall and spaded over several times before setting out the plants for 

 blooming. An eastern exposure is best where they have to be grown 

 in partial shade, but a sunny place is best for my pansies if they are 

 given plenty of water. They give more bloom and the petals have 

 better substance. On grower who tried them in full sun, in deep 

 shade and half shade, found that while the last did well, the bed in 

 the full sunshine was best. They must have deep, rich soil and plenty 

 of moisture to give numerous fine blooms, and if well treated will 

 blossom all the year. 



Pansies do exceedingly well with a mulch of sand two inches deep, 

 as it will not bake and the water seeps through readily. It also pre- 

 vents to a great extent the approach of slugs, which are the worst 



