On the Cultivatio7i of the Pansy. 315 



crumple,) otherwise the best-formed variety will have a coarse 

 appearance. 



In the outline, we have many varieties that approach very 

 near to our standard ; the deficiency generally being in the 

 lower side of the bottom petal. 



It must have been observed, that every step we have taken 

 towards attaining a perfectly round pansy, so much less is 

 there seen of the top petals. This arises from the increased 

 size of the side and bottom petals, which, obliterating the 

 deep indentations in the outline, have encroached upon the 

 visible portion of the top petals. The side petals should 

 meet at some distance above the eye, that the marking may 

 be perfect ; the effect of this will be apparent by comparing 

 1 and 2 with 3. 



The next point to notice is the centre or eye, which should 

 be radiated or solid, see 1 and 2. If the former, the lines or 

 rays should never run through to the margin, as in No. 3 ; 

 if the latter, the color should terminate abruptly. 



A most desirable point is, that the ground-color should be 

 entire ; whether white, lemon, or deep yellow, it should be 

 the same in all the petals. Many of the yellow-ground 

 flowers have a tendency to be of a deeper shade in the bot- 

 tom petal ; this is a fatal defect in show varieties. The 

 colors should be distinct, whether bright or deep, well de- 

 fined, and not joining the ground-color by a watery or indis- 

 tinct edge. In No. 3 it will be seen that the oblong shape of 

 the ground-color is very objectionable, as it gives the flower 

 a long appearance, although the outline is perfect. It is 

 better that the ground-color should follow the outline, as in 

 No. 2. No. 3 is also given to show the common appearance 

 a flower has when the inside of the margin is uneven; in 

 this point flowers are greatly improved. 



Selfs of any shade should be dense and rich, with a bold 

 dark eye, and the more glossy the surface the better. By 

 comparing Othello or Hall's Rainbow with Diamond, this 

 will be evident. Richness of surface is, of course, essential 

 to all of them ; we abound in good dark Selfs, but are very 

 deficient of whites and yellows. We may also mention, 

 that great improvements have been made in yellow-ground 

 flowers compared with white-ground varieties. 



