RAISING NEW VARIETIES 51 



the flowers then placed in carefully, so as to face whatever 

 direction is required. If some flowers have a tendency to 

 twist about, this can be remedied by pushing a piece of 

 thin wire up the inside of the stem and allowing it to pro- 

 ject half an inch. This projection can usually be inserted 

 into a piece of foliage or stem, and the flower thus retained 

 in the desired position. Colour schemes must, of course, 

 be worked out with what is available. In Violas, for 

 example, charming combinations can be worked in cream 

 and lavender ; in white and dark violet ; in yellow and 

 cream ; and in mauve and white. Large, fine blooms of 

 Fancy Pansies are always admired on a table, and when 

 well arranged no combination can be more attractive. 



RAISING NEW VARIETIES 



Pansy and Viola flowers are so frequently visited by 

 insects that they never produce seed true to variety if grown 

 in mixed beds or in proximity to other varieties. It is never- 

 theless the case that seeds can be purchased which come 

 fairly true to colour. These are produced by planting large 

 batches of one variety in isolated positions. Intending 

 purchasers are often disappointed when they are told by 

 the nurseryman or seedsman that they cannot have seeds 

 of special varieties, say of fine Fancy Pansies. The nursery- 

 man could gather seeds from such varieties, but they would 



