Il6 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



to the lower petal and another colour to the side ones, or if 

 it has two shades of ground colour at all, it is not a show 

 flower. The yellow within the eye is not considered ground 

 colour. 



Cultivation in Beds. A suitable situation is the chief 

 point in its cultivation ; this should be one sheltered from 

 all cutting winds, as these often kill the plants by twisting 

 them about. The situation should be open to the free 

 circulation of the air, and exposed to the influence of the 

 morning sun, but protected from the mid-day sun ; cool and 

 moist but thoroughly drained : for although the Pansy requires 

 considerable moisture during the blooming season, and 

 through the Summer months, yet it is very impatient of 

 superabundant moisture. 



The Soil should be rich and tolerably light. Decayed 

 cucumber-bed manure is better than any other manure, and 

 the soil which suits best is a light hazel loam, thoroughly 

 mixed with a good portion of decayed turf from pasture land, 

 by frequently stirring and digging ; and to three barrow- 

 loads of this soil add one of the cucumber-bed manure two 

 years old. Manure water, particularly guano water, applied 

 during the blooming season, is very beneficial. 



The Plants. Those who intend to grow the Pansy for 

 Spring blooming should select young plants well established 

 from cuttings made the previous Autumn, and for Autumn 

 blooming select plants struck early in the Spring ; and after 

 these have produced their bloom save them for store plants 

 to produce cuttings, always having a constant succession of 

 young plants for the purpose of blooming. 



The Propagation of the Pansy is very easy ; indeed they 

 are the most easily grown of all florists' flowers, provided the 

 conditions regarding shading and moisture are properly 

 attended to. The young side shoots are to be most preferred 

 for cuttings, as the old hollow stems seldom strike freely, 

 and do not grow so strong. For Spring blooming take off a 

 quantity of these side shoots in February or the beginning 

 of March, and for Autumn blooming in October and 

 November. Plant in compost mixed with a good quantity of 

 sharp sand, taking care to keep them moderately moist, and 

 shading them from the sun. Pansies are prone to damp 

 off without any apparent reason. 



