V. B. WITTROCK, DE ODLADE PENSÉERNAS HISTORIA. 73 



and partly in the same way as in France — without regard to the laws of beauty 

 laid down in England. 



The French Fancy Pansies were brought before the English public in the 

 early fifties by John Salter, but gained scarcely any approval. By the bigot- 

 ed English they were dubbed »French rubbish», and it was only in 1858 to 

 1S60 that the interest of the British public was aroused by a wholc series of 

 brilliant French forms of pansies chiefly imported from the florist prcviously 

 mentioned, Miellez of Lille. 



These fancy pansies were cultivated by eminent horticulturists in the North 

 of England and Southern Scotland, whence the centre of the cultivation of 

 pansies had been removed, in the latter half of the fifties, in consequence of a 

 destructive disease which had laid waste numerous pansy grounds in Southern 

 England. New and splendid forms were now raised in great numbers, more 

 especially by the activity of William Dean of Shipley, and Downie, Laird 

 and Laing of Edinburgh, and in time these pansies became so general and 

 populär, that in 1S71 »The Scottish Pansy Society» decided to offer prizes for 

 this class of pansies at their shows. Special rules of beauty were fixed, which 

 the judges had to follow when considering the several merits of the fancy 

 pansies on exhibition. 



But now — as in former times anent the English Show Pansies — it so 

 happened that the limits, outside which it was deemed there could be no beauty, 

 were far too narrow. The perfectly circular form of the flowers was still one 

 of the chief demands, the edges of the petals were to be without waviness or 

 uneveness of any kind, and — most remarkable of all — no other pansies than 

 those provided with large blotches were entitled to a prize as Fancy Pansies. 

 This last rule has certainly greatly contributed to the fact that, in spite of their 

 varying colours, the fancy pansies have a tinge of monotony about them. The 

 large dark blotch is seen everywhere, and in many cases this blotch is so 

 gigantic that it almost covers the entire surface of the flower. The public has 

 shown wider views concerning their idea of beauty; and doubtless this is the 

 cause why the fancy pansies are being superseded by the far more unassuming 

 but more natural Bedding Pansies and the Tufted Pansies or Violas. 



The bedding pansies are characterized by flowers of a more moderate size, 

 but at the same time flower more richly and longer than the typical fancy 

 pansies, and by their growing lower and being more branched than they. 

 By these peculiarities they are specially adapted for the production of richly 

 flowering, particularly pleasing beds, and it is from this fact they have their 

 name. The original bedding pansies were direct descendants of the fancy pan- 

 sies and, as a general rule, bedding pansies are but richly flowering, more 

 dwarf-like fancy pansies. 



The Tufted Pansies or Violas have essentially another origin. They are 

 derived from the English Viola lutea Huds. as also from the Pyrenean fragrant 

 V. cornuta L. ; both crossed with garden pansies. Their characteristics are : 

 being more perennial; having a tufted growth; smaller flowers which are not 

 circular, and generally spread an agreeable perfume. 



Hybridization has undoubtedly always played a great role in the pro- 



