November 27, 1889^] 



Garden and Forest. 



571 



used in Europe as a button-hole flower, and it was thoroughly 

 tested as a forcing Rose in this country some ten or twelve 

 years ago. 



A nice bunch of Meteor, in one of the exhibition collections, 

 reminded one that, when in good condition, this is a remark- 

 ably pretty, dark variet)', but, unfortunately, it is such a shy 

 bloomer during the winter that it can hardly be considered a 

 profitable sort for commercial growers. 



The Ifowers of Souvenir of Wootton thus far have hardly 

 met the high expectations it had raised, but the season is 

 young yet and much better results may be produced later on. 

 The bold looking foliage and sturdy growth give promise of 

 better flowers. It seems to have the fault of producing its 

 blossoms in clusters, and it will, therefore, be found necessary, 

 when this is the case, to disbud it to a single flower. By this 

 means larsrer blooms may be secured. 



Pansies in recent years, a race of intermediate plants has Ijeen 

 secm-ed which is hardv, vigorous, free blooming, with most 

 charming flowei's, pure in color, and in many varieties having 

 a very distinct perfume. As they have a more tufted habit 

 than the ordinary Pansy, Mr. Robinson, of The Garden, an 

 enthusiastic admirer of the race, has suggested that they be 

 known as "Tufted Pansies." A recent issue of The Garden 

 contains a plate of the variety Ariel — with a delicate mauve and 

 white fiower. This supplements two previous colored figures 

 of other dainty beauties, and the series shows well the types of 

 perfection in this flower. In comparison with the modern 

 Pansy, the Tufted Pansy is a flower of moderate or even small 

 size, but beside its more free blooming character, its tufted 

 habit and somewhat less succulent stems, it is pleasing 

 for its great purity and delicacy of color, with no trace of 

 coarseness. The self-colored sorts are verv beautiful, and a 



Grounds o£ the Paris Exliibition from tlie Platform of the Killel Tower. — See page ;;66. 



There are such wide differences between the climates of 

 Great Britain and of the United States, that an opinion, based on 

 European experience, cannot safely lie offered in regard to the 

 merits or demerits of a new Rose (or an old one, for that mat- 

 te,r) in this country until it has been thoroughly tested here. 

 An illustration of this was seen in the discussion that took 

 place a few months ago in the columns of an English horti- 

 cultural journal, as to whether the Rose Madame Lambard 

 was or was not one of the most generally useful of the entire 

 Tea class. A majority of the corresjiondents seemed to think 

 it was decidedly the most useful ; while on this side of the 

 ocean a very different opinion prevails, and it is but little used. 



Holmesburg.'Pa. W. H. TapHn. 



Tufted Pansies. 



A MONG charming and desirable hardy spring-blooming 

 -^~^ plants the Hybrid Violets must take a foremost place. 

 By judicious hybridizing of various alpine Violets and fine 



mass of one of the good whites, as the "Countess of Hope- 

 toun," is a charming floral picttu'e. As bedding plants 

 Tufted Pansies arc most desira[:ile, coming into Hower very 

 early and blooming freely and continuously. Much attention 

 has been paid to this race by the best English and Scotch flor- 

 ists, especially the latter, and nimierous named varieties are 

 offered. And it is to be hoped that some of our growers will 

 interest themselves in these plants, which apparently have 

 excited little attention here, but which will certainly become 

 popular wlien their merits arc known. It may seem a retrogres- 

 sion to cultivate Pansies of less than the standard three inches 

 and upward ; but the increase in size of the modern Pansy has 

 been accompanied by an unpleasing tendency to coarseness, 

 and there are still flower-fanciers who do not look upon Ijig 

 blooms of everything as of first importance, a fact which 

 seems to require emphasis in these days. These Pansies m;iy 

 be had from seed, which is offered by English seedsmen, 

 though finest varieties do not reproduce themselves truly. 



