Part II, VIOLA. ' 361 



sandy or gravelly soil in the Northern States of America, and 

 is of easy culture in this country, flowering in summer, and 

 increased by seeds or division. It is best adapted for the choice 

 rock-garden, but may also be grown in borders where the soil is 

 sandy and moist* It does freely in pots where alpines are grown 

 in cold frames, and should be amongst those that are grown for 

 exhibition. 



VIOLA •sniGOZ.OVt,.— Heartsease. 

 The Pansy is usually included under the head of V. tricolor, 

 though it is more likely to have descended from V. altaicaj 

 in any case, a good many kinds seem very nearly allied to that 

 species. But the kinds are so numerous, so varied, and, withal, 

 so distinct from any really wild species of Violet in cultivation, 

 that little can be traced of their origin. Of one thing we may be 

 certain : the parents of this precious race were true mountaineers. 

 Only alpines could give birth to such rich and brilliant colour 

 and noble amplitude of bloom considering the size of the plant. 

 Its season never ends, it blooms often cheerfully enough at 

 Christmas, and is sheeted with delightful gold and purple when 

 the Hawthorn is whitened with blossoms. Such a flower must 

 not be ignored on our rock-gardens, even though it thrive in 

 almost any soil and position. It may be treated as an annual, 

 biennial, or perennial, according to cUmate, position, and soil. 

 Good varieties are quickly and easily raised from seed, while the 

 plant may be raised freely from cuttings or by division. It is, 

 however, so well known that it is needless to describe its culture, 

 and space forbids the shortest enumeration of its numberless 

 varieties, which are, however, given in detail in many catalogues. 

 In addition to the " florists' varieties," so richly and deeply 

 stained, there is a race of fancy or Belgian Pansies now in cul- 

 tivation ; and there are also what are called bedding Pansies, 

 many of them very fine, with simple colours, yellow, blue, or 

 white. Of these, such fine varieties as Imperial Blue merit 

 a place on the rougher slopes of the rockwork, where a free and 

 fine effect of bloom is desired, as well as any wild species of rock- 

 plant. Although in some soils the Pansy becomes perennial, the 

 flowers on old plants are smaller and less beautifully coloured 

 than those from young ones, and therefore, where a perfect 

 yearly bloom is desired, it is necessary to increase the stock 

 annually from seed or cuttings. 



