PERENNIAL PLANTS. 



223 



and an improved florists' variety of it, raised by Parker of Tooting 

 (fig. 429), is a desirable acquisition to the garden. All violets may 

 be readily propagated by division or by runners, . 



" And beds of violets, blooming 'mid the' trees, 

 Load with waste fragrance the nocturnal breeze." 



KiRKE White. 



Florists' Pansies (fig. 430) are gay, and some of them beautiful. 

 Particular cultivation, in a rich soil, is required to grow them fine; 



Fig. 489. — Parker's Yellow 

 Violet, 



'llV 



Fig, 43g.^Heartse^se. 



Fig. 431.— Primrose. 



and for this reason they are not very useful for the general garden. 

 There is a scentless species of blue violet ( V. cor/iuta), which is grown 



for its colour, but I have not found it a very desirable plant. 



I 



. " And there is pansies. 



That's for thoughts." — Shakspeare, Hamlet. 



Undoubtedly one of the most perfect of wild flowers of this country, 

 and one of the most beautiful in cultivation, is the common Primrose 

 [Primula vulgaris, fig. 431). 



"Where pale primrose, with watching wet. 

 The wild rose and the violet 

 Open to salute the day. 

 With strife and envy far away."~CRAWLEY. 



The harmony of the colours of leaf and flower is perfect; and 

 the whole plant, with its multitude of flowers, is particularly beautiful. 

 We grow them by hundreds in 'our ferneries, and it is a grand sight 

 to see them when their thousands of flowers are in blossom. 



