HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 21 



Surely there must be a screw loose somewhere. Is it that they con- 

 sider the matter as beneath the dignity of " Woman's Rights," or 

 does it proceed from ignorance how to proceed ? Let us hope, 

 though possessing knowledge generally, that the latter is the cause 

 in this case ; and shame be to him or her who do know and will not 

 assist in this much to be desired education. Would that we could 

 induce our ■ ' Fairies" to shun the parched atmosphere of dry stoves, 

 and their accompaniments, consumption and imbecility, by becoming 

 florists and observers of nature's vegetable laws; when, instead of 

 the sickly hue of the falling leaf, we should see their lovely cheeks 

 blush as a " summer's rose," and their movements show truly " the 

 elastic tread of woman." The cultivation and improvement of the 

 Pansy offers a wide scope, and is particularly adapted to the fair 

 sex, and if the following directions are followed, gratification will 

 be the result. 



In order to improve the flowers of the next generation, the surest 

 way is to hybridize between two of the best qualities, and both 

 flowers should be of the same class or markings ; for instance, one 

 may be large but not well formed or dull in color, and the other 

 possess good form with bright and distinct markings, but small in 

 size ; take the pollen off the anthers, (the little ring surrounding the 

 point in the centre of the flower,) of the small one with a camel's 

 hair pencil, and dust it over the stigma, or little point of the other 

 flower, which will cause the pollen to adhere and secure the cross ; 

 afterwards mark the flowers operated on by tying a piece of thread 

 round the stalk, and remove at the same time all others but those 

 impregnated on the same plant ; cover over for two or three days 

 with a small net, sufficiently open to admit sun and air, but close 

 enough to keep out bees or flies. The same results may be more 

 imperfectly gained by simply choosing seed from the best flowers, 

 but the extra trouble becomes a pleasing operation and will amply 

 repay by the greater certainty ensured, 



As a winter and early spring display is desirable, the seed should 

 be sown about the beginning of August, in a moderately rich ground, 

 and shaded situation, protected from violent storms of rain, and to- 

 wards the middle of September the young plants should be removed 

 into a frame, freely exposed to the sun, and placed about four inches 



