Sow Pansies Now for Spring Bloom— By John Gerard, .r- 



[Editor's Note. — The author of this article has indulged in raising fine pansies as a hobby for nearly forty years. The sum of his experience in the way to insure 

 success is told below.] 



TF YOU want to have pansies blooming 

 -*- early next spring, you must sow the 

 seed now — July and August. There is no 

 other way unless you rely on cuttings, but 

 that is troublesome. There is no other 

 early spring flower that gives such an abun- 

 dance of bloom, such a blaze of color, and 

 such a variety of hues. For bedding pansies 

 are unequaled, and, for cut flowers used 

 in flat dishes, are not to be despised. I have 

 made a hobby of growing pansies now for 

 nearly forty years, and have tried every known 

 strain and type, and I tell you that any 

 one can grow pansies if he will. They are 

 among the simplest of all garden plants, and 

 quite hardy. Buy highly-bred imported seed 

 by preference, if you want the best flowers 

 true to type. The reason why home-grown 

 seed is not equal to the imported is this : 

 The best seed is produced from the crown 

 flowers or first perfect blossoms. In our hot 

 climates the seed-pod formed from the crown 

 blossom bursts before the seed has had 

 time to properly develop. 



Success in pansy culture depends to a 

 large extent upon the way the seedlings have 

 been treated in the seed-bed. For one ounce 

 of seed make a frame twelve feet long, six 

 feet wide, and ten inches deep, and for every 

 looo seeds allot a space of 3 x 3 ft. Select 



a sunny position, provide good drainage, 

 and make the surface of the seed-bed five 

 inches above the surrounding surface. Avoid 

 fresh manure, using new soil mixed with a 

 rich compost. The very best is decayed turf 

 from a sandy loam. Rake fine and level. 

 Soak the bed with boiling water so as to 

 kill all insects, worms, and weeds, allow the 

 surface to dry, and rake over fine. 



Sow the seeds on the surface from July 

 loth to August 25th. Cover them with sand 

 to a depth of one-eighth inch, and dust over 

 the surface of the sand four ounces of pow- 

 dered sulphur to every seventy-two square 

 feet, or half an ounce for the 3 x 3 ft. space. 

 The sulphur will prevent mildew during the 

 five or six days of dark covering, and will 

 prevent the seedlings from damping off. 

 Press lightly, and give the surface a light 

 watering of cold water. Cover the bed, 

 making it totally dark and water-proof, and 

 do not water again until the seeds come up. 



In five or six days, or as soon as the plants 

 commence to break through the soil, remove 

 the dark covering. Then cover the bed with 

 two thicknesses of black cotton mosquito net- 

 ting, using poultry netting for support. This 

 is done to make the seed-bed insect-proof, 

 and to furnish shade ; and, in case of heavy 

 rain or hail, will protect the tender seedlings. 



Water daily through the netting, but do 

 not remove it until the seedlings are large 

 enough to transplant — that is, from five to 

 six weeks after sowing, or as soon as they 

 have made two perfect leaves. Transplant 

 to rich soil, using well-decayed manure. 

 Put the plants 4 x 4 in. for commercial pur- 

 poses, for garden growth 6x6 in., and for 

 exhibition blooms 8 x 8 in. 



Pansies are perfectly hardy, and can be 

 wintered in frames covered with cotton cloth 

 on a poultry netting support. The only 

 object in using glass is to get them in 

 bloom early in spring. Pansies that are 

 intended to be wintered under cotton 

 cloth or to be wintered without any pro- 

 tection should be sown about July loth 

 and not later than July 25th. These 

 dates will give the best results for the New 

 England States. 



It is a waste of time and money to 

 sow pansy seeds in the spring. The best 

 blossoming period in a violet-house is 

 from December to March, and, in frames 

 or in beds, March, April, May, and 

 June. After July ist the plants have lost 

 all their beauty and should be dug up. 

 Pansies that are intended for winter forcing 

 should be disbudded and not allowed to 

 blossom until December ist, and during the 



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Pansies are the showiest flowers of early spring. The plants are perfectly hardy and only ask protection from excessive heat to flourish. 



best strains in July or August and have a show like this next march 



Sow seeds of the 



