TUFTED PAXSIES. 



155 



in diameter. The flowers are borne on stiff erect footstalks well above 

 the foliage, which gives a delightful carpeting of greenery. 



Dr. Stuart, unlike most other raisers, was working on definite lines ; 

 the procumbent and tufted habit peculiar to almost all the plants raised 

 by him bearing, so to speak, the hall-mark of the quality of his work. 

 Plants such as these maintained their characters under the most trying 

 conditions, and for perpetuating the stock provided an abundance of 

 excellent material. The ' Sylvia ' and ' Violetta ' strains of plants 

 propagate with ease. Either by cuttings or division of the old plants 

 stock may be increased very readily, the latter method answering remark- 

 ably well. 



Consequent on the introduction into commerce of Dr. Stuart's novelties, 

 other raisers appeared to take advantage of them for the purposes of cross 

 fertilisation. Succeeding years saw the progeny in flower in the gardens 

 of various raisers ; many of the newer varieties had special points of 

 merit, and in consequence were eagerly sought after. For the first few 

 years it was an easy matter to trace the parentage to ' Sylvia,' owing to the 

 form of flower and habit of that plant. As time elapsed, however, these 

 features were less pronounced, the crossing and re-crossing of one variety 

 with another having the effect of obliterating the valuable characteristics 

 of the parent. This is, in some respects, a fact to be deplored, as so many 

 of the newer introductions possess a habit of growth that would require a 

 deal of imagination to describe it as " tufted." Vast improvement in the 

 quality of the flowers has taken place, but the ungainly habit of plants 

 raised by a process different from that observed by Dr. Stuart tends to 

 lessen their value from a garden point of view. The habit of many of 

 the plants precludes one from using them for garden embellishment. 

 Exceptions to this rule, in so far as habit is concerned, are carefully 

 noted, and as opportunity offers notoriety is given to the better varieties. 

 Varieties bearing flowers of a rayless kind very largely predominate at 

 the present time, lists and catalogues increasing in size with the beautiful 

 novelties added each season. 



One cause for regret at the moment is the introduction of so many 

 so-called exhibition Violas. That the flowers are finely represented 

 cannot be denied, and when set up in sprays of six or more blooms they 

 certainly are most attractive. As representing a triumph of the modern 

 florists' skill they are a great achievement, but what of their habit ? In 

 most cases the plants are of little or no value in the garden, as their habit 

 of growth is coarse and they lack the free-flowering quality of their 

 smaller and more interesting rivals — the bedding sorts. In the early 

 spring the growth is very strong and coarse, and as they increase, their 

 own weight, combined with an ungainly habit, causes them to fall over. 

 The plants make a number of lateral growths, which ultimately make 

 them less awkward. This type of plant much resembles the ' Fancy ' pansy 

 in its style of growth, and when contrasted with the habit of a true tufted 

 pansy, which emits numerous shoots through the soil round about its 

 base, it is easy to appreciate the better constitution and more lasting 

 character of the latter. Dr. Stuart once wrote : " The fashion of showing 

 tufted pansies in sprays done up with wire is open to criticism ; but it 

 seems the fashion and we must submit in the meantime. There is just 



