156 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a question whether or no the tufted pansy should ever be shown in sprays 

 at all." These large-flowered exhibition Violas, as they are usually 

 termed, are frequently recognised in the north by an award of a first- 

 class certificate, and this, in the eyes of the florist, enhances its value. 

 But when represented in sprays at the leading southern shows the inex- 

 perienced southerner is very apt to be misled into purchasing plants that 

 are next to useless to him. Purchasers can hardly be expected to make 

 inquiries as to the habit of plants they may order, when looking through 

 a number of sprays deftly set up by practised hands. As a consequence 

 these large-flowered sorts must lead to considerable disappointment. Dr. 

 Stuart says we must submit, but this cannot go on for ever. The public 

 surely should have some protection, as this system of representing the 

 flower is far from satisfactory. I am quite in accordance with Mr. William 

 Eobinson, who has, on several occasions, expressed the opinion that the 

 tufted pansies should be exhibited as growing plants. In this way the 

 public can better appreciate their value in the garden, and see for them- 

 selves their form and colour together with the character of their display. 

 Plants having an undesirable habit would then be quickly relegated to 

 their proper place, and those possessing a habit of a true tufted kind would 

 as a consequence attain the prominence they deserve. These remarks do 

 not apply to Violas set up in sprays as a whole, but more particularly to 

 the immense florists' flowers, in which habit of plant appears to be a 

 secondary matter. 



The Viola Conferences held at the Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, 

 Birmingham, in 1894 and 1895, and at the Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 Regent's Park, in 1896, assisted very materially in the later development 

 of the tufted pansy. Although not attended by many of the public, the 

 Conferences were productive of much good. Enthusiastic raisers and 

 cultivators of the Viola met together on these occasions, and a much 

 needed impetus was thereby given to the development of the flower. 

 Papers on many aspects of culture, &c, were read by different authorities, 

 and information of a valuable kind disseminated. Specially interesting 

 was the contribution of Dr. V. B. Wittrock, Director of the Botanic 

 Gardens, Bergisland, Stockholm, Sweden. This was forthcoming in the 

 form of notes from his copies of Viola studies in which several species 

 were represented, accurately drawn by skilful artists from living specimens 

 under the direction of Dr. Wittrock himself. A paper of this description 

 gave these present an excellent impression as to the possibility of dealing 

 with several species hitherto neglected by the hybridiser. Dr. Stuart's 

 paper on the "Newer Varieties of the Violetta Type" in 1895 was 

 conclusive evidence of the developments that were taking place, and gave 

 one a good impression of the rapid strides the rayless kinds were making. 

 Not the least interesting event in connection with the 1896 Conference 

 was the trial of Violas in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Regent's Park ; this 

 brought together a collection of plants such as had never been represented 

 together before. Most of the catalogued varieties then in cultivation, both 

 old and new, together with a good number of interesting seedlings, 

 combined to make the trial one of a unique character. The quarters 

 allocated to the trial were carefully prepared, and the planting completed 

 within a period of a few days. The trial gave one an excellent opportunity 



