312 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



FIFTY YEAES AMONG PANSIES AND VIOLAS. 

 By James Grieve, F.E.H.S. 

 [Read June 21, 1910.] 



It was in 1854 that I began my gardening career, and from the 

 beginning I took an interest in the Pansy. In those far-back days the 

 Enghsh Show Pansy was the only type grown, and I can well remember 

 the noted English growers of that day — Charles Turner and W. Bragg 

 of Slough, William Dean of Shipley, and Henry Hooper of Bath. 

 Scotch growers were also turning their attention in earnest to Pansies 

 at that tune. Mr. John Downie had a few years previously resigned 

 his situation as gardener at Southbank Park, Edinburgh, and had, 

 with Mr. Laird, established the firm of Downie & Laird. Mr. John 

 Laing was still gardener at Dysart House. Messrs. Dicksons & Co., 

 even then an old firm. Handy side of Musselburgh, Lightbody of 

 J^alkirk, White & Sinclair of Paisley, Syme & Middlemass of Glasgow, 

 were all trade growers of Pansies. In the amateur classes of those 

 days two men who were to become famous were competing against 

 each other^ — Dr. Stuart and James Dobbie. 



Among the dark self varieties in vogue were ' Duke of Perth ' and 

 * St. Andrews.' White selfs were a poor lot, and yellow selfs not 

 much better. ' Cherub,' a yellow self sent out about 1860 by Hooper, 

 of Bath, was the first really good yellow self that appeared. There 

 were then no cream or blue selfs. Our great aim was to get flowers 

 with solid blotches and distinct markings, with an eye in the centre of 

 the flower. 



After five years' experience in private establishments I entered the 

 service of Messrs. Dicksons & Co., Edinburgh, in 1859. In February 

 1860 Messrs. Dicksons' Pansy-grower, Daniel Hafferman, an Irish- 

 man, left them to become nursery-manager to Messrs. Imrie, Ayr, 

 and I was promoted to take charge of the Pansies, and continued to do 

 so for the next thirty-six years — i.e. till 1895. In 1860 all the best 

 Pansies were grown in pots, mostly 8 inch, plunged in ashes in cold 

 frames. Great pains were taken to secure the best loam, which was 

 mixed with old cow manure. Artificials were almost unknown then, 

 and I often think it would be better if they were unknown still. It 

 would be better, I am sure, for tlie constitution not only of our Pansies 

 but of our Potatos. I was the first to introduce the practice of plant- 

 ing Pansies out in cold frames to obtain exhibition blooms, and this 

 plan is now universally followed. 



The Show Pansy continued to be tlie lending type of Pansy up till 

 a])oi]t 1870, great improvements in its form, sul)stance, and markings 

 being made. The Faiu'\- P;ms\' lundo its ;ii)))(,';ir;iiK'e in Scotland about 



